The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College receives $10,000 grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation for mountain lion programs

 

DURANGO – The Dr. Scholl Foundation, based in Northbrook, Illinois, has granted $10,000 to the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.  The money will be used to provide public and school programming on issues surrounding mountain lions and other predators. 

 

Mountain Lion! opened to the public on August 22.  To date, almost 5000 visitors have viewed the exhibit. It runs through October of 2010.

 

The Mountain Lion! exhibit was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to address the pressing need for greater public awareness on the growing issue of human encounters with mountain lions. Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic rise in cougar sightings and dangerous encounters on the urban fringes of numerous Western cities. In a few rare cases, there have been fatalities.

 

The 2400+ square-foot exhibition is free and open to the public at the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College. For current hours and information, visit the Center’s website at http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu .