UPDATE post 37 Not the kitty CATS you want to see in your yard GRAPHIC

[EHaus]

Ahhhhh, skinny predators + fat chickens/blind dog = big problems! Please don't waste the pelts...make something nice out of them.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
I imagine there are zoo's all over the country that would like to make some beautiful cats like that there problem.

And as for relocation, have you ever been to Nevada? We owned a ranch there once upon a time. (north of Wells)
There are THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of acres of free open range far away from any humans and far away from grazing range. The only problem they would be is to the wildlife in those wide open spaces.

 

[ChickenGirl3]

Amazing

 

[Diamond Wire Farms]

Quote:
I imagine there are zoo's all over the country that would like to make some beautiful cats like that there problem.

And as for relocation, have you ever been to Nevada? We owned a ranch there once upon a time. (north of Wells)
There are THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of acres of free open range far away from any humans and far away from grazing range. The only problem they would be is to the wildlife in those wide open spaces.

This is exactly the line of thinking that gets wildlife in trouble!
The zoos are full. Less people are going, this translates to less feed, and less space. (It used to be my job to find homes for wildlife, that were "saved" by good intentions. There aren't enough homes.)

And those acres and acres of Nevada, they're FULL of other wildlife. More mama cougars trying to feed their cubs. If you dropped these poor cubs in the middle of another lions territory, it would only result in starvation or being killed by the dominant cat.

What was done was the most humane thing that could have happened. One "mama" defended her kids, and hopefully the cougar mom learned not to bring next year's babies near the farm!

 

[wood&feathers]

It's a shame they were skinny. I hear cougar meat is pretty good. Not meaning to be shocking, I am just remembering an article by one of my favorite writers about meeting another of my favorites - David Quammen (Contributor to Outside mag and conservation writer) writing about a lion hunting trip with E. Don Thomas (country doctor, traditional bowhunter etc). Don Thomas was challenging Quammen on his views about lion hunters and served stir fried cougar their first night together.

OP reacted faithfully to her feelings at the time - you don't turn your back on that kind of threat. As stewards of the land trying to share it between our livestock and wildlife, we walk a tightrope. Good shooting with the .22

I do hope you kept the hide. It is easy to freeze or dry them, so that you can save up to get them tanned if you don't wish to DIY. I would be daydreaming about a beautiful beaded quiver. Perhaps tell the story to a local artist and see what they might paint on the flesh side for a wall hanging. Not a trophy of conquest, but a remembrance of the spirit of the animal and the fierce conflicting emotions of that moment.

 

[sourland]

Pictures can be deceiving, but they appear to be in a malnourished state. There is a possibility that something happened to their mother and they may have been on their own. We do the things that we have to do. The sadness you feel is a measure of your humanity.

 

[dmiravalle]

Quote:
Very valid point!

 

[chickerdoodle]

This really saddens me to the point of tears. They do look really thin so maybe out hunting for themselves as something happened to mom. Still I really hate to see this but you may have saved them from continuing to starve to death. I knew I shouldn't have looked at this thread--when will I learn??

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
I raised cougars, those are beyond thin.... Most likely sick, orphaned or both. I hate to see one die, because I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for them, but you did what you had to do. And probably saved them from a slow death.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I still feel bad about these beautiful animals, but not as bad as I could or would have felt should anything happen to our critters.

Trapping/zoos – after this was over I talked with a neighbor “J” who made a call for me to a NV official – there was no interest in trap to relocate and we were advised what we did is what we should do in the future. The two zoos “close” to me are wild life zoos – neither are interested in “wild” but if the cats had been our pet that we no longer could care for, they would have taken them.

Sourland and MFB – I think you are both correct, poor kitties were slowly starving to death.


Thank you all.