A short animated film inspired by the story of the last confirmed Vermont mountain lion in Barnard, Vermont in 1881.
Real Life Inspiration
By the late 1800s Vermont’s wooded landscape had been cleared. The old growth forests that existed prior to European settlement were replaced with agricultural fields, which resulted in a rapid decrease in wildlife. In addition to the changing landscape, bounties were placed on predators such as bears, wolves, and mountain lions. Populations of these animals plummeted and sightings became a rare occurrence.
However, despite all of the odds, in the early winter of 1881 a large male mountain lion managed to slink down the Connecticut River Valley and enter the small Vermont town of Barnard. It had been travelling undetected through the state for months, but now, with the newly fallen Thanksgiving snow, its tracks were discovered.
Learn more about the history:
- Vermont History Explorer: The Last Catamount in Vermont
- This Place in History: Last Catamount in Vermont
- Seven Days: Are There Catamounts in Vermont?
Animation Technique
“A Mountain Lion’s Journey” will be digital hand drawn 2D animation.