Mountain+Lion+Period+4

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__1. Where does your animal live, and what are its characteristics?__ It lives in subtropical, dense forest composed mainly of trees, shrubs, and vines in swampy areas. It needs at least 116 square miles for typical territory, free of human disturbance. Most mountain lions in Northern America live in mountains of the western United States and Canada. Mountain lion have the largest range of any mammal being from southern canada to southern south america. Mountain lions do not have a seasonal migration pattern. They generally stay in their one territory and only migrate when there is a shortage of either food or mates.
 * Locate your animal’s habitat (Where does it live? Does it migrate?)**

Some varieties of mountain lions are pumas, panthers, cougars, and catamounts. There are no subspecies. The scientific name is Puma concolor ( Felis concolor).
 * Include all subspecies or varieties of your animal**

-male mountain lions are likely to be eight feet long and 130-150 pounds. female mountain lions are likely to be seven feet long and 65-90 pounds. -when mountain lions are young they have many black and brown spots and have rings around their tails. as they mature they become tan colored or pale brown colored in the upper body, a creamy underbelly, and black tipped ears and tails. -mountain lions are easily camouflaged. -they normally prey upon large animals and some adults prey upon 600 pound bull elk. -mountain lions have 30 teeth designed for meat eating, muscular jaws, and claws up to an Inch In length. -mountain lions are essentially carnivores. -mountain lions make sounds such as hissing, growling, screaming, and shrilling. -mountain lion are the second largest wild cat of the western hemisphere. -mountain lions range from Canada to southern South America. -A mountain lions hind legs grown larger than its front legs giving mountain lions great leaping ability. as high as 18 feet in the air. -mountain lion are primarily nocturnal. __2. Where and why is your animal endangered?__ Mountain lions are endangered in much of eastern Canada and eastern United States.
 * Identify at least 10 characteristics that will give an in-depth, accurate description of your animal**
 * Locate where it is endangered (might not be endangered in all its habitats)**

Provide statistics and other facts related to its endangerment** The main anthropogenic factors are hunting and ranchers kill them off because they consider them pest. Another anthropogenic factor is human expansion into their living areas.
 * Identify the factors, environmental and/or anthropogenic (caused by man) that cause it to be endangered

__3. Where is your animal in captivity and/or conserved?__ Two conservation centers are the Great Basin National Park and Big Bend National Park. __4. What is being done to restore your animal’s populations? Where is it being done?__ South Dakota State University, Big Bend National Park, and Great Basin National Park.
 * Locate at least two zoos and/or conservation centers where the animal is held.**
 * Locate where research is done on your animal and where efforts are underway to conserve its population (Note: It may be that this is done at the same location(s) you identified in #3)**

South Dakota State University, The Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis, The Sandiego Tracking Team, and The Mountain Lion Foundation.
 * Identify the experts, leaders, and/or groups guiding the conservation**

They are tracking the mountain lion to make see how many are in a certain area. They use remote camera studies, they do wildlife surveys, and habitat monitoring.
 * Outline any research and efforts to conserve the population**

Population: 550 Why they chose this living space: They choose to live in Ontario because of the continental climate and dense forest. What is the climate: Ontario has a continental climate. What is killing them off there or keeping them alive: Hunting nearly led them to extinction, but has slowly regained its range in the past 100 years. Other Fact: There is an average of 7 deaths per year that come from mountain lion attacks. Since 1986 mountain lion attacks have increased. Population: up to 15 per square mile Where Specifically: In the Pampas and Patagonia. Why they chose this living space: Much vegetation. Tropical Climate. Dense Forest. What is the Climate: Tropical Climate What is killing them off or keeping them alive: The low human populations in their habitat is why they are thriving in the Patagonia and pampas and endangered in southern florida. Population: 4100-500 12500 were killed for predator purposes (1907-1972). They are found in Orange County California and LA. They live there because they still have open space and wooded acreage. Population is lowering there because of vehicle mortality and urban growth. Population: 50-70 Why They Chose this living space: because of the swamps and the temperature. What is the Climate: tropical/ humid subtropical climate. What is being done to save them: many preservations and conservatories have been set-up as well as tracking programs. Other Facts: Florida Panthers once roamed the entire southeastern United States; including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Arkansas. What is killing them off: The remaining population is isolated in South Florida where their habitat is shrinking due to over-development. Mountain Lion in Conservation: 30-40 Preserve Size: 645,000 acres. Help & Research: They have tracking programs and breeding programs all hoping to expand the population of mountain lions in their preserve and in southern florida. It opened in 1962. The oldest mountain lion there lived for 17 years in captivity. They are getting orphaned kittens from south Dakota to add to their mountain lion population. Population: They are thriving. They live there because of the tropical climate and the highlands. They are not endangered in brazil. Location: Texas (Rio Grande River Area) In Presidio County, Texas, near the Rio Grande River, deer were found everywhere ten years ago. In those ten years, the mountain lion population has increased dramatically. Today, there are areas where no deer can be found that were plentiful just a few years ago. Mountain Lion predation is a major factor in the deer decline.
 * Google Earth Locations and Facts**
 * Location: Ontario, Canada ( Peterborough Bancroft area)**
 * Location: Argentina & Chile (Patagonia and Pampas)**
 * Location: California**
 * Location: Southern Tip of Florida**
 * Big Cypress and Katahatchee Strand State National Preserve**
 * Phoenix** **Zoo**
 * Location: Brazil**

There have been no reports of vehicle Collisions with mountain lions in Alabama ever recorded. Mountain lions are protected by law in Alabama and it is illegal to hunt, and kill them. Mountain lion sightings are common in Alabama. Alabama has a lot of swamp land and that is why the mountain lions are drawn to Alabama. . There is no self sustaining mountain lion populations in Alabama.
 * Location: Alabama**

The Denver Zoo has recently orphaned two mountain lion cubs. They received one of the cubs from Washington State; they found the cub wandering on the highway. The other cub was given to the zoo by South Dakota.
 * Location: Denver Zoo**

Mountain lion are thriving in South Dakota. Most of the mountain lions live in the Black Hills, and in southern South Dakota. The population is about 175 in Black Hills. There are more than 6,700 km2 of cougar habitat within the Black Hills ecosystem. There are many different research efforts going on in the Black Hills area to help the mountain lions.
 * Location: Black Hills, South Dakota**

Mountain lions are native to Missouri. They are endangered in Missouri so they are protected by law. The deer are plentiful again in Missouri so mountain lions are coming back so the population is rising. Most of the mountain lions live in the Ozarks.
 * Location: Kansas City, Missouri**

n recent years mountain lion sightings have become more frequent in eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. Mountain lions are now showing up in backyards and residential areas. These areas do not appear to be a good area for mountain lions but they are still important. Humans have invaded the lion?s space in many areas.
 * Location: Nebraska**

The mountain lions in Iowa will always remain difficult to help preserve. Some people question if Iowa is a good habitat for them. Mountain lions in Iowa are not protected by law. Sightings of mountain lions have been increasing over the years in western Iowa. Currently Iowa is passing a law to help protect the mountain lions. In the past 12 months, 19 mountain lion have been killed in Iowa due to people killing them with guns, captured, or run over by cars
 * Location: Iowa**

Location: Nevada In Nevada mountain lions are hunted year round. Many people are trying to sign petitions and do other things to change this current Nevada law. ([|http://www.mountainlion.org/action_show.asp?action_id=35)].

In Georgia, mountain lions are an endangered species. They are commonly found in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Okefenokee swamp area. The mountain lions like to live in the tropical areas of the swamp. They are a protected species in Georgia.
 * Location: Georgia ( Blue Ridge Mountain & Okefenokee swamp**

The Smoky’s native type of mountain lion is the eastern puma. It is believed that hunters killed off most of the mountain lions in this area in 1920. Any mountain lions that are still in the Smokies are either “transients or released pets.” In the Smokies the mountain lions are not one of the most commonly seen animals.
 * Location: Great Smoky Mountains**

. http://flickr.com/photos/mcgovernville/48178728/
 * Photos**

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djcurly/503793338/

http://flickr.com/photos/djcurly/503793338/

http://flickr.com/photos/djcurly/1445742724/

http://flickr.com/photos/djcurly/1445742724/


 * http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mountain+lion&l=3

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordilly/295809556/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessmercer/452150417/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guppiecat/430941617/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djcurly/503793338/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidaporter/486439583/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djcurly/1444878715/

http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=3&q=cougar&m=text http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=3&q=dead+mountain+lion&m=text

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mountain+lions&l=3&page=7

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mountain+lions&l=3&page=7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirsasha/129084192/

Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR5n-FYkvQw

Bibliography (All Resources Used)** Title: Cougars Author: Lynn M. Stone Britannica http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/ Title : Puma URL: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/ Title: Florida Panther URL: http://web.ebscohost.com/ Title: Mountain Lions URL: http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar375900&amp;st=mountain+lions Title: Mountain Lions URL: http://www.sdtt.org Title: Research and Development URL:http://raysweb.net/wildlife/pages/07.html URL:[|http://www.panthersociety.org] Title: Science and Panther Habitat URL:[|http://www.nps.gov] Titles: Panthers URL:[|http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org] Title: Animals in the Patagonia URL:http://www.nps.gov/bicy/naturescience/panthers.htm (No Title) URL:[|http://www.phoenixzoo.org] Title: Mountain Lion URL:http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Iowa/ Title: Mountain Lions in Iowa URL: http://www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/pdfs/mountain_lion.pdf Title: Mountain Lions in Iowa: Myths or Reality Picture 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/djcurly/503793338/