Zoo Idaho's newest resident gives the camera her best side. The young female cougar, who survived a serious illness shortly after her arrival, is described by staff as full of personality. The public is invited to help name her through a contest running through May 22, 2026.
Zoo Idaho has a new resident — a five-month-old female cougar kitten — and the public is invited to help give her a name.
The kitten arrived from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after being found orphaned near Afton, Wyoming. She came in underweight and refusing to eat, and veterinarians at Alpine Animal Hospital soon diagnosed her with feline panleukopenia, a serious and often fatal disease in young cats.
She pulled through.
“The first few weeks were intense,” said Zoo Manager Peter Pruett. “But thanks to the incredible dedication of our zookeepers and the team at Alpine Animal Hospital, she pulled through.”
Staff describe her as a survivor with plenty of personality — already making her presence known with growls and hisses. She is expected to go on public exhibit mid-summer once she is large enough to explore her habitat.
The unnamed cougar kitten settles into her temporary quarters at Zoo Idaho in Pocatello. She is expected to go on public exhibit mid-summer once she is large enough to explore her habitat. Proceeds from the naming contest will fund improvements to the cougar enclosure.
In the meantime, Zoo Idaho is asking the community to help name her. Residents can submit one name suggestion through May 22 by commenting on Zoo Idaho’s Facebook or Instagram pages, or by emailing yourzoo@pocatello.gov.
Zoo staff will select three finalists, and the public will vote on the winner with a $5 donation — the name receiving the most donations wins. All proceeds will fund improvements to the cougar habitat, including new platforms, climbing structures, shaded areas and natural ground cover.
For more information, contact Zoo Idaho at 208-234-6264.
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