is a puma a mountain lion?? cougar??

[kelly]

how can you catch a puma would you be able to bait and trap it???
i saw one on the news and all the police and uspca seem to be doing is walking round fields looking for it!!
it has been killing sheep but not eating them what is it eating???
would it attack people???
I always thought that a puma was a big black cat!!
and was told today that a panther is a name for a large feline???
whats a black panther then is it a jaguar??

[Traci]

Pumas are the same as the mountain lion. It would be unusual for one to kill a sheep without actually eating the carcass, am wondering if they can actually blame this on a puma or rather wolf or coyote instead.

In the US, the wildlife, fish and parks or fish and game department are responsible for trapping and or tranquilizing for relocation. Sadly, if farmers and ranchers are reporting sights of pumas and livestock kills, most are killed on the spot by the farmer or the fish and game dept. Other cases may only include relocation, although for human safety, not always possible.

[kelly]

we dont have coyote or wolves over here (well pumas either ) but the cat escaped from some owner!!!
i thought it would of eaten what it killed just found it a wee bit funny!!
it is quite worrying as it is loose near a primary school and parents are really worried!!
and why do you need a licence for a dog and not one of those big cats???

[Traci]

In the US one DOES need to acquire a permit to have an exotic cat or wild animal. Currently there is ongoing legislation to prevent exotics from entering the states for ownership (save for zoos and rehabilitation organizations, etc)

[kelly]

i am very angry that this kind of animal is allowed to run free this many weeks for my own safety and its health!!!
the only preditor we have over here are foxes badgers etc so for some thing like this to be running wild its pretty scary