These names all have different origins. Cougar attacks on humans do occur, but are very rare, in fact, less than 30 people have ever been reported as being killed by mountain lions And FYI, mountain lions, cougars, pumas, and Florida panthers are all the same thing. If a mountain lion attacks you, you probably won’t see it coming. These names all have different origins. The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. The total population of this giant carnivorous cat is not known, but … Are Cougars and Mountain Lions the Same Thing? Cougar and mountain lion could be confusing, especially in referring to them. In fact, cougars are also referred to as mountain lions, pumas, or panthers, depending on where they live. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. Yes, there are about 4 names for a cougar. From the deep canyons to the high plateaus of Zion roams a large, stealthy predator: the mountain lion, or cougar. Unlike other big cats, however, the cougar cannot roar. The book Cougar: The American Lion was written by Kevin Hansen in association with the Mountain Lion Foundation, and covers the mountain lion's history, evolution, life cycle, territoriality, predation, and interaction with humans. A cougar in the wild. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. In fact, this animal holds the Guinness world record for the highest number of names being used for a particular animal. Instead, the large feline purrs like a house cat. The name used depends on location. Panther, puma, cougar, or mountain lion are all different names for the same animal. Difference Between Cougar and Mountain Lion. Yes, there are about 4 names for a cougar. Spotting a mountain lion in the wild is extremely rare, but hikers often find clues of their presence like scat, recent kills, and scratches left on trees. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas. Mountain lion is the most common name. Panther, puma, cougar, or mountain lion are all different names for the same animal. As with many predators, however, a cougar may attack if cornered, or a fleeing human stimulates a cougar’s instinct to chase or a person “plays dead” and seems like a target. How To Stop a Mountain Lion Attack. Cougars also have similar body types to house cats, only on a larger scale. About the Mountain Lion or Cougar. Cougar vs Mountain Lion . Mountain lion is the most common name. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from Yukon in … Therefore, a proper understanding is necessary about these names and the differences between them would be important to be aware of if there are any. It is a good swimmer but prefers not to enter the water. In "The Cougar Almanac: A Complete Natural History of the Mountain Lion," Robert H. Busch lays out the derivation of the puma’s two best-known names, both of which have their roots in South America. Spanish explorers in South and North America named the animal “gato monte” (cat of the mountain). Cougars and mountain lions are the same animals. Term ‘mountain lion’ is commonly used by North Americans, whereas other names like a puma,panther, are commonly used by South Americans to call cougars. The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount and panther.Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. They tend to stalk their victim before the attack and they love to attack from behind. Image Courtesy: “Mountain Lion” by USFWS Mountain-Prairie – 8th Place – Mountain Lion, (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia “Mountain lions are apex predators and should be considered dangerous, although attacks on humans are extremely rare,” says Goodman. Although they may be known by different names - cougars, mountain lions, puma, just to name a few - they are all actually the same cat. The cougar is extremely agile and has great jumping power and may leap from the ground up to a height of 18 feet into a tree. The cougar is known by many names including mountain lion, puma, cougar and panther. The Mountain Lion Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization protecting mountain lions and their habitat. Mountain lions can be six to nine feet long from nose to tip of tail, weighing 80-180 pounds. The cougar is a big cat known by many names including panther, mountain lion, puma and up to 80 more, but these are all the same species, Puma concolor. The cougar is known by many names including mountain lion, puma, cougar and panther. The cougar (Puma concolor), also puma, mountain lion, or panther, is a mammal of the Felidae family, native to the Americas. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. Unlike bears (see defense against bear attacks here), Mountain Lions (also known as cougar, puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther) usually go after a person with the intent to eat them. Mountain Lion vs Puma . The cougar, which is also commonly referred to as a puma, mountain lion or panther, is the second largest cat in North America. One of the biggest misconceptions about North Carolina wildlife is the existence of cougars, or black panthers, in our state. Let’s start by getting the most dramatic scenarios out of the way first.