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Videos capture images of sheep killer ( mountain lion )
Nevada Appeal ^ | May 10, 2008 | F.T. Norton

Posted on 05/12/2008 1:18:00 PM PDT by george76

The video shot in Jack Foerschler’s barn shows his flock of sheep lying quietly in the dark...

The flock seems peaceful, until the animals are suddenly startled. A nanosecond later, a blur leaps into the screen and tackles one of the sheep. The ewe is able to escape momentarily, jumping up from the creature’s clutches, running to the viewer’s left. But the invader is faster. It bounds to its feet and extends a claw toward its fleeing prey.

The viewer can see its massive claws, slender muscular body and distinctively long tail.

The culprit that killed four ewes, a ram and seven lambs ...

“I’ve never had a mountain lion kill sheep,” Foerschler said this week, relieved that his suspicion that someone had shot his animals was wrong. “I’ve lost one to a coyote, lots to dogs, but never to a lion or a bullet. I can say now, never a bullet.”

Kevin Lansford, predator biologist and staff specialist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said there are an estimated 2,500 mountain lions statewide. Solitary creatures, the females weigh between 85 and 100 pounds. Males weigh between 130 to 170 pounds. From nose to tip of tail they can be anywhere from six to seven feet long, said Lansford.

And their behavior when going after prey mimics no other animal.

“Their power and prowess and their ability to stalk and hunt large animals is amazing,” .

It’s not uncommon for someone to confuse a lion kill with a gunshot wound,

(Excerpt) Read more at nevadaappeal.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: animalrights; ar; banglist; beastinthegarden; bigcats; cougar; cougars; kittyping; lions; mountainlion; mountainlions; naughtykitty; naughtykittyping; sss; wildlife
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To: TYVets

People who say that have no regard for the law or breaking it...like the Clintons and Democrats in General....why are you on a Conservative thread?


101 posted on 05/14/2008 5:33:28 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-06-feral-cats_N.htm#uslPageReturn)
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To: GladesGuru

Leave anti freeze out there? How evil can you get. I wish I could catch you doing that. How I wish.


102 posted on 05/14/2008 5:37:32 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-06-feral-cats_N.htm#uslPageReturn)
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To: Spktyr

We had a small minature schnauzer that used to chase the german shepard out of our land. This idea of attacking bigger things is not restricted to cats. I would have no trouble shooting a man bigger than me either ;)


103 posted on 05/14/2008 5:41:25 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-06-feral-cats_N.htm#uslPageReturn)
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To: Manly Warrior

I’ve “pee’d in the woods” often enough to appreciate the feel of a good (processed wood product) oval seat under my manly kiester in the middle of the night. Flushing is civilized.


104 posted on 05/14/2008 5:45:22 AM PDT by junkman_106 (Once is chance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action ---007/Ian Fleming)
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To: george76

The first video is a good example of “sheep to the slaughter”. As the lion picks them off one by one the others stand and watch.


105 posted on 05/14/2008 5:57:35 AM PDT by Rebelbase (McCain: The Third Bush Term ?)
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To: Spktyr

Unfortunately, that looks a little too much like my house for comfort.

8-)


106 posted on 05/14/2008 5:59:31 AM PDT by Grammy
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To: NVDave

“Should you ever be hiking/camping/hunting/fishing/whatever in the high mountains, be VERY aware of what is off to your sides and at your back. Turn around suddenly every 50 to 100 yards or so.”

That’s also good advice when walking in the city at night.


107 posted on 05/14/2008 6:05:18 AM PDT by Rebelbase (McCain: The Third Bush Term ?)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I don’t have a link, but the case I remember reading about involved a cat slashing at a man with its claws and getting the carotid artery. The guy bled to death before help could arrive. It was an accident rather than a “killing and eating” scenario, but the little beasts can be almost as dangerous as the big ones.


108 posted on 05/14/2008 6:24:04 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("One man's 'magic' is another man's engineering. 'Supernatural' is a null word." -- Robert Heinlein)
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To: TwilightDog; Spktyr; girlangler
I had a friend who used to raise cougars. They had one they treated as a member of the family while he was young. He would sleep on the sofa, run around with the kids, do whatever he wanted. My kids stayed with them for a week and they would tell me “he's so cute...(at 50 pounds thankyouverymuch).... he likes to suck on your fingers while he is falling asleep.”

=8-O

Later, when he was mature, they kept him in a cage. He was only fed cold chicken, because they didn't want him to get the taste of warm meat (ie, people).

One day my friend was in the cage to feed him and slipped and fell. The cat was on him in a heartbeat and badly hurt him before he could beat him back and get out of the cage. He immediately got his pistol and killed the cat, then he left for the hospital.

That is why I recognized the “chuff” greeting sound, and it is also why I am *not* pleased to have one in my area. Don't ever trust them to be “friendly”. Think “lunch”... as in...*you* are lunch.

109 posted on 05/14/2008 6:45:49 AM PDT by Grammy
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To: Fawn

Your definition of hunting and mine are different. Hunting not only provides opportunities for people to fulfill their hunting desires and for meat ( not cats of course unless you live in Asia :) ) but if strict seasonal guidelines are in enforced the population will thrive and be healthier.

Take the deer and elk herds. At the turn of the 20th century the elk herds were all but wiped out and deer were very sparse as well. Seasons were put in place with strict quotas and management techniques improved over the years to where the elk herds are at the desired capacity in the ranges they cover and there are more deer now in North America than when the pilgrims arrived.

The same logic applied to buffalo that were all but extinct and are now in good numbers albeit they will never be like before simply because their old range feeds our country now.

So when you speak of hunting make sure you define it to it proper meaning and not some knee-jerk PETA line of BS where you insinuate that thousands of people just run through the woods killing everything that moves. That only applies in Arkansas LOL. :)


110 posted on 05/14/2008 7:03:15 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Sounds feasible - people are weird combination of tough and fragile. And yes, I know the little buggers can be dangerous - I’ve put them into the cat carrier.

Thanks!


111 posted on 05/14/2008 7:08:11 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Code Pink should guard against creating stereotypes in the Mincing Community." --Titan Magroyne)
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To: Resolute Conservative
LOL....ok...I should of specified only in arkansas.....I'm going to add West Virginia too.

112 posted on 05/14/2008 7:21:22 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-06-feral-cats_N.htm#uslPageReturn)
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To: TwilightDog
Maybe I ought to take some extra measures of precaution. Hmm...

You should. I am now in the San Diego area. In southern CA there have been several attacks and at least one death up near LA when a woman jogger was attacked.

These animals are extremely dangerous and are losing their fear of humans. A full-grown adult male may still intimidate them because of size, but a startled lion, or one that is very hungry, may attack. In the wild, they do take game as big as we are.

At the minimum, if hiking where lions are, I would have a stout hiking stick, some pepper spray / mace, and a good knife (fixed blade). And don't forget the cell phone.

Heck, down this way, even the coyotes are getting to be a menace, and not just for children when they are travelling together.

113 posted on 05/14/2008 8:38:27 AM PDT by PsyOp (Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)
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To: junkman_106

While I do enjoy cilivized accommodations, they mean so much more after a long deployment in primitive conditions.

I’d rather be outdoors than in most any day. Even if it is snowing, cold, raining or whatever. People are generally more hardy if they expose themselves to the elements often.

Your results may vary.

God Bless

Molon Labe


114 posted on 05/14/2008 8:41:59 AM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret) NRA Firearms Instructor "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: Fawn

When predatory wildlife prey on livestock they become vermin to be summarily executed.


115 posted on 05/14/2008 8:47:25 AM PDT by Rebelbase (McCain: The Third Bush Term ?)
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To: Spktyr
The bad news: They’re faster and almost as smart. And they remember how to play the “Man, The Hunted” game; most of us have forgotten that one...

I've read a lot about them since my encounter. I feel very lucky to be alive and unharmed after that encounter. These animals are nothing to mess around with. The average mountain lion may not look that big compared to some big cats, but in some ways they are far more formidable predators/hunters. And, they are some of the greatest "leapers" in the big cat world. Quick as lightning.

I couldn't believe the idiots in Chicago complaining about that mountain lion being shot by the cop. Those people have no clue what kind of bullet they dodged thanks to that cops bullet.

In my opinion, the govt need to allow hunting of these lions again. The numbers need to be thinned to keep them out of populated areas, and they need to re-learn their fear of humans. Same goes for the Damn coyotes in the south west, too.

116 posted on 05/14/2008 8:50:37 AM PDT by PsyOp (Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)
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To: GladesGuru
It was prompted by the realization that when I have been hit by 130 pounds of cat at 30 mph, I just might have troubles trying to draw and use my trusty Redhawk I have had for so long.

You may be interested in seeing my post at #61.

117 posted on 05/14/2008 9:27:43 AM PDT by PsyOp (Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)
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To: PsyOp; Grammy; Spktyr; girlangler

Thanks, duly noted. I suppose I’ll have to take the extra measures of precaution a more healthy awareness would dictate.

I’ll have to discuss this with our house cat though, too.


118 posted on 05/14/2008 9:28:35 AM PDT by TwilightDog (("The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast"--Oscar Wilde))
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To: Fawn
Oh THAT makes sense...not. Hunting them will extinguish the population completely.

Really? Has deer hunting completely eradicated deer? What do you think happens when these cats outbreed their available food supply? They go hungry and starve, or they move on to other prey--like us.

Controlled and regulated hunting that thins their numbers down to a level sustainable by the environment is what is needed. When deer populations explode because because of the lack of predators, you end up with a lot of sick, starving deer. Same with lions. They were nearly hunted out a 100 years ago, but they have bounced back.

Fish and Game departments need to determine how many cats are in each are and allow a reasonable number of hunting tags to be sold in areas where they may be a problem. Remember, money from hunting licenses funds much of the real environmentalism in this country.

You make think its sick that a trophy hunter wants the head on his wall, but he will be performing a necessary service, and his the money he pays for a tag will fund research and preservation of the species as a whole. Your excessive "kindness" will kill more cats through starvation and disease than the hunters will.

119 posted on 05/14/2008 9:42:48 AM PDT by PsyOp (Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)
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To: TwilightDog
I’ll have to discuss this with our house cat though, too.

I live with a couple of those too. I don't trust them any further than I can throw them. I know they are just waiting for me to let my guard down... their favorite hunting tactic is the "weave and trip", followed by the "midnight belly pounce". These are moves meant to incapacitate and render me vulnerable to a gang feeding. But I am on to them.

120 posted on 05/14/2008 9:58:48 AM PDT by PsyOp (Truth in itself is rarely sufficient to make men act. - Clauswitz, On War, 1832.)
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