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Posted on 09/03/2011 9:42:33 PM PDT by george76
Wolf sightings in the Blue Mountains are becoming more frequent this summer, but wildlife officials for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have yet to document firm evidence of a pack forming in the southeastern corner of the state.
Paul Wik, district biologist for the department at Clarkston, said the canyons and timbered ridges southeast of Dayton have been a hot spot for wolf reports this year. Some hunters have even captured images of wolves with trail cameras, he said.
"It's definitely no secret they are here," Wik said. "The only question to us is what their status is."
...
It is believed there are five wolf packs in Washington. Wolves in all of Washington are protected by the Washington Endangered Species Act and those in the western two-thirds of the state are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
(Excerpt) Read more at standard.net ...
We’re armed around here. It’s better to avoid them than shoot them; they’re really just passing through our property because we have no livestock, although they’re happy to eat cats or small dogs. We lock up our cats right before dusk.
I’m sorry to be so nosey but how do people with livestock protect those animals. Is it considered just a loss.. something that occurs in that part of the country? Or, do they secure them in locked barns? (I live in a relatively “urban” type environment. I’m use to the 2 legged predators and what to watch out for but I am interested in how more rural setting dwellers deal with their environment.)
Oh, you’re not being nosy. A lot of people especially those with livestock have several large dogs. Mountain lions avoid dogs especially groups of dogs.
Still, there are periodic reports of predation - I can remember goats, horses and calves, in the last few years. Our valley is surrounded by mountains on one side (7000 ft) and very large hills (up to 4000 ft) on the other, all national and state forest. Lots of habitat.
There are lot of deer and that’s lions usual food.
At the local Idaho State University campus, the Bengal tiger is the official mascot. That isn't what is running around on campus. There are mountain lions wandering on campus. Not all the time, but often enough that you need to be watchful.
My wife is a dispatcher for Chubbuck PD. She had a call from a local resident who had just returned from a trip. The resident was in the basement of her house and heard something growling. The sound came from a window in the basement that looks out under the front porch. Peering through window was a mountain lion. Fish and Game and the police department were dispatched. Upon arrival, the cat was spooked and ran out. The local elementary schools were notified to keep the kids inside until Fish and Game dealt with the kitty.
I love living in Idaho, but it is still wild country in many places. The elk, deer and moose feed in my front yard during the winter. Porcupines and skunks wander through the yard during the warm summer months.
Thanks for the concern. That is very kind of you.
I often am armed most of the time, but all of the time is better.
And yes, there is a very good chance that the cougars are in Virginia. The house in VA is near the Shenandoah National Park and if the cats are anywhere, they’re there. But there are a lot of houses between here and the Park (roughly 25 miles), so it’s unlikely that the cougars would travel in this direction.
“Mountain lions avoid dogs..”
I don’t know why but I find that funny. I guess even BIG cats don’t like dogs. I think if I lived in an area with them, I would have a big pack of dogs. (plus, it would give me an excuse to get even more dogs than I have now!)
I have a friend that I went to elementary school up to college.. she moved to Montana after she married. I remember the first time she told me that there was a “code” set up that meant a Mountain Lion had been spotted and there were special precautions at bus stops (children had to stay in the car till the bus arrived) and at the playground. She had grown up near me... we had NO experience with this whatsoever. I don’t know if one sees it as “more normal” when they grow up in an area with that issue or not.. but she was freaking. I think after 15 years, Montana and all its beauty/and wildness... has grown on her. It did take her a bit of time.
Your story about the woman looking out the window essentially seeing a Mountain Lion looking back... gracious me! You see, I wouldn’t have to call the dispatcher. Nope... your lovely wife would have heard my screams sitting in her chair! LOL!
When you are in area with predators, just strap on a .45 and go about your business.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.500_S%26W_Magnum
A Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull or 480 Ruger with 7.5" bbl is a fine choice in the Ruger revolver line.
They are tourist wolves.
Maybe the grizzly bear should be reintroduced in California where they used to roam. Maybe start with the hills of Malibu? After all, it is the icon on their state flag.
Maybe try the old tiger trick of wearing a mask on the back of your head?
“It is probably a good thing that I don’t live in an area with that problem... I would probably be the nutty neighbor who carried a gun to retrieve their mail. LOL!”
I do live with AgencyPerson pampered panthers (local name for a cougar). After a number of articles about my views, my neighbors are finally going armed.
Elderly and small makes them prime prospects for predators.
PS Bears are also a local issue.
However, “When gunpowder speaks, beasts obey”.
“... if they’re around, I stand little chance.
Oh well, I’m old and have had a good life.”
Actually, with a handgun in a secure holster, you have a small window of time to draw and shoot the cat. They rarely kill at the first bite.
They often go for a face bite, them suffocate the prey by biting down on the front of the face and using their lips to cover and seal off the mouth and nose of the prey.
Time to draw, feel something warm and furry and SHOOT THE SUMB*TCH!
I can only imagine that children and the elderly are “better” targets for the Cats. For one thing, they are smaller. Secondly, some (not all) of the elderly tend to walk a little slower. I am not 100% certain how a predator thinks.. but it seems to me that those two classifications of people are just what they would want.
I am very glad some of your neighbors have finally listened to you. You never know.. you could have just saved a life.
“Wolves a deathly afraid of the human scent.”
No offense meant, but short of hard data, I must call ‘pullis fumis’ on that statement.
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