The Center of Southwest Studies and Colorado Division of Wildlife present major new exhibit: Mountain Lion!By Kevin Britz, Director of the Center of Southwest Studies
Photo by Robert Winslow
The Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, in partnership with the San Juan Mountains Association, the Southern Ute Tribe, Sorrell Sky Gallery, and Durango Nature Studies, present Mountain Lion! at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
The exhibit was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to address the pressing need for greater public awareness on the growing issue of human encounters with mountain lions. Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic rise in cougar sightings and dangerous encounters on the urban fringes of numerous Western cities. In a few rare cases, there have been fatalities.
The goal of this exhibit is to create an understanding of the nature of these predators and their long, historic relation with people. The exhibit blends science, history and art to provide a comprehensive look at this mysterious predator. Mountain Lion! examines the history of cougars starting from the Ice Age when they roamed the continent along with fierce cats like the giant North American Lion and Smilodon, popularly known as saber-tooth tigers. Another exhibit section looks at the hunting techniques, habits, and physical features of modern mountain lions that have allowed them to survive for thousands of years. Mountain Lion! illustrates the different perspectives of Native Americans and early European settlers toward cougars, how opinions toward the animal changed, and the ways they continue to be portrayed in fine art and popular culture. Other sections teach visitors how to read cougar behavior, listen to cougar sounds, recognize tracks and scat, and offer practical tips on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion.
The exhibit features dioramas, fossil representations of extinct cougar relatives, and the work of leading wildlife photographers including Robert Winslow, Claude Steelman and John Ninneman.
An educational packet, designed by the San Juan Mountains Association, featuring mountain lions, can be accessed via the Center's website: http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/mtn_lion/education.shtml, and educational tours may be arranged through the Main Office, by please calling 970-247-7456.
After a year-long run in Durango, closing in the fall of 2010, the exhibit will travel to museums and nature centers throughout the greater Southwest including the states of Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
After a year-long run in Durango, closing in the fall of 2010, the exhibit will travel to museums and nature centers throughout the greater Southwest including the states of Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.