Mountain Lion 
By Brady S. 

Mountain lions, commonly known as pumas or cougars, are very endangered.  They are carnivores (only eat meat). 

They live in North America and South America.  Eleven different types of mountain lions can be found in North America.  Only eight species can be seen in South America. 

Mountain lions are 1100 to 2000 millimeters in length.  These big cats can weigh from 30 to 85 kilograms.  Although Mountain Lions are not the biggest cats, they can be ferocious. 

Mountain lions have an average lifespan of about 10 to 15 years old.  The average litter size of mountain lions is 2 to 3 cubs.

Mountain lions mainly hunt and eat small mammals, deer, and elk.  It is said that they have become extinct partially because people such as ranchers, have believed that they have killed their cattle.  

Mountain lions have little black spots over their eyes.  But when mountain lion cubs are born, they have brown areas on their backs and have ringed tails.

Citations
Web Sites

Garman, Andrew. Big Cats Online. 
http://www.dialspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/bco/ver4.htm  (© 1997-2000).

Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003 "Puma"
http://encarta.msn.com  Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761572249 (1997-2003).

All photographs and clipart used on this page from "Microsoft Office Design Gallery Live" <http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (December-March, 2003).