In Pursuit of Big Cats in America

file000780326317 In the Americas there are two primary species of large cats of major size. One is the Jaguar, which can still be found in the Southwestern part of the United States, and as far south as the northern part of Argentina.

The cougar, or the puma, as it is also called, is all over South America, the country of Mexico and in the western half of the United States and the Southwestern part of Canada. The cougar is closely related to the common house cat, only it is a much larger animal.

In North America, there are three other types of big cats in addition to the cougar. They are the Bobcat, the Lynx and the Ocelot.

The bobcat is the most well-known of the other big cats, and it is the only one that is not on the list for endangered species. It is about double the size of the average house cat and it has long legs and a bobbed tail, thus its name. It is a night time animal that hangs out in large cat trees when it does its most hunting, so it is not often seen by humans.

file4371266649689The Lynx is about the same size as the bobcat, but it has more tufts of hair on its ears and feet. The lynx lives in the colder climates of the northern United States and in Canada. It has large feet than the bobcat and thicker hair to protect it from the colder climates.

The Ocelot looks like a miniature leopard as it has all of the markings of a leopard, but it much smaller. They used to be all over the southwestern portions of the US, but are now mostly in Mexico and South America.

These animals are not generally to be feared by humans, due to their mainly nocturnal nature. Except for the mountain lions, they have been known to attack humans, but only rarely.

Help Save Endangered Tigers Before They Become Extinct

1427950737btww8You run across tigers in captivity in the zoo, and you might think the tiger population is quite healthy. However, worldwide in the wild, there aren’t many more than 3,000 tigers. Can you believe that? That is why you’ve likely noticed organizations that are working diligently to save the endangered tigers.

If you’re wanting to help save the tigers, you can donate to research funds. There is even a site that provides you with rewards for doing so, as I am signed up with the site. I haven’t taken advantage of doing this yet, but I’m seriously considering it now that I know how many tigers are left. Remember that there are different species of tigers, so some of them are even closer to becoming extinct than others.

There are more than just the research funds that needs your donations. You can also choose to adopt your own tiger, and no, this doesn’t mean it shows up at your doorstep wanting food. This charity works much like the charities where you adopt children across the globe as a sponsor. When reading about the adopt a tiger program, I noticed you not only get a photo of your tiger, but you get him or her in stuffed animal form, too.

One of the biggest reasons why any animals become endangered is due to environmental changes. We’re not talking natural environmental changes, we’re talking about ones forced on them. The tiger population needs your help, so making your purchases from sustainable companies helps. Help shift the focus to companies that follow these all too important environmental rules.

Any kind of tiger products out there should be off limits. Always remember the worst threat to the tigers is the fact that they are being poached. Working together, everyone can help try to save the endangered tigers.

4 Fun Facts About the Siberian Tiger

1444691294ezc2xSiberian tigers are among some of the most interesting animals in the entire world. While people often forget about them when thinking about the big cats, there are many good reasons why these amazing cats should be recognized.

Fun facts about the Siberian Tiger:

#1: Siberian Tigers are the largest cats in the world.
Not only are they the largest tigers, but they’re bigger than lions, as well. They can grow up to 11 feet long on average and males weigh up to 700 lbs while females weigh up to 400 lbs.

#2: Many Siberian Tigers have manes.
Since they live in especially cold regions like northern China, Siberia, and even possibly in some northern areas of North Korea, these tigers grow manes to help keep them warm in temperatures that can get dozens of degrees below zero.

#3: The Siberian Tiger is endangered.
There are very few of these majestic cats left, and most of them have retreated to areas high in the mountains with thick woods away from human settlement. There’s no solid number on how many are left but estimates do have them as extremely endangered as a species.

#4: Siberian Tigers are Mama’s boys.
Siberian Tigers spend quite a bit of time with their mother after being born before they leave. While they are fully capable of surviving at 8 months, they tend to stay for 2-3 years before finally leaving the den and setting off on their own, at that point going with the lone cat status that many people associate with tigers.

These are just a few fun facts about one of the most interesting, and endangered, species of big cat in the world, the Siberian Tiger. While conservation efforts are being made, it is hard to know what the future holds for them.