Looking deceptively like a domestic cat, the bobcat remains wild at heart as it hunts through the night for prey. This Bobcat puppet features a movable mouth, dark tufted ears and the dark stumpy tail that gives it its name. This hand puppet is 15″ tall.  Available at http://www.cowandlizard.com/product/bobcat-hand-puppet

FACTS OF INTEREST:

• The bobcat is native to North America.  It lives in forests, mountains, deserts and swamp land throughout the US.
• The bobcat is about twice the size of a house cat.  It is well adapted to hunting rabbits with its long legs and ability to leap ten feet.
• Bobcats live alone.  They spend their days hidden among rocks and bushes, in caves and hollow logs.  They hunt only at night.
• As wild places are claimed by people, and because the females only give birth to a few babies a year, the bobcat’s numbers are declining.

BOBCAT’S TAIL

At one time Bobcat was Wildcat.  She had a nice long tail.  She hunted during the day and sat around her campfire at night.  One night, though, she let her fire go out.  Wildcat was so worried about freezing and starving that the plan she hatched was not of the smartest kind; she decided to steal her neighbor Black Bear’s fire.  Bear was gone when Wildcat came to her camp.  She quickly rolled Bear’s log out of the fire pit with her head (and singed the fur on her ears in the process so that all that was left was a black tuft!)  Then she wrapped her long tail around the glowing stick and raced for home with her tail smoking.  She did get herself a campfire that night   but she also burned her tail down to a stub.  And the next day when Wildcat heard Black Bear crashing through the brush towards her, she took off with a mightly leap and wasn’t seen in those parts again.  Her tail never did grow back, so folks started calling her Bobcat.  She also never comes out in the daytime anymore.  She’s still afraid that Black Bear might catch her.

-©Madeleine Scott

Browse the entire line of hand, finger, WebWilds, character, and stage puppets by Folkmanis at http://www.cowandlizard.com/brand/folkmanis

Happy Day!

the folks at Cow & Lizard

www.cowandlizard.com

He’s hairy, he’s scary… But don’t worry, this Tarantula can’t hurt you — in fact, he’s as cuddly as a puppy. Really. But go ahead and squish him if it makes you feel better. Hand enters from chest area to work several of the multiple legs. This hand puppet is 18″ long.  Available at

http://www.cowandlizard.com/product/large-tarantula-hand-puppet

FACTS OF INTEREST:

• The hairy tarantula lives around the world in the tropics and subtropics.  It makes its home in burrows in the ground or in trees.
• Though tarantulas are big – the Brazilian bird-eater grows up to 10 inches across – and look scary, they are shy and slow-moving.
• Tarantulas do flick irritating hairs if threatened.  They can also bite, but their venom is no more dangerous than a bee sting.
• Several species of tarantula with reddish legs are raised in captivityand are popular as pets.  It is illegal to collect them in the wild because they are endangered.

TRICKSTER TARANTULA

Many, many years ago there was only one Tarantula, big as a man, who lived by himself in a cave.  One day he decided to steal the fringed leggings and feathered headdress of Swift Runner, son of the chief of the nearby village.  “My young friend,” he called, “I will let you see how glorious you look in your spendid garments.  I will try them on for a moment so you can look.”  Of course, as soon as Tarantula put on the clothes, he ran into his cave and clocke the entrance.  The chief went to Spider Woman, grandmother of the war gods, for help.  She fashioned an antelope from sandstone and made it look real,  Tarantula then came outside, for he loved to hunt,  He shot the antelope with his bow and arrow, but angry Spider Woman jumped out from under the sandstone animal, grabbed him, and pulled off the fine clothes.  She then held him by the legs and flung him at the sun, crying, “Be gone forever!”  But Tarantula had one last trick.  Instead of burning up, he exploded himself into millions of little pieces.  They became the red-legged tarantulas we know today.  Their legs are red because Spider Woman left her mark of anger on them.

-adapted from a Zuni folktale by Madeleine Scott

Browse the entire line of Folkmanis hand, finger, character, Web Wilds, kits and stage puppets at http://www.cowandlizard.com/brand/folkmanis

Happy Day!

the folks at Cow & Lizard

www.cowandlizard.com