The Cat's Out of the Bag! Mountain Lion Exhibit Coming to Swaner EcoCenter

The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter and the Quinney College of Natural Resources of Utah State University present a special exhibition, Mountain Lions!  The Story of Pumas and People. The exhibition blends science, history and art to provide an in-depth look at Utah’s most mysterious and elusive predator. Opening day Nov. 15 at Swaner EcoCenter in Park City marks the exhibition’s debut in Utah. It runs through the end of March 2015 and is presented in partnership with the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo.  

People and mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, have lived together for thousands of years.  Mountain Lion! tells the story of this ancient relationship as well as documents the hunting techniques, habits and physical features of modern mountain lions that have allowed them to survive for millennia. The exhibition includes large life-like displays with mountain lion figures as well as a wide variety of artifacts and informational panels. Mountain lion artifacts and replicas will also be available for hands-on investigation. A special section developed with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Indian tribes in Colorado illustrates their history and spiritual relationship with the mountain lion.

There has been a dramatic rise in cougar sightings and encounters on the urban fringes of numerous Western cities in the last two decades. In a few rare cases, there have been fatalities, although, fortunately, never in Utah. Living safely and peacefully with mountain lions today is an important subject addressed by the exhibit. The exhibit will teach visitors how to read cougar behavior, to recognize tracks and scat and will offer practical tips on what to do in case of an encounter. 

The exhibition will be supplemented by a series of talks given by experts, including researchers from Utah State University’s Quinney College of Natural Resources. The speakers will share the latest research on Utah’s mountain lions as well as the current approach to management. In addition, the Swaner EcoCenter will offer interactive opportunities for children that visit the new exhibition and field trip opportunities will be available for youth and school groups. The EcoCenter staff will also be gathering information about mountain lion sightings in the area and will be encouraging visitors to write about personal encounters and post these on a story wall in the EcoCenter. Visitors will also be asked to fill out a short survey on their perspectives on mountain lions. 

Mountain Lion! has been organized and developed by the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., and made possible through additional sponsorships. The exhibit was brought to the Swaner EcoCenter in part through the support of the Utah Arts and Museums, with funding from the State of Utah. Major contributions from the Summit County RAP Tax, Utah State University Extension Grants, USU’s Quinney College of Natural Resources, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and individual donors were also crucial to making the project a reality.

For exhibit hours and calendar of events, see the Swaner EcoCenter’s website. 

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter is located at 1258 Center Drive, Park City, Utah. 

Contact: Nell Larson, director, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, 435-797-8941, nell.larson@usu.edu

Contact: Holly Strand, science communications specialist, USU Quinney College of Natural Resources, 435-797-9246, holly.strand@usu.edu

Contact: David Stoner, ecologist, Utah Mountain Lion expert, USU Quinney College of Natural Resources, 435-797-9147, david.stoner@usu.edu