IDENTIFICATION

Length: Adult cougars are 7 to 8 feet long.

Weight: Adult male cougars weigh 140 to 175 pounds. Adult female cougars rarely weigh more than 110 pounds.

Color: Short, course hair that is light brown, rust, apricot, lemon, smoke, or black. The underside of the cat is white.

Sounds: Unlike other big cats, cougars cannot roar. Instead, they make chirping/whistling noises and house cat-like growls

HABITAT

Range: Breeding populations are found in western Canada, the twelve westernmost states in the USA, as well as Florida, parts of Central America, and most of South America. There is no breeding population in Minnesota, but dispersing individuals pass through while looking for a mate or territory.

Diet: Cougars are successful generalist predators, eating whatever they can hunt down. This may include deer, coyotes, beaver, ground squirrels, rabbits, skunks, porcupines, and birds.

Status: Least Concern globally, federally listed as Endangered. This is due to persecution following the colonization and continuing human development of cougar habitat. Populations have dropped in many parts of their historical range. The cougar was extirpated in eastern North America, except an isolated sub-population in Florida.

LIFE CYCLE

Reproduction: Cougars mate throughout June and July. After a gestation period of 3 months, females will give birth to a litter of 1 to 6 kittens. These kittens are born with spotted coats that they will eventually shed. Females won’t have another litter until 2 to 3 years later. Males play no role in rearing offspring.

Adaptations: Vision is one of this species’ most important adaptations for hunting; their eyes are quite large, with the retina containing more rods than cones. They have excellent night vision, extremely sensitive hearing, a weak sense of smell, and short muzzles that give them increased biting power. All of these adaptations make this solitary predator a fantastic ambush hunter.