A puma is a large, powerful wild cat native to the Americas, also commonly called a cougar or mountain lion. These sleek predators can weigh up to 220 pounds and leap more than 15 feet straight up into a tree or across a canyon. They're one of the most athletic animals in North America.

Pumas once roamed from Canada to the southern tip of South America, making them one of the most widespread mammals in the Western Hemisphere. Unlike lions or tigers, pumas are solitary hunters who stalk deer, elk, and smaller prey through forests, mountains, and deserts. They're incredibly stealthy: a puma can get within striking distance of its prey without making a sound.

The name comes from Quechua, a language spoken by Indigenous peoples in South America. You might also hear them called panthers in Florida, where a small population still survives. Despite their power, pumas generally avoid humans, and attacks are extremely rare.