Celebrate the American Lion this Independence Day weekend at the Folsom Zoo!

On Saturday, July 3rd, MLF Sacramento Volunteer Coordinator Lyn Whitcomb and her volunteer crew will be hosting an educational booth about mountain lions at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary (Sacramento-area, California).  Visitors will have a chance to see lions up close and learn about MLF’s efforts to protect wild mountain lions and their habitat.  Bring the family for a fun day at the zoo and be sure to stop by the lion enclosure to say hi.

Interested in volunteering with MLF at this event?  Send an email to outreach@mountainlion.org for more details.

See you there!

Folsom Zoo Sanctuary

403 Stafford Street, Folsom, CA 95630

Saturday, July 3rd, Gates open at 9:00am

see admission fees

The Cats on Stamps Study Unit is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Philatelic Society and the American Topical Association. Cat Mews, the award-winning journal, features articles about new cat stamps from around the world: domestic, wild, heraldic, cartoon, and more. Please visit their web site, catsonstamps.org for more information.

The following excerpt from the Summer 2010 issue of Cat Mews gives background information on mountain lions to help promote the release of Montana’s new stamp.

Montana’s Mountain Lions

By Marci Jarvis, Cat Mews editor

Montana’s state animal is the grizzly bear, however, the mountain lion—Felis concolor, ‘cat  of a single color’ — is more prevalent. The cat, resting in the snow, is paired with the state flag in part 4 of the Flags of Our Nation series, issued on April 16, 2010.

Each set of ten Flags of Our Nation stamps is sold in coils of 50, with five of each design. The Postal Bulletin describes the stamps as a ‘snapshot of each state.’ Tom Engeman was the artist and  Howard E. Paine had the triple role of designer, director of art, and typographer.

According to sources at Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks, about 1800 mountain lions roam in the western section of the state, with “scattered pockets throughout the eastern part.” Wildlife managers use radio collars and “average occupancy rates” to estimate populations.

Mountain lions once brought a bounty in Montana; hunting with dogs has been legal since 1971, while poaching is abhorred. Two hunting seasons close early when the quota is reached. In 2009, more than 300 mountain lions were legally killed as the cats are not “a species of concern”–yet.

Once prevalent throughout the US, North America’s largest feline now roams in only 14 Western states and Florida. Frequent sightings in the Midwest may signal a comeback in those states.

Known as the mountain lion, puma, and cougar in the West; it is called panther, painter (colloquial for panther), and catamount (cat-of-the-mountains) in the East.

Muscular and powerful, this cat can run up to 50 miles per hour.* Males can reach seven to eight feet from head to tail, and weigh up to 200 lbs.

Mountain lions are a reddish-brown, but in colder areas their coat turns a yellow-gray in winter. They have black-tipped ears and tail, a white or beige belly, and white facial markings.

Litters consist of  two or three blue-eyed kittens born with a spotted coat and ringed tail to provide needed camouflage.

Prey of choice is most often deer and elk, with an occasional rabbit, but in a pinch, mountain lions—like most cats— will eat whatever rodents or birds are available.

The mountain lion (or panther) is found on more than a dozen U.S. stamps.

Partial List of Sources

*Cougar Fund, http://www.cougarfund.org/conservation.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/livingWith Wildlife.

Rodrigues, Amy. Outreach Coordinator, Mountain Lion Foundation (nonprofit), www.MountainLion.org.; P.O. Box 1896, Sacramento, CA 95812.

Reprinted with permission, © Cat Mews, Summer 2010

Marci Jarvis has been editor of Cat Mews, journal of the Cats on Stamps Study Unit, for ten years.

MLF has assisted pet and livestock owners all over the county with building lion-proof small livestock enclosures.  This simple measure of building a pen (many are completed in a day) and tucking animals safely inside at night, helps keep both domestic and wild animals safe.  The following pens have been used to protect, goats, sheep, pigs and pet dogs.  Over the years, thousands of blue prints and assembly directions have been downloaded from the MLF website.  To learn more about how to build one, click here.

Taylorsville, California

Wolf Creek and Indian Valley 4-H Club members and the Mountain Lion Foundation celebrated 4-H’s 100th birthday by completing the first livestock pen designed specifically to protect goats and other domestic animals from mountain lions. The enclosure, built for the Howe family’s goats, is part of a demonstration project designed by the Mountain Lion Foundation to help humans and mountain lions be better neighbors.

“I’m glad our goats Lady and Mr. Freeze will be safe from lions,” said Shelby Howe, a 10-year-old 4-H member. “I like mountain lions – I just don’t want to feed them.” Shelby presented his 4-H project focusing on safeguarding goats from mountain lions at the Plumas County Fair that August.

Taylorsville, California

Jessica and Nathan no longer have to worry about the female lion that repeatedly guides her kittens down Wolf Creek, between their two backyards, across a busy highway and through the trailer court across the street. Every year parents and the local Fish and Game Warden advise elementary children to be aware of the mother lion and her kittens, who frequent the creek which runs below the Main Street bridge and through town. Most children in the area will tell you they know just what to do when they see one.

Valley Springs, California

While eating breakfast one morning, the Jorrick family noticed a mountain lion lounging in the tree just outside their kitchen window, not far from their unprotected goats.  The Jorrick’s property was home to more than a dozen Jenny Lind 4H club members’ project pygmy goats.  The club then decided it was time to build a lion-proof small livestock enclosure to protect their animals.  With a little help from MLF, the goats are now safe and sound in their pen at night.

Felton, California

When invited to participate in the MLF Living with Lions Ranchers’ Assistance Program, the Felton 4-H Club was eager to join this pro-active movement. This program provides groups with knowledge and understanding to make responsible decisions in their livestock management, and also includes a one-day workshop to build a predator-proof small livestock enclosure.

Although their livestock had not suffered from mountain lion depredation, over the years there had been many mountain lion sightings in the surrounding San Lorenzo Valley.

Indian Valley, California – Revisited

Shelby Howe, whose goats were the recipient of Mountain Lion Foundation’s very first pen, continues to spread the word about their efficacy. In 2005, Shelby won an award for his exhibit at the Plumas County Fair which showed the steps to take BEFORE getting a goat.

Even when it is not possible to know how many lions still roam because of these efforts, MLF will work with communities to build not just lion proof pens but to build a future for lions in the rural West. Local residents continue to raise the bar for best management practices.

Salem, Oregon

Pat and George Copa love their rare and valuable Pygoras, but still appreciate the wild predators that live just outside their Verdant Vistas farm in Oregon. The solution to keeping their Pygoras (Pygmy-Angora crossbreeds) safe and living peacefully with coyotes and mountain lions: an MLF-designed predator-proof pen. The first one in Oregon, too! During the day, the animals roam the yard with their guard llamas but from dusk ’til dawn they are secured in the new pen. MLF sponsored the build to serve as a demonstration for locals in this rural area, but plans are available for free at mountainlion.org and can be built for around $500 with supplies from your local hardware store.

Amador County, California

In a note to MLF, Janice wrote:
A couple of years ago, my friend Cathy said that you had published the plans for the lion proof goat enclosure.  I had lost all of my goats to a lion several years prior, and had decided that I could no longer have goats because of the risk of losing them.  I was thrilled to think that I could once again have pet goats and that they would be safe.  As you can see we made some changes to your plan.  Our goat fort is 18′x24′ and has an area to store hay and other goat things.  I have been very happy with our goat fort and my goats seem to be happy too.  Janice

Woodland Hills, California

During the Farm Walk, Canoga Park High School FFA volunteers built this livestock pen at Pierce College. Due to heavy development in southern California, mountain lion habitat in the region has become mostly isolated patches.  Learning to coexist with wildlife and protect their dispersal corridors is especially important.  MLF Southern California Field Representative, Christa Kermode, along with all the other hard workers display their pen for the locals. Nice work everyone!

South Dakota

In South Dakota, volunteers work with MLF and the Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation to create a predator proof enclosure for fiber goats and sheep. In addition to the pen, volunteers also retrofitted an adjacent barn to house livestock safe from cougars, coyotes and pet dogs.  A chain link fence and secure roof are key!

Residents in South Dakota do not have to protect their animals from wildlife, and can kill any mountain lion that wanders through their property.  These two buildings will show the community there are easy was to coexist, and killing a lion is not necessary.

Naples, Florida

Not even Tropical Storm Barry could dampen the enthusiasm of these predator proof pen builders in Naples, Florida – although the downpours certainly dampened pretty much everything else! At one point, the wind was so strong, the crew decided to hold off putting the roof tarp on until the storm had passed.

Regardless, the local volunteers finished two pens on Saturday and now Rege and Al are keeping their goats safe. Just down the road, Rebecca is protecting her canine companions. Due to excellent media coverage, people all over the region now have access to MLF’s easy instructions for building their own pens.

Naples, Florida

The day after the two builds in Naples, most of the crew came back to brave the steaming heat while building a demonstration pen at the Collier County Extension! All told, County Commissioner Henry Coletta, along with volunteers from the Mountain Lion Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Collier County Extension Service and Friends of the Panther Refuge joined 4-H kids and families for an educational, fun and animal-friendly weekend. Special thanks for the Florida office of Defenders of Wildlife for organizing and sponsoring the event to Protect People, Pets, Livestock and the federally endangered Florida Panthers!

For more information on protecting pets and livestock, or how to build a lion-proof pen, visit MountainLion.org.

The Utah Environmental Congress is presenting the documentary film Lords of Nature:  Life in a Land of Great Predators on Wednesday, June 23, 7:00 pm at the Sprague Public Library, 2131 South 1100 East in Salt Lake City, UT. The film explores the role of top predators such as cougars and wolves in keeping natural ecosystems in balance. Following the film, a panel will discuss the status of predators in Utah and the return of wolves to Utah. The film is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Utah Environmental Congress at 801-466-4055.

What purpose do the mountain lion and other major predators serve?  These animals are at the top of the food chain.  They do not provide food for other, larger creatures.  They do not carry pollen, or provide us with oxygen, as do some insects and plants.  With a shrug, we respond with words recalled form high school biology:  Predators contribute to the balance of nature.

But balance is not enough.  An empty scale will balance.

The value of predators, large and small, is complex and commonly misunderstood.  Predators, even those at the very top of the food chain, play a vital role in sustaining other animals and plants within their range.  Consider this real world illustration of that principle.

When the Panama Canal was dug, a new lake rose in Central America.  As waters rose, a hillside, rich with wildlife, was isolated as the surrounding lowlands flooded.  The Smithsonian Institution recognized the value of this unique island, where research might demonstrate the effects of isolating small pieces of habitat.

Cougars soon disappeared from the new island.  This was no surprise, since lions require such a large territory for even a single animal.  Over the years, a catastrophic series of local extinctions occurred. By 1970, forty-five species of birds had disappeared from the island.

Scientists Joyhn Terborgh and Blair Winter hypothesized that surging populations of mesopredators (carnivores one step down from the largest and most dominant), over-populated because they were no longer subject to predation by, or in competition with, large carnivores.  With so many additional animals feeding upon bird eggs and nestlings, bird populations plummeted.

In addition, the number of plant varieties found on the island diminished, and soon it became difficult to find young saplings of the canopy trees.  Again, researchers traced the changes back to the loss of large predators.  Populations of herbivores exploded, and fell upon the flora of the island with a vengeance, tugging up young saplings for their tender leaves, devouring all of the individuals of whole species that had inhabited small niches.

What about the middle-sized mammals in their new, and relatively “safe” situation. Without large predators to cull the weaker, older, and disease prone animals, several generations are born and pass on less hardy genes.  But when food becomes scarce as a result of prey extinctions and over-populations, some species, despite their increased numbers, find themselves at a genetic disadvantage, unable to compete, subject to epidemics, and prey to more viable or adaptable species.  As the ecosystem crashes, these middle species, too, may disappear.

In the approach to environmental conservation known as “rewilding,” large predators like the mountain lion are counted as “keystone” species.  In summarizing The Role of Top Carnivores in Regulating Terrestrial Ecosystems, leading biologists John Terborgh, et.al. conclude that “our current knowledge about the natural processes that maintain biodiversity suggests a crucial and irreplaceable regulatory role of top predators.  The absence of top predators appears to lead inexorably to ecosystem simplification accompanied by a rush of extinctions.”

Eventually, nature balances.  But on a scale of diversity, balance without predators carries much less weight.  Fewer species occupy fewer ecological niches.  It is a balanced environment, but a much poorer one, severely degraded by the cascading losses, right down to the birds and flowers, caused by missing carnivores.

Humans in the ecosystem tend not to perceive themselves as interdependent with the natural environment.  Regardless, natural substances, derived from a diverse planetary flora and fauna, form the basis for much of our science, agriculture and industry.  Natural systems contribute to the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we consume.  We turn to natural landscapes for recreation and renewal.

Large carnivores have a tremendous symbolic value:  they personify the wild.  Humans have been gifted with a special ability to appreciate diversity beyond mere survival.  We value wilderness aesthetically.  We mourn the loss of the grizzly and the wolf, and memorialize them on flags and t-shirts.

And yet, even in California where cougars are protected, wild cougars are killed in relentless pursuit of public safety and protection of domestic animals.  Their range is fenced off with policies as rigid and pointed as any barbed wire.

At some point we must take the time to reflect on the worth of wildness.  At what price can we imagine a world entirely empty of natural threats, a “safe” suburban Serengeti?

Perhaps it is in this realm of human and carnivore interactions that the concept of re-wilding has the greatest value.  For example, the vast territories required by carnivores force biologists, land use planners, and government decision-makers to take the larger view, to preserve bigger tracts of land, to connect reserves by corridors, and thus to limit urban and suburban sprawl.

A more progressive approach to addressing environmental problems will recognize the value of mountain lions, and will make a commitment, not only to their survival, but to their dominance upon our remaining natural landscape.

To learn more about coexisting with wildlife, see the Mountain Lion Facts page at MountainLion.org.

THE ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM, INC. is the only wildlife facility permitted by the California Department of Fish & Game to rescue and rehabilitate large mammals between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.  Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, A.R.T. runs a 24/7 animal rescue hot line where the S.B. County Sheriff’s Department, various Fire Departments, Humane Societies and Animal Services, as well as caring citizens, call to report wild or domestic animals who have been injured, orphaned, abused or displaced.   They are the only animal rescue facility equipped with an Animal Ambulance on the Central Coast which allows them to respond 24/7 to animals in crisis.  A.R.T. also has a 14’ trailer that attaches to their Animal Ambulance to help with evacuations.  During the recent Jesusita Fire, A.R.T. rescued over 200 animals, wild and domestic.  A.R.T. focuses on large mammal rescue, although raptors, birds and reptiles are never turned away. Domestic animals are also occasionally fostered until a loving forever home can be found.

In April 2009, a volunteer and A.R.T Director Julia Di Sieno rescued 2 starving orphaned mountain lion cubs wandering around the small city of Solvang for 5 days. They were very successful in sedating the cubs, with their Vet standing by to immediately reverse the drugs, as well as provide necessary care. An hour after the safe capture, the cubs were ripped away from A.R.T. staff, tossed into the back of an open pick truck, and paraded around for 2 days. California DFG attempted to prosecute them for saving the cubs. However, the case was too controversial, with a lot of public outrage. No charges were filed. The A.R.T. simply saved 2 state protected animals, that were seen daily without mom for 5 days.

For more info, please visit the A.R.T website.

In Dec of 2008, Animal Rescue Team, Inc. was chosen as a recipient of the Santa Barbara News Press Holiday Fund, which allowed for the construction of eight large mammal enclosures.  They are currently working with California Dept. of Fish and Game to obtain temporary holding permits for bears and mountain lions.  With the expansion of human population and building growth continuing into wildlife habitat as seen in recent decades, Californians are seeing more and more native wildlife being pushed into urban areas and conflicts have inevitably occurred.  The result nearly always ends in tragedy – for the animal.  The Animal Rescue Team, Inc. aims to provide a viable alternative to the usual response/tragic ending.  They are staffed with trained personnel, equipped with all the necessary tranquilizer guns, cages, secure transport trailer and other equipment needed to sedate a bear or mountain lion, then transport the animal safely to their large mammal cages to ‘sleep it off’ until it is ready to be rereleased back into the wild where it belongs.  A.R.T. believes this would be a better way of handling the situation than; a) killing the animal, or b) sending it to a zoo.  The preservation of native California wildlife requires more than habitat protection.  The need for hands-on care and rapid response to aid injured and threatened wild animals is the vital missing piece of environmental stewardship that the Animal Rescue Team, Inc. is determined to provide for native wildlife in the Tri-County area.

It is only through charitable donations and the generosity of volunteers that A.R.T. will continue to serve the animals and residents of the community.  The generosity of South Coast residents and businesses is key to A.R.T.’s continued success and will better allow A.R.T. to expand to accommodate the growing needs of abandoned or injured wildlife.

Pictured left: A.R.T Executive Director, Julia Di Sieno, shows off her new mountain lion cub tattoo – a special tribute to the rescued cubs.

A.R.T. is currently in search of dedicated volunteers to help out with hard rescues and feedings. If you are interested, please contact Julia at info@animalrescueteam.net or visit them at www.animalrescueteam.net

Dr. “Tom’s” Lawsuit

In June 2009, South Dakota Division of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) commissioner Tim Kessler proposed, without opposition from the other commissioners, but against the recommendation of the SDGFP, to raise the female cougar hunting quota to nearly double the previous year’s. He went on to say that he wanted to manage for reduction, not status quo or sustainability. He said that reduction [of cougars] was necessary to save poor kids and poor hunters from attacks (there have been no documented cougar attacks in the Black Hills), and that without a reduction in the cougar population, hunters will have nothing [deer & other game] to shoot. (No scientific data exists demonstrating that cougars are reducing the number of deer available to hunters.)

After failing in his efforts to find the reasons for the commissioners’ decision to reduce the Black Hills population, Dr. Tom Huhnerkoch of Mountain Cats Trust began to investigate Commissioner Kessler himself because he had been the only commissioner actually recommending the reduction of cougar numbers. Kessler was a dynamic figure who appeared to have great influence on the other commissioners, and Dr. “Tom” knew he’d been a commissioner for a long time. He went on to discover that Kessler had been a commissioner for 17 years, although the term limit for game commissioners in South Dakota is only eight years. Dr. Huhnerkoch filed suit reasoning that if the court determined that Kessler’s 17-year term as a commissioner was illegal, then possibly the commission’s decisions on cougar management might also be declared invalid.

The following is a Rapid City Journal news story reporting on Dr. Tom Huhnerkoch’s lawsuit.

GF&P commissioner who faced term-limit suit resigns

Rapid City Journal staff | Posted: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 5:15 pm

An Aberdeen man who has served on the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission has resigned after being sued by a frequent critic of the board.

Tim Kessler of Aberdeen first began serving on the GF&P board in 1992 and served under three governors.

“Tim has served with honor and has always come down in favor of what’s best for the state’s natural resources,” Gov. Mike Rounds said in a news release. “Now I have the task of finding a replacement. I need another Tim Kessler, but they are far and few between.”

Last month, Lead veterinarian Tom Huhnerkoch filed a lawsuit claiming Kessler should be removed from the commission because he served longer than the eight years allowed by state law.

Kessler joined the commission in 1992. He was off from January 2004 until he was appointed again in April 2005. Rounds appointed Kessler to a new four-year term last year.

When Huhnerkoch filed the lawsuit, he said he wanted to see whether the eight-year term limit had been exceeded, but also admitted he believed that Kessler had made poor decisions as a commissioner.

“The reason he’s got to go is he’s made some bad decisions, in my mind,” said Huhnerkoch, who took particular umbrage with Kessler’s push to increase the hunting kill limit on mountain lions in the Black Hills. Huhnerkoch has been a persistent opponent of the annual hunting season on cougars.

Kessler said that although he believes he wasn’t breaking term limits, he was stepping down from his post to avoid being a distraction to the commission.

“I know your lawyer reviewed my eligibility when you insisted I accept the appointment, and believe we could win the lawsuit,” he said in his resignation letter to Rounds. “Lawsuits take time and money, and rather than have this lawsuit become a distraction from the Commission’s business, I want to step down and let you appoint another person in my place.”

Dr. Tom Huhnerkoch and the Mountain Cats Trust

Dr. Huhnerkoch is the founder of the one-man charitable 501 (c) (3) organization, Mountain Cats Trust – http://sites.google.com/site/mountaincatstrust/mountaincatstrust . He would appreciate donations to help him in his work to ensure that a healthy population of cougars survives in the Black Hills and elsewhere in South Dakota. If possible, he would like the sport hunting of cougars to end. “Dr. Tom,” now retired, is a DVM who specialized in cats and is also an RN. He lives in Lead at the northern edge of the Black Hills of South Dakota and has been an active cougar supporter in the state since 1999 where he has made so many requests for data on cougar management that the South Dakota Division of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) now restricts him to one query per year.

To support Dr. Tom’s work, send a check made out to Dr. Tom Huhnerkoch, 21315 Engelwood Rd., Lead, SD 57754 (605) 584-1958; ccats@mato.com

OVERVIEW
Launched in mid-2008, the Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP) is the first major study of mountain lions in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Felidae Conservation Fund, UC Santa Cruz, and the California Department of Fish and Game have teamed up for a 10-year research and conservation effort to increase our understanding of our native apex predator. Using innovative GPS-accelerometer collars, coupled with extensive outreach and education, BAPP seeks not only to study the Bay Area’s puma population, but also to build public interest and support for protecting this keystone species in its natural habitat, and thereby help ensure healthy and sustainable ecosystems.

CURRENT STATUS
• Loss and fragmentation of critical habitat
• Disappearance of puma movement corridors
• Compromised genetic diversity of population
• More frequent human-puma encounters
• More pumas killed crossing roads
• Livestock and pet casualties growing
• Depredation permits increasing
• Tensions building in local communities

The mountain lion is known by many names (puma, cougar, panther, catamount, shadow cat, ghost cat, screamer). Though it has the largest home range of any land animal, it has historically tended to avoid people. However, with persistent human population growth, especially in the Bay Area, human-puma conflict is on the rise.

As puma habitat and movement corridors are increasingly invaded by human development, more sightings and encounters with pumas are inevitable. Pumas are being killed more often by cars and depredation permits (issued when livestock or pets are attacked), and increasing news reports of puma encounters are driving growing public concern. With human encroachment continuing to degrade wildlife habitat, it is vital to address these issues before it’s too late. People must learn to co-exist with all species, in complete ecosystems, in order for the natural world to sustain for future generations.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• Track, carefully capture and tag pumas for monitoring
• Generate GPS-accelerometer data on locations and body motions
• Analyze puma interactions with both the natural and human world
• Evaluate puma behavioral response to increased human activity
• Generate maps and animations showing key habitats and corridors

Previously, even basic facts about the Bay Area’s puma population were unknown. BAPP research will produce unprecedented understanding about this furtive species, including range, density, movement, feeding patterns, and the effects of human development, such as roads, on puma populations. Working with landowners and state agencies, BAPP scientists are using custom GPS-accelerometer collars to track and record pumas and their activities in 3D on a continual basis.

By analyzing the data and creating maps and animations, we can better understand the dynamics of the puma population, the critical role they play in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem, and the challenges this keystone species faces while traversing an ever more fragmented landscape. The insights gained from this research will enable us to develop new conservation and land use strategies to minimize human-puma conflict, and foster a healthy co-existence between humans and pumas in the region.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
• Local community meetings and involvement
• Classroom presentations and field trips
• Interactive online experiences

A key focus of BAPP is to build public understanding about pumas and ecosystems, and the effect of human activities on the natural world. In meetings with local communities, the BAPP team dispels fears and reassures residents by replacing myths with facts, and by helping people stay informed on the project and its findings.

In presentations and on field trips with Bay Area students, many of whom were raised in suburban settings with little or no connection to nature, learning about BAPP’s local wildlife science gives students a deeper appreciation for their environment, and encourages their commitment to creating a world that people and wildlife can share peacefully.

The Internet age has created entirely new avenues for projects like BAPP to reach young people. By offering a mobile game, an interactive web portal, and social networking activities, BAPP is reaching out to young people in their native digital tongue.

CONSERVATION GOALS
• Protection of movement corridors
• Permanent habitat preservation
• Increased awareness and support

BAPP’s primary goal is to convince local communities and policy makers of the importance of preserving wild pumas within the ecosystems of the Bay Area. If movement corridors are protected, healthy populations of the puma will sustain and ecosystems will remain in natural balance. And by permanently securing critical habitat, we can ensure that viable puma populations will persist, with minimal human encroachment.

One of the most important aspects of BAPP is raising awareness and support in the surrounding communities. BAPP is initiating a public dialog regarding pumas, Bay Area wildlife, and the fragile ecological balance that is rapidly vanishing. With better understanding, we can create a future where people appreciate the significance of protecting this treasure of biodiversity we take for granted.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Request an Event •
If you’re in a school or community organization, and you want your group
to learn more about pumas and BAPP, email info@felidaefund.org with  your suggestion for an event or presentation. We will arrange for a BAPP team member to visit your group and teach about pumas and the project.

• Offer to Volunteer •
We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities for motivated people who care about our local habitats and species. You can help us with events, create informational materials, develop technology, and much more. If you’re interested, send email to info@felidaefund.org and tell us about yourself.

• Spread the Word •
Another great way to help is to spread the word. We have a Facebook Group facebook.com/felidaefund and a Facebook Cause causes.com/felidaefund with the latest news and events. By joining these, and telling your friends, you can stay informed and help us preserve local pumas and their habitats!

• Make a Donation •
BAPP’s funding comes largely from concerned individuals, corporations and small foundations. The best way to make a donation is visit our site at www.felidaefund.org and select from a range of options for supporting the project, from our online donation page to our Adopt-A-Puma program.

To Learn More or Get Involved, visit www.BAPP.org and www.FelidaeFund.org

SCIENTIFIC NAME
Puma concolor – Cat of one color

COMMON NAMES
Puma concolor is listed in dictionaries under more names than any other animal in the world.  There are at least 18 South American native terms, 25 native North American, and 40 English names for mountain lions.  The species’ most common names are:

Mountain lion, cougar, panther, puma, painter, catamount, concolor, cat of one color, cat of many names, mountain cat, mountain screamer, tyger, ghost walker, klandagi, cuguacuarana, leopardo, koe-ishto, ko-icto, and el leon.

APPEARANCE
The mountain lion is tan in color, with black tipped ears and tail. Adults weigh 80 to 180 pounds and stand two to three feet high at the shoulders. The length of an adult lion is 6 to 8 feet from the nose to the tip of the tail. The tail measures one-third of the lions length. Mountain lion kittens have camouflaging spots and rings around their tails.

BEHAVIOR
Mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. They prefer areas with dense undergrowth and cover, and will leave an area where they perceive a threat. Mountain lions live solitary lives, spacing themselves across their habitat by marking and defending areas known as home ranges. Home ranges contain resources cougars need to survive: hunting areas, water sources, safe resting places, lookouts, and for females, safe places to raise young. Although lions are solitary unless mating or accompanied by their young, their territories will often overlap those of the opposite sex, and only occasionally overlap with those of the same sex. A males home range is generally larger than a females. The home territories of mountain lions can cover hundreds of square miles, depending on the availability of prey, time of year, and changes in the local vegetation.

DIET
An opportunistic hunter, mountain lions eat prey that is familiar and easily available. They hunt alone from dusk to dawn, taking their prey primarily from behind. Mountain lions primary prey is deer, but they also feed on wild hogs, raccoons, rabbits, porcupines, and birds. A mountain lion may kill a deer every one to four weeks. They often drag their kill to another area and then cover it with dry leaves, grass or pine needles known as caching to protect it from other animals and to reduce spoilage. A lion often returns to the kill several times to feed, for a period of three days to one week.

As one of North Americas largest predators, mountain lions play an essential role in maintaining the health of deer populations. Cougars often prey on the sick, weak, young, and old deer, which helps to control disease and keeps the deer herds strong. Also, they keep deer populations from growing too large or staying in an area for too long and over-browsing their habitat. Over-browsing can threaten native plants and also destroy important habitat for song birds and other animals.

DISTRIBUTION
America’s lion has roamed throughout the Americas for at least 50,000 years.  From deserts to humid coast forests, lions live from sea level to snow-covered mountains. They once ranged from coast to coast and from South America into Northern Canada.  Today, because of habitat loss and efforts to exterminate mountain lions in North America, sustainable populations exist in only 12 Western U.S. states, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. A small population exists in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and an endangered population in the tip of Florida (the Florida panther). Mountain lions prefer areas with dense undergrowth and cover, and will leave an area where they perceive a threat. Research has shown that mountain lions often change their movement patterns to avoid human occupied areas, or areas where humans are most active.

ABILITIES
Mountain lions are incredible predators with an adaptability to a wide variety of habitats and prey species.
Mountain lions can:

*  bound up to 40 feet running
*  leap 15 feet up a tree
*  climb over a 12 foot fence
*  walk many miles at 10 mph
*  reach speeds of 50 mph in a sprint

Lions sense movement more accurately than they see detail. Seeing in pixilated mosaics, their wide angle and night vision is much greater than our own.  A lion’s hearing is acutely sensitive, far beyond human range.  Their ears move independently to pinpoint the source of sounds.

For more information visit MountainLion.org

Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) organized interested agencies in the state (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, US Forest Service, New Mexico State Parks, Santa Fe County Open Space) to provide materials on and promote cougar safety when recreating and living in cougar country. We will be launching the campaign at the City’s National Get Outdoor Day event on June 19, where most of these agencies and APNM will have booths and cougar safety materials (trailhead poster, flyer for distribution at agency and other offices, and a luggage tag for kids’ backpacks). After that, APNM will be meeting again to discuss future outreach projects.

For more information: http://www.apnm.org