Cougar in the neighborhood...

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Fri May 07, 2010 5:37 pm

...and, no, I don't mean the comely female human type.

There is a little 1-acre neighborhood park about 100 yards from our house. I don't know how it got in here. It's a least a mile inside the subdivision. A neighbor saw it around noon today laid up in a big live oak, and another neighbor is missing their family cat. So, I'm loading up the 870 with #3 buck and keeping the dachshunds inside. Not a good feeling.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri May 07, 2010 5:40 pm

Is it within the confines of a city's limits?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 07, 2010 5:41 pm

Keep an eye out...................There was one sighted a few monthes ago in a neighborhood in Tacoma miles from the woods...just a few green belts that twist and turn around the city..

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri May 07, 2010 5:45 pm

Does it look like this?

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri May 07, 2010 6:58 pm

Had/have one running the canyon behind my place. When first spotted, the animal cops tried to claim it was a prank. Funny how they changed their minds when several neighbors produced still and video footage of the cat in their backyards. The called in "experts" and the experts decided it was too late in the day to track it, but woud try the next day. Well, the "experts", none of whom by the way had any hunting/tracking experience, couldn't find it. Of course, they probably had to look "mountain lion" up on the internet to figure out what they were looking for.

Long story short, the "experts" decided it was someones "illegal pet" that got out, and probably went back home. Somehow, it seems pretty difficult to imagine someone could keep a full grown mountain lion as a pet and no one would know about it. So, the experts quit looking, but fluffy and scruffy seem to keep disappearing.

For an "urban" area, SoCal has quite a bit of wild country, and it wouldn't be hard for a cat to have a fairly large area to roam in with the way the canyons and such are interconnected.

Now, not that I've gone looking, but I like to hike in some of the local canyons. And having a ccw, I usually have a handgun one me. Funny how it generally seems to be a .45 colt short barreled Blackhawk with me when I take a stroll. Note, I do this in the daylight. I ain't that dumb.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Fri May 07, 2010 7:14 pm

We have thousands of them near me here in Nor-cal. I knew a lady that was killed a few years back. No hunting cougars here, except at the mall, or Applebees.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri May 07, 2010 7:28 pm

Joel wrote:We have thousands of them near me here in Nor-cal. I knew a lady that was killed a few years back. No hunting cougars here, except at the mall, or Applebees.

"Self Defense" is allowed, but expect a big hassel. Some years back, a fellow shot one on his balcony. He, at first, had a hard time convincing the cops he had shot one. Latter he had to prove the darned thing was on his balcony when shot.

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Fri May 07, 2010 7:32 pm

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:14 pm

They are not protected here. Parks and Wildlife just asks that you notify them where you see or shoot them so they can update their sighting database.

I'm just outside the city limits, but it's pretty thick residential. That's why I'm keeping the shotgun ready, rather than the BB94.

Here are the park coordinates if you want to look on Google Earth:

30.512503, -97.729881

Post by **Hobie** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:28 pm

That's an awful lot of houses there but not really too far to travel. I've been amazed at how much you can do in a rather crowded urban area at night if you're being quiet.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Sat May 08, 2010 9:37 am

Is the term “CAT BURGLAR” appropriate?
Good Luck.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:10 am

two cats have been reported at Friedrich Park on the northwest side of San Antonio.
One was reported crossing IH-10 there early one morning.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:42 am

Those cats are pretty good at crossing. I don't think I've ever seen a road-kill mountain lion. I've seen many dead deer and coyotes, and even gators on the stretch of I-10 between New Orleans and the bridges to Slidell, but never a cougar.

piller · Post by **piller** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:49 am

We have had coyotes take dogs and cats here, but not a cougar yet. I would be more worried about a cougar than a coyote. If you have a CHL, don't go near that park without your pistol. I wouldn't go looking for it, but if it came looking for me I would want it to find more than it could handle.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:04 am

Oh, I'm worried about it, alright. Even before this, I regularly carried a concealed sidearm to that park.

I did go looking for it early this AM. I took my .40 and my binos and basically "cleared" the park. With so many kids around I don't think I want to take passive approach, in this case.

gak · Post by **gak** » Sat May 08, 2010 1:00 pm

They are just about the "perfect" specimen of wild critter-at least predator-- when you think about it: fast, strong, large enough to take on just about anything but large bear. Not a whole lot else you'd design into one. Through an odd "once in a lifetime circumstance, got to "play" with one--a young adult (teen?) 1 year old--several years back. It'd been orphaned as a cub and picked up (uninjured) by a trucker. Game & Fish was transferring it to a big cat preserve in Oregon, and a gent was down in Az to pick it up. An hour rough-housing with this magnificent (for those not attacked or otherwise threatened by them) creature was quite an experience. As solid as a big lab, gi-normous paws, could hear the purr from 20 feet across the room.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Sat May 08, 2010 1:16 pm

RSY wrote:Those cats are pretty good at crossing. I don't think I've ever seen a road-kill mountain lion. I've seen many dead deer and coyotes, and even gators on the stretch of I-10 between New Orleans and the bridges to Slidell, but never a cougar.

about 1981 when i was in the army at san antonio, one was killed by a car on the outer [ back then ] beltway about 430 one morning, as i recall it was a whopper over 150 lbs, i think the picture was in the paper. a friend saw one not far from there when he was walking over another friends acreage just outside city limits about the same time of year. kinda neat around a city that large!

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Sat May 08, 2010 5:09 pm

One question...why would anyone want to report a sighting or a killing of a cougar to the authorities. I agree with OSOK...SSS...what they don't know can't hurt you.

Ed

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat May 08, 2010 7:58 pm

Kansas Ed wrote:One question...why would anyone want to report a sighting or a killing of a cougar to the authorities. I agree with OSOK...SSS...what they don't know can't hurt you.

Ed

Because in Texas, it's legal to hunt/shoot them, so no harm no foul. Texas Parks and Wildlife is just trying to keep tabs on their ever-changing range. I don't have any problem providing them with such data. It's not required, just the neighborly thing to do.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:33 pm

With so many kids around I don't think I want to take passive approach, in this case.

You hit the nail squarely on the head!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Sun May 09, 2010 9:27 am

I knew the young woman who was killed by the cougar in El Dorado county, CA, back in 1994. The investigation showed that she evidently turned her back on the cat and tried to run. Sad, but a big mistake.

A local acquaintance of mine also killed a cougar that stalked him while he was turkey hunting. This event also occurred in El Dorado, Co. The lion went for him and he killed it with his shotgun at 10 ft. DF&G wardens tried to cite him, but with witnesses testifying to the exact events, they had to drop the case. This is typical of the protectionist attitude of the State of California. Prior to the foolish moratorium on mountain lions, it was considered OK to kill bothersome animals, but no more. Even a lion harming a human is no reason to kill the poor thing. B darned S!! Sappy do-gooders are the bane of our once great State. I vote for a drop on cougar protection. With more and more city folks moving into the hills, the cats are forced to seek new territory and are now seen in every county, except San Francisco. We could use a few of them around Polk Gulch, now, couldn't we? Lions are seen in increasing numbers in the metropolitan Sacramento area, especially along the parkway of the American River, an open and wild area that provides cover and food. I expect that a hapless cyclist or walker will be the next to be "contacted" by a cougar. There will much hand wringing and whining by the masses and the cat will be captured and transported elsewhere to start the cycle over again. There is no "learning curve" with animal lovers and urban residents.

blackhawk44 · Post by **blackhawk44** » Mon May 10, 2010 6:16 pm

A few years ago, a couple of boys with a flashlight and a single shot 12ga. killed one in Elmendorf, just out of San Antonio toward Floresville, that had been bothering their chicken coop.

On various hunting concerns over the years, we used to see cougars regularly around Tilden, Uvalde and the Big Bend area. We've only spotted a couple on our lease south of Ozona then saw one roadkilled on IH 10 about 20 miles east of Ozona last year.

In my 45 years of stumbling through the brush, Big Bend is the only area in Texas that I'm aware of officials having verified consistant problems with their aggression or stalking of humans.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Mon May 10, 2010 6:46 pm

Mike D. wrote:I knew the young woman who was killed by the cougar in El Dorado county, CA, back in 1994. The investigation showed that she evidently turned her back on the cat and tried to run. Sad, but a big mistake.

A local acquaintance of mine also killed a cougar that stalked him while he was turkey hunting. This event also occurred in El Dorado, Co. The lion went for him and he killed it with his shotgun at 10 ft. DF&G wardens tried to cite him, but with witnesses testifying to the exact events, they had to drop the case. This is typical of the protectionist attitude of the State of California. Prior to the foolish moratorium on mountain lions, it was considered OK to kill bothersome animals, but no more. Even a lion harming a human is no reason to kill the poor thing. B darned S!! Sappy do-gooders are the bane of our once great State. I vote for a drop on cougar protection. With more and more city folks moving into the hills, the cats are forced to seek new territory and are now seen in every county, except San Francisco. We could use a few of them around Polk Gulch, now, couldn't we? Lions are seen in increasing numbers in the metropolitan Sacramento area, especially along the parkway of the American River, an open and wild area that provides cover and food. I expect that a hapless cyclist or walker will be the next to be "contacted" by a cougar. There will much hand wringing and whining by the masses and the cat will be captured and transported elsewhere to start the cycle over again. There is no "learning curve" with animal lovers and urban residents.

Small world Mike, I knew Barb too. Ive been all over that canyon chasing deer, quail, pigeon, seen a few cougars and tons of tracks, hundreds of bears.

Ive seen cougars in downtown Auburn at night, at the Bailey House in Pilot Hill, along the shores of Folsom.

pdawg.shooter · Post by **pdawg.shooter** » Tue May 11, 2010 12:13 pm

RSY wrote:Those cats are pretty good at crossing. I don't think I've ever seen a road-kill mountain lion. I've seen many dead deer and coyotes, and even gators on the stretch of I-10 between New Orleans and the bridges to Slidell, but never a cougar.

One road killed cougar was found in south central Kansas a while back. Our Parks and Wildlife dept still say there are none in Kansas. Said he was just traveling through.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:02 pm

pdawg.shooter wrote:
RSY wrote:Said he was just traveling through.

Ain't we all...

gyrhed · Post by **gyrhed** » Tue May 11, 2010 11:37 pm

I have seen several up near the red river east of wichita falls, I have seen bobcats and coyotes out my back door in sunnyvale (Dallas Co.), but luckily no big cats.

Cats of any kind arte hell on dogs. A lot of good 40-70# bird dogs have been killed by bob cats so I don't want to run into one.

We are starting to see bear sign occationally up on the red river. Everybody said we were crazy but I noticed this year TP&W says if you see a black bear you can't shoot it. So they are now admitting they are there. I don't like the idea of having to prove that the bear was atttacking you to justify shooting it. For most of us fat old men with bad eyes there is only a moment between the bear casually walking by and attacking.

Markbo · Post by **Markbo** » Wed May 12, 2010 11:38 am

jeepnik wrote:....Long story short, the "experts" decided it was someones "illegal pet" that got out, and probably went back home....

Sounds like your 'experts' don't know much about wild animals in general - kept by humans or not!

I've found spoor while out deer hunting outside Sonorra on a lease a few years back. Completely changed my attitude about being out alone after dark. My sidearm was upgraded from a Single Six to a .45.

I live in the 'burbs, but I'd sure hate to even think about finding one of my beloved pets half eaten. Got a little Schnauzer that is afraid of exactly nothin'... and that would be his downfall.

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Wed May 12, 2010 12:03 pm

Over the past weekend, a 2-year old mountain lion was killed by LE and G&F in downtown Sheridan, Wyoming. Another cat of approximately the same age & size, is known to be still on the loose in the vicinity...

Watch yer topknot...

brno602 · Post by **brno602** » Wed May 12, 2010 5:13 pm

I wish I new how to post this link, but A guy who lives very near to me posted some game camera pics of a Cougar a big male and a female with 4 kittens last years baby's in South West Calgary millerville area. For those of you with more computer skills than I check out Calgary Couger pics(Google) in the Calgary Herald.
He found a Road kill put it in his back yard and set up a cam you should see the pic's, the Tom has muscles on top of his Muscles that cat has got to go a easy 200lbs Funny thing is most do not know they live right here one of the most populated Cougars spots in NA. Because we are over run with Deer!
I tried to down load the pics and link but it would not work for me.
Gotta check out these big cat's! it was on local news a week ago.
For those interested try Calgary Cougar Game camera pic's( Google) that way you avoid the Cougars in Hi heels.
I wish I could post that link!
The man that set up the Cam was just wanting to see what critters came to the dead Deer He got one Fox no yotes wonder why they aint dumb lol.
P.S The UOFC set up Game cams on Spurce medows a horse jumping place in the SW just outside of city limits that holds many events every year, they cought a family, Mom and her cubs sitting on a Patio table last year must be the smell of horses?.Thay caused no trouble and FW was not called out that was also on local news.They figure they came for the Deer not the Horses good thing too.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:32 pm

Markbo wrote:
jeepnik wrote:....Long story short, the "experts" decided it was someones "illegal pet" that got out, and probably went back home....
Sounds like your 'experts' don't know much about wild animals in general - kept by humans or not!

I've found spoor while out deer hunting outside Sonorra on a lease a few years back. Completely changed my attitude about being out alone after dark. My sidearm was upgraded from a Single Six to a .45.

I live in the 'burbs, but I'd sure hate to even think about finding one of my beloved pets half eaten. Got a little Schnauzer that is afraid of exactly nothin'... and that would be his downfall.

What can I say. The CDF is populated by college kids who grew up in the city. Urban animal control folks are even less well versed in undomesticated critters. I offered some assistance, and was informed that "amature" civlians had no place trying to track "wild" animals. Hmm, been hunting since, oh heck over half a century. Guess I'm one heck of an amature. I figure one of these days, the cat will show back up in a back yard enjoying a snack.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:42 pm

jeepnik wrote:I offered some assistance, and was informed that "amature" civlians had no place trying to track "wild" animals. Hmm, been hunting since, oh heck over half a century. Guess I'm one heck of an amature. I figure one of these days, the cat will show back up in a back yard enjoying a snack.

Sometimes it's better to be a "gifted amateur" rather than a "trained professional"...

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:10 pm

awp101 wrote:
jeepnik wrote:I offered some assistance, and was informed that "amature" civlians had no place trying to track "wild" animals. Hmm, been hunting since, oh heck over half a century. Guess I'm one heck of an amature. I figure one of these days, the cat will show back up in a back yard enjoying a snack.
Sometimes it's better to be a "gifted amateur" rather than a "trained professional"...

Hey, wasn't Emma a "gifted amateur"? Now that would be some great company to be in.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:24 pm

Emma? Emma who? The only Emma I know is Emma Gee...

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed May 12, 2010 8:28 pm

Markbo wrote:Sounds like your 'experts' don't know much about wild animals in general - kept by humans or not!

Indiana News wrote:State officials confirm mountain lion in S. Ind.

A DNR biologist investigating a reported sighting of the cougar used motion-sensitive trail cameras to photograph it last weekend.

The DNR says the last documented case of a wild mountain lion in Indiana is believed to have been recorded between 1850 and 1865.

I guess we won't be hunting them anytime soon, as this is likely an escapee or something isolated, but if I lived near the area, I'd be taking a gun whenever I went out for chores...

(...of course, I guess I do that already...

)

brno602 · Post by **brno602** » Thu May 13, 2010 2:35 pm

Dam, I was hoping for some help with the coug pic's.? or a link lol

goatneck · Post by **goatneck** » Thu May 13, 2010 2:55 pm

HEY NEIGHBOR; I'M A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES NORTH OF YA ON THE BRAZOS. WE'VE SEEN OUR FAIR SHARE IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. IN COLLEGE (WILDLIFE MAJOR), I LEARNED A LITTLE MORE THAN I ALREADY KNEW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENC. MALES HAVE A TERRITORY OF UP TO 100 SQ MILES. FEMALES ABOUT HALF THAT. IN YOUR SITUATION, HOWS THE UNGULATE POPULATION AROUND YOU? THE TIMES TO HAVE CONCERN IS WHEN THEIR TARGET PREY IS LOW; IT IS A YOUNGER LION THAT HAS BEEN "KICKED OUT" OF AN OLDER ONES RANGE; A MOTHER WITH YOUNG HID; A ROUGE LION THAT HAS "CHANGED" IT'S TARGET PREY TO DOMESTICATED PREY; AND FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IF YOU SEE THE SAME LION MORE THAN ONCE, IT NEEDS TO GO. NOT TRYING TO SCARE YA; JUST MAKE YA AWARE.
KEEP YOUR PETS INSIDE, WATCH YOUR CHILDREN 100% OF THE TIME, STAY ARMED AS YOU ARE DOIN' AND BE CAREFUL BEING OUT AT NIGHT! LIONS ARE NORMALLY NOCTURNAL AND WILL BE ON YA BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

BE SAFE MY FRIEND
GOD BLESS

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu May 13, 2010 5:50 pm

awp101 wrote:Emma? Emma who? The only Emma I know is Emma Gee...

Geesh, you gotta be young. Emma Peele, of the original Avengers series. Portrayed by now Dame Diana Rigg.

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Thu May 13, 2010 6:29 pm

She can watch my 6 any time...

I miss the old days!

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Fri May 14, 2010 2:24 am

and don't forget the one that was killed in Chicago a few years ago...

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=172934

quietman · Post by **quietman** » Fri May 14, 2010 7:34 am

brno602 wrote:Dam, I was hoping for some help with the coug pic's.? or a link lol

Here ya go
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Ran ... story.html

Markbo · Post by **Markbo** » Fri May 14, 2010 12:33 pm

Holy smokes! That Tom is ripped! He looks like Evander Holyfield in his prime!

BrianSH · Post by **BrianSH** » Fri May 14, 2010 12:48 pm

Geesh, you gotta be young. Emma Peele, of the original Avengers series. Portrayed by now Dame Diana Rigg.

[/quote]

A small but important point; Mrs Peele was a "Talented Amateur."
-Brian

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:35 pm

El Chivo wrote:and don't forget the one that was killed in Chicago a few years ago...

So, it's the scooters they're after. It's all adding up now.

At this point, no other sightings or incidents. My original theory, which I'm kinda returning to, is that it came in at night, fell asleep and woke up somewhere it probably didn't really want to be. Or...

This area is a major Karst region, so lots of caves. In fact there's an entrance to one at the base of the big tree it was spotted in. It could be playing house in that cave and only coming and going at night/early morning, unseen by anyone. It's not rare for me to find deer droppings on my front sidewalk, so food is definitely available in the immediate vicinity.

We'll see. Staying vigilant...

Scott

brno602 · Post by **brno602** » Fri May 14, 2010 2:16 pm

quietman wrote:
brno602 wrote:Dam, I was hoping for some help with the coug pic's.? or a link lol
Here ya go
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Ran ... story.html

Thanks man! I new someone could post a link for me.
The big cat's are not rare here but still very cool pic's I thought.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri May 14, 2010 6:38 pm

BrianSH wrote:Geesh, you gotta be young. Emma Peele, of the original Avengers series. Portrayed by now Dame Diana Rigg.

A small but important point; Mrs Peele was a "Talented Amateur."
-Brian[/quote]

I stand corrected. Been awhile since I've seen an episode.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:34 pm

"........and don't forget the one that was killed in Chicago a few years ago... "

Yes, but if turned out that was an out of state hit-cougar brought in by the mob, but someone tipped off the police, probably a rival gang. the cat was supposed to take out Obama's neighbor, the one with the questionabl ereal estate/mob connection......; ) or at least that is what i heard : )

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:50 pm

jeepnik wrote:
awp101 wrote:Emma? Emma who? The only Emma I know is Emma Gee...
Geesh, you gotta be young. Emma Peele, of the original Avengers series. Portrayed by now Dame Diana Rigg.

38 and I don't recall it being on in re-runs when I was growing up. If it was, it wasn't something my parents watched. At least not while I was around...

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:54 pm

awp101 wrote:
jeepnik wrote:
awp101 wrote:Emma? Emma who? The only Emma I know is Emma Gee...
Geesh, you gotta be young. Emma Peele, of the original Avengers series. Portrayed by now Dame Diana Rigg.

38 and I don't recall it being on in re-runs when I was growing up. If it was, it wasn't something my parents watched. At least not while I was around...

Yep, just a youngster, but they do have it on DVD. Might want to check it out. Poked fun at the whole 007 thing pretty good.