Cougars

[Feral Bill]

This (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/ap_on_sc/us_eastern_cougar) article is interesting, if sad.

[hailstones]

Last visual i have had was in 1986 in North Georgia,was a very nervous/scary encounter and hope to never repeat it.

[WingedMonkey]

They fail to mention our small population of Florida Panthers. Only about 90 to 120 left and very inbred, but still hope.

[Wise Old Owl]

I too am worried about the quality of the genetics of the cougar, as they are harder to find and breed with, perhaps they are a little finicky or saucy and difficulty to understand. i discovered that with their new form of dress they are hard to identify in the wild of the dance floor...
http://www.insidesocal.com/outinhollywood/%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2 C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C% 2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C %2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2 C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2Cgirls12.jpg
(http://www.bing.com/images/img/loading_lg.gif)

[WingedMonkey]

I thought you stopped drinking wise old owl LOL :eek:

[the judge]

we have cougars come into work sometimes, scary to say the least. they can smell your fear.

[Migrating Bird]

In 1964, I was camping with my mother in Everglades NP. We saw a dead florida panther next to the road. The next night, returning from Flamingo, one crossed right in front of our car within sight of our campground enterance. It made such an impression on an 11 year old, I slept in the car that night. A memory I cherish.

[WingedMonkey]

In 1964, I was camping with my mother in Everglades NP. We saw a dead florida panther next to the road. The next night, returning from Flamingo, one crossed right in front of our car within sight of our campground enterance. It made such an impression on an 11 year old, I slept in the car that night. A memory I cherish.

And that's still the leading cause of death for panthers. Consider yourself lucky to have ever seen one. Although they roam the most southern portion of the Florida Trail from the Indian Reservation south, few ever see one.

[wythekari]

Western cougars defintely not extinct, in conflict w/development but definitely still here. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/26/tracking-a-big-cat-researchers-follow-tagged/

[Bucherm]

They fail to mention our small population of Florida Panthers. Only about 90 to 120 left and very inbred, but still hope.

That's cause they aren't Eastern Cougars. They are a subspecies of WESTERN Cougars.

[peakbagger]

Just because the feds declared them extinct doesnt mean there are no cougars

A member of viewsfromthetop.com keeps a thread open for cougar sightings in the northeast.

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17683

A lot of the sightings are probably other critters but some of the sightings are from fairly reliable sources. I speculate, that if the cat is declared extinct, there is no need to manage the woods as if they are there and therefore, fish and game folks would rather they be declared extinct. Unfortunately, the deer herd in the in Northern Me, Vt and NH is declining precipitously so if the cougars are in the area, they are having to work hard to survive.

[Cookerhiker]

Also reported on today's NPR Morning Edition

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=134222014&m=134222030

[Snowleopard]

There is a small number of verified cases of cougars in New England and Eastern Canada, but the DNA evidence says they are not eastern cougars. Some have been identified as South American cougars, so clearly a released or escaped captive animal. The closest to me was at the Quabbin Reservoir, about 50 miles from the AT; that was identified by DNA in cougar scat.

They'll get here eventually. There's an interesting study online examining wildlife corridors that the Florida cougars might use to expand their range; they're all low probability routes, but low probabilities repeated over decades add up. There was a cougar shot in northern Georgia that was genetically a Florida cougar. It'll take a lot longer for a breeding population to spread than for an individual to arrive.

[wornoutboots]

They seem to be attracked to horses......... Oh & Live music, I went to a local horse track that had a band last week & they were out in full force.

[wornoutboots]

Oh I forgot to mention it may have been the $1 beers??

[Sickmont]

Oh I forgot to mention it may have been the $1 beers??

Dollar beers will bring 'em out everytime.....

[WingedMonkey]

That's cause they aren't Eastern Cougars. They are a subspecies of WESTERN Cougars.

Genetic study show that all are North American Cougar (Puma concolor couguar). Scientest are still arguing as to weither or not there are so many subspecies. The argument comes up again every time someone sugest bringing in Western subspecies to increase the Florida breeding population. The only noticed difference is the Florida cats seem to have a "bend" in the end of their tails. Also could be from so many years of local breeding.
A lot of those working in Florida Panther conservation are afraid if the subspecies tag of Puma concolor coryiiis is removed that it will lessen efforts to research and protect them.

[Erin]

Our conservation department, after years of denying and in denial that cougars were in Missouri, have now just this month,had to admit there are cougars in Missouri. Now that they have been run over, caught on video and shot and killed with the media on top of it. And sent out warnings on how to deal with them. We get the roaming males from Nebraska. And have always them in SW mo and everyone who hunts, fishes and camps down here knows it They have always been here.