Iconic Mountain Lion
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INSIDE >>> George L. Mountainlion 2013 Desert Gala Cool Saturday Nights & more ASDM NEWS A newsletter for friends of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum ASDM NEWS > JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 the Iconic Mountain Lion By Peggy Pickering Larson, History Archives Project/Library Coordinator The fi rst George L. Mountainlion pictured in his cage in the early days of the Museum. A com- munity fundraising effort to “Uncage Our Cats” in which school children fi lled milk cartons with coins, allowed construction of natural habitats known as Cat Canyon. Th e Des- ert Museum achieved international acclaim and changed zoo exhibits forever by creating homes for George and the other cats. Th e two aging mountain lion siblings recently retired from exhibit are housed in “assisted living” quarters to assure their comfort and quality of life. 1176033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd76033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd 1 66/25/13/25/13 99:51:51 AMAM the Iconic Mountain Lion ...continued from front cover “Th e animals are ambassadors for their them were called to assist in recovering a “You know it’s so easy to please human kind in the world of humans and the Des- frightened ringtail aft er she bolted from beings. All the things I do in my enclosure ert Museum is their embassy,” stated Bill the set to the high beams of the TV studio like turning somersaults, chasing my tail Carr, co-founder and fi rst director of the while fi lming of the Museum’s program and standing up and jumping, I’d do any- Desert Museum. He might well have add- was in progress. way, just to amuse myself. Humans seem ed that the Desert Museum’s fi nest diplo- to think I do these things for their ben- mat was George L. Mountainlion. George became well known and respected efi t so I never let them know otherwise. It as a newspaper columnist. He was assisted keeps them happy that way. I put on a spe- A young, male, personable mountain in producing these weekly contributions cial show for the people once in awhile, lion arrived at the Desert Museum sixty by a variety of helpers, including Mrs. but most of the time I just act natural.” years ago on George Washington’s Birth- Musky Mayfl ower (an administrative as- day. Named George (for Washington), sistant skunk) and a variety of Museum “Another reason why people come to a L. (for Leo the Lion), and Mountainlion staff . A likely suspect contributing to the zoo is that they think animals are funny. (combined for his surname), the original early columns was Bill Carr. George’s Well, we think humans are funny, too. I George and his successors became famous byline included the title “Chief Wildlife guess it all proves that God has a sense of for a variety of reasons. Ambassador,” and occasionally “Research humor, and I’m glad.” A good sense of humor served George well. While being led around the Museum grounds on a leash by Lew Walker, George was introduced to a large group of Muse- um visitors and reported his reaction. “When I took a walk down in front of the steps of the main building, there were just hundreds of people lined up looking at me and taking pictures. It was like being a lion in a Roman arena only they didn’t give me any Christians to eat—thank goodness!” Although at times George expressed some mild displeasure with the human race in comparison to his esteem for fellow members of the animal world, he did have some favorites among Homo sapiens —“It takes children to really appreciate a lion.” Over the years several George L. Moun- tainlions have fi lled the paw prints of the fi rst George. Additionally, numerous other Museum lions, lionesses, and a few Not least among these was the fact that Associate in Human Behavior.” George’s litters of kittens have resided here and George was a literate lion. George wrote writing style tended to be chatty, loqua- charmed visitors. Aft er personally know- at least one book, received and wrote nu- cious, informal, and friendly, but at times ing George L. Mountainlion, Carr wrote, merous letters, and became a well-known seemed a little pompous or caustic. “Th ere will always be mountain lions at columnist for the Arizona Daily Star. the Desert Museum.” And so, now in the George was particularly good at making Museum’s sixtieth year, a beautiful, new On one occasion George wrote a number pithy cats-eye observations on the human male cub continues the legacy. of thank you letters to various fi rst re- race. sponder agencies. Th is was aft er eight of >>> 2 1176033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd76033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd 2 66/25/13/25/13 99:51:51 AMAM MOUNTAIN& the Desert LIONS Museum’s By Shawnee Riplog-Peterson, NEWEST CUB Curator of Mammalogy & Ornithology A spectacular and majestic symbol of America’s wilderness, the mountain lion has served as the Desert Museum’s mascot for 61 years – fostering love and appreciation of the species among the Museum’s many visitors. Mountain lions (Puma con- hunters and deer are their into the wild, his adoption by color) are the largest of favored food. However, lions the Desert Museum was ar- the small cats and even will consume a wide variety ranged by the Arizona Game though they are referred of wild animals as well as and Fish Department. to as “lion,” they lack the cattle or sheep if hunger and ability to roar. They are opportunity present them- Once the cub was ready for consummate predators with selves. The lion stalks its transport, California depart- a small head, muscular body, prey, crouches, moves closer, ment agents traveled nine powerful shoulders, strong and then attacks. It strikes hours with him to rendezvous legs, large paws, and long from the back and kills with a with Desert Museum staff in tail. Males measure 6 to 8 bite to the back of the prey’s Blythe. After arrival at the feet from nose to tail tip and neck. Occasionally the attack Museum the cub was quar- weigh 110 to 180 pounds; fe- may be to the throat – crush- antined in his night-holding males measure 5 to 7 feet and ing the windpipe. area where he was trained to weigh 80 to 130 pounds. The shift from the holding area lion’s upper body coloration The Desert Museum houses to the big boy’s exhibit. The is brown with a white-ish and exhibits only captive- cub’s favorite fare includes chest and belly. The muzzle born or orphaned lions – ani- freshly thawed rats, mice, and area is white bordered with mals which are not suitable quail. To keep the cub physi- black. The tail is heavy, mea- for release into the wild. cally active, a variety of toys sures two-thirds the length Our newest addition, a fi ve- have been introduced to en- of the head and body, and is month old male cub, was courage his curiosity and to tipped with black. found emaciated and starv- provide lots of opportunity ing at a residence in San Jose. for play. These animals have power- Rescued and nursed back to ful claws and their jaws are health by California Depart- equipped with impressive ment of Fish and Wildlife and canines. They are ambush unsuited for reintroduction photographed by Retired mountain lion (L.) and new mountain lion cub (R.), Rhonda Spencer in the same location in the lion enclosure. On your next visit to the Museum, please stop by to welcome the newest furry member of the Desert Museum family! 3 1176033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd76033_ASDM_July_NL1.indd 3 66/25/13/25/13 99:51:51 AMAM 20th Special thanks to the generous sponsors Desert and donors; Gala Chair Cathy Davis and the committee; David Scott Allen, graphics guru; ANNUAL GALA and David Fitzsimmons, cartoonist. Theme Sponsors - $10,000 J. P. Morgan Chase Total Wine & More Tucson Electric Power Company mer Table Sponsors - $5,000 um Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona S New York Life/ Kuddusi Ramazanoglu Raytheon Missile Systems Table Hosts - $2,500 Paul and Alice Baker Priscilla and Michael Baldwin Arch and Laura Brown Buffalo Exchange CBIZ Century Link Cox Communications Cathy G. Davis James Hensley Robert and Patricia Huber Laulima Family Offi ces/Ted Rachlin Northern Trust Bank of Arizona Raskob Kambourian Financial Advisors, Ltd. Research Corporation for Science Advancement Drs. John and Helen Schaefer TCI Wealth Advisors, Inc. University of Arizona Foundation The grounds of the Museum dazzled with lights and music Event Underwriting as festively dressed guests arrived on a warm Sunday— Paul and Alice Baker April 28th. A sell-out crowd celebrated 60 years---and wild Kerstin and Rebecca Block as ever! with cocktails, silent and live auctions packed with Amy Fletcher and Jim Irish treasures, and topped off by a gourmet meal. Robert Koch William and Carol Lomicka The Bert W. Martin Foundation David and Sarah Smallhouse 2013 DESERT GALA COMMITTEE Carrea Uremovich Cathy G. Davis, Chair • Margot Denny, Honorary Chair Davis Scott Allen Linda Lewallen Chandler Warden Kerstin Block Ron MacBain Beth Woodin Rebecca Block Shannan Marty Casey and Punch Woods The gross Gala revenue thus far totals Archibald M. Brown, Jr. Dede McKnight Loomis Carleton Colleen Coyle Mathis $262,440 and fi nal proceeds are predicted Patty Doar Susan Congdon Ott to exceed last year’s record of $166,400. Mark Rossi Amy Fletcher This annual event has raised $1.5 million Pam Geoga Cita Scott Susan Guibor Carrea Uremovich to support the Museum and now accounts Deborah Howard Jacob Hilary Van Alsburg for 5-6% of charitable income for the year.