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Caption
North American Wildlife: Mountain Lion, 1987.
Number
2292
Prompt
The mountain lion's tail gives a slow, subtle twitch. Its eyes scan from left to right, and it lets out a silent, breathy snarl, its whiskers twitching slightly.
Body

The 22-cent Mountain Lion stamp was a component of the remarkable 1987 "North American Wildlife" commemorative sheet, which showcased 50 different animals. This pane was a monumental undertaking, featuring detailed and lifelike illustrations by artist Chuck Ripper. The choice to release this pane at CAPEX '87 in Toronto was a significant gesture of goodwill, marking only the third time a U.S. stamp had its inaugural event outside the country. It underscored the trans-boundary nature of wildlife conservation. The mountain lion (also known as a cougar or puma) is a powerful predator with a vast historical range across the Americas. While it was extirpated from the eastern U.S. (with the exception of a small population in Florida), it remains a symbol of the wild, untamed landscapes of the West and Canada. This stamp celebrated the creature's stealth, power, and adaptability, bringing a piece of North America's deep wilderness to the public's attention.