Research overview: subadult dispersal in pumas

Young pumas leave their natal range as subadults to seek territories of their own, with males typically dispersing farther than females. This overview surveys telemetry-based studies of puma dispersal, documenting the timing of departure, dispersal distances, and the mortality risks subadults face while traversing unfamiliar and often human-dominated landscapes. It considers how dispersal maintains gene flow, reduces inbreeding, and recolonizes vacant habitat, and how barriers such as roads and development impede movement. The review connects dispersal patterns to population connectivity and genetic health. Understanding subadult dispersal is central to puma conservation, particularly in fragmented regions where isolated populations risk inbreeding and where dispersal corridors are crucial for long-term persistence.