We’ve taken 3 cats off the ranch over the years, I’ve shot 2 and one of the hands shot the other one. While you may have seen one cross the road the kill you described definitely doesn’t sound like a cat kill. If it’s more than they can eat in one sitting they will do everything they can to cover it up. Coyotes on the other hand dismember and run off with the goodies, I’ve seen them dismember and haul off a 200 lb calf carcass in 1 day. Depending on the time of the year I’ve seen full grown cows taken to bones in 3 days due to Coyotes and Turkey Vultures.
We saw one in Connecticut three years ago. There were several reported sightings in a four or five day period in the area. They will live where there’s game and cover and we have both.
SolidRedState Nebraska,
Mountain Lion, Florida Panther, same critter.
I live in S. East Florida about an hour north of W. Palm. And 20 miles west of the coast in the country.
We have one here I am lucky enough to see once in a while.
Magnificent creature but be wary as if it gets real hungry you are no match.
My uncle has seen several big cats on his farms in the Loess Hills of northwestern Iowa.
If they range that far east, and east of the Missouri, you can be sure they’re everywhere in Nebraska.
Lions have killed several neighbor’s dogs, and ran a horse through a fence just down the mountain where I live. Horse sustained fatal injuries.
I ran into one about 10:00 pm when I was taking my puppy out to do it’s business. It was in the middle of my circular driveway, an area about two acres. My Lab was only about 6 months old at the time and I happened to be only 10 feet from her, I used to just stay on the front porch and watch her but this time I walked out with her. It was very dark and I heard something plop to the ground about 30 feet away, it was the lion coming out of a tree.
I only had a worthless little flashlight with me, led type with low battery, and I called the puppy to my side while fishing around in my pocket for the light. I shined it in the direction of the plopping sound and my heart nearly stopped. There, at the very limit of my feeble beam of light, was the lion crouched down at the base of a tree. Every hair on my body was at attention. I shouted at the big cat, puffed my jacket out to make me look bigger, and backed my way back to the house. I was about 50 yards from the front door and it was a long and scary walk.
I turn on the perimeter flood lights now, and keep the dog on a leash at night. We stay within the lights now. I think the lion had been out there several times before, just waiting for the chance to snatch my dog.
Oh, and I carry now too. We have wolves around as well and in Montana you just never know.
You should be packing. And turn around occasionally on your walks. Cats love to sneak up on you.
I hear they love to be hand fed, Tuna.