Spirit of the Rockies: The Mountain Lions of Jackson Hole
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers, are probably the most elusive large animals on the continent. Even some wildlife photographers have never seen a wild mountain lion. In the winter of 1999 a mother lion with three large cubs moved into a den on Miller Butte, above the largest concentration of wintering elk in North America. Mangelsen, a well-known wildlife photographer and author of an acclaimed book about polar bears (Polar Dance, 1997), lives close by, and could document the family of lions during the 42 days they were present. Two things stand out from the photographs: first, the lions are so superbly camouflaged that even in photographs taken with tremendous magnification they can be difficult to spot; and, second, they are so shaggy in their thick winter coats that they remind the viewer of enormous Persian cats. Wolves, elk, and coyotes are also featured, and Blessley's impassioned plea for understanding and tolerance of the predators in our midst offers a nice addition to the recounting of the lion family's stay.Nancy BentCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved