Cougar

Puma concolor

Size: 1–2 m · 29–100 kg
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Sociality: Solitary
Lifespan: 8–13 years

The cougar is a large cat ranging across the Americas. Flexible and solitary, it hunts mainly deer from mountains to deserts.

View in catalog

Key facts

Cougar (Puma concolor) is a carnivore animal classified as Mammal · Carnivora · Felidae.
Primary habitats are forest · mountains · grassland · desert, with a range across Nearctic · Neotropical.
Activity is crepuscular, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The cougar is a large cat ranging across the Americas.
It occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropics, using forest, mountains, grassland, and desert.
Typical lifespan: 8–13 years

Sources

wikidata.org

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropics, using forest, mountains, grassland, and desert. Cover and prey allow it to live from dry country to snowy ranges.

Appearance

Length 100-200 cm; weight 29-100 kg. The plain tawny to grey-brown body has a long tail and relatively small head. Powerful hind legs give it exceptional leaping ability.

Behavior

Crepuscular and solitary, it holds a large home range. Scent marks, scrapes, and claw marks advertise its presence to other cougars.

Feeding

A carnivore, it preys mainly on deer but also takes smaller mammals and birds. It ambushes at close range and often caches surplus meat.

Reproduction

Breeding can occur through much of the year depending on region. Females raise spotted kittens alone, and young learn hunting while following the mother.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern, though some regional populations are fragmented. Roads, development, and conflict with people remain local concerns.