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Class
Mammals
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Zoo section
Mountains
Diet
Carnivorous
IUCN Status
Least concern
Diet
Carnivorous , feeding on big game including deer, moose, North American elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, it also take small mammals and birds.
Lifespan
Up to 15-18 years in the wild.
Canadian status
Data deficient
Reproduction
Sexually mature at 2-3 years. Mating may occur at any time of the year. The 2-4 cubs are usually born between July and November after a gestation period of 14 weeks, and weaned after 3 months.
Predators
No natural predators except for human. However, young may be taken by gray wolf, coyote, and bear.
FAQ
Can one find cougars in Quebec ?
The status of the cougar population in North America is precarious. The status of the Eastern subspecies, Puma concolor cougar, is for the moment not established because of insufficient data (according to the Committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada, COSEWIC). This species suffered enormously from the settlement of its habitat as it was subject to intensive hunting. In spite of all this, a number of trustworthy sightings have been made in Canada and Quebec. It is therefore possible to see cougars in Quebec and such a sighting is worth mentioning, given the scarcity of the animal and its almost completely nocturnal habits. There are those who believe that these sightings could come from released or escaped animals from captivity. Only genetic analysis could shed light on this subject.
Is the cougar the same as the puma ?
It is quite usual for one species to have several common (vernacular) names and this is the case with the cougar. Some call it the puma or the mountain lion. In order to avoid confusion, scientists use a binomial nomenclature, i.e. two words, to identify each species clearly and accurately. So, the scientific name of the cougar is Puma concolor.