About the Animals

Cougar Ridge Educational Center has been blessed to have two beautiful Florida Panthers. Ashukalee (“Sugar”)  and Lakota.  The latest addition to the family is Casanova, a Siberian Tiger!  The links (lower left and the bottom of this page) will give you the opportunity to meet these big cats as well as other wild (and domestic) animals raised and cared for by Cougar Ridge Founder Gloria Johnson.  The article below will give you an idea of a day in the life at Cougar Ridge Center.

Day in the Life at Cougar Ridge Center

As related by Gloria Johnson

Although I only have 3 animals (plus 4 house cats), there is only one of me and a typical day really involves a lot of time devoted to each of them. Now that I have Casanova in a habitat next to the cougars I must be very careful to give everyone equal attention. Ashukalee especially gets her feelings hurt if she is not first to greet and last to say good night. She was the first, is the oldest, and is the queen of this castle.

Ashukalee's feelings are hurt.

Ashukalee being comforted by Gloria.  

Each night I cut about 20 lbs of meat which is more work than it sounds like. I cut it into stew size pieces so that the 4 vitamin supplements they get will coat the meat well. This of course has to be done rain or shine, in sickness and health.  I even did it while wearing a body brace as a result of a broken back! 

The hardest and most challenging task in caring for the animals is something the USDA calls "enrichment". It involves keeping them all entertained and their minds stimulated. With the tiger it will be harder when he's bigger because toys just don't last and can be ingested which is dangerous. He has a bowling pin and ball and car tires, but at 6 months can still play with balls and stuffed animals. This won't last. Even the cougars can no longer have stuffed animals because the tear them apart and swallow some of the pieces. Kong toys (or big dog toys) don't last very long and the cats get bored with a toy very fast. I have to constantly invent "puzzles" in order to keep them "entertained" - some meat wrapped in something digestible and closed inside a cardboard box (won't hurt them) and hung somewhere that they have to work to get it. They all demand lots of brushing, petting and hugging from me.  All three love to play basketball with me. Of course the balls get popped within 10 minutes and then I take them away because they would start eating them (Wal-Mart has $3 basketballs thank goodness!!).

We have 18 acres at Cougar Ridge Educational Center, with the animals' habitats coming right up to the house so they can feel close to me.  In fact the animals can see in all the windows and know exactly where I am!

When I awake in the morning, all of animals start calling, and before I can even make coffee or get out of pajamas I have to go hug and kiss each cougar. Until Casanova grows up a bit and calms down with his rough play I pet him through the bars and wait until I dress properly.

  Good Morning Sugar!

Good Morning Lakota!

Last but not least, good morning Casanova! 

Yes, sometimes I feel really "spread thin", especially when the Legislature is here and I work seven days a week too, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world!  I only wish I could share the joy the animals provide with even more people. The school appearances allow me to do that to an extent and that is why we do as many as possible even though it costs us, not them!  We depend greatly on donations for this reason and thank those who have given!

I hope you enjoy the many pages here - and read about the rehabilitation of our cougars, each of which probably would have been euthanized had I not been willing or able  to give 24/7 care to each. I have tried to avoid "animal facts" on this Website as I think you will find that Favorite Links has a wealth of information. I do however have papers that I email to teachers before a school appearance and if you are interested or just curious about what I tell the children feel free to ask and I will email each to you. 

God Bless! 

Gloria

Links to Cougar Ridge Animals:

Ashukalee (Sugar)

Lakota

Casanova

Page updated: 05/28/2006