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The [[Yellowstone National Park]] ecosystem provides a fruitful microcosm to study inter-predator interaction in North America. Of the three large predators, the massive [[Brown bear]] appears dominant, able to drive both Wolves and Cougars off their kills. One study found that Brown or [[black bear|Black]] bears visited 24% of Cougar kills in Yellowstone and [[Glacier National Park]]s, usurping 10% of carcasses.<ref>Assessment and Update Status Report on the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) (2002). ''COSEWIC.'' Canadian Wildlife Service, [[Environment Canada]]. ([http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CW69-14-166-2002E.pdf PDF]) Retrieved on: [[April 8]], [[2007]].</ref>
The [[Yellowstone National Park]] ecosystem provides a fruitful microcosm to study inter-predator interaction in North America. Of the three large predators, the massive [[Brown bear]] appears dominant, able to drive both Wolves and Cougars off their kills. One study found that Brown or [[black bear|Black]] bears visited 24% of Cougar kills in Yellowstone and [[Glacier National Park]]s, usurping 10% of carcasses.<ref>Assessment and Update Status Report on the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) (2002). ''COSEWIC.'' Canadian Wildlife Service, [[Environment Canada]]. ([http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CW69-14-166-2002E.pdf PDF]) Retrieved on: [[April 8]], [[2007]].</ref>


Wolves and Cougars compete more directly for prey, especially in winter. A solitary Cougar may be dominated by the pack structure of the canines. Wolves can steal kills and occasionally kill the cat. One report describes a large pack of fourteen wolves killing a female Cougar and her kittens. When a wolf is alone, however, it may be injured/killed by a cougar. Nevertheless in the Bow valley of Idaho the majority of interactions end in favour of the wolves. <ref>http://www.cof.orst.edu/leopold/papers/HWEAW2002Report.htm</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A2158-2003May17&notFound=true |title=In Yellowstone, it's Carnivore Competition |last=Gugliotta |first=Guy |date=May 19, 2003 |publisher=[[Washington Post]] | accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Wolves more broadly affect Cougar population dynamics and distribution by dominating territory and prey opportunities, and disrupting the feline's behaviour. Preliminary research in Yellowstone, for instance, has shown displacement of Cougars by Wolves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greateryellowstonescience.org/topic/wolves/wolvesoverview.html |title=Overview: Gray Wolves |accessdate=2007-04-09 |publisher=Greater Yellowstone Learning Center}}</ref> One researcher in Oregon notes: "When there is a pack around, cougars are not comfortable around their kills or raising kittens...A lot of times a big cougar will kill a wolf, but the pack phenomenon changes the table."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonwild.org/press-room/press-clips/turf-wars-in-idaho-s-wilderness |title=Turf wars in Idaho's wilderness |last=Cockle |first=Richard |date=October 29, 2006 |publisher=[[The Oregonian]] | accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Both species, meanwhile, are capable of killing mid-sized predators such as [[Bobcat]]s and [[Coyote]]s and tend to suppress their numbers.<ref name=Yellowstone/>
Wolves and Cougars compete more directly for prey, especially in winter. While individually more powerful than a Wolf, a solitary Cougar may be dominated by the pack structure of the canines. Wolves can steal kills and occasionally kill the cat. One report describes a large pack of fourteen wolves killing a female Cougar and her kittens. Conversely, lone Wolves are at a disadvantage, and have been reported killed by Cougars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A2158-2003May17&notFound=true |title=In Yellowstone, it's Carnivore Competition |last=Gugliotta |first=Guy |date=May 19, 2003 |publisher=[[Washington Post]] | accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Wolves more broadly affect Cougar population dynamics and distribution by dominating territory and prey opportunities, and disrupting the feline's behaviour. Preliminary research in Yellowstone, for instance, has shown displacement of Cougars by Wolves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greateryellowstonescience.org/topic/wolves/wolvesoverview.html |title=Overview: Gray Wolves |accessdate=2007-04-09 |publisher=Greater Yellowstone Learning Center}}</ref> One researcher in Oregon notes: "When there is a pack around, cougars are not comfortable around their kills or raising kittens...A lot of times a big cougar will kill a wolf, but the pack phenomenon changes the table."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonwild.org/press-room/press-clips/turf-wars-in-idaho-s-wilderness |title=Turf wars in Idaho's wilderness |last=Cockle |first=Richard |date=October 29, 2006 |publisher=[[The Oregonian]] | accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Both species, meanwhile, are capable of killing mid-sized predators such as [[Bobcat]]s and [[Coyote]]s and tend to suppress their numbers.<ref name=Yellowstone/>


In the southern portion of its range, the Cougar and Jaguar share overlapping territory.<ref name=HAMDIG>{{cite web | url = http://www.ecology.info/ecology-jaguar-puma.htm | first = Paul | last = Hamdig | title = Sympatric Jaguar and Puma | publisher = Ecology Online Sweden | accessdate = August 30 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> The Jaguar tends to take larger prey and the Cougar smaller where they overlap, reducing the Cougar's size.<ref name=diet/> Of the two felines, the Cougar appears best able to exploit a broader prey niche and smaller prey.<ref name = foodhabits>{{cite journal | author = Rodrigo Nuanaez, Brian Miller, and Fred Lindzey | year = 2000 | title = Food habits of jaguars and pumas in Jalisco, Mexico | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 252 | issue = 3 | pages = 373 | url = http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=58851 | accessdate = 2006-08-08}}</ref>
In the southern portion of its range, the Cougar and Jaguar share overlapping territory.<ref name=HAMDIG>{{cite web | url = http://www.ecology.info/ecology-jaguar-puma.htm | first = Paul | last = Hamdig | title = Sympatric Jaguar and Puma | publisher = Ecology Online Sweden | accessdate = August 30 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> The Jaguar tends to take larger prey and the Cougar smaller where they overlap, reducing the Cougar's size.<ref name=diet/> Of the two felines, the Cougar appears best able to exploit a broader prey niche and smaller prey.<ref name = foodhabits>{{cite journal | author = Rodrigo Nuanaez, Brian Miller, and Fred Lindzey | year = 2000 | title = Food habits of jaguars and pumas in Jalisco, Mexico | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 252 | issue = 3 | pages = 373 | url = http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=58851 | accessdate = 2006-08-08}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:23, 7 June 2007

For other uses see Cougar (disambiguation) and Puma (disambiguation).

Cougar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Felidae
Genus:
Puma
Species:
P. concolor
Binomial name
Puma concolor
(Linnaeus, 1771)
Cougar range map
Synonyms

Felis concolor

The Cougar (Puma concolor), also Puma and Mountain lion, is a New World mammal of the Felidae family. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere,[2] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the Cougar is found in every major New World habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the New World, after the Jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, after the Tiger, Lion, and Jaguar, although it is most closely related to smaller felines.

A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the Cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Its primary food is deer, particularly in the northern part of its range, but it hunts species as small as insects and rodents, as well as large ungulates. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush for stalking, but it can live in open areas.

The Cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities, with individual territory sizes dependent on terrain, vegetation, and prey abundance. While a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, competing with other animals such as wolves and humans for prey such as white-tailed deer. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.[3]

Due to persecution as a dangerous pest animal that would sometimes prey on livestock during the European colonization of the Americas, and continuing human development of Cougar habitat, populations have dropped in many parts of its historical range. In particular, the Cougar was thought to be extirpated in eastern North America, with the exception of an isolated Florida sub-population; the animal may be recolonizing parts of its former eastern territory. With its vast range, the Cougar has dozens of names and a variety of references in the mythology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and in contemporary culture.

Naming and etymology

With its vast range, the Cougar has dozens of names and a variety of references in the mythology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and in contemporary culture. The Cougar has over 40 names in English, with Puma and Mountain lion in widespread use. Other names include Catamount, Panther, Painter and Mountain screamer. In North America panther is employed for the Florida Panther sub-population. In South America Panther refers to both the spotted and black color morphs of the Jaguar, while it is also broadly used to refer to the Old World Leopard.

Cougar is borrowed from the Portuguese çuçuarana, via French; the term was originally derived from the Tupi language. A current form in Brazil is suçuarana. "Puma" comes from the Quechua language of Peru.[4]

Taxonomy and evolution

The Cougar is the largest of the small cats. While its bulk characteristics are similar to the species of Panthera, it is more closely related to small- and mid-sized felines. Its family, Felidae, is believed to have originated in Asia approximately 11 million years ago. Taxonomic research on felids remains partial and should be treated cautiously. Much of what is known about felid evolutionary history is based on mitochondrial DNA analysis,[5] as cats are poorly represented in the fossil record,[6] and there are significant confidence intervals with suggested dates.

According to a 2006 genomic study of Felidae, an ancestor of today's Leopardus, Lynx, Puma, Prionailurus, and Felis lineages migrated across the Bering Land Bridge into the Americas approximately 8 to 8.5 million years ago. The lineages subsequently diverged in that order.[6] The Cougar was originally thought to belong in Felis, a genus which includes the Domestic Cat, but it is now placed in Puma along with the Jaguarundi, a cat just a little more than a tenth its weight.

Studies have indicated that the Cougar and Jaguarundi are mostly closely related to the modern Cheetah of Africa and western Asia,[6][7] but the relationship is unresolved. It has been suggested that ancestors of the Cheetah diverged from the Puma lineage in the Americas and migrated back to Asia and Africa,[6][7] while other research suggests the Cheetah diverged in the Old World itself.[8] The outline of small feline migration to the Americas is thus unclear (see also American Cheetah).

Subspecies

Until the late 1990s, as many as 32 different subspecies were recorded, however these were reclassified following genetic studies. [9][7] The canonical Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition) recognizes six subspecies, five of which are solely found in Latin America:[10]

  • Argentine Puma (Puma concolor cabrerae): includes the previous subspecies and synonyms hudsonii and puma (Marcelli, 1922)
  • Costa Rican Cougar (Puma concolor costaricensis)
  • Eastern South American Cougar (Puma concolor anthonyi): includes the previous subspecies and synonyms acrocodia, borbensis, capricornensis, concolor (Pelzeln, 1883), greeni and nigra
  • North American Cougar (Puma concolor couguar): includes the previous subspecies and synonyms arundivaga, aztecus, browni, californica, coryi, floridana, hippolestes, improcera, kaibabensis, mayensis, missoulensis, olympus, oregonensis, schorgeri, stanleyana, vancouverensis and youngi
  • Northern South American Cougar (Puma concolor concolor): includes the previous subspecies and synonyms bangsi, incarum, osgoodi, soasoaranna, soderstromii, sucuacuara and wavula
  • Southern South American Puma (Puma concolor puma): includes the previous subspecies and synonyms araucanus, concolor (Gay, 1847), patagonica, pearsoni and puma (Trouessart, 1904)

Recent studies have demonstrated a high level of genetic similarity among North American Cougars, suggesting that they are all fairly recent descendants of a small ancestral group. [9] One explanation for this finding is that the original North American population of Puma concolor became extinct during the Pleistocene extinctions some 10,000 years ago, when other large mammals such as the saber-tooth tiger also disappeared. North America was then repopulated by a group of South American Cougars.[7]

Biology and behaviour

Physical characteristics

Although the Cougar resembles the Domestic Cat, it is about the same size as an adult human.

The Cougar is a slender and agile cat. The length of adult males is around 2.4 m (8 ft) long nose to tail, with overall ranges between 1.5–2.75 meters (5–9 feet) nose to tail suggested for the species in general.[11][12] Males have an average weight of about 53–72 kilograms (115–160 pounds). In rare cases, some may reach over 120 kg (260 lb). Female average weight is between 34–48 kg (75–105  lb).[13] Cougars are smallest close to the equator, and increase in size as they approach the poles.[2]

The head of the cat is round and the ears erect. Its powerful forequarters, neck, and jaw serve to grasp and hold large prey. It has five retractable claws on its forepaws (one a dewclaw) and four on its hindpaws. The larger front feet and claws are adaptations to clutching prey.[14]

The higher end of the Cougar length range equals that of the Jaguar, but the Cougar is less muscled and less powerful. The Cougar is, however, heavier on average than the Leopard. It is not typically classified among the "big cats" despite its bulk, as it cannot roar, lacking the specialized larynx and hyoid appartus of Panthera.[15]. Like the domestic cat, the Cougar vocalizes low-pitched hisses, growls, and purrs, as well as chirps and whistles. It is well known for its screams, referenced in some of its common names, although these may often be the misinterpreted calls of other animals.[16]

Cougar colouring is plain (hence the Latin concolor) but can vary greatly between individuals and even between siblings. The coat is typically tawny, but ranges to silvery-grey or reddish, with lighter patches on the under body including the jaws, chin, and throat. Infants are spotted and born with blue eyes and rings on their tails;[13] juveniles are pale, and dark spots remain on their flanks.[12] Despite anecdotes to the contrary, all-black coloring (melanism) has never been documented in the Cougar.[17] The term "black panther" is used colloquially to refer melanistic individuals of other species, particularly Jaguars and Leopards.

The Cougar has large feet and proportionally the largest hind legs in the cat family.[13] This physique allows for great leaping and short-sprint ability. An exceptional vertical leap of 5.4 m (18 ft) is reported for the Cougar.[18] Horizontal jumping capability is suggested anywhere from 6 to 12 m (20 to 40 ft). The Cougar can run as quickly as 55km/h (35 mph),[19] but is best adapted for short, powerful sprints rather than lengthy chases. The Cougar has adept climbing abilities which allow it to evade canine competitors. Although it is not strongly associated with water, the Cougar can swim.[20]

Hunting and diet

Cougars are ambush predators, feeding mostly on deer and other mammals

A successful generalist predator, a Cougar will eat any animal it can catch, from insects to large ungulates. Like all cats, the Cougar is an obligate carnivore, feeding only on meat. The most important prey species for the Cougar is deer, particularly in North America. Mule deer, White-tailed deer, Elk, and even the large Moose are taken by the cat. A survey of North America research found 68% of prey items were ungulates, especially deer. Only the Florida panther showed variation, often preferring feral hogs and Armadillos).[2] Investigation in Yellowstone National Park showed Elk followed by Mule deer were the Cougar's primary targets; the prey base is shared with the park's Wolves, with whom the Cougar competes for resources.[21] Another study on winter kills (November–April) in Alberta showed that ungulates accounted for greater than 99% of the Cougar diet. Learned, individual prey recognition was observed, as some Cougars rarely killed Bighorn sheep, while others relied heavily on the species.[22]

In the Central and South American Cougar range, the ratio of deer in the diet declines. Small to mid-size mammals are preferred, including large rodents such as the Capybara. Ungulates accounted for only 35% of prey items in one survey, approximately half that of North America. Competition with the larger Jaguar has been suggested for the decline in the size of prey items.[2] Other listed prey species of the Cougar include mice, porcupine, and hares. Birds and small reptiles are sometimes preyed upon in the south, but this is rarely recorded in North America.[2]

Though capable of sprinting, the Cougar is typically an ambush predator. It stalks through brush and trees, across ledges, or other covered spots, before delivering a powerful leap onto the back of its prey and a suffocating neck bite. It has a flexible spine which aids its killing technique.

Kills are generally estimated at around one large ungulate every two weeks. The period shrinks for females raising young, and may be as short as one kill every three days when cubs are nearly mature at around fifteen months.[13] The cat drags a kill to a preferred spot, covers it with brush, and returns to feed over a period of days. It is generally reported that the Cougar is a non-scavenger and will rarely consume prey it has not killed; however, deer carcasses left exposed for study purposes were scavenged by Cougars in California, suggesting more opportunistic behaviour.[23]

Reproduction and lifecycle

Cougar kittens

Female Cougars reach sexual maturity between one-and-a-half and three years of age. They typically average one litter every two to three years throughout their reproductive life;[24] the period can be as short as one year.[13] Females are in estrus for approximately eight days out of a 23-day cycle; the gestation period is approximately 91 days.[13] Females are sometimes reported as monogamous,[19] but this is uncertain and polygyny may be more common.[25] Copulation is brief but frequent.

Only female Cougars are involved in parenting. Litter size is between one and six kittens, and typically two or three. Caves and other alcoves which offer protection are used as litter dens. Born blind, kittens are completely dependent upon their mother at first, and begin to be weaned at around three months of age. As they grow, kittens begin to go out on forays with their mother, first visiting kill sites, and after six months beginning to hunt small prey on their own.[24] Kitten survival rates are just over one per litter.[13]

Sub-adults leave their mother to attempt to establish their own territory at around two years of age and sometimes earlier. Males tend to leave their mother earlier than females. One study has shown high morbidity amongst Cougars that travel farthest from the maternal range, often due to conflicts with other Cougars ("intraspecific" conflict).[24] Research in New Mexico has shown that "males dispersed significantly farther than females, were more likely to traverse large expanses of noncougar habitat, and were probably most responsible for nuclear gene flow between habitat patches."[26]

Life expectancy in the wild is reported at between eight to thirteen years, and probably averages eight to ten; a female of at least eighteen years was reported killed by hunters on Vancouver Island.[13] Cougars may live as long as twenty years in captivity. Causes of morbidity in the wild include disability and disease, competition with other Cougars, starvation, accidents, and, where allowed, human hunting. Feline immunodeficiency virus, an endemic AIDS-like disease in cats, is well-adapted to the Cougar species.[27]

Social structure and home range

Like almost all cats, the Cougar is a solitary animal. Only mothers and kittens live in groups, with adults meeting only to mate. It is secretive and crepuscular, being most active around dawn and dusk.

Estimates of territory sizes vary greatly. Canadian Geographic reports large male territories of 150 to 1000 ;square kilometers (58–386 mi2) with female ranges half the size.[19] Other research suggests a much smaller lower limit of 25 km2 (10 mi2) but an even greater upper limit of 1300 km2 (500 mi2) for males.[24] In the United States, very large ranges have been reported in Texas and the Black Hills of the northern Great Plains, in excess of 775 km2 (300 mi2).[28] Male ranges may include or overlap with those of females but, at least where studied, not with those of other males, which serves to reduce conflict between Cougars. Ranges of females may overlap slightly with eachother. Scrape marks, urine, and feces are used to mark territory and attract mates. Males may scrape together a small pile of leaves and grasses and then urinate on it as a way of marking territory.[20]

Home range sizes and overall Cougar abundance are determined by terrain, vegetation, and prey abundance.[24] One female adjacent to the San Andreas mountains, for instance, was found with a large range of 215 km2 (83 mi2), necessitated by poor prey abundance.[27] Research has shown Cougar abundances from 0.5 animals to as much as seven (in one study in South America) per 100 km2.[13]

Because males disperse further than females and compete more directly for mates and territory, they are most likely to be involved in conflict. Where a sub-adult fails to leave his maternal range, for example, he may be killed by his father.[28] When they encounter one another, males hiss and spit, and may engage in violent conflict if neither backs down.[25] Hunting or relocation of Cougars may increase aggressive encounters by disrupting territories and bringing young, transient animals into conflict with established individuals.[29]

Ecology

Distribution and habitat

The Cougar has the largest range of any wild cat in the world. Spanning 110 degrees of latitude, from northern Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes, it also has the largest range of any land animal in the New World. It is one of only three cat species, along with the Bobcat and Canadian lynx, endemic to Canada.[14] Its wide distribution stems from its adaptability to virtually every habitat type: it is found in all forest types as well as in lowland and mountainous deserts. Studies show regions with dense underbrush are preferred, but it can live with little vegetation in open areas.[1] Its preferred habitats include precipitous canyons, escarpments, rim rocks, and dense brush.[20]

Cougar, photographed in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

The Cougar was extirpated across its eastern North American range in the two centuries following European colonization and faced grave threats in the remainder. Currently, the cat ranges across most western American states, the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Canadian Yukon Territory. There have been widely-debated reports of possible recolonization of eastern North America.[30] DNA evidence has suggested its presence in eastern North America,[31] while a consolidated map of Cougar sightings shows numerous reports, from the mid-western Great Plains through to Eastern Canada.[32] The only unequivocally known eastern population is the Florida panther, which is critically endangered.

South of the Rio Grande, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the cat in every Central and South American country, with the exception of Costa Rica and Panama.[1] While specific state and provincial statistics are often available in North America, much less is known about the cat in its southern range.[33]

The Cougar's total breeding population is estimated at less than 50,000 by the IUCN, with a declining trend.[1] U.S. state-level statistics are often more optimistic, suggesting Cougar populations have rebounded. In Oregon, a healthy population of 5,000 was reported in 2006, exceeding a target of 3,000.[34] California has actively sought to protect the cat and a similar number of Cougars has been suggested, between 4,000 and 6,000.[35]

Ecological role

Aside from humans, no species preys upon mature Cougars in the wild. The cat is not, however, the apex predator throughout much of its range. In its northern range the Cougar interacts with other powerful predators such as the Brown bear and Grey wolf. In the south, the Cougar must compete with the larger Jaguar.

Front paw print of a Cougar. An adult paw print is approximately 10 cm (4 inches) long.[36]

The Yellowstone National Park ecosystem provides a fruitful microcosm to study inter-predator interaction in North America. Of the three large predators, the massive Brown bear appears dominant, able to drive both Wolves and Cougars off their kills. One study found that Brown or Black bears visited 24% of Cougar kills in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, usurping 10% of carcasses.[37]

Wolves and Cougars compete more directly for prey, especially in winter. While individually more powerful than a Wolf, a solitary Cougar may be dominated by the pack structure of the canines. Wolves can steal kills and occasionally kill the cat. One report describes a large pack of fourteen wolves killing a female Cougar and her kittens. Conversely, lone Wolves are at a disadvantage, and have been reported killed by Cougars.[38] Wolves more broadly affect Cougar population dynamics and distribution by dominating territory and prey opportunities, and disrupting the feline's behaviour. Preliminary research in Yellowstone, for instance, has shown displacement of Cougars by Wolves.[39] One researcher in Oregon notes: "When there is a pack around, cougars are not comfortable around their kills or raising kittens...A lot of times a big cougar will kill a wolf, but the pack phenomenon changes the table."[40] Both species, meanwhile, are capable of killing mid-sized predators such as Bobcats and Coyotes and tend to suppress their numbers.[21]

In the southern portion of its range, the Cougar and Jaguar share overlapping territory.[41] The Jaguar tends to take larger prey and the Cougar smaller where they overlap, reducing the Cougar's size.[2] Of the two felines, the Cougar appears best able to exploit a broader prey niche and smaller prey.[42]

As with any predator at or near the top of its food chain, the Cougar impacts the population of prey species. Predation by Cougars has been linked to changes in the species mix of deer in a region. For example, a study in British Columbia observed that the population of Mule deer, a favoured Cougar prey, was declining while the population of the less frequently preyed-upon White-tailed deer was increasing.[43] The Vancouver Island Marmot, an endangered species endemic to one region of dense Cougar population, has seen decreased numbers due to Cougar and Wolf predation.[44]

Conservation status

Cougar conservation depends on preservation of its habitat

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) currently lists the Cougar as a "near threatened" species. It has shifted the Cougar's status from "least concern," while leaving open the possiblity that it may be raised to "vulnerable" when greater data on the cat's distribution becomes available.[1] The Cougar is regulated under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),[45] rendering illegal international trade in specimens or parts. East of the Mississippi, Cougars have been reduced to a small population in Florida known as the Florida Panther. It is recognized as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and protected under the Endangered Species Act.[46] The most recent documented count is 87 panthers, reported by recovery agencies in 2003.[47]

The Cougar is also protected across much of the rest of its range. As of 1996, Cougar hunting was prohibited in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuala, and Uruguay. (Costa Rica and Panama are not listed as current range countries by the IUCN.) The cat had no reported legal protection in Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guyana.[13] Regulated Cougar hunting is still common in the United States and Canada; it is permitted in every state from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, with the exception of California. The Cougar cannot be legally killed in California except under very specific circumstances, such as when an individual is declared a public safety threat.[35]

Conservation threats to the species include persecution as a pest animal, degradation and fragmentation of its habitat, and depletion of its prey base. As with any large predator, habitat corridors and sufficient range areas are critical to the sustainability of Cougar populations. Research simulations have shown that the animal faces a low extinction risk in areas of 2200 km2 or more. As few as one to four new animals entering a population per decade markedly increases persistence, foregrounding the importance of habitat corridors.[48]

Attacks on humans

Cougar warning message

Due to urbanization, Cougar ranges increasingly overlap with areas inhabited by humans, especially in areas with large populations of deer. Attacks on humans are rare, as Cougar prey recognition is a learned behaviour and they do not generally recognize humans as prey.[3] Attacks on people, livestock, and pets may occur when the cat habituates to humans. There have been 108 confirmed attacks on humans with 20 fatalities in North America since 1890; 50 of the incidents having occured since 1991.[49][50] The heavily populated state of California has seen a dozen attacks since 1986 (after just three from 1890), including three fatalities.[35] Attacks are most frequent during late spring and summer, when juvenile Cougars leave their mothers and search for new territory.[36]

As with many predators, a Cougar may attack if cornered, if a fleeing human being stimulates its instinct to chase, or if a person "plays dead." Exaggerating the threat to the animal through intense eye contact, loud but calm shouting, and any other action to appear larger and more menacing, may make the animal retreat. Fighting back with sticks and rocks, or even bare hands, is often effective in spurring an attacking Cougar to disengage.[3][36]

Where the Cougar does attack, it usually employs its characteristic neck bite, attempting to position its teeth between the vertebrae and into the spinal cord. Neck, head, and spinal injuries are a common and sometimes fatal result.[3] Children are at greatest risk of attack, and least likely to survive an encounter. Detailed research into attacks prior to 1991 showed 64% of overall victims, and almost all fatalities, were children. The same study showed the highest proportion of attacks to be in British Columbia, particularly on Vancouver Island where Cougar populations are especially dense.[50]

In mythology and culture

The grace and power of the Cougar have been widely admired in the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Inca city of Cusco is reported to have been designed in the shape of a Cougar, and the animal also gave its name to both Inca regions and people. The sky and thunder god of the Inca, Viracocha, has been associated with the animal.[51]

In North America, mythological descriptions of the Cougar have appeared in the writings of the Hotcâk language (Ho-Chunk or Winnebago) of Wisconsin and Illinois[52] and the Cheyenne, amongst others. To the Apaches and Walapais of Arizona, the wail of the Cougar was harbinger of death.[53]

The Cougar continues to be a symbol of strength and stealth. From combat helicoptors, and motor vehicles to athletic shoes, both "Cougar" and "Puma" are widely used as brand names. Various sports teams have also adopted the names. Many places, such as Cougar Mountain, are also named after their association with Cougars.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
  2. ^ a b c d e f J. Agustin Iriarte, William L. Franklin, Warren E. Johnson, and Kent H. Redford (1990). "Biogeographic variation of food habits and body size of the America puma". Oecologia. 85 (2): 185. Retrieved 2007-04-04.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d McKee, Denise (2003). "Cougar Attacks on Humans: A Case Report". Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. 14 (3). Wilderness Medical Society: 169–173. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  4. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Douglas Harper. 2001. Retrieved 2006-08-06.
    * Cougar
    * Puma
  5. ^ Wade, Nicholas (2006-01-06). "DNA Offers New Insight Concerning Cat Evolution". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Johnson, W.E., Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, W.J., Antunes, A., Teeling, E. & O'Brien, S.J. (6 January 2006). "The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment". Science. 311 (5757): 73–77. doi:10.1126/science.1122277. Retrieved 2007-06-04. {{cite journal}}: More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c d Culver, M. (2000). "Genomic Ancestry of the American Puma" (PDF). Journal of Heredity. 91 (3): 186–197. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Barnett, Ross (9 August 2005). "Evolution of the extinct Sabretooths and the American cheetah-like cat". Current Biology. 15 (15): R589–R590. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.07.052. Retrieved 2007-06-04. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Wade was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 544–545. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  11. ^ "Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)". Texas Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  12. ^ a b "Eastern Cougar Fact Sheet". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nowell, K. and Jackson, P. (1996). Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. (PDF). IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
  14. ^ a b "Cougar". Hinterland Who's Who. Canadian Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  15. ^ Weissengruber, GE (2002). "Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus)". Journal of Anatomy. Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 195–209. doi:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x. Retrieved 2007-05-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ "About Eastern Cougars". Eastern Cougar Foundation. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  17. ^ "Black cougar more talk than fact". Tahlequah Daily Press. February 01, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-20. [Game Warden]: Never in the history of the United States has there ever been, in captivity or in the wild, a documented black mountain lion {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Mountain Lion (Puma, Cougar)". San Diego Zoo.org. Zoological Society of San Diego. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  19. ^ a b c "Cougars in Canada (Just the Facts)". Canadian Geographic Magazine. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  20. ^ a b c "Mountain Lion, Puma concolor". Sierra Club. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  21. ^ a b "Wildlife: Wolves". Yellowstone National Park. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
    * Holly Akenson, James Akenson, Howard Quigley. "Winter Predation and Interactions of Wolves and Cougars on Panther Creek in Central Idaho".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    * John K. Oakleaf, Curt Mack, Dennis L. Murray. "Winter Predation and Interactions of Cougars and Wolves in the Central Idaho Wilderness".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Ross, R. (May 1993). "Cougar predation on bighorn sheep in southwestern Alberta during winter". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 75 (5): 771–775. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Bauer, Jim W. (December 2005). "Scavenging behavior in Puma". The Southwestern Naturalist. 50 (4): 466–471. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b c d e Cougar Discussion Group (January 27, 1999). "Utah Cougar Management Plan (Draft)" (PDF). Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  25. ^ a b Matthew Hamilton. "Mountain Lions". University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Retrieved 2007-05-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Sweanor, Linda (2000). "Cougar Dispersal Patterns, Metapopulation Dynamics, and Conservation" (PDF). Conservation Biology. 14 (3): 798–808. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.99079.x. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  27. ^ a b Biek, Roman (2003). "Epidemiology, Genetic Diversity, and Evolution of Endemic Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in a Population of Wild Cougars". Journal of Virology. 77 (17): 9578–9589. doi:10.1128/JVI.77.17.9578-9589.2003. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  28. ^ a b Mahaffy, James (2004). "Behavior of cougar in Iowa and the Midwest". Dordt College. Retrieved 2007-05-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  29. ^ "Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) study on Boulder Open Space" (PDF). Letter to the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, Boulder, Colorado. Sinapu. March 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  30. ^ Marschall, Laurence A. (2005). "Bookshelf". Natural Selections. Natural History Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  31. ^ Belanger, Joe (May 24, 2007). "DNA evidence of cougars found in southern Ontario". London Free Press. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  32. ^ Board of Directors (2004). "The "Big" Picture". The Cougar Network. Retrieved 2007-05-20. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help) The Cougar Network methodology is recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  33. ^ "Cougars" (PDF). National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  34. ^ "Cougar Management Plan". Wildlife Division: Wildlife Management Plans. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  35. ^ a b c "Mountain Lions in California". California Department of Fish and Game. 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  36. ^ a b c "Safety Guide to Cougars". Environmental Stewardship Division. Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment. 1991. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  37. ^ Assessment and Update Status Report on the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) (2002). COSEWIC. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. (PDF) Retrieved on: April 8, 2007.
  38. ^ Gugliotta, Guy (May 19, 2003). "In Yellowstone, it's Carnivore Competition". Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  39. ^ "Overview: Gray Wolves". Greater Yellowstone Learning Center. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  40. ^ Cockle, Richard (October 29, 2006). "Turf wars in Idaho's wilderness". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  41. ^ Hamdig, Paul. "Sympatric Jaguar and Puma". Ecology Online Sweden. Retrieved August 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ Rodrigo Nuanaez, Brian Miller, and Fred Lindzey (2000). "Food habits of jaguars and pumas in Jalisco, Mexico". Journal of Zoology. 252 (3): 373. Retrieved 2006-08-08.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ Robinson, Hugh S. (2002). "Cougar predation and population growth of sympatric mule deer and white-tailed deer". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 80 (3): 556–568. doi:10.1139/z02-025. Retrieved 2007-05-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ Bryant, Andrew A. (2005). "Cougar predation and population growth of sympatric mule deer and white-tailed deer". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 83 (5): 674–682. Retrieved 2007-05-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  45. ^ "Appendices I, II and III". Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  46. ^ "Eastern Cougar". Endangered and Threatened Species of the Southeastern United States (The Red Book). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1991. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  47. ^ "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2002-2003 Panther Genetic Restoration Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  48. ^ Beier, Paul (1993). "Determining Minimum Habitat Areas and Habitat Corridors for Cougars". Conservation Biology. 7 (1): 94–108. Retrieved 2007-05-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  49. ^ "Confirmed mountain lion attacks in the United States and Canada 1890 - Present". Arizona Game and Fish. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  50. ^ a b Beier, Paul (1991). "Cougar attacks on humans in United States and Canada". Wildlife Society Bulletin. Northern Arizon University. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  51. ^ Tarmo, Kulmar. "On the role of Creation and Origin Myths in the Development of Inca State and Religion". Electronic Journal of Folklore. Estonian Folklore Institute. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ Blowsnake, Jasper. Richard L. Dieterle (ed.) (ed.). "The Four Steps of the Cougar". Electronic Journal of Folklore. The Encyclopedia of Hotcâk (Winnebago) Mythology. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite web}}: |editor= has generic name (help)
  53. ^ "Living with Wildlife: Cougars" (PDF). USDA Wildlife Services. Retrieved 2007-05-22.

Suggested reading

Look up cougar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puma concolor.
Wikispecies has information related to Puma concolor.
  • Baron, David (2004). The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature. New York: W. W. Norton and Company. ISBN 0393058077.
  • Kobalenko, Jerry (1997). Forest Cats of North America. Buffalo, New York: Island Press. ISBN 1-55209-174-4. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  • Logan, Ken (2001). Desert Puma: Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation of an Enduring Carnivore. Island Press. ISBN 1-55963-866-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

Template:Link FA Template:Link FA

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