Pumas, also known as mountain lions or cougars, are large, solitary, and highly adaptable felids found across a vast range of habitats throughout the Americas. They are recognized as apex predators in most of their ecosystems, playing a role in maintaining the health and balance of wildlife populations. Their extensive distribution, stretching from Canada to the tip of South America, highlights their ability to thrive in diverse environments.
Predators of Puma Cubs
Puma cubs are especially vulnerable to predation due to their small size and dependence on their mothers. While the female puma hunts, cubs may be left alone in dens, making them susceptible to various predators. Bears (grizzly and black) and wolf packs pose a considerable threat to young pumas, sometimes leading to the loss of entire litters. Coyotes and large raptors, such as eagles, have also been known to attack and kill young mountain lions. Infanticide by other adult pumas can also occur, especially when resources are scarce, influencing puma population trends.
Adult Puma Predation
Healthy adult pumas are formidable animals, and direct predation upon them by other wildlife is rare. However, larger, dominant predators like grizzly bears and wolf packs might kill an adult puma, usually under specific circumstances. These encounters often occur during territorial disputes or competition over a kill, particularly if the puma is old, injured, sick, or caught off guard. Research indicates that wolves often dominate pumas in competitive interactions, sometimes displacing them from their kills. While bears may displace pumas from their food sources, direct predation on adult pumas by bears is not common.
Humans: The Primary Threat
Human activities represent the most significant cause of mortality for pumas across their range. Unlike natural predation, human impact extends through multiple avenues. Regulated hunting, while prohibited for sport in some areas like California, still contributes to puma deaths in many western states. Depredation permits are also issued, allowing the killing of pumas that prey on domestic animals.
Habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by urban expansion and development, force pumas into closer proximity with human settlements. This encroachment leads to increased encounters and conflict, as pumas adapt to navigating human-dominated landscapes. Vehicle collisions are another frequent cause of puma fatalities, particularly where highways bisect their habitats. Studies show that vehicle strikes account for a substantial percentage of puma deaths in urbanizing environments.
Retaliatory killings by livestock owners also contribute significantly to puma mortality, especially where pumas might opportunistically prey on hobby animals or small numbers of livestock. These factors collectively highlight that human activities far outweigh natural predation by other wildlife as a threat to puma populations.