Cougar Sightings Go Beyond the Zoo

WWMT News Ch. 3, SW Michigan | 10/10/02 | Jill Dobson, News 3 Reporter

[sweetliberty]

" I wonder if wolves and cougar can be in the same areas together."

Yes.

[sweetliberty]

"In areas where they are hunted they remain wary of humans."

When we lived in Colorado I used to take my daughter on wilderness trips and there were programs available that we attended as to how to respond should you encounter certain types of animals in the wild that were native to the area. Cougars were said to be timid and would rarely attack an adult unless they were sick or starving. However, there were several reports in recent years of attacks on children who became separated form adults on trails.

[DoctorHydrocal]

I understand the Michigan DNR is denying the existence of cougars because once they start officially admitting there are cougars present, the DNR has to allocate resources to a protection plan. That means taking from someone else's program.

[sweetliberty]

Here is some interesting information about cougar attacks.

Mountain Lion Attacks On People in the U.S. and Canada

[Rocksalt]

"In California, from 1986 through 1998, exactly two people died from mountain lion attacks, whereas in one year alone, over 4,000 people died in traffic accidents, including 800 pedestrians. This means that your car or someone else's car is ~2,000 times more likely to kill you than is a mountain lion."

From reading this link,it seems like attacks are still pretty rare.Although I think people should stay aware of their presence.When I know one is near,I am cautious,but I think the hysteria about cougars common with people is for the most part unfounded.

[sweetliberty]

It is much like the hysteria over wolves. While there is a legitimate complaint of their attacks on livestock, wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare, while attacks of domestic dogs are frequent and often result in death. Wild animals are much less intimidating when one is educated about them and their behavior. Most "problem" encounters can be avoided with a healthy mix of knowledge and common sense.

[MsLady]

I love animals too but, I sure don't think I'd be trying to shoo a mountain lion or wolf away.

[DaneScott]

My wife and I are quite certain we saw a cougar while driving through the Upper Peninsula. It stood on fairly tall legs and might have been mistaken for a deer, but we were close enough to see its shape and profile...and it definitely looked like a cougar.

[Rocksalt]

Re post #36:

I agree that this hysteria over these predators gets out of hand alot of the time.Yes,I am much more worried about getting attacked by a mad doberman than a mad cougar.
Cougars are curious by nature and most people who I have talked to who have encountered them close up have told me that they followed them but never showed signs of trying to attack them.They are curious but usually not aggresive.I have a friend who does cougar rehabilitation and has been caring for them for many years.He says they must be treated with respect,like any big cat,but they are not prone to hunting humans,quite the opposite he claims.He says they tend to run when they realise humans are near.

[AdA$tra]

Hey RW good to see ya. I don't think cougars are nearly as rare as they are shy, smart and stealthy. One sees the attacks on humans in California because all the enviros have over populated the area and over-stressed the natural resouces there. Here in Kansas almost the oppposite. We have allowed the lower portion of the food chain to flourish un-hunted. We have plenty of food and water even without livestock being targeted. We have large areas of land along the major rivers that is fairly pristine and untravelled. Nature fills the vacuum quickly.

[Rocksalt]

Sorry,that was re #46

[AdA$tra]

I sure don't think I'd be trying to shoo a mountain lion or wolf away.

It worked with the bears in our camp every night at Philmont.

[sweetliberty]

You'd stand a better chance shooing a mountain lion away than running from it. The idea with a mountain lion is to appear bigger....hands raised, that kind of thing. They will perceive you as being a threat if you appear larger and they will avoid you. And never let a child get separated from a group in cougar country.

[gitmo]

In the Appalachian mountains of NC I hear Cougars all the time. We had several brought in to the zoo that locals had trapped.

[FlyVet]

Killing an animal for reasons other than to eat it, or to defend oneself from immediate threat, is as wrong as it gets.

From http://recipe-beef.com/24/131660.shtml:

Title: Cougar Steaks - Mountain Lion

Yield: 2 Servings

Ingredients

1 lb Cougar steak

Marinade

Flour

3 tb Cooking oil

1 ts Bacon fat

Instructions

Marinate steaks for 2 to 3 hours in your favorite meat marinade. Dry steaks and flour both sides of meat. Fry in skillet with oil and bacon fat over medium heat until cooked.

this recipe yields 2 servings.

Recipe Source:

Hunters Information Service

Downloaded from - http://www.fordinfo.com/his

Formatted for MasterCook by Joe Comiskey, aka MR MAD - jpmd44a@prodigy.com -or- MAD-SQUAD@prodig

A tasty critter, that also happens to make a nice rug or wall display. Probably low in fat and cholesterol, as most wild animals are.

[Alas Babylon!]

Ok. I won't disagree with you. I wouldn't be too disturbed if they were OUT there but NOT hanging around my pastures. But farmers and ranchers should protect their stock. If a predator starts taking stock, then it acquires a bad habit that probably will be repeated (depending on the livestock taken, it's easier than hunting swift deer. For example, my goats and poultry aren't very fast.). When that occurs, the animals needs to be tracked and killed. Other than that, you're right; let it alone.