big cats

[bookwormom]

what do you know about cougars in your area? I know there were some released a few years ago down in the National park, but last week our minister's wife saw a black cat about the size of a doberman, long tail and all, her dog was scared to death and ran for the house..

[DM]

I know that we have cougers in this state, because some years ago i saw one about 45 miles from here... I also know that i don't want them around, and it's one of the FEW things to have around that's "worse" than a wolf!! Although i'd class a "pack" of wolves to be even worse!

DM

[remington]

Well, technically we don't have them here in KS ::). But, I saw one right outside of town. Positive ID and with three or four witnesses. In MO I saw one about a year back. People say that they won't attack but coyotes were said to be scared of humans too and look what has been hapening.

[bookwormom]

well, last night while I was still up and sweet hubby was already in bed, suddenly there was a loud scream. It was not human, it was not coyote, and it called only once. Husband came bounding out of the bedroom and wanted to know if it was I screaming like that.

A few years back someone from Arkansas reported in Countryside magazine that his sister in law was mauled to death by a cougar. A neighbor made plaster casts of the foot prints and the zoo in Memphis identified them as cougar prints. The zoo in Little Rock refused to look at them, the fish and wild life dept. said it was dogs, as there are no cougars in Arkansas, and the man was threatened with a 1000 dollar fine if he shot it.

[CountryKitty]

When hubby was a boy in Georgia his relatives all talked about them "black panthers" out in the woods. Given that occasional color variations occur in all species, I have absolutely no problem believing that the occasional black mountain lion, or panther, appears in a population--and if the population becomes inbred for any reason, those color variations are going to appear more frequently.

[cubcadet]

Here in PA there was a guy who reported a cougar on his place. The Game commission said there were no big cats here in the area, so next time he saw it, he shot it because it was threatening his family. Pretty soon, a Game warden showed up wanting to know where the cougar was. The farmer told him he was told there were no big cats around here. Turns out, the cat he shot was chipped and was observed as not on the move for a considerable time. I had heard of this second- hand, and was not told whether the Commission ever found the cat the farmer buried. Big Brother is watching!!!

[Vinland]

I live in upstate NY, and there have been we will say "Big Cat" sightings. I have no problem with it either. If you think nature is too close to your family....why move out here then?? Pardon the pun but that's like moving to the sewer and feeling threatened by a turd. Not throwing any punches or anything like that....but, at least where I live, your gonna sometimes find bear, cats, etc. They were here first

[remington]

They were here first, yeah. Saw it on the news today that a toddler was attacked by a coyote in California. (I know that's not a cougar) Just saying that wildlife is getting less and less afraid of people.

[bookwormom]

we have coyotesgalore and they were not here first. Some one thought it was a good idea to introduce them here and they have spread all over. My mother in law (in her nineties) says they never had coyotes 'back then',there were bears, panthers, no coyotes.

[OzarkMtnDaredevil]

... said it was dogs, as there are no cougars in Arkansas, and the man was threatened with a 1000 dollar fine if he shot it. *

Bookwormom. Are u in AR?

Humm. Sounds to me as if someone is covering something up or is just plain stoopid (not aimed at u). If there were no cats in AR, why would there be a fine for shooting one? That's akin to fining someone for fishing in a swimming pool with no licence.

I've been in north central AR since '79 and I can tell you for a fact that we have cats. They're not prolific but, they ARE here. Heck, they're Native to this area (although once nearly extinct) ! Perhaps it's due to some 'legal' BS that seperates Cougars from Panthers? We have a major creek in the area called Panther Creek. I wonder where they got that name? They are here. I've personally seen three and have seen sign or heard them on many occasions.
We also have Bobcat in the area that can be as large as 30 pounds. Not a small cat, huh? Some may be mistaken for a cougar, I guess ???

[bookwormom]

quote
Humm. Sounds to me as if someone is covering something up or is just plain stoopid (not aimed at u). If there were no cats in AR, why would there be a fine for shooting one? That's akin to fining someone for fishing in a swimming pool with no licence.

that's just the irony of it, a woman is dead, the people concerned find out through their own effort that a cougar is the one who done it. the fish and wild life deny it, yet threaten the man with a fine if he shoots the cougar. makes you wonder.
No, I am not from Arkansas.