Cougar Sighting

[Kevin J.]

These pictures were taken by my niece out her kitchen window. She lives just on the edge of town in a new housing development. The cat did take the neighbors ducks. Since then the DNR has captured and relocated the cat. Which is to bad because this is way cool.

 

[Watchdog]

That's pretty cool...wish your neice had made more photos. What area of Minnesota is this? Further up north?

It's just as well the DNR relocated the cougar, though. If it had continued to hang around and hunt in proximity to people, someone probably would have shot it, and there really aren't a whole lot of cougars left in the wild as it is.

 

[AJ]

Maybe it will be back. We have one that comes around every couple of years or so. Since more development in this area, it has been seen less and less. Too bad!

 

[chaparrito]

We have a healthy female who has our neighborhood on her circuit. I have seen her but never photographed her. Seen her tracks right outside my pasture fence, but she's never bothered my livestock. Plenty of deer for her along the creek bottom. I posted this game cam shot of 4 of her young'uns a while back.

 

[chief38]

When I saw "Cougar Sighting" I got exited - then I realized you are talking about the 4 legged version.

 

[Doug M.]

So many things to say, but I can't afford the points.

 

[Fishslayer]

When I saw "Cougar Sighting" I got exited - then I realized you are talking about the 4 legged version.

Cougar tracks...

 

[mtgianni]

A lot of young cougars go wandering in spring and early summer. They usually find out that town life isn't for them even though it abounds with easy food, some of it even kept on a chain. It is relocate or 3 S's depending on ones location.

 

[jimmyj]

Once I was stalked by a cougar at a party but when I turned around and she saw my wrinkles she abandoned the stalk.

 

[ladder13]

When I saw "Cougar Sighting" I got exited - then I realized you are talking about the 4 legged version.

At the age of most here, a two legged cougar would be 80+ yo

 

[Fishslayer]

At the age of most here, a two legged cougar would be 80+ yo

True...

 

[GaryS]

My wife is four years older than me, so she barely qualifies.

At the age of most here, a two legged cougar would be 80+ yo

 

[S&WIowegan]

Cougars are not only in Minnesota which is a big state, especially north/south distance, but also sighted in Iowa on occasion. Iowa is a small state directly south of Minnesota(for map/challenged members). Pawngal lives in northern Iowa real close to MN.

A deer hunter shot one out of a tree here a few years ago. He was in a deer stand, called the DNR to ask if he could legally shoot cougar and did so. Young males drift long distances looking for mates.

Cougars are definitely making a comeback.

 

[Texas Star]

There are many more than most realize. Since CA stopped all but predation permit hunting, they're even in the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Discovery TV had a program some years ago featuring several survivors of cougar attacks. I knew one man from having interviewed him for a magazine article. He killed the one that attacked him with the Schrade equivalent to Buck's famous Model 110 lockblade knife. But he was badly injured during that fight.

 

[Doug M.]

Anyone who has tried to handle an angry domestic feline will figure out quickly that fighting something 4 - 6 times bigger is going to suck. A lot.

 

[Texas Star]

Anyone who has tried to handle an angry domestic feline will figure out quickly that fighting something 4 - 6 times bigger is going to suck. A lot.

Yes! Mr. Anderson whom I mentioned above told me that his greatest difficulty was in keeping the cat's teeth off his throat while he struggled to get out his Schrade LB-7 knife and open it with both hands.

Naturalist Carl Akeley once strangled an 80 lb. leopardess that jumped him. It was not an easy task! The biggest male leopards can slightly exceed 200 lb. Good thing one of those wasn't the one he fought!

I read about a South African farmer who surprised a rooikat (caracal lynx) in his barn. The cat locked its teeth in his chest and the head had to be cut off to free the man.

My son and his wife have seen cougars twice where they live. They don't stroll around unarmed.

 

[Texas Star]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EAQxnIHUCU[/ame]


Here's a really good cougar documentary sort of film.

I regard cougars with caution, but respect and admire them.

 

[BigBill]

We were seeing large cat tracks (mountain lion) in the upper elevations of central vt. I had my pictures confirmed. I put a pack of cigarettes next to the tracks so the size could be determined. They are so elusive it took me over a decade to finally see one. I think they stayed in the higher elevations then as the population grew there in the lower mountain areas looking for food. Now there at ground zero.

 

[Mistered]

There is however there is a new species of Cougar that is evolving. One that had planned to mate for life but lost it's male companion due to death or other circumstances. This new breed has adequate resources for survival and is well equipped to re-enter the wilderness. Because of it's years of experience it is considerably more dangerous than it's male counterpart, is very sly and cunning and bears considerable watching. It is very selective and will take whatever new companion it chooses. Even the strongest male can fall victim as it displays a larger more comfortable cave/home it has created, ample sustenance and comfort. Also because of it's years of coexistence with a dedicated male, and possible domination by same, it will no longer allow itself to be controlled and will, in fact, dominate any new male it takes as a companion. This new breed displays an insatiable desire to mate and any incapacity, carelessness or neglect by the male will result in his immediate ejection from the cave/nest by the now dominate female.

 

[GaryS]

I was going to ask if this applied to the four or two legged variety, but it seems it could apply to either.

There is however there is a new species of Cougar that is evolving. One that had planned to mate for life but lost it's male companion due to death or other circumstances. This new breed has adequate resources for survival and is well equipped to re-enter the wilderness. Because of it's years of experience it is considerably more dangerous than it's male counterpart, is very sly and cunning and bears considerable watching. It is very selective and will take whatever new companion it chooses. Even the strongest male can fall victim as it displays a larger more comfortable cave/home it has created, ample sustenance and comfort. Also because of it's years of coexistence with a dedicated male, and possible domination by same, it will no longer allow itself to be controlled and will, in fact, dominate any new male it takes as a companion. This new breed displays an insatiable desire to mate and any incapacity, carelessness or neglect by the male will result in his immediate ejection from the cave/nest by the now dominate female.

 

[GaryS]

My daughter's 16 1/2 pound part Maine Coon, part American Short hair was too much for the vet to handle without sedation.

Anyone who has tried to handle an angry domestic feline will figure out quickly that fighting something 4 - 6 times bigger is going to suck. A lot.

 

[DeathGrip]

I wanted my own,

Charlie The Lonesome Cougar - YouTube

 

[Doug M.]

My daughter's 16 1/2 pound part Maine Coon, part American Short hair was too much for the vet to handle without sedation.

*
Squeak, aka the Kitty from Hell, was 8 pounds. She was good with us and her dogs. She was awful with the vets, and we were actually told to never bring her back to a boarding facility we used for her (once). Her picture is included in the pet tribute slide show I have posted in one or two strings here.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Sightings are not exactly daily fare here in the Twin Cities, but they do turn up a couple of times a year. There is a conservancy area in my neck of the woods that seems to be on their regular route from A to B.

 

[Autonomous]

My ownership of a S&W 629 is the direct result of a close (50') encounter with a Cougar.
On the way home my wife said "Go buy that .44 you have been wanting."
Thanks, kitty!

 

[fiasconva]

If you want to see some really scary cougar sightings hit your local Walmart. *s*

 

[Erich]

This is a real rarity:


Cougar attack in Washington kills 1 biker, injures another | Fox News

 

[Roadtrash]

Been in the desert for over 20 years and I've only seen one. It got to within 50 feet then turned and walked down a dry wash. All I had with me at the time was a Charter Arms 38 snub nose and I sure didn't want to try that. After it turned into the wash I got in the truck and was on my way to other places.

 

[soFlaNative]

I've seen the tracks of the Fla. panther a few times, never actually seen or heard one.
Found tracks in the sugar sand one spring of mama puma toying with an armadillo while the cub learned a lesson or two. The 'dillo would scoot along until mama bopped it and made him roll. Change direction and repeat with Jr. running along.
Very cool to see, not more than a couple hours old.

 

[shouldazagged]

They haven't been native to Kentucky for many years, but apparently at least one has been released by somebody unwise enough to raise it. In the last week there have been several civilian and two confirmed police sightings of one in a suburban neighborhood. Photos, which I can't reproduce here, have been blurry; but the length and configuration of the tail, and the shape of the head, are unmistakable. It's a mountain lion, which is what we call them here to avoid embarrassing misunderstandings. The other kind of cougar is, I'm told, plentiful here.