STORIES

Margo's Email Address

Due to tremendous demand, Margo the Mountain Lion has her own BLOG at: http://margolion.blogspot.com  

Her email address is: 
Margo@TheHealingCenterRM.org  Email Margo questions about living in the Rocky Mountains.  Also send your best stories about your encounters with wild animals.  I will post Margo's answers, and share her favorite photos and stories about wildlife sent in by her fans.


Margo’s Fan Club:

Ernie's Birthday Party

Margo has been invited to Ernie's Birthday Party.  He is her best friend, but she is self-conscious about being made to feel foolish and she's worried that might happen at the party.
At the last minute, Margo decided to go. Ernie’s mate, Eustice, laid out a spread of tasty tidbits.  Margo enjoyed herself until someone tried to put a pointy hat on her head.  She quickly put a stop to that by making a face.  She did have to agree that Ernie looked pretty good wearing a pointy hat.

Monsoons (posted 08.03.11)

Front page from August 2, 1976


08.03.11  Now Margo knows why Ernie flew back to his roost high on a mountain cliff early yesterday afternoon.  It's monsoon season and in the late afternoon heavy rain poured down on the Golden Eagle Ranch.  It looks like it may happen again today.  During the monsoons in the 1960s, the ranch got 11 inches of rain in 2 hours!  Because of the mountains on the west side of the ranch, that meant a lot of water came rushing downhill in torrents.  Boulders the size of cars tumbled down Rock Creek, cracking together with loud booms… It wasn’t nearly that bad yesterday, but in some areas in town people had to be rescued.  Margo has a rock overhang to shelter in when the rain starts.  She says, “When it's raining in the mountains, take to the high ground and find shelter!"  
One of the worst Rocky Mountain Flash Floods was the Big Thompson Flood of August 2, 1976.  Check it out:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/22/rocky150-big-thompson-flood/

Deer - Peaceful and Graceful

http://www.desertusa.com/feb97/du_muledeer.html
The last two mornings, when I got in my car to leave my house, two mule deer, a doe and her 2 year old, were by the car.  They reminded me of what Ted Andrews said in his book Animal-Speak: “When deer show up in your life it is time to be gentle with yourself and others.  A new innocence and freshness is about to be awakened or born.   There is going to be a gentle, enticing lure of new adventures.  Ask yourself important questions.  Are you trying to force things?  Are others?  Are you being too critical and uncaring of yourself?  When deer show up there is an opportunity to express gentle love that will open new doors to adventure for you.  

Margo and Ernie on Soaring

While Margo was basking in the morning sun, Ernie came by for a short visit.  Margo asked,” How are you and Eustice coping with your two eaglets since they started to fly?”  Ernie shrugged his wings, “It’s been hectic, protecting them and delivering food, but soon they will be on their own.  Besides, Eustice and I take turns and when we need a break, we catch a thermal and relax.  It’s an easy way to put things in perspective.  Everything looks like small stuff when you’re soaring several thousand feet above the ground.”  Margo gazed wistfully out across the plains, “I envy your ability to fly.”  Ernie circled around her, “You can do the next best thing.  You can visualize that you are flying with me.  See yourself launching from the ridge and spreading your wings.  Feel the warm air rising and let it support you and carry you on the wind.   It’s a great way to change your perspective.”  Margo made a sound between a purr and a chuckle.  “I’ll try it.  Thanks, Ernie.”

Marty On His Own

Marty went back to the rock shelter last night, but now he must go find food for himself if he is to survive.  Mountain lion cubs are usually left on their own at about age 2.  Marty is young to be left alone and faces the coming winter without Tanya to guide him.  He will have to grow up quickly.  At least he has his inherited strength, stamina and intelligence on his side.  He may never know what happened to Tanya.

Margo's Sister, Tanya, Is Missing


Three days ago Margo’s sister, Tanya, left her 1 ½ year old son, Marty, at a rock shelter high in the mountains and went hunting for their dinner.  Marty waited and waited, but she didn’t come back.  Yesterday he left the shelter and went to a nearby spring.  He went back to the shelter last night.  This morning, with his stomach grumbling, he climbed high on the ridge above the shelter.  Throwing caution to the wind, he sat there crying and screaming for hours.  Tanya still hasn’t returned.  

http://www.wallpaperweb.org/wallpaper/animals/snarling-cougar_1152x864_40996.htm




Margo has an older sister, Tanya.  Tanya was big enough to fend for herself when she was two years old.  A year later she gave birth to twins and one cub, Marty,  survived.   As often happens, each sister has her own territory and they seldom see each other.  Marty is a year and a half old now.  This is a photo of he and Tanya in the deep snow last April. K1698548  www.fotosearch.com      

Margo's Health Tips




Margo says, “At least twice a day, join me in leaping 40 feet in a single bound and you’ll leave that extra weight behind.”   




Margo the Zen Master

 At an early age, Margo became a master of quiet contemplation and resting to revitalize her energy.  She lives in the now.  She can teach us this important lesson.

Margo's friend Ernie the Eagle


In the mid-afternoon, Ernie flies in lazy circles above Margo where she rests  in the shade of a rock overhang high above the Golden Eagle Ranch.  She's invisible to all but Ernie's sharp eyes.  She watches him, thinking that he's very earnest about his eagleness.  He's very proud of being the symbol of our country.  Margo doesn't have the heart to tell her best friend that it's the Bald Eagle who is the symbol of our country.  Margo says, "When an eagle has pride, you go along for the ride." 

Steller's Jays - Not Margo's Best of Friends

Steller’s Jays are communal and gregarious and very alert for perceived dangers like snakes or cats who the jays will mob making loud harsh calls.  Their cousins the crows and the magpies do the same thing.  While its not likely that Margo would hunt a jay, they will still mob her if they see her and their harsh cries hurt her ears -- a good reason to wait until dark before going out. 

Peanut, a Steller's Jay

This morning, my window open, I looked out at the ponderosas, fresh from last night's rain.  I heard a bird call, it sounded like Ernie the Eagle!  My ears triangulated on the sound and instead of coming from high above, it was from one of the trees.  Then he showed himself.  It was Peanut, a Steller’s Jay, giving a great Ernie imitation.  He's a show off and sometimes clown, fun to watch, reminding me that we all need to find laughter.  

Margo's friend Ernie the Golden Eagle

I saw Margo's friend Ernie the Golden Eagle flying east over the ranch early this morning. The eagle symbolizes divine spirit.  The Golden Eagle is our highest flying eagle.  Eagles teach a balance of being of the Earth but not in it -- a lofty perspective on life.  They teach us a lot else as well, symbolizing wisdom, creativity, healing, power, strength, nobility….  We envision The Healing Center to be a place of creativity, wisdom and healing where the individual spirituality of our clients will be nurtured.          www.TheHealingCenterRM.org

See Margo's Cousins

You can admire Margo’s cousins at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  But Margo is free.  Let’s keep her that way.  We have dedicated the Golden Eagle Ranch to be a wildlife preserve for Margo and all the wild animals.  And when we build our campus for The Healing Center of the Rocky Mountains in the Colorado foothills it will be a haven for wildlife as well as people.
www.cmzoo.org

Strength, Power and Self-sufficiency

Margo the Mountain Lion is a symbol of all that strength and power we all need in our lives.  She teaches us how to be self-sufficient.  Wow! 

Healing Energy

Margo is here to help us keep that lion spirit needed to build The Healing Center of the Rocky Mountains.  I’m sure that our co-founder, Dr. Neil Rand would agree that mountain lion energy is a magnificent healing energy.  Wouldn’t you agree? 

Reconnecting With Nature is Healing

From the very beginning we have always considered that reconnecting with nature is an integral part of The Healing Center of the Rocky Mountains and its ideals. 

Margo: Symbol for The Healing Center of the Rocky Mountains

Don’t you think Margo would make a great symbol for us when we build The Healing Center of the Rocky Mountains in the Colorado foothills? 

Margo lives on the Golden Eagle Ranch

Margo is a frequent visitor.  A mountain lion’s range is normally several square miles and often much more than that.  Margo includes the Golden Eagle Ranch as part of her foothills territory.  See mountain lion photos at www.nps.gov   Rocky Mountain Park animal photos 

Margo the Mountain Lion




Cougar_by_digitalART2_CC=nc-nd-flickr

Most people would be astounded, but for us it was just another night at the Golden Eagle Ranch when Margo passed through.  Margo is a curious Mountain Lion who visits us often.  She just comes by to say ROAR!