Comments on: Media Documents Return of Cougar

By: HOOSIERHUNTER

HOOSIERHUNTER — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:51:14 +0000

It is quite likely that cougars are already here in Indiana as well, although they still are not officially recognized. Still, those of us who are outdoorsmen hear a lot of stories that never get officially reported. As far as shooting the animals goes, many of us do carry weapons in the woods but none of us are eager to harm these beautiful animals. It’s just that they have claws and teeth and we don’t. Guns are the only weapon we have. But to be honest, if a big cat wants you, so I’m told, you’ll never hear or see it coming so a weapon might be a moot point. On the other hand, it can’t hurt to have one either.

From the people I talk to who have spent their lives in wilderness areas I’m not sure just how helpful it might be to try to bluff a cougar. Usually they won’t attack people, but if they are rabid or very hungry, I doubt seriously that looking large and acting aggressively will do anything more than piss them off even more. Yeah, I think in that case I’d rather have the gun.

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:25:49 +0000

I’m glad to see the Puma is back in Wisconsin.

And thanks, Loren for the information about what to do when confronted with a cougar.

I’m not in the “I told you so!!!” mode of some people reagrding the verification of the existence of them—just glad it is proven FINALLY.

By: maeko

maeko — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:48:10 +0000

I had an official from the USDA tell me outright that there are “pumas” here on the lowcountry islands of SC. I doubt they would publically say so. The locals swear they are here. All I can say is that I hear some strange noises at night and that I had something take the whole back end out of a deer within 30 min of it being shot.

By: sterling

sterling — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:43:31 +0000

I know many people in the state felt vindicated when the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources finally admitted we had cougars.

The DNR told us for years we didn’t have them in the state. There were several news stories a few years ago about sightings and the DNR spokespeople always just called the witnesses “mistaken.”

When they got a urine sample in southern Wisconsin, and they realized it was a cougar alot of people did the “I told you so!”

By: WOLVES-TALON

WOLVES-TALON — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:43:55 +0000

It is a crying shame that people see and feel the need to outright shoot to kill these animals.

I know what they can do, but was relocation even an option?
Why couldn’t they have darted and put a tracking collar on it?

So many thing are options….but I guess some people see everything as a threat to their well being.

JMHO

Thank you Loren for bringing this to light!