Posted on 11/09/2004 6:57:38 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets
In the late 1950's and early 60's my folks thought every boy living in town, they sold their farm and moved in late 1958, needed a paper route so I delivered the Cheyenne Tribune every evening for about 4 years. The guy who brought the papers from Cheyenne was a "Lioner" named Rocky. He had a pack of hounds that he usually carried with him in his truck as he dropped off the papers at the little towns on his route. He fascinated us with the stories of lion hunting. Every so often he would make the local paper for catching one that had taken to chowing down on someone's sheep or calves.
"I wouldn't rule anything out, but it would be my belief if there was a cougar here, it is probably an illegal release. There is an illegal trade of wildlife of what they call 'prestige pets,'" said Tony Wolski, of the environmental police. "
Baloney.
Cougars, like black bears and deer, are returning to the forested and unhunted regions of the eastern U.S. There have been sightings in Pennsylvania, New York, Nebraska, New Jersey and the southern Appalachains.
They're back.
And hunting them is the only answer to make sure they regard people as objects to be avoided, not just another meal. And to hunt cougars you need dogs - Plott Hounds, and Black and Tans are good, as well as Blue-Ticks and Red-Bones. But Plotts are best.
I agree.
Cougars are extremely good at avoiding notice - until they attack - and they prefer to attack from behind with a killing bite to the neck.
Very difficult to hunt cougars without dogs.
Most people who have been near them never know they were being watched - unless they have been attacked.
Cougars are very dangerous animals. They generally avoid large adults but are drawn to children and small persons. Many a cougar has been succesfully driven from its intended human victim by a larger, stronger, determined male or female armed with rocks or a stick.
But its in the nature of the beast to employ stealth. It picks its target carefully, and attacks from behind, putting the victim at a disadvantage.
Like bears, humans and cougars can co-exist only of the critters are regularly hunted so they acquire a respect and fear for people.
"If you do come face to face with a mountain lion, experts say you should not run, try to appear as big as possible and make a lot of noise."
And be prepared to fight back with rocks, sticks, or fists and hands. Cougars are dangerous animals, but we're not talking Lions or Tigers here. Also, if you have a child with you, pick it up and carry it. Cougars target children.
A guy from another company came up on two who had very recently eaten the innards out of a deer, about 150 yards away, around the mountain from me. The cats left, but neither me nor another guy on the mountain saw them. We did find the kill, buried in leaves, 'cooking' in the heat. Pretty fresh.
IMHO, keep the kids inside, the pets (and their food) in at night, and a shootin' iron handy.
Most easterners know what they know about wildlife from watching Disney specials.
Cougars and bears are potentially dangerous animals - not cartoon characters. You are right on the mark about cougars and their stealthiness and penchant for children (or smaller adult humans). Normally, a big guy is in less danger - especially if he has a gun or a good knife with him and knows how to use it.
In the days gone by, when there were farms with dogs running off leashes we had few problems with these predators. We also had few Canada geese, wild turkey, and deer close to settled areas. Now, all dogs are kept on leashes and deer have few predators, except now, for large cats and coyotes. If you are over 40, you now see more deer. We had no turkeys years ago. We had few geese and one only saw them in flight. Now we even have moose in our midst.
As for easterners and urbanites in general, they have a lot to learn about coyotes and other predators as well. Failure to 'defend' your turf only results in greater invasion, and greater risk of confrontation.
I grew up in Maryland, but a career as a geologist has let me travel all over. You either learn the local risks or end up a statistic.
I can't believe how many 'nature lover' types remain ignorant of the fact that there are critters out there who will regard them as a hot meal.
There were several mountain lion sightings in Beverly last spring/early summer. I wonder if it is the same cat.
A great book on this subject is "The Beast In The Garden" by David Baron. Attacks on humans are likely to increase as these animals lose their fear of humans.
You have no Mountain lions living in Texas? How sad.
News Flash! Wild Animal found still living!
My point is, many freepers turn the existence of big game as some kind of blasphemy or something. I sure the hell hope not. The fact that mountain lions and bears occasionally wander into someone's yard is a ~good~ sign for this planet, not a bad one. Yes, they should be hunted and managed and problem animals will need to be moved or killed, but this is part of life... and extermination is certainly not my goal. Is it yours?
Acton went Kerry 2-1, which (67-33) is worse than the state wide average of 63-37. 'Course Acton is pretty well inside 495.
We are loaded with coyotes down here on the South Shore. I keep chasing them out of my yard.
Do you listen to Howie Carr? A few moths back he was talking about the coyotes in Hull - the residents gave them names. Even though they were hanging around an elementary school the Libs refused to have them put down.
Gun free? More like Gun-lite.
I was wondering when Teresa Heinz Kerry would show up after the election.
They act in concert as well. One will "front" their prey and keep them engaged while the other sneaks up from behind. If you are confronted by a cougar, check your sixes, often.
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