Puma

The puma (Puma concolor) is a type of predator-feline found in North, Central, and South America. Even though it is large in size this cat can purr and is therefore considered a small cat. It is more closely related to the common house cat than to the african lion. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The word puma comes from the Quechua language. In North America, particularly the United States, panther by itself refers to a puma, although the term black panther is more commonly associated with the melanistic variants of leopards or jaguars rather than pumas. In Europe and Asia, panther means leopard and can refer to either the spotted or black leopard. In South America, panther refers to the jaguar and can refer to either the spotted or black jaguar.

Population and distribution

Before the modern human population explosion in the Americas, the puma ranged across most of the Americas. Even now, it has the widest range of any New World land animal, spanning 110 degrees of latitude, from the southern Yukon Territory (in Canada) to the southern Andes (on both the Chilean and Argentinian sides).

Related Topics:
Population explosion - Americas - New World - Degree - Latitude - Yukon - Canada - Andes - Chilean - Argentinian

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Puma populations of the United States and Canada

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. In Canada, pumas are found west of the prairies, in Alberta, British Columbia and the southern Yukon.

Related Topics:
Alberta - British Columbia - Yukon

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Pumas are gradually extending their range to the east, following creeks and riverbeds, and have reached Missouri and Michigan. It is anticipated that they will soon expand their range over the entire eastern and southern United States. There are continuing reports of the survival of a remnant population of the Eastern Cougar in New Brunswick, Ontario, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec.

Related Topics:
Creek - Missouri - Michigan - New Brunswick - Ontario - Gaspé Peninsula - Quebec

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Due to urbanization in the urban-wildland interface, pumas often come into contact with people, especially in areas with a large population of deer, their natural prey. They have also begun preying on pets, such as dogs and cats, and livestock, but have rarely turned to people as a source of food.

Related Topics:
Urbanization - Urban-wildland interface - Deer - Pet - Dog - Cat - Livestock

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There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 pumas in California and an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 in Colorado.

Related Topics:
California - Colorado

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