pumas

Pumas (Puma concolor) are large felids native to the Americas, widely referred to as cougars, mountain lions, or panthers. They range from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes in Chile and Argentina, occupying forests, deserts, grasslands, and mountain regions.

They are generally solitary and highly adaptable, with home ranges that vary by prey availability and habitat.

Physically, pumas have a robust, lightweight body, with a yellowish to tawny coat, a pale underbelly, a long tail, and powerful hind limbs.

They can sprint briefly at high speeds and are skilled climbers and swimmers.

They primarily prey on ungulates such as deer; they also take smaller mammals, and occasionally livestock in some areas.

Reproduction: females give birth to litters of 1-4 kittens after a gestation of about 90-96 days; kittens stay with mother for several months to a year.

Threats include habitat loss, fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and road mortality.

The species as a whole is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though some regional populations are threatened or endangered and subject to conservation measures.

Traditionally recognized as multiple subspecies, genetic research has reduced the number of distinct subspecies; classification varies by authority.

When encountering humans, pumas usually avoid contact, but rare attacks can occur, underscoring the need for proper wildlife management and safety practices.