Cougars/Mountain Lions

[llombardo]

Every so often we get them here. They travel down from Wisconsin. If they are making it to where I am, they are probably traveling for a while. There was reports of sightings a couple months ago a few miles away in the forest preserve. That story went dead, which it shouldn't have because tons of people bring their kids and dogs there and should know there is a possible threat. Well in the last week, there are more sightings and it or they are moving closer to me. They seem to be very elusive creatures. Is anyone familiar with what kind of sounds they make? Where they would choose to sleep? They found a spot of high grass that was matted down, so it's been staying put in a pretty residential area without being seen for a little bit. They are fast and good climbers--how about jumping? I'm assuming that they are living off deer, what else do they eat? Are they day and night or mostly night?


Thanks for any info!!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

You could probably find a lot of this on the web.....I personally dont know much about cougars.

 

[aart]

They found a spot of high grass that was matted down, so it's been staying put in a pretty residential area without being seen for a little bit.

Was it absolutely certain this was a lion bed.....cause deer do that too.
Any predator will hunt/kill during the day if they are hungry and/or opportunity presents itself.

Want to learn about mountain lions?....read this book,
lots of great facts, history, and past and current research...reads like a novel:
Heart of a Lion

 

[Folly's place]

They are elusive, and possibly dangerous. It's good to know if any are local, so you can be more careful out there. For your birds, electric fencing is great, and a secure coop, especially at night. Here in southern Michigan, there have been rare sightings, and I am careful.
I would think (with no direct experience at all) that bears would be more difficult to keep out of the coop!
Mary

 

[llombardo]

I would think that they adapt and live differently in a residential neighborhood versus in the woods. If this is the same one and it most likely is, it is preferring a populated area over a wooded secluded area.

In this case they did get fur samples.

I personally would like to be kept in the loop on this one but they hold stuff back to not cause everyone to freak out.

 

[Folly's place]

Here too! I'd rather know, although stray dogs are likely always a greater risk for many of us.
Mary

 

[llombardo]

What I find sad is the animal is out if it's area, they know it's here and instead of getting tranquilizers ready, they will shoot and kill it. Then they say there was no time to get the tranquilizers......

 

[Folly's place]

The DNR will be blamed if any human is killed or injured, so that's likely where they are coming from.
Mary

 

[llombardo]

Thankfully the several that have wandered this way have not gone after a human.

 

[MROO]

Every so often we get them here. They travel down from Wisconsin. If they are making it to where I am, they are probably traveling for a while. There was reports of sightings a couple months ago a few miles away in the forest preserve. That story went dead, which it shouldn't have because tons of people bring their kids and dogs there and should know there is a possible threat. Well in the last week, there are more sightings and it or they are moving closer to me. They seem to be very elusive creatures. Is anyone familiar with what kind of sounds they make? Where they would choose to sleep? They found a spot of high grass that was matted down, so it's been staying put in a pretty residential area without being seen for a little bit. They are fast and good climbers--how about jumping? I'm assuming that they are living off deer, what else do they eat? Are they day and night or mostly night?


Thanks for any info!!

I'm in Maryland, and so far, no cougars, but we do get the occasional bobcat sneaking across the PA border. They tend to scream, like a fighting tomcat, only deeper and without the "frantic" note in the screech. It's a very uncomfortable sound to hear, especially if you have outside critters.