Other threats to cougar populations include habitat loss and fragmentation and automobile accidents. Conservation StatusĬougars have been long been killed by both sport hunters and farmers protecting their livestock. In captivity, cougars can live as long as 20 years. Some travel far to establish their own territory as cougars need a lot of room to roam.Ī healthy cougar in the wild can live to around 10 years of age. They raise the young while the males return to their solitary lifestyles.Īt around two years old, cougar offspring will leave their mother to start their own life. Females can breed as early as 2-3 years old and give birth to 2-3 kittens at a time.
They interact only to mate, which can happen at any time of year. However, they occasionally compete with other predators such as bears and wolves for food.ĭuring most of their lives, cougars are solitary creatures. After killing a large animal, a cougar hides the carcass and eats in the coming days.įor the most part, the cougar has no natural enemies and sits atop the food chain. Cougars can also climb with ease and leap over 6 m (20 ft.). Skilled and cunning hunters, cougars stay hidden from their prey until they can pounce with claws out-stretched. Cougars have even been known to eat insects. Generally they prey on deer but also feed on smaller animals if necessary, including domestic animals and livestock.
They make their home anywhere that there is shelter and prey. Inhabiting various ecosystems from mountains to deserts to sea-level, the cougar’s established range includes western North America, a small region in Florida, and most of South America. The coat of the cougar is a grayish tan to reddish color with lighter parts on the underside. While males can weigh up to 68 kg (150 lb.), females weigh less, topping out at nearly 45 kg (100 lb.). They vary between 1.5-2.7 m (5-9 ft.) from head to tail. They have slender bodies and round heads with pointed ears. Instead, the large feline purrs like a house cat.Ĭougars also have similar body types to house cats, only on a larger scale. Unlike other big cats, however, the cougar cannot roar. The cougar, which is also commonly referred to as a puma, mountain lion or panther, is the second largest cat in North America.
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