Cougar shot, killed on North Side (Chicago)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 4/14/08 | Jeremy Manier, Tina Shah and Jeremy Gorner

[LibWhacker]

A 150-pound cougar was shot and killed Monday evening in the Roscoe Village neighborhood on Chicago's North Side, Chicago police said.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. in an alley near North Hamilton Avenue and West Roscoe Street, according to officials.

Police cornered the cougar in the back yard of Ben Greene, 39, who lives on the 3400 block of North Hoyne. Greene said he heard a volley of gunfire shortly before 6 p.m. as he was bathing his 10-month-old son. His wife, Kate, ran upstairs screaming with their 3-year-old son, and they all took cover in a back room

[Boagenes]

What was her name?

[WayneM]

Apparently they are in North Alabama also. I grew up here and in Southern Tennessee, and when I was a child (40+ years ago) they were unheard of in this area.

When young cougars grow up, they are evicted from their home territory and must stake out their own territory. If another cougar already lives where they decide to move, they are evicted again and must move on till they find their own spot.

Several decades is time for a fairly large migration.

With the large population of whitetail deer, reccoons, and possums, I’m sure this the rural parts of my area must look like heaven on earth to a big hungry cat.

[stlnative]

Not were they found him.

It was on the tracks by the firing range just north of the original prison. (if you recall this is at river level) There is a public road that goes all the way up north along the tracks that anyone can access. There are house near there also.

A small tornado tore through there about 2 years ago and traveled up a side road that goes up to Rte 3.

[eastforker]

I seem to recall that was the river road that led up to fort gage. Riding north you would have river to the left and bluffs to the right. Yes, houses near the road but the bluffs was prison property IIRC. I have hunted deer south and east of Chester, in the hills and bluffs, perfect cat country.

[stlnative]

related...?

Wilmette put on cougar alert
4 reports of sightings spur cops’ warning
By Alexa Aguilar | Tribune reporter
April 14, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cougar-14apr14,1,6747902.story

[stlnative]

more...

So unusual that there have only been two confirmed cougars found in Illinois in more than a century. In 2000, a train struck and killed a male cougar in Randolph County and in 2004, a bow hunter in Mercer County killed a 95-pound male. Before that, the last confirmed sighting in Illinois of a wild cougar was in southern Illinois in 1862.

[stlnative]

there are 2 prisons now on the land and the more I think about it the second one may have been under construction around 2000. Maybe he felt trapped (closed in) once they started building the new prison, river on one side, rte 3 on another, the Chester Bridge Rd, and houses (it is more populated north of the prison now.)

[stlnative]

if I recall correctly
a single cougar claims a 5 to 6 mile radius area as their territory.

[Kirkwood]

“Shoot, shovel and SHUT UP!!!!”

Is this a gun free zone?

[Kirkwood]

“The officers had shot holes in an air conditioning unit on the side of Greene’s house while aiming for the tan cougar...”

Dumbass trigger-happy cops... lucky they didn’t kill someone.

[stlnative]

North Chicago police search for possible cougar
‘This thing was huge’

March 29, 2008
BY NICHOLAS P. ALAJAKIS
NORTH CHICAGO — The cougar apparently got away.

North Chicago police officers were not able to capture a large cat-like animal reportedly on top of a building near the city’s police department Friday evening.

~snip~

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/867240,5_1_WA29_COUGAR_S1.article

[stlnative]

It looks like cops have been looking for it for least 2 weeks. There have been sightings by the community for over 2 weeks.

So if was an escaped zoo cougar then it would have been noted as one. Either it was a private exotic pet or a wild cougar.

We should find out in a couple of weeks if was a pet or a wild one when they do a autopsy and DNA on it.

[LibWhacker]

Exactly what I’m thinking. Did you see the picture at the source url? The cat looks clean and well-cared for, quite plump and soft, not at all like a wild animal.

[flaglady47]

I’ve been following this story for the last week or two. The sightings have been broadcast on local news stations, including one earlier today. I live in a Chicago suburb. I was bummed to see this article here on FR tonite saying that the animal had been killed. I know any other option was probably not possible, but it still made me sad. Cougars are magnificent cats, and I actually found it rather exciting to know one was actually in this area. Of course the problem is that beast was rubbing up against man, and beast had to lose before he/she ate man. So have mixed feelings here; still feel bad for the cat who was just doing what cats do.

[Nailbiter]

When I first heard this story, I swear the announcer said cubs shot cougar overnight.
I was laughing so hard was having trouble driving.
Realized later that is cops shot cougar.

And the most inane comment from humane society lady.

They should have tranked the cat, as it was harmless.

[Nailbiter]

Only for law abiding citizens.

[Nailbiter]

They are reporting on 5pm local news that it is not pet, nor escapee. Then at 6pm reported was indeed wild cougar.
Speculating that may be same one reported up north of city in last week

[stlnative]

thanks for the update!

[Rollee]

If you want to really whack some libtards, check out chicagotribune.com and click the stories about the cougar. Read the comments = they will make you sick.

[george76]

Scientists say South Dakota is a likely source for a mountain lion that was killed this week in Chicago after what would be a record 900-mile journey from the Black Hills.

More concrete evidence of the lion's travels may lie in a piece of its muscle that Illinois officials will send to a DNA lab in Montana.

The Chicago Tribune estimated a 1,000-mile trek counting a swing through Wisconsin... beats the standing record of 663 miles a Black Hills lion wandered before a train struck and killed it in Oklahoma

.