Why Pumas Are Drivers’ Guardian Angels

Pumas, also known as cougars (Puma concolor), may indirectly protect people by reducing the risk of deer-vehicle collisions. In a study of Washington State’s forested Olympic Peninsula, Justin Suraci of Conservation Science Partners in Truckee, California, and his colleagues found that drivers were less likely to collide with deer in areas where pumas were present¹. Deer-vehicle crashes can cause serious injuries and fatalities, making the findings relevant to both wildlife conservation and road safety.

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