Pumas (mountain lions) are the most widespread wild cat in the Americas. Their welfare is shaped by habitat fragmentation, livestock conflict, and trophy hunting across a vast range.
Wild puma welfare is shaped by a paradox: they are the most widespread wild cat in the Americas, yet regional populations face serious pressure from habitat fragmentation and human conflict. Road mortality is significant in fragmented landscapes — pumas must cross highways to maintain territories, and collisions cause traumatic injuries with variable survival outcomes. Legal trophy hunting causes welfare concerns about wounding rates and orphaned cubs when females are killed. Livestock depredation response — using leg-hold traps, snares, and poisoning — causes animal suffering with collateral damage to non-target species. California's 50-year ban on mountain lion hunting has produced a well-studied population demonstrating that coexistence is achievable. Wildlife crossing infrastructure at highway pinch points directly reduces road mortality welfare impacts.