Cougar

Meet the Cats!
Cougar
Cougar
(Puma concolor)

Cougars, listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, go by many names including, puma, mountain lion, panther,  painter, catamount, American lion, deer tiger, brown tiger, and night  screamer.  The Florida panther  and Eastern cougar of the United States are both Critically Endangered,  all other subspecies are Least Concern.  The Florida panther is down to  30-50 animals in southern Florida; one sub-population went extinct in  1991.  They are threatened by physiological impairment ascribed to  inbreeding depression and by road kill.  Several Texas cougars were  released in Florida in the past few years to augment this population.  The Eastern cougar, occasionally sighted in the Appalachians, New  England, and Ontario, survives only in small numbers in highly  fragmented ranges.  West of the Rocky Mountains cougars are much more  numerous.  Cougars are the western hemisphere’s widest ranging cat, living from upper Canada down to the tip of South America. Cats from colder regions are the largest, up to 200 pounds. California, or Western, cougars are average-sized, about 150 pounds for males, 100 pounds for females.

In the past FCC cooperated in breeding research programs  investigating in-vitro fertilization, using cougars as the subjects. Fertilized embryos were successfully produced and implanted, although no  live births resulted.  This program is now suspended while new hormone  drugs are developed (the females built up an immunity to the drugs used  in previous studies to bring on ovulation, impairing the program’s  success).

Cougars live in the mountains here around us.  They are pretty shy and it’s rare to encounter one, so you’re not likely  to see one while hiking, but you should never let young children get  separated from adults while hiking.
Serrano

Sex:  Male
Born:  Spring of 2010
Arrived at EFBC:  July 2012 from the Department of Fish and Game
Fun Fact:  Found wandering around in residental neighborhoods in Whiting Ranch park in Orange County on July 17 2012. He was estimated to be about 18-24 months of age. Was not acting like a  typical wild young cougar, causing the Department of Fish & Game to deem him ineligable for re-release. He was brought to EFBC as his permanent home, and helps educate the public about native wildlife.
Favorite Enrichment:  Beef femurs, cantelope
Wishlist item: Snack Shack
Hours:

NEW OPERATING HOURS: 10 am to 4 pm
We will now be open every day except Wednesdays and Sundays, unless we are closed due to government restrictions.

Private Tours & Behind the Scenes Tours are available (advance reservation necessary).

Admission:
General                $10
Children (3-12)     $5
2 and Under           Free
Seniors (60+)         $8
Veterans & Active
Military (With ID)    $8

Members & our Cat's Adoptive Parents
receive free admission


Recent Births &
Acquisitions:
  • Caracal arrived December 2020
  • Ocelot male and female arrived October 2020
  • Ocelot arrived July 2019
  • Serval arrived May 2019
  • Snow Leopard arrived May 2019

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, July 2, 2022 is our 4th of July Party for the cats! Join us for themed enrichments and treats! Celebration starts at 12pm!