Cougar

TYPE:   MAMMAL

RANGE: Used to be North and South America; in U.S., now just parts of Florida

FOOD: Rodents, deer, hare, porcupines, beavers, sheep, horses, cattle

PREDATORS: Humans

HABITAT: Grassland, bush, swamps, forests

Photo: Gerald and Buff Corsi

DESCRIPTION The cougar is also known as the panther, the puma, and the mountain lion. Hunting and the building of cities and suburbs have killed off most of the cougars in the United States. Cougars are champion jumpers. They can pounce up to 20 feet and leap up to 15 feet into the air. They are ferocious hunters that can drag their kill large distances to a safe place to eat. Cougars cannot roar. Instead, their cry is between a cough and a growl. Cougars are rather gentle for large cats and surprisingly easy to tame.

LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION  http://www.cptigers.org/cougar.htm