What Animals Eat Pumas?

The puma, also known as the cougar or mountain lion, is one of the most widely distributed animals in the Americas. Native to both North and South America, this species is a top predator and there are no other animals that eat them. However, there are some animals that will kill pumas in order to steal their prey, avoid being eaten, or use their body as a trophy.

Wolves

Although wolves are typically smaller than pumas, wolves are bold hunters that will sometimes attack and kill pumas to steal their prey. However, their food may also consist of fruits, berries, plants, and vegetation. Wolves tend to eat in groups called packs; they hunt in tandem to take down larger animals like deer or elk.

The prey is eaten communally after being killed. Although wolves often kill other canines such as coyotes, they do not generally attack humans unless provoked. When hunting prey as a pack, however, they have been known to attack men who wander too far into wolf territory.

Elk

Even herbivores, like elk, have been known to kill pumas. Why? To avoid being eaten. Elk can weigh up to 1,400 pounds and they may kill a puma out of fear, just as they would with any other predator.

So while it’s true that an adult puma is capable of killing an elk, it’s also true that elk are typically larger than adult pumas and can defend themselves better against predators.

Bears

When a bear finds a carcass, it may kill a puma if it threatens to steal prey that’s rightfully its own. Grizzlies and black bears are capable of stealing all kinds of prey from larger predators. They’re also strong enough to kill or injure their victims, especially in cases where they work together as a team.

While bears don’t often eat pumas on purpose, it does happen sometimes when one comes across another in a battle for food.

Other Pumas

The most commonly occurring puma predator is another puma. If you’re unfortunate enough to be a puma but somehow manage to avoid being eaten by other big … Read the rest of the story.