Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
A-Z-Animals
Cougar vs Mountain Lion – Is There Even a Difference?
By Krishna Maxwell,
6 days ago
Cougars , pumas , and mountain lions , oh my! Depending on where you live or what you are watching, you may hear America’s big cat called by a number of different names.
Are there differences between cougars and mountain lions? Where do they live? Keep reading to find out.
Cougars and mountain lions are actually two different names for the same animal!
Mountain lion and cougar are actually two different names for the same animal. Cougars have a very large range spanning much of North and South America . Different groups of people called them by different names.
Comparing Cougars vs. Mountain Lions
The same descriptive features apply to this animal, whether you call it a mountain lion or a cougar. Here are some fast facts:
Scientific name – Puma concolor Common names – Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther , painter, catamount Size – 2.8 to 5 ft (86 to 155 cm) in length, 75 to 158 lbs (34 to 72 kg) Habitat – Mountains, forests, deserts, swamps Range – North and South America Lifespan – Up to 20 years Body – Feline Temperament – Stealthy, solitary
The term “mountain lion” is most often used for the North American subspecies (Puma concolor cougar), and “cougar” for the South American subspecies (Puma concolor concolor). Begin from the same species, the differences between these cats are slight, but include:
Key Differences Between Cougars and Mountain Lions
Cougars and mountain lions are the same species, Puma concolor. This big cat has the largest range of any land mammal (besides humans) in the Western Hemisphere, so it is not surprising that isolated populations developed into subspecies. These include:
The North American Cougar Classified as Puma concolor cougar, this subspecies ranges from Canada to the southernmost reaches of the United States, through Mexico and Central America , and possibly into South America .
The Florida Panther This subspecies was once found throughout the southern United States. Nearly hunted to extinction, around 50 individuals now live in southern Florida. Conservation efforts seek to help this population make a comeback. Florida panthers are generally smaller than their western cousins. Though distinct, it is still part of the Puma concolor cougar or North American cougar subspecies.
The South American cougar lives throughout South America, including Brazil and the Andes Mountains.
Overall Size
Adults of the Florida panther and South American cougar varieties may weigh only half of what adult North American mountain lions weigh.
Diet
Cougars and mountain lions are opportunistic predators. They’ll take whatever mammals and birds they can catch, but diets vary somewhat based on the prey available in each geographic region. Mountain lions eat lots of deer and mountain sheep . South American cougars hunt wild camelids including the llama , alpaca , vicuña, and guanaco, as well as the capybara , the world’s largest rodent.
The mountain lion generally lives in cooler mountainous regions, while the cougar inhabits tropical forests. Again, the exception to this is the Florida panther of the northern subspecies, which dwells in hot, humid, swampy habitats.
Coloration
All cougars have a tawny coat with a lighter underbelly. However, differences in coloration are seen depending on the climate. Mountain lions may have silvery, slightly longer fur, while cougars from warm areas – the Florida panther and the South American cougar – have a more reddish coloration.
Cougars and mountain lions tend to run away or hide rather than attack humans.
Is It Normal For Cougars And Mountain Lions To Attack Humans?
Both cougars and mountain lions have been reported to have attacked humans, though this occurrence is rare. They are afraid of encounters with mankind and are more likely to run away or hide than to attack. In North America, only 126 attacks from a mountain lion have been recorded in the last 100 years, with 27 of those attacks being fatal. If one does happen to attack, it is likely due to loss of territory, lack of food, or the mountain lion viewing the human as prey.
Bonus: Do Bobcats Attack Humans?
It’s very rare for a
bobcat
to attack a human, but they will prey on small, unattended pets if given the chance.
We’ve investigated facts surrounding mountain lions, as well as the threats they pose to humans. Another large cat that lives in the wild in parts of North America is the bobcat . Do bobcats pose a similar threat to humans? How often do they attack, and are they as dangerous as mountain lions?
Bobcats (also called lynxes) are smaller than mountain lions, typically weighing between 15 to 40 lbs. Sometimes bobcats are comparable in size to larger domestic cats, weighing up to 20 lbs. Due to their size, they feed on smaller prey like rabbits, birds, squirrels, rats, and chickens. They would not likely view a large human in terms of a potential meal. However, they can be drawn to yards by unattended small pets, which are attractive prey to bobcats.
Other things that can attract bobcats to your property include:
Bird baths
Pools
Fountains
Water for livestock
Food for livestock
Space underneath decks
Thick brush and shade
Unoccupied yards to sunbathe in
Bobcats usually run away from a human. If you encounter one, the best thing to do is face the bobcat, stand your ground (don’t flee), and make noise. Do not, however, purposefully approach a bobcat. If a bobcat boldly approaches you, it may have rabies. While reports of bobcat attacks on humans hardly exist, there was a resident of Saddlebrooke, Arizona, who suffered a bobcat attack. Authorities believed it to be rabid, but it was not successfully captured to prove as much. The man bitten was forced to undergo a full round of rabies treatments to protect him from potential infection.
In summation, bobcats do not pose the same threat to humans that mountain lions do. As long as you react appropriately if an encounter with a bobcat occurs, you’ll likely walk away unscathed. The chances of being attacked by a mountain lion are greater.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0