Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Hey, gang...I found this on my most recent roll of film from the trail camera...I think I know what it is, but I can' t believe it if I' m right. I want to know what you think to see how many of you think its the same thing I do. Assuming most of you have more experience with predators than me, I' m interested in your opinions. This is the first and only shot I' ve gotten of anything resembling this...
Thanks!
SC

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

looks like a cougar to me.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

yeah. It looks like a mountin lion

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

What state do you live in? If you live in a place where cougars live thats probably what it is. If not I dont know.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

I agree that it looks like a cougar too.

Brandan

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Thanks, everybody...my first impression was that its a mountain lion, too...in fact, if we were known to have them around here, I dont think there would be any question about it...but according to our Game and Fish folks, we dont...in fact, an interesting note is that the lady at the photo lab where I got these developed was pretty excited to see it because she said she and her husband thought they saw a mountain lion near one of their pastures last year but when they reported it to Game and Fish, they were told there was no way thats what they saw. And I doubt this one--if thats what is--is the one they saw because they live at least 8 or 10 miles from where this was taken. I guess it could be the same one, but what are the odds of that? I' m still interested in other ideas...could it be some kind of dog? It looks too " cat-like" to me, but still would like input.
Thanks!

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

I just edited this post, the body looks a lot like that of a cougar. I' m guessing its a cougar

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

i think it is a cougar, who_else

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

You can see that there' s white on the face, and cougars have white patches on their faces.

Brandan

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

i gotta agree with the others. pretty cool if it is.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

it doesnt look like a dog. its a couger. if you dnt have any around there and other people spotted it too then thats what it is. prb the same one too. scence the gnf are that sure that there are not any of them left that has to be the only one.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

We have plenty of cougar around here and that' s what it looks like to me.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

That is definitely a cougar. You can kinda see the 3 foot tail that is about 4-6 inches in circumference. It' s hard to see. I' ve seen cougars up close and that is what it is. Take the photo to the Game and Fish people and see what they say. If they say it' s not a cougar then there is something wrong with them or they don' t want to look stupid because they tell everyone that there is no cougars where you live.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Like BrushChimp said, that tail is a dead giveaway. Definately a mountain lion. Not surprised that the DNR says no way, I' m sure they don' t want people to know they are in the area, they will deny it as long as they can. We have alot of them here in western SD and the Game and Fish downplays it every chance they get.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Thanks, everybody....its unanimous, which is what I was hoping for (sort of). On the one hand, I think its really cool to have this animal in the neighborhood that I hunt in (private land), but on the other hand I dont want anybody else to know where it is. For one thing, I dont think I want G&F snooping around out there looking for it, and I also dont want the locals out hunting it either. I' d like for this lion to survive and trive out there, but I also know that sooner or later somebody is probably going to kill it...its just not remote enough out there for it to survive for long. There is a wildlife management area nearby, which I' m betting is where it came from, so here' s hoping its gone back there.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Scrider, that' s most definately a cougar. With the white underbelly coloring and the tan color, and also the long tail.

I do find it surprising though since you' re in or around Little Rock. There' s supposedly some up in the hills above Russellville. I' m sure we have some in the state, but they' re far and few between. Don' t let it be a problem. If it starts to cause trouble...I' d take that pic to the AGFC.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Hey, FroMan....thats interesting...this pic was taken at my hunting property which is somewhere between LR and Russellville. I was also told today that there is supposedly a drive-through safari place within a couple dozen miles of my land that keeps big cats (tigers, leopards, etc.)..have you heard about anything like that in the North Central Arkansas area? I' m wondering if it might be an escapee.
Thanks,
SC

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Scrider...how far is your place from Conway? I' m at school here right now.

Arkansas' s Safari Park is located around Greenbrier, just right down the road from here. Not sure if it' s still up and running.

Here' s the info for it...it may just be a wild lion. There' s some up in the Ozarks. This one just may have wandered a little further southeast. Hope this helps. If you get any more cam pics, let us know. It' s a great, rare picture.


Safari Park

An exotic wildlife conservatory with lions, tigers, bears and more in natural habitats. You can drive through in your car or walk through certain park areas.
Ark. 285 and U.S. 65 N.
501-679-3455

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Thanks for the info, FroMan...I' d rather not be any more specific about where my place is. I' m sure you understand. I left the cam in the exact same spot hoping to get some better pics of this thing...if I get them, I' ll post them here.
Later!
SC

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Hey great pic. A couple of years ago some people near me had a cougar for a pet and after it got be too much of a burden to keep, they released it in the wild[X(]Maybe some idiots did the same down there.

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

It is a cougar..The NY state DEC says their are no wild cougars in New york despite the fact that I saw one 200 yards from me through binoculars in a field, unmistakeable. They say they' re realeased pets but a sherriff in the same county I had my sighting reported seeing 2 of them slowly cross the road in front of her cruiser, hard to believe that both of them were released pets considering one was a great deal samller than the other perhaps even a young adult or cub. Don' t believe everything the state conserv. people say, remember if they acknowledge their existence than they must take measures to protect/ control / study them and that takes money that alot of these agencies don' t have!

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

folks, i posted a link to an excellent website that documents reports of cougars in the east. scrider1, i' d recommend that you get in touch with these folks about your findings, they probably have some info for you.
cheers!!

http://www.easterncougarnet.org

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Gotta be a cougar. I live in Central Oklahama and the GNF always say there' s no such thing here, but we' ve seen them. Maybe it is the same one the picture lady saw. Their range is pretty wide.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

Id have to say that it is a cougar, its defenetly a cat and i think its too big for a bob cat so id say its gotta be a cougar!

RE: Trail cam pic...need help identifying...
 

you know... theres a certain way to prove the existance to the F&G department, if you get my drift...[>:] like a body!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]