Cougar facts
Cougar Fact
More About Cougars
Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas, or panthers, are large, solitary, and carnivorous cats of the Americas. They are almost cosmopolitan in distribution, found in forests, mountains, deserts, and even grasslands. Cougars are the fourth largest cat species in the world and are characterized by having a lean and muscular body with a tawny coat.
The fur of a cougar varies between tan or reddish-brown colour and has a lighter shade on the abdomen part of its body. It has black streaks along the face, ears, and at the end of the tail. Cubs, however, are born with black and white fur which affords them good concealment and which change as they grow up.
They cannot roar like the other big cats such as lions or tigers, cougars cannot roar. They relay information through purring, growling, hissing, and their screech, which is more famous during their breeding period. Cougars are good climbers and swimmers, but they largely avoid water and therefore tend to favour the ground. Males are also much larger than females, exhibiting high levels of sexual dimorphism. They are large carnivores with tremendously developed limbs and rather big paws: they can jump across up to 40-foot stretches of horizon, and vertically – up to 15 feet.
Cougars are meat seekers and great hunters who feed on deer, elk, and other large animals. They are sneak killers, sneaking towards their prey, and then when in close range, they launch their vicious attack through a single powerful jump and subsequently the bite on the nape of the neck. While they are equipped to kill animals much larger than themselves, cougars will also feed on much smaller animals such as rodents, rabbits, and birds, should the opportunity arise.
The discovered facts indicated that ultimately, after chasing and killing prey, cougars would drag the prey to a concealed area and conceal it by putting some leaves or dirt over it for protection from begs. They may take turns to feed on the same kill for several days perhaps waiting for more to arrive.
Cougar Facts & Tidbits
- Cougars hold the Guinness World Record for the animal with the highest number of names, with over 40 English names alone.
- The name “cougar” comes from the Portuguese word “çuçuarana,” derived from the Tupi Indian word “susuarana.”
- Cougars are also called ‘ghost cats’, due to their ability to inhabit an area and remain unnoticed by people for quite a long time.
- These are well adapted to aquatic life, and can even climb trees, they usually live above the ground and wait for their prey in concealed areas.
- Contrary to the other big cats, cougars cannot roar in part, because of the structure of their larynx.
- Cougars also have different whisker patterns on their faces that distinguish them in the same way as human fingerprints.
- Female cougars are single mothers, they leave their cubs in a den for up to twenty-four months while going out in search of prey as they offer their young Ones a word on survival.
- They occur from Canada south to Tierra del Fuego, making them the most widely distributed terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.
Distribution
Cougars can live from the Canadian Yukon Territory down to the southern Andes in South America. Being able to move around, they could live in dusty deserts or humid tropical forests. However, locals, and their populations primarily inhabit areas in small numbers due to habitat fragmentation and human interference.
North American cougars were once considered to be absent in most regions of the eastern United States, but have been spreading steadily and are now found even in states like Michigan in the Midwest. The Florida cougar is one of the many subspecies of cougar and is critically endangered with a natural habitat limited to the swamps and forests of southern Florida.
Best Places to See Cougars in the Wild
Looking forward to meeting a cougar in the jungle? They might be one of the most difficult animals to spot, but to have the greatest opportunity you should try going to the National Parks in North and South America. Some top locations include:
- Yellowstone National Park, USA
- Glacier National Park, USA
- Banff National Park, Canada
- Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
- Rocky Mountain regions of the United States and Canada
- Sierra Nevada mountains
- Blue Mountains of Oregon
Status of Cougars
Cougars are not currently endangered but face threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. In areas where human development encroaches on their territory, cougars may prey on livestock, leading to conflicts with farmers and ranchers.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving natural habitats, creating wildlife corridors, and reducing conflicts between humans and cougars. Public education about coexistence with these majestic predators is also crucial for their long-term survival.
