Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center

Speaker: James W. Cornett, Desert Ecologist, Author

While hiking alone in the Baboquivari Mountains of southern Arizona, Jim Cornett came face to face with a mountain lion that had stalked him down a mountainside. The confrontation lasted nearly forty-five minutes, with the cougar lunging at Jim several times, in an attempt to get him to turn and run. Join Jim as he recounts the frightening experience and explains what he did right and what he did wrong in his encounter with the largest of resident American felines. Along the way, Jim will describe the natural history of mountain lions, the threat they pose to humans (real and imagined), and their future in an increasingly urban world. Free for ABDNHA members, all others $10 at the door of the Performing Arts Center. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Speaker: Andy Blue
Andy Blue discusses a fascinating animal, the bobcat, found both in the wild and in our semi-rural community of Borrego Springs. Although bobcats are more numerous than many realize, they are more secretive than their fellow upper-tier predator, the coyote.

Andy has been a powerhouse in the zoological community for many years, working in Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Cuba, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. He started at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park at age 16 and became a curator. He has served as Zoological Manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and as director of the Ramona Wildlife Center. Currently, he is the Campus Director at the San Diego Humane Society. The highlight of his job is returning rehabilitated animals to the wild. General Public: $10 at the door; Members: no charge. Seating is first-come, first-served.