ORIGINAL: country1
The farmer saw the mountain lion with his own two eyes. Like I said it must have been a big tom cat that killed and started to eat his calf. That is what they call the mountain lion in pictures that people have taken. Believe me it is not a tom cat.
I don't doubt your friend here. But, when you call the Wildlife officer you better have some proof or your going to be called a liar. You know that and so do I.
Years back a local farmer askeda wildlife offical if they were bringing back the wolf. Whenhe asked whythe farmerreplied he saw one. They toldthe farmerhe needed to have his eyes checked. Then they said it was a big coyote. The more they talked, the moresarcastic thewildlife officals became to the farmer. They did not like it when the farmer said if it was just a big coyote it can be shot. Not long after that they admitted there were wolves in the area.
We've been told the same story regarding cougars in IL. Now that 4 have been killed in this state since 2003 they are telling us there might be a chance they are here.
I would not doubt that deaths from mountain lions is not at least5 times the level recorded if not more. How many REPORTED deaths/attacks in the last 5 to 7 years? The mountain lion has been known to kill animals 10 to 15 timesits body weight.
I would agree that it's higher, but I don't thinks it that high. But, the attacks have been increasing in recent years.
What you call the "classic dog argument" is fact. You don't wake up a dog by touching it, you don't start to touch a dog while it is eating, you don't make sudden moves around a dog that does not know you well, you don't tease the dog,you don't make eye contact with a dog that does not know you well, you don't have young children around pets unless they are supervised - teaching how to correctly touch, handle and communicate withthe animal. If you want a sure way to get bitten by a dog, make a quick/aggresive move arounda dog that is protective/territorial anddoes not know you well. Dogs with females and/or children are protective. Farm dogs are very protective and territorial.
Same goes with every other animal out there. I like your points. You don't let your 3yr. old child in cougar territory walk around the woods by themselves either. You don't turn and run when you see one either. This sparks their predatory instinct.
A stray dog does not stay a stray dog for long. It is taken in by animal control, taken in by someone else or killed. A mountain lion stays a mountain lion.
We have dogs that are called "Coydogs" where I'm from. They have been wild there whole life. They pack up just like wolves and kill deer like them too. Meanest thing we have around here.
Regarding the mountain lion is Chicago. Wildlife officials admit that whenamountain lion has no fear of humans, it will attack. If it had not been killed, it would have only been a matter of time before it attacked or killedsomeone.
I won't buy that. He was extremely lost and was looking for a way to get out of the "armpit of america". If you watched any of that coverage it was a riot! They were interviewing a cop on the block that the cougar was said to be in. During the interview the cougar walked within feet of the officer and stopped and looked at the camera and walked off. It was classic! Even when they cornered him he was still just looking for a place to jump over the fence and get out.
Even the wildlife officials where I am from have stated it is only a matter of time before one attacks a person.
That pretty dumb of them to say that.
Most black bear attacks are from two main causes. They have fed the bear, or the bear felt they were a threat to its cubs.
Again. People uneducated on how to deal with animals.
If you do a statistical analysis of deaths and attacks from dogs vs. deaths and attacks from mountain lions, I would not doubt that the mountain lions would show to be more aggressive and dangerous.
I think it would be dead even. It would be interesting to see those numbers if you it was possible to put together.
Yes, there is a risk of being attacked by a wild animal while being outdoors. This is why ALL areas and states should have concealed carry. Cougars are vicious animals. It is in their nature to kill, and they do it often to survive.
Agreed. You should be able to protect yourself, but to erradicate a species is not the answer.