Mountain Lions

Mountain lion

The mountain lion has more names than any other mammal. cougar, panther, puma, mountain lion, Mexican cat, Wildcat, and Catamount. How did it get all these names? The cougar has a wide habitat range, from the prairies of Texas to the snow of Canada, so, as the manCougar sittingy different people came to America they each gave it their own name, The Indians, the Mexicans, the English, the French and many other people. The scientific name for the cougar is Felis concolor which means cat of one color.

Where does the cougar live?

Cougars live in North AmericaThe cougar lives in North America: all the way from Canada to Mexico. Their range also extends to the east. Cougars are very adaptable to many types of habitat, forests, jungles, prairies, deserts, and swamps. Because they are solitary cats, which means they live alone or just with a mate and cubs, mountain lions require a lot of room. Only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile range.

What does the cougar eat?

Mountain lion stalking preyCougars are carnivorous. More than half of a their diet is deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, raccoons, rabbits, and mice. Mountain lions hunt by stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce on it. Then, with a fatal bite in the back of the neck the prey dies instantly.

Facts about the cougar

Florida pantherMountain lions are very powerful and graceful, especially while running. There are two different subspecies of Mountain lion. The Mountain lion and the Florida panther. The Florida Panther is smaller and lives in Florida. Cubs are born with spots until they are 12 months old. These spots act like camouflage to hide them from hungry Cougar cubspredators. When they grow older, their color varies from gray, dark brown, tawny, or cinnamon red, depending on where they live. These cats are rarely seen by humans, although they do occasionally attack people, usually children or adults that are alone. On average, there are only four attacks and one fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada. If you do meet one, do NOT try to run away. Back away, look big, and make a lot a noise.

7 Comments

  1. Allen P. March 22, 2009 at 8:24 pm #

    Very good job, David. I enjoyed learning more about cougars. I like the pictures, too! one thing – did you mean that the cub have spots till 12 months?

  2. David March 23, 2009 at 12:49 pm #

    Hello Allen! Good catch. I meant to change that but I forgot. I just updated the post. Thanks!

  3. James, Dad and Michael March 23, 2009 at 3:42 pm #

    I can still remember you reading that report to us the other day. I think it is quite amazing that the “Felis concolor” can survive in such a variety of habitats. I guess that is why it has so many different names.

  4. Donald March 24, 2009 at 3:10 am #

    Wow what a post. I had heard (from the book on Zoo Animals) that it could also be called the De Lion. Maybe that’s just Spanish or French for “The Lion”!

  5. Donald March 24, 2009 at 5:39 pm #

    I was actually reading your post a second time here David. And it continues to amaze me. Imagine eating a porcupine. Another thing stood out to me too. Since our adversary, the Devil, walks about as a roaring LION, some clear parallels can be made with our spiritual warfare:
    1) He often attacks when we are alone,
    2) He patiently stalks and waits for a time when we aren’t watching vigilantly, and
    3) He attacks from behind.
    Knowing about the Mountain Lion’s attack strategy really makes you appreciate and value those practical tips on self-defense you gave at the end.
    What is the answer then for overcoming our enemy? “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:6b-8).

  6. Michael March 24, 2009 at 6:39 pm #

    I’ve always admired mountain lions, David. I didn’t know that deaths by and injuries by them were so common. I’ve talked to one person who saw one not far from here in WV, but that was several years ago. Those are good thoughts Donald – I know that injuries and deaths by THAT lion are a LOT more common. Thinking about it, there is a lot we can do to avoid them.

  7. Robert March 30, 2009 at 8:55 pm #

    Great report, David, and I really enjoyed the pictures! 🙂

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