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Fast Facts:
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Cougars
are known by several different names: puma, mountain lion, panther,
painter, etc.
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The
cougar is one of the most adaptive cat species. It is found in
a variety of habitats - from rainforests to semi-desert regions.
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| Scientific Name
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Felis concolor
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| Classification
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Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family
Felidae
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| Status
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The type of cougar seen at Rolling Hills Zoo is not endangered.
However, some subspecies of cougar, such as the Florida panther,
are endangered due to over-hunting and habitat loss.
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| Range
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Various cougar subspecies are found in North America, Mexico, and
Central and South America.
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| Habitat
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Cougars are found in a wide variety of habitats including
forests, grasslands, swamps, and semi-desert areas.
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| Diet
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In the wild, cougars prey on deer and smaller mammals. A lone male
may hunt as infrequently as every 2 weeks, while a female with cubs
may eat 1 deer every 3 days. Cougars will drag their prey to a safe
spot, feed, cover the remainder with leaves and debris, and return
to feed on it over the next several days.
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| Size
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An adult's body will range from 3.5 to 5 feet, with an additional
2 to 2.5 foot tail. It will measure 22-31 inches at the shoulder. Weight will range 70-200 pounds.
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| Life Span
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15 - 18 years
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| Location
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Print Fact Sheet
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Cougar
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Special Features
- In dim light, the eyesight of cats is up to six times more acute than that of humans.
- Cougars have a wide variety of vocalizations: hisses, growls, birdlike whistles, purrs, and a vocalization that sounds like a human scream.
Social Structure & Behavior
Cougars
usually live alone. They typically do not establish permanent homes
in dens, but they seek temporary shelter when needed in crevices,
caves, and dense vegetation. An exception to this is a female with
cubs; she will often use a den to rear her young.
Cougars usually have a large home range and will hunt over a large area.
Males will mark their territory by making scrapes in the dirt or snow and depositing urine or feces
Breeding & Care of Young
Most cougar births in North America occur in late winter and early spring. A typical litter includes three to four cubs, each of which weighing 14-18 ounces at birth. The cubs nurse for 3 to 6 months and will begin to eat meat at 6 weeks of age.
Cubs will stay with their mother for several months to a year. Littermates may stay together for an additional 2 to 3 months after leaving their mother.
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