Cougars at WildCat Ridge Sanctuary

Because of their enormous range, cougars are commonly known as “the cat of many names.” The cougar is a large, solitary cat whose territory extends from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. A mountain lion’s keen senses, muscular agility, and ability to adapt to almost any landscape and prey make it a successful hunter. In the English language, the cougar is known by over 40 different names. The most common of these names are cougar, mountain lion, puma. Other names include catamount, painter, ghost cat, and shadow cat.

Although large, the cougar is most closely related to smaller felines, specifically the jaguarundi, which is about one-tenth the size of the cougar. Recent studies have indicated that the cougar and the jaguarundi are most closely related to the modern cheetah, but the precise relationship remains unsolved. The cougars life expectancy is between 8 and 13 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.

The cougar has been widely admired in the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and the Inca city of Cusco is reported to have been designed in the shape of a cougar.

Many Native Americans believe that the cougar lived in the underworld and was wicked, whereas it was a sacred animal among the Cherokee.

With the exception of humans, the cougar has the largest range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere.

Some cougars eat porcupines, quills and all, apparently without any harm.

Cougars can jump 18 feet from the ground into a tree and they have been known to jump 20 feet up or down a hillside.