facts about the American Mountain lion
By zteve t evans
The American mountain lion (Felis concolor) is a power and
adaptable predator whose range covers much of the Americas. It is a member of the Felidae family and is
native to North and South America. It is also
known by the names of cougar, puma, panther, catamount and other names, depending
on the country and region it is found.
A large and solitary cat
Indeed, in the Western Hemisphere this big cat has a far greater range than any other wild land animal ranging from the Yukon, in Canada, down to the southern Andes of South America. A large cat and solitary by nature, after the Jaguar, it is the second heaviest cat in the Americas and the joint fourth in the world with the leopard, following the tiger, lion and jaguar, though it is nearer in relationship to the smaller big cats.
Hunting
The mountain lion hunts a wide variety of prey and is a very accomplished hunter using stalk and ambush tactics to catch prey they usually hunt at night or in the twilight of dusk or dawn. With great stealth and patience they will stalk their prey, timing the moment of attack with great skill, they will pounce using a bite to back of the neck to kill. A large kill may be hidden and consumed over several days.
Prey includes mammals such as deer, bighorn sheep and elk and it will also take smaller animals including, porcupines, coyotes, raccoons, rodents and even insects. It will also take domestic animals such as cattle, horses and sheep if it comes across them.
Indeed, in the Western Hemisphere this big cat has a far greater range than any other wild land animal ranging from the Yukon, in Canada, down to the southern Andes of South America. A large cat and solitary by nature, after the Jaguar, it is the second heaviest cat in the Americas and the joint fourth in the world with the leopard, following the tiger, lion and jaguar, though it is nearer in relationship to the smaller big cats.
Hunting
The mountain lion hunts a wide variety of prey and is a very accomplished hunter using stalk and ambush tactics to catch prey they usually hunt at night or in the twilight of dusk or dawn. With great stealth and patience they will stalk their prey, timing the moment of attack with great skill, they will pounce using a bite to back of the neck to kill. A large kill may be hidden and consumed over several days.
Prey includes mammals such as deer, bighorn sheep and elk and it will also take smaller animals including, porcupines, coyotes, raccoons, rodents and even insects. It will also take domestic animals such as cattle, horses and sheep if it comes across them.
Territory
Its favourite habitat are areas of rocks and thick bush and shrubs for cover while stalking, though it can do well in more open terrain. Being a solitary, territorial animal the size of the area it will need for its own domain will be governed by the abundance of prey and density of bush and type of rock cover.
Rarely Attacks Humans
Despite being a large and powerful hunter killer it may have a more dominant predator in its territory such as black bears, grizzly bears, gray wolves, or jaguars.
It rarely attacks humans and is reclusive avoiding contact as much as possible. Records show that on average there are only four attacks in the US and Canada an only one fatality. Those attacked are usually small children, or solitary adults.
In North America the huge immigration of people from Europe and other countries and the development of land that the mountain lion used for territory, along with excessive hunting, have caused its numbers to have dropped in most of its traditional habitats and range. In eastern areas of North America it was virtually wiped out, though in Florida a small isolated population survived. Today there are signs that it may be returning to some of its former eastern haunts and is returning to Wyoming quite strongly.
© 31/07/2009 zteve t evans
Its favourite habitat are areas of rocks and thick bush and shrubs for cover while stalking, though it can do well in more open terrain. Being a solitary, territorial animal the size of the area it will need for its own domain will be governed by the abundance of prey and density of bush and type of rock cover.
Rarely Attacks Humans
Despite being a large and powerful hunter killer it may have a more dominant predator in its territory such as black bears, grizzly bears, gray wolves, or jaguars.
It rarely attacks humans and is reclusive avoiding contact as much as possible. Records show that on average there are only four attacks in the US and Canada an only one fatality. Those attacked are usually small children, or solitary adults.
In North America the huge immigration of people from Europe and other countries and the development of land that the mountain lion used for territory, along with excessive hunting, have caused its numbers to have dropped in most of its traditional habitats and range. In eastern areas of North America it was virtually wiped out, though in Florida a small isolated population survived. Today there are signs that it may be returning to some of its former eastern haunts and is returning to Wyoming quite strongly.
© 31/07/2009 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans July 31, 2009
Copyright zteve t evans July 31, 2009