Current at 11/6/2011 (Online waypoint URL) You have already found this cache! Master Index    Nearest Caches Lion Down on the Prairies by Flotsom and Jetsom (1.5/1) (Archived) N49° 52.175  W97° 14.293 (WGS84) UTM  14U   E 626600  N 5525619 Use waypoint: GC1B8V6 Size: Micro    Hidden on 4/15/2008 In Manitoba, Canada Difficulty:     Terrain:                       This cache is one of a series placed in collaboration with the Zoological Society of Manitoba as a part of the Endangered Species Cache Game. The Cache is in the Assiniboine Park Zoo. There is a nominal entrance fee. You can download the game sheet at www.mbgeocaching.ca or obtain one from the Zoo Shop NOTE: You do not have to cross any barriers to easily find this cache. Crossing barriers is dangerous to you and the animal. Lion Down On The Prairie The cougar is a cat of many names. Also called a puma, mountain lion, catamount or panther, this magnificent predator of the Americas is a symbol of successful adaptation to its environment, yet an indicator of the ever-present vulnerability of species in the domain of man. The Cougar lives in tropical and temperate forests, desert, grassland and swamp from Alaska to Argentina. While still inhabiting an enormous range, it has been greatly diminished or lost to most areas (e.g., most of eastern North America). It is an uncommon resident in Manitoba. The cougar inhabits one of the largest and most diverse ranges of any land mammal in dozens of habitats from sea level to 3,350 metres (11,000 ft) elevation. Deer, elk, ground squirrels, rabbits, and birds comprise its diet. The cougar stalks its prey within close range, and with a burst of blinding speed and manoeuvrability, it dispatches its prey with a bite to the neck. Nimble enough to catch a mouse, it can also overcome an elk six times its own weight. The male averages 80 kg (maximum 136 kg). The female can average 50 kg. When cougars are ready to breed, they scream loudly to attract mates. Only the female takes care of the one to six young, which become independent in one or two years, after which the female breeds again.

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2/1/2009 by Kabuthunk
I must admit... this cache was by FAR the most entertaining one of the Zoo series for me . For multiple reasons... most of which don't even involve the cache itself .

As I was circling my way towards this cache from 'Croakin' Away' not far from here (during which I discovered the drink machines near the washrooms were turned off or disabled for winter... somewhat an annoyance since I was getting pretty thirsty by this time), I noticed that there were multiple other people gathering around the cougar cage.

Speaking of which... the name of this cache quite perplexed me, as these Felidae were clearly not lions. Although, after looking into it a bit more (via Wikipedia, which isn't necessarily the most accurate source of information, but is generally close enough), I'm not even sure what a "lion" is any more. Wikipedia clearly indicates Cougars to be of the genus Puma, and Lions to be of the genus Panthera. HOWEVER, when searching Wikipedia specifically for "mountain lion", it redirects to "cougar". Thus the confusion. Methinks I'll have to research into this a bit more, since now I'm just blindly curious if there IS such a specific animal as a 'lion', or whether that's a generic term that can apply to multiple creatures .

But that's learning for another day. Or possibly tonight, I haven't decided. People were around, hindering my looking. I parked myself on a nearby bench and decided to wait them out. After a mother and child left, the remaining adult asked me "So, have you found it yet?" This took me a bit by surprise... another geocacher? I quickly confirmed she was talking about geocaching indeed . As it turns out, I had come across the geocacher "minikinminx", who was apparently unaware of active geocaches at the Zoo. So we had a fun time chatting about geocaching adventures and the like. Nice meeting you minikinminx ! After she wandered off, it only took me about a minute to locate the cache container. At one point minikinminx, you were standing about 2 feet from it .

Another thing that I enjoyed about this cache was... well... the cougars. They never roared once, but instead were making the cutest meows . It was like a regular house-cat meow... but just... deeper. SO CUTE ! If I could have, I'd have TOTALLY pet them! Except of course for the clear warning signs against doing so... and the common logic which dictates against doing so... aaaand the fact that I would like to retain the use of my hands for another day .

But still... CUTE!!!

Anyway, after locating the geocache, I quickly signed it up and lobbed in a micromail ball (the only cache thus far to not be able to take a regular size). The logbook and ziplock bag seemed to have some difficulties getting back in, but I managed after a few seconds. The logbook and everything is still dry, so no problems from that end. Although, even if it were wet, it would probably be too frozen for me to notice . But with the cache container being what it is, I'd probably recommend at one point upgrading to Rite In The Rain paper for the logbook. That way, if moisture gets to it, there's still no problem with tearing or problems writing. Believe me, I've tested that stuff in ways you couldn't imagine .

But thanks for taking me here. Got to meet another geocacher, and hear the cutest couger-meows .

Took: Nothing
Left: Logbook entry and chainmail ball