cougar

The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as the mountain lion, panther, or puma, is a large felid native to the Americas. Its range extends from Yukon, Canada, to the southern Andes of Argentina and Chile, occupying a diverse set of habitats including forests, deserts, grasslands, and mountainous regions.

Description: Cougars have a uniform tawny to grayish coat with lighter undersides. They are large, compact cats with long tails. Adults typically measure 1.2–2.0 meters in body length with tails adding another 60–100 cm; shoulder height is around 60–90 cm. Weights vary widely by sex and region, roughly from 29 to 90 kg, with males generally heavier than females.

Behaviour and ecology: They are solitary and territorial, marking ranges with urine and scat. They are ambush predators that rely on stealth and short pursuits rather than long chases. They are capable climbers and swimmers. Their diet is opportunistic, but deer are the main prey in most areas; they also hunt smaller mammals when larger prey is scarce.

Reproduction: Breeding can occur year-round in some areas and seasonally in others. Gestation lasts about 90–96 days, yielding litters of 1–6 kittens. Kittens are born blind and helpless and remain with the mother for about 1–2 years.

Conservation: The IUCN lists the cougar as Least Concern due to its wide distribution, but regional populations face threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, conflict with humans, and vehicle collisions. Protected areas and wildlife management programs help mitigate declines in some regions.