While enjoying a few days off work, we took the opportunity to visit our local Desert Museum. The weather was ideal, and the animals were more active than I’ve experienced in quite some time.
Cruz is their resident mountain lion, and he is a beauty!
Rescued in 2013 in San Jose, CA, he was unsuitable for reintroduction into the wild. He was discovered as a cub in the back yard of a residential area and nursed back to health. The Desert Museum was contacted after they expressed interest in the cub and adopted him into their family. Two current and aging sibling mountain lions were retired to private dwellings so their physical needs could be more easily met.
The Desert Museum traditionally adopts orphaned mountain lions which have not been suitable for release into the wild. The mountain lion has been an iconic symbol of the Desert Museum for many years and in the past the Museum’s male mountain lions have always been named George L. Mountainlion.
Well, I needed to hear the story behind this name, and I discovered on the website archives the story behind the name.
It was February 22, 1953, and the Desert Museum was a mere six months old when Bill Carr invited my husband Merv, and me to accompany him to the Tucson Airport to pick up a distinguished arrival of the Museum’s new male mountain lion.
…
It was George Washington’s birthday when the lion arrived. He became George (for the holiday). Bill added the initial L. for Leo the Lion, and combined two words, mountain and lion, for a surname. Thus George L. Mountainlion came to the Desert Museum. George became a weekly columnist (with a little help) for the Arizona Daily Star and the Museum’s icon for all time. Over the Museum’s 65 year history, several other Georges followed the first. We have loved them all.
— Peggy Larson, November, 2016
I found this mention regarding the naming of Cruz:
“The Museum will continue to embrace this tradition using the iconic image and name, however, the reigning George L. has retired and this cub needs a name. So, the decision was made to invite the community to help the Museum name the new cub…”
—Executive Director, Craig Ivanyi.
To learn more about Cruz visit the Desert Museum website here.
peace of life today 
This post will have to be one of my favorites! You got wonderful poses and such great close-ups. Now I want to make a trip back to the Desert Museum.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I think the weather right now is just about perfect!
LikeLike
Cruz is one beautiful animal and enjoyed hearing about the history of the George name
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes, the name story made me smile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow Lisa they are very large cats
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he is, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him walking around before!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful animal indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos and a wonderful place!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nora!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful images Lisa and so lovely to see sweet Cruz being so well cared for 🧡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! …and I agree! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, he is a handsome fellow, absolutely beautiful! I’m so glad he’s been rescued and nursed back to health 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sarah! I think all of the animals there are rescue animals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really captured their special beauty, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous!! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jeff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!! The first photo says it all. Look at the eyes, I’ve a story to tell. Beautiful images and a lovely post Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Anita! I love his face looking up at me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos and place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ritva!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had a great time visiting the Desert Museum and learning about Cruz, the resident mountain lion. It was amazing to learn that the museum has traditionally adopted orphaned mountain lions and given them a home. I was especially interested in the story behind the name of the male mountain lions, George L. Mountainlion. It was great to learn about the history of the Desert Museum. Thank you for sharing this post – it was fascinating to learn about Cruz and the museum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! I loved the story too, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I love all cats, wild and domesticated. ❤
LikeLike
What an amazing story! I’m so glad that Cruz was able to find a loving home at the Desert Museum. It’s great to hear about the Desert Museum’s dedication to caring for orphaned mountain lions. George L. Mountainlion sounds like an incredible mountain lion, and I’m sure Cruz is just as amazing. Thank you for sharing this special story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Olivia! 😊
LikeLike