EnglishFrom the snowy wilds of Alaska to the rugged southern tip of Chile, uno Gato grande has mastered a variety of biomes. In North America and South America, the puma stalks its prey, raises its young, and splits the air with its distinct screaming calls.
This long-tailed, enigmatic felid has proven extremely adaptable to a range of environments despite threats like human hunting and habitat loss. At Paso Pacifico, our mission to protect the wildlife of Mesoamerica includes educating audiences about the importance of the puma and the delicate ecosystems it inhabits.
How the Pumas of North and South America Live
The puma’s scientific name is Puma concolor, which describes the uniformly colored coat sported by mature specimens. Unlike many cat species, pumas have no patterns like spots, stripes, or rosettes on their fur. En lugar, they have a plain coat that may range in shade from grayish, tawny, or reddish. Even pumas from the same litter can display a variation of shades.
The puma is a sizable cat. It is often the largest felid predator in its ecosystem. The only exception would be in zones where the puma habitat overlaps with those of jaguars. Since the puma’s range covers nearly all of South America and the majority of western North America, the species displays considerable variation in size across its range.
Observers have recorded that pumas are generally smaller in size the closer they live to the equator. Toward the northern and southern fringes of their distribution in the Americas, pumas tend to be larger. The most impressive puma specimens can reach up to 200 pounds and measure about seven feet from nose to tail.
Habits and Lifestyle
Imposing in form, the puma reigns as the Western Hemisphere’s runner-up in feline size, overshadowed only by the jaguar. Sin embargo, this grandeur doesn’t secure its footing within the revered “big cat” league. The five customary titans—lions, tigres, jaguares, leopards, and snow leopards—dwell together under the genus Panthera, bound by lineage and their signature roars.
Curiosamente, this roaring sound is unattainable for the puma of the genus Puma and the cheetah of Acinonyx. Without the Panthera’s modified hyoid bone, they lack the anatomy required to produce those deep, resounding roars. En lugar, the puma possesses an impressive vocal arsenal, enabling it to chirp, purr, and growl.
Only during courtship will the puma’s cry truly startle. A high-pitched, almost eerie wail, often mistaken for a distressed woman echoes through the wilds, as if the puma were offering its own haunting reminder that it is independent from the big cat chorus. Females that are in season produce these calls to attract nearby males.
Pumas are not as solitary as other big cat species like tigers, jaguares, and leopards, nor are they as social as lions. Male pumas have larger territories than females. Several female pumas might establish their territory within a single male’s domain. Individuals within the same home range have been known to share kills, and conspecific violence is rare with pumas that are familiar to each other.
Diet and Nutrition
When it comes to sharing kills, pumas have a buffet of options to choose from. They are generalist hypercarnivores, which means they will take both large and small prey depending on availability.
Prey recognition is a learned behavior in pumas, so the cats in different ecosystems will go after different prey animals. From large mammals like deer, elk, sheep, goats, and guanacos, to smaller prey like rodents, conejos, and birds, pumas are equipped to hunt them all.
A Hunter by Any Other Name…
This elusive prowler, often mistaken for different big cats, goes by a myriad of names. Is the puma a cougar? Or perhaps a mountain lion? The answer, despite the names, is a resounding “sí.” In North America, it’s commonly the “cougar,” while South Americans know it as “puma.” But these terms merely scratch the surface.
Beyond these monikers, the puma revels in a quirky array of titles: “mountain screamer,” “deer tiger,” “catamount,” and the almost fantastical “catawampus.” With over 40 English variations, the puma has captured a Guinness World Record for holding the most names among mammals, a fitting title for such an enigmatic creature.
Can You See Pumas in the Wild?
Occupying a vast range across the Western Hemisphere, the puma proves to be one of the most widely spread mammals. Its ability to thrive on varied diets and adapt to a multitude of habitats accounts for its extensive reach.
Although threatened by hunting and habitat encroachment, the puma endures. Despite their gradual decline, they hold a “Least Concern” status on the IUCN Red List.
But pumas aren’t easy to spot. Known as “ghosts of the wilderness,” these cats move with a silence and swiftness that befits their reclusive nature. Wildlife experts often say that a sighting only occurs if the puma intends to be seen, making encounters scarce and precious. Their stalking behavior renders them nearly invisible, slipping through shadows and blending seamlessly into the backdrop.
The Puma’s Main Habitat
As the nickname “mountain lion” suggests, the puma is well-suited to rocky elevations. In Patagonia, the Andean puma reaches an impressive size, allowing it to adapt to the rugged terrain.
Todavía, this feline is far from picky; it lives across diverse biomes, from dense jungles to temperate woodlands. Such adaptability means wherever there is prey and shelter, the puma is apt to dwell, quietly acclimating to the local landscape.
Legends of the Puma
Seeing a magnificent predator like the puma is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It makes perfect sense then that the puma would become a significant figure in the mythology of native populations.
The Incas believed that the puma was a familiar of the thunder god. They regarded it with great reverence. Pumas also occupy a prominent position in Incan iconography and symbolism.
mientras tanto, Native American tribes have their own beliefs about the puma. For some, like the Apache, the sound of a screaming puma was an omen of death. Others, like the Cherokee, believed it was a sacred animal.
How To Handle a Puma Encounter
The best way to see a puma is in its natural habitat and from a safe distance. Even though attacks on humans are extremely rare, it’s best to afford them the same respect that all large predators are due.
In the event of an unplanned encounter with a puma, it’s best to back away from the cat while making yourself seem as large as possible. Maintain direct eye contact and make loud sounds.
If a puma attacks, it’s better to defend yourself with sticks, rocks, or even your bare hands rather than playing dead.
Paso Pacifico Pushes for Puma Protection
The jungles of Central America are home to a population of pumas, and Paso Pacifico is hard at work protecting these beautiful cats’ homes. De field surveys monitoring puma and jaguar populations, to securing core habitats so species like the puma can thrive, we are wholly committed to upholding the puma’s place as a true icon of the Americas.
Paso Pacifico’s approach is inclusive, holistic, y basado en la comunidad. We work with local community members and organizations to conserve animals and their homes. We focus on issues that affect wildlife conditions, take time to understand the context, and innovate solutions.
This has led us to initiatives that champion environmental education, cultivate relationships with farmers and fishermen, and employ innovations like camera traps.Help us safeguard wildlife and their homes by donando to Paso Pacifico today.