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Maine probes large cat sighting
Boston Globe ^
| July 5, 2007
| Associated Press
Posted on 07/05/2007 7:19:16 AM PDT by GQuagmire
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Higgins said he collected a pinch of fur from the rock, but didn't deliver it to biologists until reading an account last week about another possible sighting in Sidney.
"I'm not 100 percent sure it was a mountain lion, but it was a big cat, believe me," Higgins said.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, and panthers, are large tawny cats with long, slender bodies and long tails.
They can weigh more than 200 pounds.
Mountain lions for the most part disappeared from the state in the 1800s.
The last documented mountain lion spotted in the wild in Maine was killed in 1938, but there have been numerous reports of possible sightings in recent years.
Biologists say many of the sightings were likely domestic cats, bobcats, lynx, dogs, fishers or some other animal mistaken for a cougar.
"It's hard to put a number on [the annual sighting reports], but many times," said Inland Fisheries spokesman Mark Latti.
"But in my eight years, it's always come back as something different than a mountain lion."
The sample from Higgins will be tested at a laboratory at Southern Illinois University to determine what species it came from.
"We'll be able to test it, no problem," Latti said.
He added that a DNA test is a very good indicator of whether the animal could be a mountain lion.
In another sighting this week, a resident in Sidney provided a grainy photograph of what appeared to be a large cat.
Latti said that no conclusions could be drawn from the photo because it didn't show the entire animal and no tracks or scat samples could be found.
Mountain lions were once widely found from Canada to southern South America. They are listed on the federal endangered species list.
1
posted on
07/05/2007 7:19:20 AM PDT
by
GQuagmire
To: Slings and Arrows
2
posted on
07/05/2007 7:19:55 AM PDT
by
GQuagmire
(Giggety,Giggety,Giggety)
To: GQuagmire
3
posted on
07/05/2007 7:22:24 AM PDT
by
SlowBoat407
(It's never a good time to get sucked into an evil vortex.)
To: GQuagmire
It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a population of mountain lions in Maine. The environuts probably planted a few there because they are so cute and fluffy.
4
posted on
07/05/2007 7:23:08 AM PDT
by
1Old Pro
To: GQuagmire
Nothing to see here - move along. Just somebody's overfed
Maine Coon Cat.
5
posted on
07/05/2007 7:24:26 AM PDT
by
lOKKI
(You can ignore reality until it bites you in the ass.)
To: GQuagmire
They can weigh more than 200 pounds. I thought the largest North American "cat" is in the Rocky Mountains, at around 165lbs.
To: GQuagmire
Cat sighting?
I'm lookin' GOOD!
7
posted on
07/05/2007 7:30:26 AM PDT
by
null and void
(A large gov't agency is more expensive than a smaller agency with the same mission, yet does less)
To: camle; Alkhin; Professional Engineer; katana; Mr. Silverback; MadIvan; agrarianlady; ...
8
posted on
07/05/2007 7:32:21 AM PDT
by
null and void
(A large gov't agency is more expensive than a smaller agency with the same mission, yet does less)
To: GQuagmire
"B-b-b-b-b-i-g-g-g-g C-c-c-c-c-a-t-t-t!!"
9
posted on
07/05/2007 7:32:48 AM PDT
by
dfwgator
(The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
To: GQuagmire
I know that they do have numerous RINO sightings there.
10
posted on
07/05/2007 7:33:33 AM PDT
by
PBRSTREETGANG
(Apparently my former party considers me an "ugly nativist".)
To: null and void
And for the rest of you...
Don't ask!
11
posted on
07/05/2007 7:34:22 AM PDT
by
null and void
(A large gov't agency is more expensive than a smaller agency with the same mission, yet does less)
To: null and void
hey! where there’s a pussy cat, I’m not far away;-)
12
posted on
07/05/2007 7:35:54 AM PDT
by
camle
(keep your mind open and somebody will fill it full of something for you)
To: null and void
“Backwards!” one of the funniest episodes ever!
13
posted on
07/05/2007 7:36:22 AM PDT
by
camle
(keep your mind open and somebody will fill it full of something for you)
To: lOKKI
Good Lord!! That thing is insane!!
To: Calvin Locke
“Males have an average weight of about 53 to 72 kilograms (115 to 160 pounds). In rare cases, some may reach over 120 kg (260 lb). Female average weight is between 34 and 48 kg (75 and 105 lb). Cougar size is smallest close to the equator, and larger towards the poles.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puma
To: pcottraux
16
posted on
07/05/2007 7:42:25 AM PDT
by
IllumiNaughtyByNature
(I buy gas for my SUV with the Carbon Offsets I sell on Ebay!)
To: GQuagmire
It was undoubtedly...Palm Cat!
17
posted on
07/05/2007 7:43:20 AM PDT
by
BigCinBigD
(You "abort" bad missile launches and carrier landings. Not babies.)
To: GQuagmire
18
posted on
07/05/2007 7:45:13 AM PDT
by
lowbridge
(If You’re Gonna Burn Our Flag, Wrap Yourself in It First /No Oil for Pacifists)
To: Xenalyte; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; tioga; GQuagmire
(Robt reminds Xena not to ask if Rosie ODonut is wondering about a large pussy in that state she has not eaten....)
(WhyisatexasgirlnotinMaine?)
19
posted on
07/05/2007 7:46:34 AM PDT
by
Robert A Cook PE
(I can only donate monthly, but Hillary's ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
To: dfwgator
20
posted on
07/05/2007 7:59:28 AM PDT
by
massgopguy
(I owe everything to George Bailey)
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