Pumas, also known by many names including cougars, mountain lions, and panthers, are highly adaptable apex predators found across the Americas. Their vast geographic range, stretching from Canada to the southern Andes Mountains, makes them one of the most widespread terrestrial mammals in the Western Hemisphere. As obligate carnivores, meat forms the entirety of their diet, a fundamental aspect that shapes their behavior and ecological role in diverse ecosystems.
Main Prey of Pumas
The primary components of a puma’s diet consist of large hoofed mammals, known as ungulates. These include species such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk, which are their preferred and most common prey in North America. In certain regions, moose, bighorn sheep, and even feral horses or donkeys can also be significant food sources. A survey of North American research found that ungulates account for approximately 68% of a cougar’s prey items, with deer being particularly prominent. Pumas possess specialized teeth for shearing and tearing flesh, reflecting their deep ecological connection with these large prey animals.
Varied Diet and Adaptations
While large ungulates form the dietary cornerstone, pumas exhibit remarkable flexibility, adapting their diet based on prey availability, season, and geographic location. When larger prey is scarce, they readily hunt smaller animals such as rabbits, hares, rodents like porcupines, raccoons, and even birds. In South America, their diet can include guanacos, peccaries, vicuñas, and capybaras, with some populations even preying on Magellanic penguins. This dietary versatility allows pumas to thrive in various habitats, from forests and grasslands to deserts.
Pumas may also prey on livestock, especially when natural prey populations are low or human development encroaches on their habitat. However, livestock predation represents a small percentage of their overall diet. Studies indicate that losses to livestock are often localized to a few operators and are significantly less common than other causes of livestock mortality. The ability of pumas to adjust their diet reflects their opportunistic nature and contributes to their survival across diverse landscapes.
Hunting Strategies and Consumption
Pumas are solitary ambush predators, relying on stealth and surprise to capture their prey. They patiently stalk animals through dense vegetation or rocky terrain, often launching a powerful pounce from a short distance. Their hunting activity often peaks during dawn and dusk, taking advantage of lower light conditions to approach targets undetected. Once a puma secures its prey, it delivers a suffocating bite to the neck or throat, utilizing its strong jaws and canine teeth.
After making a kill, pumas drag the carcass to a secluded location to feed undisturbed, consuming a significant amount of meat in one sitting, sometimes 20 to 30 pounds. They are known to cache uneaten portions of larger kills with leaves, grass, or other debris to protect them from scavengers and return to feed over several days. This caching behavior is particularly common for intermediate-sized prey, allowing them to maximize energetic gains. A large male puma may make a kill every 9 to 12 days, revisiting the site until the carcass is consumed. Female pumas in areas with higher human presence may kill more frequently but eat less from each carcass, requiring them to hunt more often to meet their nutritional needs.