Conservation
Scientific Classification
| Order | Carnivora |
| Suborder | Feliformia |
| Family | Felidae |
| Subfamily | Felinae |
| Genus | Puma |
| Binomial name | Puma concolor |
Range Map
Description
The cougar is a solitary, elusive, and mostly nocturnal wildcat. They are also called the puma, mountain lion, and catamount.
Their color is grayish-brown with white on the underbody. Cougars measure about 2.4 m long (including the tail) and weigh from 53 to 100 kg.
Cougars are carnivores, eating mainly deer, but will also prey on elk, coyotes, mountain goats, beavers, moose, and wild sheep. Smaller cougars eat smaller mammals.
They can live in an enormous range of habitats in all of North American, except for northern Canada and Alaska. They have a lifespan that ranges between 8 to 13 years.