Since the female's range is smaller, prey animals must be abundant, especially when she is raising kittens. Young males are often without a home range of their own. They are forced to live on the periphery of residents' home ranges where prey is less abundant. Referred to as transients, these males are usually prevented by resident males from breeding. The death of an established male is usually required before a transient is able to establish a territory of his own and breed.
Males disperse greater distances.
They face the risk of fatal fights with other males. This is known as intraspecific aggression. Dispersal of young panthers, particularly males, has been greatly reduced in south Florida by human development. Dispersal reduces the likelihood of a male cat breeding with a close relative. Given appropriate travel corridors, cougars may disperse over great distances.