Mountain Lions In

New England And Beyond

BRIDGEWATER — Bridgewater Grange will host a special mountain lion presentation by Bill Betty, Rhode Island native who does extensive studies on mountain lions throughout the New England states and beyond.

Mr Betty will present his 90-minute program on Sunday, October 7, from 7 to 9 pm, at the Grange Hall on Route 133.

The program is free to the public. Participants will learn that the mountain lion is the most widely distributed mammal in the Americas and of the many different types of habitats from deserts to humid coast range, forest and from seal level to 10,000 foot elevations. Some occupy areas adjacent to towns and cities and occasionally appear in suburban backyards.

Mr Betty recently returned from the third mountain lion conference in Canada. His disscusion will cover all aspects of the lions’ behavior from reproduction to predation, life span to habitation.

Sports hunting and Puma pets will also be discussed and theories that explain the mountain lions’ rapid occupancy in the Northeast.

A show and tell item display table will be set up with skull, tracking maps, cougar lures, scat samples, a motion detection camera, and various books and pamphlets to recover evidence and where and when to look out for this creature.

Light refreshments will follow the program. For additional information call 860-354-2581.