Puma
- For alternative meanings see: Puma (disambiguation).
The puma (Puma concolor) is a type of large cat found in North and South America. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The term panther is more commonly associated with the black color variation of the leopard or the jaguar. That said, pumas are genetically closer to leopards than to lions.
Subspecies
The Florida panther is a rare subspecies of puma that lives in the swamps of southern Florida in the United States, especially in the Everglades. There is currently a widespread effort in Florida to try to save the remaining population of the state's native panthers, as their numbers are extremely sparse.
Population and distribution
Before the modern human population explosion in the Americas, the mountain lion ranged from northern British Columbia (in Canada) to southern Andes (on Chilean and Argentinian sides). Even now, it has the biggest range of any New World land animal, spanning 110 degrees of latitude.
Puma populations of the United States
Hunted almost to extinction in the United States, the puma has made a dramatic comeback, with an estimated 30,000 individuals in the western United States. Pumas are gradually extending their range to the east, following creeks and riverbeds, and have reached Missouri and Michigan. It is anticipated that they will soon expand their range over the entire eastern and southern USA. Due to urbanization in the urban-wildland interface, pumas often come into contact with people, especially in areas with a large population of deer, their natural prey. They have also begun preying on pets, such as dogs and cats, but have rarely turned to people as a source of food.
There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions in California. There are an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 pumas in Colorado.
Physical characteristics
Mountain lions are tawny-colored with black-tipped ears and tail. The mountain lion can run as fast as 30 mph (50 km/h), jump 20 ft (6 m) from a standing position, vertically leap 8 ft (2.5 m), and often weigh more than 150 pounds (70 kg). Their bite strength is more powerful than that of any domestic dog. Mountain lion claws are retractable and they have four toes. Adult males may be more than eight feet long (nose to tail), and weigh about 150 pounds (70 kg). Adult females can be 7 ft (2 m) long and weigh about 75 pounds (35 kg). Mountain lion kittens have brownish-blackish spots and rings on their tails. Their life span is about a decade in the wild and 25 years or more in captivity.
The pumas that live closest to the Equator are the smallest, and increase in size in populations closer to the poles.
Behavior
Mountain lions normally hunt large mammals, such as deer and elk, but will eat small animals if the need arises. They hunt alone and ambush their prey, often from behind. They usually kill with a bite at the base of the skull to break the neck of their target. The carcass of the kill is usually then buried or partially covered to protect it for several days, while the mountain lion continues to roam and comes back for nourishment as needed. Adult males tend to claim a 100 mile² (250 km²) stretch for their territory; adult females take 20 to 60 mile² (50 to 150 km²) on average; however their ranges can vary anywhere from as many as 370 mile² (1,000 km²) to as few as 10 mile² (25 km²), depending.
Attacks on humans
Attacks on humans are rare, but do occur — especially as humans encroach on wildlands and impact the availability of the puma's traditional prey. There were around 100 puma attacks on humans in the USA and Canada during the period from 1890 to January 2004, with 16 fatalities; figures for California were 14 attacks and 6 fatalities.
On January 8, 2004 a puma killed and partly ate a mountain biker in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Orange County, California; what is assumed to be the same animal attacked another mountain biker in the park the following day, but was fought off by other bikers. A young male puma was shot nearby by rangers later in the day.
Mountain lion safety tips
These safety tips were provided by the California Department of Fish and Game and compiled for the
