Pumas Born in Minnesota After Century-Long Absence

Scientists with the Voyageurs Wolf Project in Minnesota, US, discovered a female puma and her three kittens on a trail camera in March. The sighting marks the first confirmed puma breeding in the state in over 100 years. Researchers initially investigated after discovering a deer carcass, suspecting a bobcat was responsible.

Pumas once ranged widely across North and South America, but hunting and habitat loss reduced breeding populations to western regions of the United States. Occasional eastern sightings typically involve lone males or escaped pets. This female’s arrival and successful birth are unusual, as females generally stay near their birthplaces.

Dan Stark from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources notes it remains unclear whether this family indicates a new breeding population or an isolated event. Biologists estimate the kittens are roughly 7 to 9 months old and capable of surviving, but further study is needed to determine their gender and relation to other pumas. The team plans to gather samples and potentially radio-collar the family to learn more.