Cougar: Stealthy Predator of the Americas
Introduction:
Before we dive into the characteristics of the cougar, let us first understand what a cougar means. A cougar usually indicates a puma, mountain lion, or big cat which is quite renowned for its elusiveness. One interesting thing to note about them is how widespread it is in terms of topographical distribution. It is categorised as an apex predator, which means it is extremely adaptable when it comes to hunting. Its resourceful nature has made it possible for them to thrive deep within forests and even in barren deserts.
Cougar Facts:
Like all phenomenal incorporates, they too have some exceptional attributes, as follows:
- Broad Distribution: They do not have any restrictions in terms of their living area, as they can easily thrive in Canada as well as the southern parts of South America. This is also the reason why their migratory regions encompass the largest zones in both North and South America.
- Can’t Roar: They can’t roar like tigers or lions. Still, they can growl, scream, hiss, and even chirp.
- Exceptional Jumpers: A furball or not, this feline is arguably one of the best jumpers across reptiles. They can skip horizontally up to 40 feet, and from the ground, they can leap vertically 18 feet.
- Speed & Agility: They are able to achieve speeds of 40-50 mph in 5-10 seconds while chasing down their prey. Their prey will most likely not be able to run away.
- Multiple Names: This majestic feline has more than 40 cultural and linguistic references like cougar, puma, mountain lion, catamount, and panther.
Habitats and Diet:
Habitat:
The most adaptable cats of the family Felidae, they can live in:
- Forests: Both boreal and tropical forests.
- Grasslands and savannas: Have open hunting areas.
- Deserts: Capture tiny animals for dry climates in savannas and Sonoran deserts.
- Mountainous Regions: Stalk prey within rugged, rocky regions by stalking using cliffs.
Diet:
Depends on the region they live in:
- Primary Diet: Some deer species like white-tailed, mule, and elk.
Secondary Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, raccoons, porcupines, and rabbits.
Occasional Diet: Wherever necessary, they prey on livestock, other moose, or smaller animals.
Appearance:
They have bodies built for agility and stealth in stalking their prey. They are sleek and powerful with sharp eyes and ears.
- Size: The average adult measures around 1 to 1.6 meters. They have a body length of 3.25 to 5.25 feet, and males usually range from 115 to 220 pounds, while females range from 64 to 140 pounds. They have a tail length of 2 to 3 feet.
- Colouration: According to reports, they have tawny or sand brown coloured coats. They have lighter patches that help them to camouflage in their surroundings.
- Face: On their faces, they have rounded small heads. They have nose, ear, and tail tips with black markings on them.
Types/Subspecies of Cougars:
They are subdivided into six distinct subspecies, most of which are resident to specific locations.
- Florida Panther: You can only find this type of cougar in the flooded areas of Florida, and they are critically endangered.
- North American Cougar: Found generally around the USA, Canada, and well, even Central America.
- Costa Rican Puma: The Andean Puma is a Central America native range that lives in Andean mountains and regions further south of America.
- Andean Puma: This temperate tree inhabits subtype. These types of cougers usually live in tropical forests.
- Eastern South American Puma: inhabiting Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Southern South American pumas (Puma concolor puma) – resides in the Patagonia region and southern South America.
Cougar Predators and Threats:
Natural Predators:
They are powerful due to their size, so they don’t have many natural predators. In contrast, cubs tend to have more obstacles in their way.
- Wolves: Contest with cougars and may capture their kills and could target them during territorial skirmishes.
- Bears: They tend to steal the cougars’ kills, which occasionally makes it difficult for the cougars to eat their own meals.
- Jaguars: Where the regions of their range mingle, jaguars usually prey on them, particularly the smaller ones.
- Other Cougars: In territorial confrontations, finished males tend to fight adult males, leading to cubs being involved.
Threats:
Regardless of overlaps in the terrain of them, there are still issues like:
- Habitat Loss: Places with high density populations and areas deforested put a strain on their habitats, leading to a fight between humans and wildlife.
- Poaching: A few regions are influenced by hunting tourism, where they are enjoyed for sport or as a pest to domestic animals.
- Vehicle Collisions: An increased number of roads being built cause higher risks for cars getting struck by cars.
- Deficiency in Supplies: Intense overhunting or alteration of a habitat can extract significant amounts of deer and other prey species having an adverse effect on their population.
Mating and Reproduction:
Mating Calls:
- Females in heat advertise their willingness to mate through vocalisation and pheromone secretion.
Pregnancy:
- The gestation period spans roughly 3 months.
- Most mothers deliver between one and six young in a cave, hollowed-out tree, or a thicket.
- Cubs are born as blind little spotted furballs, which help them to conceal in the wild; these fur patterns change as they mature.
Maternal Behaviour:
- A mother is extremely caring and protective of her children, offering shelter and food while constantly monitoring them.
- Cubs remain with their mother for one and a half to two years until they are ready to be independent.
How do they Communicate?
Vocalisation:
- Screams: They emit a very loud and terrifying scream while searching for a mate.
- Growling/Hissing: These are aggressive warning sounds to defend territory against other foes or rivals.
- Purring/Chirping: Mothers use these gentle sounds to communicate with their young offspring.
Scent Marking:
- Other cougars are communicated with through scent, which is made by using urine, faeces, or scratching on trees.
Body Language:
- Postures, tail, and ear positions indicate aggression, curiosity, or submission.
Cultural and ecological significance:
Ecological Role:
- They perform the function of keeping the population of herbivorous animals that feed on plants like deer in check so that there is no over-browsing. They are known as keystone predators for this reason.
- They enhance biological diversity because their presence increases the chance of changing the behaviour of the predators and the growth of the vegetation.
Cultural Symbolism:
- Native American Lore: In many tribes, they are regarded as symbols of strength, independence, and sovereignty.
- Contemporary Symbolism: Represent wood, cunningness, and stamina. These attributes are portrayed in logos, mascots, and fiction books.
Movies featuring Cougar:
Different films and documentaries have depicted the strength and mystery of them.
- Trivia: Cougar Town: This National Geographic production studies the reappearance of cougars in North America.
- Cougar: Ghost of the Rockies (1998): A PBS documentary that chronicles the life of a cougar in the Rocky Mountains.
- LoBo, El Cazador De La Sierra (1962): A Disney animated movie telling the story of a cougars adventures in the American West.
- Planet Earth II (2016): Includes stunning footage of cougars hunting in Patagonia.
How would you pronounce it?
The word “cougar” is said differently in the following languages:
- English: /ˈkuːɡər/
- Spanish: /puma/
- French: /couguar/
- German: /Puma/
- Italian: /puma/
- Chinese: /美洲狮 (Měizhōu shī)/
- Japanese: /クーガー (Kūgā)/
- Russian: /кугуар (kuguar)/
- Arabic: /الأسد الجبلي (al-asad al-jabali)/
- Hindi: /कूगर (Kūgar)/
FAQs:
Q: Where are cogs found?
A: Their habitat spreads all over the forests of North Canada and the Andes mountains in South America.
Q: What is their diet?
A: They mostly eat deer, smaller mammals, birds, and livestock when natural prey is not available.
Q: Are they endangered?
A: Along with the Florida panther, many other populations undergo habitat loss and hunting, which leads them to be at risk of being critically endangered. Still, they are not considered globally endangered.
Q: How fast can they run?
A: Their effective hunting skills can be attributed to their high speed, being able to sprint over 40 mph. Although they are not great long distance sprinters, they can effectively run short distances.
Q: Can they attack humans?
A: They attacking humans is not a common occurrence, but it does happen. The primary reason being if they feel threatened or aggressive.