Cougars
The largest of the 'small cats', the Cougar has many names over its range throughout the Americas. Often referred to as Mountain Lion in Minnesota, Cougars may also be called Puma, Catamount or Panther. Currently, the Cougar is broken into six subspecies throughout it's range, five of which are in Latin America. The subspecies commonly found in the US and Canada, Puma concolor cougar, historically was widespread, but now are common to the western states and provinces. The only established population east of the Mississippi river currently is the Florida Panther, a population of Cougar listed under the Endangered Species Act and often listed as a seventh subspecies, Puma concolor coryi.
Coloration of the Cougar is generally brown, gray or reddish with lighter undersides of the body and head. Kittens are born spotted with blue eyes and rings on their tails, but always fade to the unspotted coat of the adult. No documented cases of all black Cougars exist. Average weight ranges from 34-72 kg (75-160 lbs) and an average length and height of 1.5-2.75 m (5-9 ft) and 60-80 cm (2.0-2.7 ft) respectively, with males tending to be larger than females, and northern individuals larger than southern individuals.
Cougars are powerful animals capable of speeds up to 55 km/h (35 mph) for short periods of time. The powerful hind legs allow for vertical jumps up to 5.4 m (18 ft) and horizontal leaps of 6-12 m (20-40 ft). Built for short, powerful bursts of speed, the Cougar is also an adept tree climber. Hunting is by surprise, stalking and ambushing with a leap and delivering a neck bite that asphyxiates its prey. The majority of the Cougar's diet is large Ungulates, though it will eat any animal it can catch.
Cougars are solitary animals, coming together only to breed. Territories range from 25-1300 square km. (10-500 sq. mi.) depending on habitat type and available prey. Breeding tends to occur every two to three years. Average life expectancy in the wild is eight to ten years, but as much as twenty in captivity. Vocalizations tend to be similar to that of a house cat, with growls, hisses and purrs, as well as whistles and chirps. Cougars do not roar, lacking the specialized throat structures that define the Big Cat group. Although a dominant predator, Cougars do face challenges from packs of Grey Wolves and Bears.
Current range of the North American Cougar is most of the Western United States and Canada, with an isolated population in Florida. There are occasional reports elsewhere, with a few recent sightings here in Minnesota. As of now, there is no stable population of Cougars in Minnesota.
Human attacks, though extremely rare, have become more common in recent years. Since 1890, 108 confirmed attacks on humans have occurred with twenty fatalities in North America. Fifty of the incidents have occurred since 1991, likely due to increased populations of people in Cougar territory and increased habituation of Cougars to humans.
The Wildlife Science Center is home to two Cougars. Sunny and Spike came to us from the Clinch Park Zoo in Michigan after its closure. The zoo generously gifted the WSC a beautiful enclosure at our Sunrise River Campus and are currently not on public display.
