Mountain Lion (cougar)

Cougar babies look and act like kittens, but they are called cubs. Of course, they belong to the cat family.

Baby cougars are bigger than kittens. They weigh about a pound when they are born. They are born covered with fur and, like kittens, they are blind.
Cougars have from one to five cubs at one time.

Young cougars are about two years old before they have enough hunting skills to catch their own food. Adult cougars care for them until they are able to live on their own.

Although cougar cubs are cute and cuddly-looking, they are dangerous and should never be approached in the wild. The young cubs will scratch and bite in self defense, and their mothers will attack anyone approaching their young.

When Lewis and Clark crossed America, cougars could be found nearly anywhere. Today, they are found mostly in the western United States and western Canada. Idaho is the home of many cougars.

An adult cougar may be five feet long or longer, not including its tail, which is two to three feet long. A full-grown cougar can weigh about 200 pounds.
Cougars are called by different names in different areas of the country. Other names are mountain lion, catamount, panther, and puma.

Cougars hunt at night, often traveling long distances. Mainly they kill deer and elk, and sometimes a bighorn sheep. They seldom kill calves, sheep, or other livestock.

Cougars keep hidden while stalking their prey, then leap out onto the animal. They are important to nature because they weed out weak, sick, and old prey.

Size: 5 x 7 canvas (not framed)
This item sells for $50.00

Pauline Libutti, RiverRock

African Art & Paintings

African Art: Colorful Native Artwork

One of the biggest contradictions in the art world is with African art. This is because African art is among the most colorful of all native artwork in the world and yet this style of art comes from the 'dark continent' of Africa.

African paintings can depict life in Africa with village scenes involving people doing everyday activities such as cooking, caring for their children and playing. Of course, there are paintings of the majestic wildlife found in Africa including lions, elephants, giraffes, tigers, and rhinos. Some African art are quite realistic while some are very abstract. However, both are very inspiring showing just how proud African artists are of their homeland.

Collecting African Tribal Masks
Some of the most highly sought after pieces among collectors of African artwork are the African tribal masks. There are masks used for ceremonies, rituals, battle and for telling stories. African tribal masks can signify such diverse characteristics such as courage, strength, protection, peace, fertility, honor and wisdom. There are even tribal masks of African animals such as elephants, zebras, cougars and antelopes.

Artisans in Africa create a wide variety of carvings, sculptures and statues from different mediums. Pieces can be made from wood, clay and different types of metal. Subjects of African carvings include both people and animals. Actual African carvings and sculptures can be stand alone pieces or as wall carvings.

Pauline Libutti, RiverRock Critters.com
Copyright 2008 CraftyCritters Newsletter