Cougar Life – Behaviour, Habitat, Diet, and Survival in the Wild
Meeting the Cougars
Cougars — or mountain lions, pumas or
panthers, depending on where you are in the world — are adaptability rock stars.
Everything a cougar does, from hunting and communicating with one another to
raising young and surviving in its varied habitats, is what we mean by ‘Cougar
Life.’
This post is all about the cougar, but
it should be easy enough for everyone to understand and non-offensive to any
species. If you love wildlife, you study animals, or just want to learn
something, here are all the facts about cougars and how they live and survive
in the wilderness.
What is the meaning of when we say she’s a cougar?
The puma (also known as the mountain
lion, cougar, and panther), a member of the subfamily Felinae within the family
Felidae, is a native significant predator of the American continents. They were able to live in more places
than any other wild animal in this part of the world.
Some Facts
*
Name: Puma concolor
*
Weight: 64–220 pounds
* Size: As long as 8 feet (including tail)
* Life Expectancy: 8–13 years in the wild, but
possibly two decades or longer in captivity or sanctuary care
They are large, but cougars are not big
cats such as lions because they cannot roar.
Where Cougars Call Home
Cougars are capable of living in a variety
of habitats. That's why they survive so well."
You Can Find Them In:
*
Mountains
*
Forests
*
Deserts
*
Fields of grass
*
Swamps
They are found throughout the Americas,
from Canada to the tip of South America.
International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) - https://www.iucnredlist.org
A Day in the Life of a Cougar
Living Alone
Cougars are solitary creatures. Adults
only linger to give birth, or if they’re mothers raising their young.
*
Each cougar has its own big area where it lives
*
Guys have bigger areas than girls
*
They usually don't share with others of the same gender
Being alone is a big part of how cougars
live.
When They're Awake
Cougars are usually up and moving
around:
* At sunrise
* At sunset
They hunt at night, too, on occasion, so
beware of running into one in the dark.
What's on the Menu: Cougar Food?
With Cougars being the top predator, they are very good at stalking their prey.
What They Eat Mostly:
*
Deer (their favorite)
*
Elk
*
If they can find it, moose
*
Small animals like rabbits
*
Sometimes, farm animals, if they can get to them, can cause problems
They use stealth, powerful hind legs,
and a bite to the neck to quickly subdue their victims.
National Geographic –
https://www.nationalgeographic.com
How Cougars Talk and Act
Cougars are not very vocal.
What They Do:
*
Make hissing sounds
*
Growl
*
Make little chirps
* Let smells and scratches speak for
themselves: This is my territory!
They can't roar, but they can scream,
which is pretty scary if you are nearby!
Cougar Babies
Finding a Mate
*
They don't have a set time to have babies
*
Girls pick the guys with the best areas
*
They hang out for a few days while mating
Raising a Family
*
The babies grow inside the mom for about 90–96 days
*
She has 1–6 babies
* The infants remain with their mother
for as long as two years.
Mom teaches them what to hunt, where to
go, and how to procure it. It’s a lot of work!
How Long Cougars Live and What Gets in Their Way
In the Wild
*
They usually live 8–13 years
*
They can die from not finding food, getting sick, or running into people
If They're Taken Care Of
* They can survive for 20 years.
*
They're safe from other animals and bad weather
Why Cougars are key
Cougars are important to the place they
live.
Why We Need Cougars
*
They keep the number of deer in check
*
This prevents the deer from overgrazing the plants.
*
They help keep everything balanced
They’re healthier forests when they’re
there, and there’s less conflict between people and animals.
World Wildlife Fund –
https://www.worldwildlife.org
Cougars and People
Can Cougars Hurt You?
It’s not likely. Cougars generally avoid
people.
If You See One:
*
Don't run
*
Look it in the eye
*
Try to look big
*
Move away slowly
When Cities Grow
As we build more houses and roads:
*
Cougars have less space
*
They run into people more often
*
It's getting even more important to protect them
Learning about cougars helps us live
together safely.
What is being done to help the Cougars?
Most cougars are fine, but a few
populations are threatened.
What’s Difficult about Them?
*
They're losing their homes
*
They get hit by cars
*
People hunt them illegally
*
Groups of cougars are getting cut off from each other
Reserves and paths for animals to travel
help cougars survive.
U.S. FISH &WILDLIFFE SERVICE –
https://wwwfws.gov
Things People Get Wrong About Cougars
Common Misconceptions
* Cougars bite people all the time
* Cougars roar like lions do?
* Cougars coexist in flocks or groups
Fear and misinformation are stopped by
knowing the facts.
Cougar Life vs Other Big Cats
Feature |
Cougar |
Lion |
Tiger |
|
Social
structure |
Solitary |
Social |
Solitary |
|
Roaring
ability |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Habitat
range |
Very wide |
Limited |
Limited |
|
Human
interaction |
Rare |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Conclusion: Cougars Are Important
Cougars are powerful animals that can live in many different environments and are instrumental in keeping the balance of nature. They've been around for a long time because of their prowess. When we save cougars, we save everything around them.
If we understand how cougars behave and give them the space they need, we can ensure that they embrace us for many years to come.
FAQs:
Q1. What is it like to be a wild cougar?
It’s solitary, a homebody, and a
plains-food hunter.
Q2. How far do mountain lions travel?
They can roam more than 100 square
miles.
Q3. Do cougars roam around?
Not really, but they do disperse to
establish their own territory.
Q4. Are cougars going away?
There are a few groups that will get
their panties in a twist, but most are fine.
Q5. Is there anything that I can do?
Contribute to the groups that are
defending them, preserving their habitats, and teaching people to live
alongside them.