Cougar

The puma (Felis concolor) is a type of large hunting cat. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The term panther is more commonly associated with the black color variation of the leopard.

Hunted almost to extinction in the United States, the puma has made a dramatic comeback with an estimated 30,000 individuals in the western United States. Pumas are gradually extending their range to the east, following creek and river beds, and have reached Missouri and Michican. It is anticipated that they will soon expand their range over the entire eastern and southern United States. Due to urbanization in the urban-wildland intermix, puma often come into contact with people, especially in areas with a large population of deer, their natural prey. They begin also praying on pets such as dogs and cats and have rarely turned to people as a source of food. [1]