1. The Cougar Nicole Davis

2. C OUGAR F ACTS Run up to forty-three miles per hour. Jump twenty feet from a standing position, and leap sixteen feet vertically. Kill prey up to seven times their body weight

3. C OUGAR F ACTS Cougars can vary in size and weight. Adults are about two to two and a half feet tall. Average length is five to nine feet from nose to tail. Males are about 115 to 160 pounds and females are about 75 to 105 pounds. Most Cougars live in North and Central America. Towards the equator, Cougars are smaller, and they are larger towards the poles. Some Cougars do live in the Eastern Hemisphere They are very close to becoming extinct

4. W HAT IMPACT DOES THE C OUGAR HAVE ON HUMANS ? For ranchers, the cougar is eating their livestock. Ranchers will have nothing left to sell They eat rodents and potentially harmful insects. Rodents eat the grain that farmers grow Insects infest crops and irritate livestock In some rare cases, the Cougar attacks humans as well.

5. WHAT IMPACT DOES THE COUGAR HAVE ON OTHER ORGANISMS? The Cougar is close to the top of the food chain: It eats wildlife such as: Deer Elk Bighorn Sheep It eats livestock such as: Horses Sheep Cattle It eats small organisms as well such as: Insects Rodents

6. W HAT IS THREATENING THE COUGAR POPULATION ? The cougar was added to the endangered species list in the 1970’s. Human involvement is the main danger to cougars They are hunted by humans Human development moves them out of habitats Some are hit by vehicles Starvation

7. A DOPT A C OUGAR Big Cat Rescue 501(c)(3) organization Devoted to educating public about these animals and rescuing and finding a permanent home for: or exotic cats who have been: abused abandoned bred to be pets retired from performing acts Cost: $25.00 to adopt any exotic cat species. When a species is adopted, information will be sent to the person who adopted it. The animal has a name, a picture, and a biographical background. Big Cat Rescue