Western Cougar - 'Michael'

This is Michael. He is a Western Cougar, also known as a Puma, Panther or Mountain Lion. Michael came to us from Oregon and was named in memory of Michael Chestnut Jr., his lifetime sponsor. He is a 2 year old cougar and weighs about 45 pounds. Cougars come from all parts of the US, Mexico, and Canada and live in all types of habitats.

In general the size and coloration of the cat varies greatly across its range, which stretches from south west Canada down the western states of North America and throughout most western parts of the South American Continent. Their color and size reflect the areas they are from. Their coats are their camouflage to keep them hidden from predators. The puma has a small, broad head with small rounded ears, a powerful body with long hind legs and tail, which is tipped with black.

The puma hunts alone by day or night, and will cache its food, if large enough, in dense undergrowth, returning to it over several days. The puma hunts wild deer, sheep, rodents, rabbits, hare and beaver. The puma is big enough to tackle larger prey such as domestic cattle and horses, for which it has earned a bad reputation with livestock farmers. In hunting, the puma uses the strength of its powerful hind legs to lunge at its prey with single running jumps that can reach in excess of 40 feet.

Western Cougars like those here in California are not endangered. However, there is a subspecies that is endangered, and that is the Florida Panther. There are as few as 50 or so of the Florida Panther that now survive in the wild