predators were aroundi" Science has produced an abundance of evidence that predation on prey, such as rabbits and deer, actually benefits the prey species as a whole by 1) keeping populations at a sustainable level for the amount of vegetative food and other resources in an area, and 2) improving the gene pool over time by preying on the weakest, and therefore ensuring chat the most 6t and survival-strong genes get passed on. Predation makes both predator and prey species stronger.

Cougar Stalks Deer

Animal Forms, Expanding the Senses, f0Rt R0uTmEs Questioning and Tracking, Listening for Bird Lang,tage tI Sneaking, Imitating Animals, Challenge .!er Mammals 7h Bt}t}K OF IIATURE Southeast: Activate, Southl Focus, Northeastl I{ATURAL CYCTE Open and Listen

til0tcATR0s Aliveness and Agrlity, Quiet Mind, ()F AU{ARTilESS Common Sense

Prirner Cougars hunt Deer by sneaking up from behind so stealthily that they remain unaware. A Cougar stalks slowly, moving low to the ground, making almost no noise as its hind foot lands exactly where its front foot had been. After a stalking Cougar gets close behind a Deer, they powerfully lunge onto the deer's back, biting into the neck. I bet you didn't know this: Cougars actually have nerve endings on the rips oftheir big canine teeth so that they can feel exactly where to put their teeth and bite, immediately severing the spine and killing the Deer quickly and painlessly. The only protection a Deer has from a stalking Cougar is its sensory awareness. If it hears something and turns to see the Cougar moving, the Deer can bound offeasily to safety and the hunt ends. However, deer hai'e

Animal Form Games | ;ll limited vision and can only clearry recognize moving animals. This means, Referee. You or.ri.ir--.:- - you can stand completely still righr in front of a Deer, and the Deer will not see game run smoorh.'.- -. : -- you.! But don't ger cocky-if the wind brows rhe rightway,the Deer wiil - smell you in a heartbeatl people being secn .': - And ifyou make even rhe sriglrest noise, it,il be out ofthere in a fash. So the trick Inside tbe lv[in,i :_: :' for any Cougar sneaking up on a Deer in the open is the abil- ity to stop moving and freeze in the same instant the Deer turns to look. Lions in Africa stalk low - through the grass jusr rike this, {reezingwhenever ricipanrs pracricc .:: - something looks their way, and then moving quietry .ro.". *h"i they rook be challenged ro:. - away again-until they get close enough to pounce and kill. Do you think and able ro fre.':. --: you could do that? are on. Alonq r:J - : pants get fro-ei: ::. - -- HowIo legs and funnl'l:--.

This Also, rhis gr:::: - - is a version of the classic game rhar many know as "RedlighcGreenlight.,, -: ment, borh on ;::. : - -- choose the Deer. the parr of rhe Dc.. one or two participants or instructors become Deer. choose them and themtotryOn'l :'. :--'. ask them to reaily get into the mind, of grazing Deer. Have the Deer stand a lirtle apart from everyone erse. They riitt i-i."r. the way Deer amble Altern atitt € S tl i:.i = .: :-: along, casually bending down to nibble on grass, occasionally springing their heads up and looking around when they h-ear a noise, arways Change the Animalr making sure they are safe. Except for when they raise their heads to rook if youjust wanE rLr .:::.: around, their backs are ro everyone erse, and rhey can srowly inch away from Rabbit," or "Hous<--:-: everyone else. The Smell Facror- -,, create the Playing Field. The rest of the participants get to be Cougars. always stalk fror. :- Have rhe cougars form a starring rine, at least fifteen y"rJ. fro- the f"Ji.rg ure, in real rime. :-:- : - Deer. be. This awarene-.; -: -- into rheir seDSr r.r l The Action. Once you say starr, the Cougars will silently and slowly stalk towards the feeding Deer, always watching the Deer so they can freeze in Make it Real. Ch:..- -:, place as soon as the Deer turns its head to rook around. The Deer can look style of rhis game :. : : : - back when they hear a noise, or every ren seconds or so. If a Deer turns while deer, robins feedi:.-: :- -- a Cougar is still in movement, that Cougart hunt ends, and he or she begins again at the starting line. when a Cougar reaches Deer, it simpry taps ir on the.shoulder this cougar now becomes the Deer. Th. .r.rght Deer obedi- ently moves to the side, has a seat on the ground, and sil"ntf watches as the other Cougars conrinue the hunt.

3e2l ACIIVtTY GUTDE Referee. You or another instructor will need to serve as referee to help the game run smoothly arrd fairly, i.e., to make a call on any arguments abour people being seen or not seen moving, which of course will arise.

Inside tbe Mind of the Mentor This game is awesome for learning stalking and body control because par- ticipants practice and test out their Cougar-Crawl or Fox-Walk. They will be challenged to always be physically centered, under control oftheir bodp and able to freeze and hold a position, no matter what part of a step they are on. Along the way to gaining this self-control in movement, partici- pants get frozen in many humorous awkward positions, as well as shaking legs and funny falls. Also, this game emphasizes the use of the ears and eyes to catch move- ment, both on the part of the ever-watching Cougars ready to {reeze and on the part of the Deer listening and looking for any movements. You can invite them to try Owl Eyes during this game.

Altern atiu es and Exten sion s

Change the Animals. If you don't have Cougars at all near where you live, or if you just want to change things, try changing this game into "Bobcat Stalks Rabbit," or "Housecat Stalks Robin."

The Smell Factor. Ask Cougars to arrange themselves so the Cougars always stalk from downwind. Guide them with questions to help them 69- ure, in real time, the direction of the breeze, and where "downwind" would be. This awareness of their relationship to the wind gets participants tuning into their sense oftouch regularly.

Make it Real. Challenge participants to touch an animal by using the stalking style of this game to sneak up on real animals whenever they have the chancer deer, robins feeding on the lawn, squirrel, even their own cat or dog. l ! f t

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