Where does the cougar live?
The cougar lives across the whole American continent, from the Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes and Patagonia. It is the most widely distributed wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere: its range spans 110 degrees of latitude. A generalist, it adapts to nearly all American habitats. It prefers dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but also lives in open terrain. It is recolonising part of its former range.
What does the cougar eat?
The cougar is an ambush predator that pursues a wide variety of prey. It hunts mostly ungulates, particularly deer, but also rodents. It is largely solitary and territorial, and lives at low densities. Its home range depends on terrain, vegetation and prey abundance. Although large, it is not always the dominant predator: it sometimes gives up its prey to others.
Is the cougar endangered?
No: the IUCN has listed it as Least Concern since 2008. It is still threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and by the loss of its prey due to poaching.
