Posted on 11/09/2004 6:57:38 PM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets
Mountain Lion Spotted In Boston-Area Town Joggers Urged To Use Caution
POSTED: 10:44 am EST November 9, 2004 UPDATED: 7:33 pm EST November 9, 2004
ACTON, Mass. -- Acton residents are being warned about a mountain lion on the prowl.
NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that there have been two sightings of a mountain lion, also known as a cougar, in the past week.
"It was scary. It was a growl. It was loud and it was deep. It was what you envision when you hear it -- you just envision this large cat," said Acton resident Colleen DiPietro.
"It sounded like an animal in distress running around our house about three times," said Acton resident Ellen Schemerhorn.
Experts say mountain lions no longer roam the area, but this sighting on Mohawk Street is different -- two police officers saw the cat, too.
"When they got out the cruiser and went to the back, they reported seeing a large animal walk by them. They describe it as a 5- to 6-foot cat, very low to the ground, very muscular with a long tail," said Acton police Lt. Don Palma.
An electric sign has been put up in town to alert residents and pet owners. Police are also urging people who jog at dusk or dawn to use extra caution.
"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.
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.
We MA Conservatives have our rifles! Like our forefathers, the Minutemen, we are waiting for the lanterns to be hung from the church steeple...LOL!
I say it all the time, MA is like an American Falluja - the people are being held hostage by a minority of radicals. Been here 40 years and even grew up in a Boston neighborhood. Most people are good conservatives who don't even bother voting because it is so corrupt.
I remeber reading that in an article in Readers' Digest where two of them tried that tactic on a woman hiker. Fortunately she escaped.
Acton / Natick Mountain Lion?
Perhaps you should alert your 'Boston Friend' in that area.
LOL. Hunting in Massachusetts?? Did someone call for his highness?? Good thing Senator Kerry has some free time (thanks in part to the 76% absentee record), he can get his ammo and get into position...
Oh, that's precious!!
I will do just that. I wasn't too alarmed, have actually seen one near State College, I-80, until I read on this thread they attack by stealth from behind.
My bets would be on the bears and Mountain Lions.
No kidding--all 37% of us must be on FR. Essex County over here, fellows.
The "Natick Labs" closed area is about ten square miles North of Sudbury extending into Maynard. It was used for explosives research during WW-II and the soil is considered too contaiminated for development. It's closed off from the public for recreation. A monkey escaped from the Harvard Research Center in Southborough and was running around in there for a while - story got a lot of play in here in Freeperland. The area where the cat was sighted is about five miles North of that area, it abuts about a square mile of conservation land just east of my house. (Where I live is very wooded outside of our development.) I won't be walking through the woods to Idlewilde Farm any time soon.
No kidding--all 37% of us must be on FR. Essex County over here, fellows.
Wow, I had no idea (or is that ide-er? hee hee) that there were so many Mass state freepers and Republicans. I do visit friends and family in the area. I recently visited with my Bush-Cheney 2004 sticker and was not harassed, as I was told I might be.
When you fly west from Logan, you can see that this state is pretty much all woods till Albany. That's what the wildlife likes. Trouble is, there's houses in the woods too. No mountain lions here in Arlington, though, just possum, skunk, and a racoon the size of a pony that likes to get into my trash can.
Well, don't worry, he will be well protected by security men with big guns who will hold any kill for him and quickly shepherd him in and out of the area safely. All with drooling press lovingly documenting his 'hunt'. A luxury the 'real' hunters of this predator won't have.
And I'm with you, despite all that, my bets are on the bears and mountain lions.
when I was stationed both at Devens and at the Natick Labs I visited that training area many times latest visit was about 20 years ago and it was very heavily wooded at the time. Many small buildings and abandoned structures and such. Not much in the way of small game though. See deer occasionaly.
Here in Boxborough, I'm in the woods, which I now find I'm sharing with cougars.
See all the excitement you miss when you're out of the country? :-)
that was twenty years ago. the big cats are here . they will thrive on the large deer populations and any small humans they choose
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.