Mountain Lion Sanctuary Frequently Asked Questions

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CRMLS

Cooper's Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary

Mountain Lion Sanctuary Frequently Asked Questions

Here at the Cooper's Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary, we take a lot of questions. And we don't mind answering them, but we've noticed certain trends and have prepared this FAQ to answer the most common queries. Browse the entire document if you like, or just click on a question to skip straight to it.

The Basics: What is a mountain lion?; What are some of the threats facing mountain lions?; How can I identify mountain lion tracks?; Should I report a mountain lion sighting to you?
Life With Our Cougars: What do the mountain lions eat?; How do you ensure their physical and mental health in captivity?; What happens to the mountain lions you accept?; Can I pet a mountain lion? Can I get in the enclosures with them?; What sort of safety precautions do you take?
Sanctuary Business: Where are you?; How can I contact you?; Who is on your board of directors?; Are you licensed by your state?; Where do you get your funding?; Do you breed and sell mountain lions?; I would love a job taking care of mountain lions at your sanctuary! Are you hiring?; Do you have advice for people wanting to start a sanctuary?; What sort of education programs do you offer?; Can you help with school projects?; Do you accept grants?; What are volunteer days?; How can I help your cause?; Does the press cover your activities?
Cougars That Aren't Ours: Where do displaced captive mountain lions come from?; I need to find a home for a captive mountain lion. Can you help?; How much does it cost to place a mountain lion with you?; Can you come capture a wild mountain lion that is loose in my neighborhood?; Do you take people's mountain lions from them?; What happens to confiscated animals?; What is a "basement cat"?

What is a mountain lion?

Mountain lions are also known as cougars, pumas, and by a variety of local names, such as panther. They are not the same as black panthers or spotted panthers.

What are some of the threats facing mountain lions?

Although the cause of wild mountain lions is a concern for everyone involved with CRMLS, the mission of the organization does not include activism or support of wild mountain lions. Therefore, we refer all such questions dealing with wild mountain lions to organizations that are active with them, such as the Eastern Cougar Foundation, the Predator Defense Institute, the Mountain Lion Foundation of Texas, and the Mountain Lion Foundation.

How can I identify mountain lion tracks?

We get this question a lot. Wildlife photographers Dave and Melissa Rohm and sanctuary volunteers generated some photos and information to help you distinguish cougar tracks from dog tracks. Check out our Identifying Cougar Tracks page.

Should I report a mountain lion sighting to you?

We are neither keeping a database nor collecting the information. We are not associated with any state's Department of Natural Resources or other wildlife agency. If you are in an eastern state that does not officially recognize cougars as part of its wildlife, but you've seen a cougar there, you can report it to the Eastern Cougar Foundation, which is headquartered in West Virginia. That organization is tracking reports of cougars in Eastern states where it is officially not recognized. Please visit their website to find out more about wild cougars in the Eastern United States and fill out a form for their database. If you think you have seen a wild mountain lion in West Virginia, you are not alone. However, we are not collecting the information.

What do the mountain lions eat?

The displaced captive mountain lions eat five to seven pounds of raw meat per day. And you thought teenagers were bottomless!

How do you ensure their physical and mental health in captivity?

We are concerned about their physical well-being and mental health. We have set a minimum size for the enclosures at our sanctuary, and have set standards for their appointments. The cats must be able to hide, have enough room to play and run, and have access to toys or other environmental enhancements that give them something to do every day that interests them. All the enclosures are outdoors, have natural settings (an earthen floor, rocks, perches, dens, vegetation, and trees). Environmental enhancements are objects or situations put in place for the animal to keep his mind and body active, and help keep his senses keen. We rotate different toys in the enclosures, vary their food, and feed birds and other wildlife close to their enclosures. They stalk wild birds, turkeys, deer, and each other from inside their enclosures. They aren't actually able to prey on these creatures, but they do go through all the motions. Consequently, mountain lions at our sanctuary don't display obsessive-compulsive behaviors (such as repeated licking or pacing).

What happens to the mountain lions you accept?

Mountain lions that move here can expect a permanent home here. We do not charge admission for people to see them, and they cannot be used in commercial ways. We do not take them out as "show and tell" examples at schools or public events. Everything at our sanctuary is structured around their comfort and health. Visitors must leave if the cats don't like them, and they do not have to come to the fencelines to "show off" for visitors. They have toys and can play. They have enough room to run, jump and hide; they can get inside their dens to avoid harsh weather. Their privacy is respected.

Can I pet a mountain lion? Can I get in the enclosures with them?

You should not expect to be in close contact with the mountain lions. Some of the enclosures have enough undergrowth that the lions are so well hidden that we can't guarantee that you will even see all of them. Usually, they are curious about visitors and will want to investigate new odors and noises by coming over to the fenceline. We discourage any sort of contact with the cats. These cougars are predatory animals whose behavior is not entirely predictable. No one goes into the enclosures with unrestrained mountain lions. They are quite cooperative about going into their holding areas where they are locked in while trained volunteers clean out the enclosures.

What sort of safety precautions do you take?

CRMLS has an established safety procedure that volunteers and regular visitors must read and follow. Visitors are supervised while on the property. No one is allowed in the enclosures with unrestrained mountain lions. Visitors are discouraged from running and inciting the mountain lions' predatory instincts, and everyone is reminded that the mountain lions are sometimes quite nippy and can bite very hard. Visitors must keep their hands away from the fencing and from the mountain lions. Mountain lions can deliver blows with their front paws that are more than capable of doing serious damage, including breaking bones. Volunteers working around the mountain lions are reminded of this frequently. Visitors are prevented from immediate contact with the mountain lions by a chain link fence that goes around the perimeter of all enclosures, forming a double wall of chain link fencing. In this way, the mountain lions are doubly contained.

Where are you?

We are located outside of Morgantown, W.Va. If you want to visit the sanctuary, you must call and make an appointment. The location is not advertised, so do not expect to see signs or billboards pointing the way here.

How can I contact you?

You can write us at RR 1 Box 332-K, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, or call us at 304/379-8908. You can also e-mail us here:

Who is on your board of directors?

Mark Jenkins, Co-founder of CRMLS
Sheila Jenkins, Co-founder of CRMLS
Tom Linzey, President of Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
Todd Lester, President of the Eastern Cougar Foundation

Are you licensed by your state?

Yes. We are licensed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Where do you get your funding?

We apply for grants from animal welfare organizations, and we accept donations from private and commercial supporters. Not all the donations we receive are monetary. Some come in the form of donated goods construction, and volunteer labor.

Do you breed and sell mountain lions?

No, we do not breed or sell mountain lions. Any mountain lion that moves here can expect to live here permanently. Breeding displaced captive animals would only add to the overpopulation of this cat in captivity, so we do not breed them.

I would love a job taking care of mountain lions at your sanctuary! Are you hiring?

Sorry, no, we are not hiring. We are an all-volunteer organization and no one is being paid for activities at the sanctuary. We have been forwarding such requests directly to The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). TAOS is an animal-welfare organization and accredits sanctuaries. TAOS President Craig Brestrup may forward your résumé or request to other member organizations. Please check with him directly at taos@gvtc.com.

Do you have advice for people wanting to start a sanctuary?

Yes. There is a lot of advice that can be given about this subject. Whole books can be written about it. In lieu of that, here are some things we'd recommend to anyone wanting to start a sanctuary:

Own your own land with a large buffer zone in an area that is not zoned, or in an area where ventures of this nature are allowed. Operating a sanctuary is hard enough without fighting your neighbors, being removed from leased property, or conducting legal battles with city council.
Know your animals and know your business. We highly recommend spending time volunteering at an established sanctuary where the animals are in large enclosures and well cared for. You will not be successful with your venture if you do not know about the special needs of exotics and wildlife, including exercise, nutrition, socialization, danger or warning behaviors, environmental enhancements, and safe construction of enclosures. You should learn all you can about non-profit status and fundraising from someone that knows the system.
Know yourself. How many animals will you be able to care for while also seeing to your own welfare and care of your family? Don't accept more animals than you can care for to a high standard, which includes adequate space, veterinary care, well-maintained enclosures, and safe operations.
We highly recommend becoming a non-profit organization, distinguishing yourself from for-profit exhibits and zoos.
Do not expect to support yourself entirely as a paid employee of your own sanctuary. You'll probably need an outside job to support yourself in the beginning.

What sort of education programs do you offer?

School and community groups are welcome to come to the sanctuary and learn about mountain lions and why sanctuaries such as ours exist. We also participate in community gatherings during which speakers are invited to build awareness about their causes. Mark and Sheila Jenkins have spoken to civic, school, and college groups and classes throughout the area. Volunteers occasionally speak on behalf of the sanctuary when neither Mark nor Sheila is available.

We also host visits for pre-veterinary students from West Virginia University and veterinary interns when the mountain lions need health care. In this way, we reach professionals who need experience with wildlife health care, and with caring for animals that require extra safety precautions.

Students come from local colleges and schools come to gain inspiration for their own lives and careers. We have been the subject of several student projects, including term papers, extracurricular activities, journalism projects, and volunteerism projects.

Can you help with school projects?

It depends on the project. If you're looking for information about cougars, we'll help as our time permits. If you want us to bring a cougar to your school, then no, we won't do that.

Do you accept grants?

Yes. We've been awarded grants from the Summerlee Foundation and from the Ahimsa Foundation. Local construction contractor March Weston donated the materials and labor to build a bridge on the site.

What are volunteer days?

Volunteer days are specially designated days when CRMLS volunteers and new visitors can come out to help the sanctuary in a big way: by providing a concerted force of manual labor for big projects that need many hands. Volunteers are welcome to come out and help at other times, but the Volunteer Days have become a special time for the CRMLS family to share. They're held three to four times per year and are announced in the newsletter, on the internet site, and over e-mail.

How can I help your cause?

You can help by volunteering labor, sending donations, providing other types of special services, donating meat, donating other materials such as fencing and construction materials, providing heavy equipment use, electrical services, and more. You can help the overall effort by not buying mountain lions or other big cats.

If you're going to donate meat, there are conditions. Displaced captive mountain lions must eat raw meat with the bones. The meat cannot be cooked and it cannot be spiced or seasoned. Displaced captive mountain lions need to eat the raw bones so that they have enough calcium in their diets and so that their teeth are cleaned by the bones. There is no danger to the mountain lion since raw bones do not splinter like cooked bones. The meat should be fresh, and we would not want to feed meat to the mountain lions that came from an animal that was medicated or had a disease communicable to the cats.

Does the press cover your activities?

Local newspapers, student newspapers, radio talk shows, regional newspapers, and local and regional television news programs have all reported on sanctuary events and our general mission.

Additionally, we are covered in our own newsletter that is published quarterly, and we occasionally submit articles to animal welfare newsletters for other organizations.

Where do displaced captive mountain lions come from?

They come from many places. Some come from homes, the shattered dreams of misguided pet owners. Others come from breeding programs, exhibition, or government-confiscated cats from these and other sources. Still more come from zoos that allow their cats to breed.

Former Pet Cougars

Mountain lions do not make good pets. Even without claws, mountain lions can do a lot of damage with bites and crushing injuries. It can be hard to find good veterinary care and it can be hard to keep up with the nutritional requirements of these large predators. Finding a trustworthy mountain lion sitter can be difficult, perhaps impossible. Some declawing jobs go very wrong and can create chronic health problems for the mountain lion. Mountain lions have not been subjected to directed breeding programs, like dogs, to develop animals that are human-friendly. Because of this, mountain lions are said to be socialized but not domesticated. Though raised by humans, they are still wild animals and may not be able to control their impulses to stalk and prey on household pets, and people. Captivity can be frustrating for them, and may lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior and moodiness. The mountain lion may be friendly one day, but unpredictably predatory the next.

It's bad enough when house pets become the pawns in divorces or inconveniences when the family moves. It's disastrous when a mountain lion does. Most local shelter facilities will not be set up to enclose and safely keep a mountain lion.

Keeping a mountain lion may be subject to zoning laws, state laws, and federal laws. It may not be possible to protect the mountain lion from well-meaning neighbors slipping "treats" or food that is bad for the cat's health, or more serious acts of vandalism or terror. Exotic, wild predatory animals can draw not only complaints, but abusive, teasing, inciteful behavior when unsupervised.

Liability can become a threat and huge problem if the mountain lion injures someone or escapes. There are also some well-publicized cases of big cats injuring or killing people that have become too familiar with them to treat them with respect and keep a proper distance.

In short, keeping a mountain lion in a home environment can be time-consuming and dangerous. It is a significant drain on personal energy and is plainly inconvenient for the owner, as well as being unhealthy for the mountain lion. We're part of a network of sanctuaries that tries to place these animals, and we've been aware of dozens of them looking for new homes in the past two and a half years. We've only been able to accept four. We do not search for mountain lions; people beg us to take their cats and we usually have to say no. On top of these direct pleas, there are zoo trade publications that advertise free mountain lions continuously. Believe us when we tell you this: mountain lions do not make good pets. People have failed to understand this simple fact, sometimes with disastrous results for themselves and the mountain lion.

Former Residents of Breeding Programs and Exhibits

The state and, in some cases, the United State Department of Agriculture permit and inspect facilities that keep wildlife or exotic animals. When a home or facility does not have the proper permits or fails inspections, the animals can be confiscated. The state or USDA have no other choice than to euthanize the confiscated animals if they are sick or malnourished and other homes can't be found. Breeders sometimes can't place the cubs they breed or want to rid themselves of animals too old to breed any longer. These animals can end up going to auction. Auction sales place the animals with taxidermists, private collections or zoos, private individuals, or staged hunts. Staged or "canned" hunts can take place on game ranches, in cages, in enclosures, or other venues that ensures a kill of an animal that is probably well-socialized. Exhibitions must have a USDA license. If the animal care is found to be substandard during an inspection, the animals may be confiscated or the exhibit owner fined. Sometimes exhibits go out of business because the owners retire, or the business is not profitable. The animals must be placed or killed.

Former Residents of Zoos

Zoos simply don't have the space to keep all the animals that are born there, or that they obtain. What happens to the old and excess animals? Many end up going to auctions, or being kept behind the scenes, or they may end up in sanctuaries.

I need to find a home for a captive mountain lion. Can you help?

Sometimes we are prepared to accept a new mountain lion, but most of the time we are not. Please send us an e-mail describing your situation and we will try to help find a home for your mountain lion, even though we may not be able to accept another mountain lion at this time. If you are able to fund building a new enclosure on our property for your mountain lion, then there is a better chance that we will be able to accept your cat. We have established minimum standards for enclosures at our sanctuary: It must have 15-foot-tall chain link sides, metal netting tops, a den, a holding area, a double door entry, and floor space of at least 50 feet by 50 feet. The enclosure will be in a natural setting with trees and an earthen floor. The cost for building an enclosure like this is approximately $8,000.

How much does it cost to place a mountain lion with you?

If we have an enclosure available, we will pick up the remaining costs if the cougar is within driving distance. If the cougar must be flown here or there are other extraordinary actions that must be taken to transport the cat here safely, then we will likely need help. We do not look to make a profit on such transactions. We'd only be looking for the owner or custodian of the cat to pay the costs. After we accept the mountain lion, we do not expect the former owners to pay for the mountain lions' upkeep. We would not refuse donations, but we don't expect them.

Can you come capture a wild mountain lion that is loose in my neighborhood?

No, we don't rescue wild mountain lions. Our mission only supports the care of displaced captive mountain lions. We refer people with concerns for wild mountain lions to the Predator Defense Institute, the Mountain Lion Foundation of Texas, and the Mountain Lion Foundation. Their websites have a substantial amount of information regarding legislation affecting wild mountain lions, as well as practical advice for the safety of people living in areas where mountain lions are living in the wild. Though the plight of wild mountain lions is a concern to everyone at CRMLS, our mission does not include activism, support, or education involving wild mountain lions.

Do you take people's mountain lions from them?

No. We accept mountain lions that have been confiscated from the State or Federal government, and we accept mountain lions whose owners have willingly relinquished custodianship. We will not go to someone's house and try to forcibly take a mountain lion.

What happens to confiscated animals?

We don't confiscate animals. If you're asking about what happens to animals confiscated by states or the USDA, the answer varies from state to state. USDA regulations are clear that they can place USDA-confiscated animals with USDA-licensed facilities; or, the animals are sometimes euthanized. CRMLS is licensed by the USDA, so we would be able to accept animals confiscated by the USDA if asked to do so.

What is a "basement cat"?

You may hear about basement cats among animal welfarists. It's a shorthand way of saying that the animal in question has been kept in a small cage or crate, usually in the basement, to keep him away from people, other household animals, or delicate household belongings because he was reverting to wild behavior. To the sanctuary operators, it means that there is likely going to be a lengthy recovery period for this cat because generally they will be antisocial with other big cats and with people. They may have disorders or diseases common among animals that are deprived of exercise, sunlight, environmental enhancements, and socialization.