SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Puma concolor (Linnaeus)
OTHER NAMES:
Mountain Lion, Puma, Panther, Painter, Catamount (Young and Goldman 1946).
STATUS: Extirpated.
Probably was statewide in distribution in all habitats, especially remote upland woodlands, rough terrain, and bottomland swamps. Although sightings are still commonly reported in Alabama, these are likely misidentifications of domestic dogs and cats, coyotes, and bobcats. Some puma sightings have been traced back to escapees from captivity. The only known self-sustaining wild population closest geographically to Alabama is the Florida panther (P.c. coryi), which is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
DESCRIPTION:
Among the largest (150-275 cm [60-110 in.]; weight 35-100 kg [75-220 lb.]) native North American cats. Tawny, gray, red, or shades of brown dorsally, and contrary to popular lore, black pelage never documented; chin, medial muzzle, and ventral areas creamy white. Tail long, cylindrical, tipped with black, and more than one-third of total length. Ears short, rounded, without tufts, and blackish externally. Claws long, sharp, curved, and retractile. All heel pads distinctly three-lobed (Young and Goldman 1946, Choate et al. 1994). The subspecies that occupied much of Alabama was likely the Florida panther, Puma concolor coryi (Hall 1981), although the mountainous sections of northern Alabama may have been occupied by the eastern subspecies, P. c. cougar. Because no specimen of the native population was preserved, genetic affinities of native pumas in Alabama are unknown.
DISTRIBUTION:
Originally, the cougar had the widest distribution of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from northern Canada and Alaska to the southern tip of Chile (Young and Goldman 1946, Choate et al. 1994). Although extirpated from most of its distribution in the southeastern United States, small populations exist in Florida, and possibly in Arkansas and Louisiana (Currier 1983, Choate et al. 1994).
In Alabama, cougars were found statewide historically (Hall 1981). At present, reports of sightings in Alabama are relatively common, but these probably are released captives or cases of mistaken identity. Closest known extant and self-sustaining wild population is in Florida (P. c. coryi).
HABITAT:
Primarily rough, rocky, upland woods, large tracts of bottomland forest and swamps, and remote mountainous regions that aid in avoiding humans. Spend most of time on the ground, but readily climb trees and rocks to escape pursuit or to gain an advantageous position when hunting (Dixon 1982, Currier 1983, Lindzey 1987, Choate et al. 1994).
Life History and Ecology:
Solitary; the only social unit that endures more than a few days is the maternal bond of a female and her young. Females with small young avoid interactions with other cougars, but as young approach independence and female approaches estrous, she tolerates contact with other cougars of either sex. Males may occur together immediately after independence from the mother, but only rarely as established adult.
Deer are the staple food, but they also consume other animals including bobcats, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, nine-banded armadillos, coyotes, rodents, rabbits, feral swine, and domestic livestock. Prey are dragged to a secluded spot before eating begins. Once a cougar has eaten its fill, it may hide the remainder of its kill under leaves, sticks, or pine needles for several days (Young and Goldman 1946, Currier 1983).
They are polygamous, but the same individuals may mate year after year because of stability of home ranges (Seidensticker et al. 1973, Currier 1983). Home ranges of males often overlap those of several females. Females usually do not breed with more than one male during an estrous period. Gestation is about 90 days. Litters contain one to six young (average of three) weighing about 400 grams (14 ounces) each. Young are born with eyes and ears closed, but these open in seven to 14 days. Young remain in, or near, den two to three months, when they are weaned and begin accompanying female on hunting trips. Pelage of young is black-spotted in three irregular dorsal lines and transverse rows. These spots are vivid until three to four months old and are still discernible at one year of age.
Cougars first breed at two to three years old. Lifespan in the wild is 10-12 years, but some have lived longer than 20 years in captivity. Causes of mortality include injury from large prey, fighting, accidents (collision with motor vehicles, falls from cliffs, and drownings), and in the case of young, killing by other cougars. Also important are starvation, disease, and deaths caused by humans. Cougars have few ectoparasites, possible due to their low densities, solitary nature, and mobile habits. Common endoparasites are tapeworms, which are ingested from lungs or pericardium of deer (Young and Goldman 1946, Currier 1983, Choate et al.1994).
BASIS FOR STATUS CLASSIFICATION:
Cougars probably were extirpated from Alabama in the mid-1800s. Occasional sightings suggest free-ranging pumas, of unknown origin, occasionally may be present in Alabama, but there is no self-sustaining population currently known. Both subspecies that occur in the eastern United States (P. c. coryi and P. c. cougar) were listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1967 and 1973, respectively.
Author:
Troy L. Best
