Cooper's Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary

Posted by: Allen Canfield onThu, 07 February 2002 13:20:55
Cooper's Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary provides a permanent home for displaced captive mountain lions. We are a non-profit organization, licensed/permitted by the US. Dept. of Agriculture and WV DNR. We are accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries.

Many people try to raise big cats, such as mountain lions, tigers, and lions, without knowing the risks involved and having a proper environment in which to place them. Sometimes home situations change for the owners and they are faced with trying to place socialized cats born in captivity. This is a very large problem in the United States. We receive several notices every year of captive mountain lions needing new homes, and usually one notice per year of a confiscation of a large number of the big cats by the USDA if they must close a facility due to neglectful care.

We are a small sanctuary that survives by donations and grants. Our facility and management practices are established for the good of the mountain lions. We are not a zoo. Each mountain lion has his or her own enclosure in a natural setting with a den, perch, trees, and natural earth as the floor. We do not charge admission, and visits are by appointment only.

We are supported by a strong volunteer corp. We hold Volunteer Days 3-4 times per year for first time visitors and potential donors to visit the facility, and to tackle large projects with the collective effort of approximately 25-40 regular volunteers. Check our web site regularly to find out dates for Volunteer Days at http://www.cougarsanctuary.org

We publish a quarterly newsletter that is mailed out on hardcopy but also posted to the internet at http://www.cougarsanctuary.org
Our main informational webpage with permanent information is moving to http://www.cougarsanctuary.org . The site is under construction but operational. Check back often to see new information posted there. We're planning a virtual tour, FAQ's, basic information about our projects and the facility, and a profile of each mountain lion. If you'd like to help in our effort to provide sanctuary for captive mountain lions, you'll also find contact information at either web site and ways you can help. You can adopt a mountain lion for $50 per month. Of course, the cat never actually leaves the grounds, but your donation to us in the name of a specific mountain lion will buy his or her food for a month. You'll receive a photo of your adopted cat and a letter to tell you a little about him or her.

Burton came to us as an excess animal from a zoo. Carrie came to us from the Baltimore suburbs from a private home. Tecumseh came from a breeding and exhibit facility. Mariah came to us from a private home. Her family could no longer care for her. We have been opened since 1998 and hope to adopt one mountain lion per year, and perhaps a few cats from smaller species if we're contacted with requests to accept them. We estimate that our full capacity will be at approximately 8-10 mountain lions. There are many, many more mountain lions in dire circumstances that need help than we can accept. Your donations can help.

We are located on 168 wooded remote acres near Cooper's Rock in Bruceton Mills, WV. Visit us on the web or in person. Email questions to emeraldjo@yahoo.com or mtnlionwv@labs.net