So this happened in my neighborhood...

Then there's this... 3 mountain lions killed in AZ

Game and Fish puts down 3 mountain lions after they feed on human remains near Tucson

 

In all fairness to DNR departments, they try real hard to keep the lid on some stuff so as not freak the less than adequately educated citizens and police departments that haven't a clue in these areas.

 

That's a fair point. However, I do wonder what this world would be like if all truth was revealed and nothing was kept secret...I would imagine there would be chaos at least for a time.

 

truth - would be nice but only if a full disclosure were included - something that is sadly lacking at all levels.

 

In these cases (of big cats near mountain biking trails and introduced wolves and reports of cats increasing in multiuse forests), I find it insupportable, that State officials would not inform the very people (ranchers, bikers, hunters, high lake fishermen, mushroom hunters) who's lives, safety or livelihood could be effected!

 

100% agreed!

 

Metalcutter, these were the people reporting the sightings than were being debunked by various DNR departments in areas where " they haven't been for decades" as I said with the advent of game cams, home security systems and cell phones they can't debunk so much any more. In the primary areas out west they do issue warnings and such One cat was tracked from the PNW all the way to NY state over the course of a couple years including a dip into Kalifornia. ( tracking collar). IFRC it doodled around for short bit in northern WI and the UP then went back into Canada showed up again in Mich, then they lost it for a bit and it popped up again In NY state. ( do not remember the whole story). Upshot is when looking for a mate or there own territory + food they can and do travel large distances. Same holds true for wolves. Bears are a bit more sedate in this respect but not immune to the wandering lust.

 

Tracking collars.

A few decades back, a buddy told me he was out in the woods and rounded a corner to see the road filled with DNR and other agency vehicles. In the middle of nowhere, so he asked WTH is going on?

Seems someone had dispatched a collared wolf and removed the collar. The collar was then paced on a floating log in one of the rivers leading to Lake Superior. This way, the collar would still detect movement, right?......No mortality signal, right?

Must've worked great until the log got caught in a log jam....

 

Even then, it took the officials away from the actual scene of death, certainly wiping any way of finding who did it.

 

not necessarily a people caused incident - every living thing eventually loses the battle.

 

Thanks for sharing, great video and made me sit up straight, that's as real as it gets. I really had no idea ML's were up in MI, WI, Etc..always heard more of them out West.

Not sure how to feel, on one hand is the population thriving or mankind just moving more and more into their territory and we are seeing them more? On the other hand they are an APEX predator and a threat to humans, livestock, dogs, etc...Prefer it if they keep to themselves and we keep to ourselves but that's not always the case.

 

A mildly agitated house cat can tear you up....big cats are not to be taken lightly.

 

Hey chris , I have no problems with the animals themselves. They are just trying to make a living like the rest of us and you gotta respect a cat that crosses the whole country on foot (I assume he didn't hitch any rides). I have no reasons to hunt cats or wolves and probably not bear as long as Me or Mine or Other Folks are not threatened. I just can't understand why some local agencies are not forthcoming or proactive about certain incidents or information. The incident here in WA St. could have had a different outcome If agencies had posted trail warnings or notices in that popular mountain biking area. Local knowledge says that state officials were told at least several times that a cat(s) were frequenting the area. Maybe if the bikers were carrying pepper spray or fire arms one would still be alive. But instead, total silence. Same with the wolf introduction, let me know ahead of time and I'll keep my stock closer in and check them more often and be more aware of my pets and kids comings and goings. And, I must say, I will expect the State to compensate for losses. I do know one thing for certain. Kill a threating Cat out of season while mushroom hunting, or mistake a wolf for a coyote and shoot it while it is molesting your stock, and the full wrath of the System will descend upon you whether officials were denying activity in your area or not!

 

According to the Michigan DNR there are none in our state. Hate to disagree with them, but I have a friend that got a picture of one on his trail cam. Clear as a bell! It was not a Bobcat either, which we do have in both the Lower and Upper Penninsulas.

 

I forget the apx numbers but a wolf pack( which is almost all family members can stake out a pretty large area as home range. when the younguns get old/bold enough to challenge the alpha male/female of the group that is when things a bit dicy. Big cats( family group= pride) is similar . So when that occurs you now have a free agent roaming having been ousted from the group if unwilling to submit. In the case of Pumas they are more solitary than say the African lion. Course us humans ain't much different in that respect are we? That can make it very hard for the DNR departments as far as posting warnings other than a pretty general statement. In more populated areas they do try to err on the side of caution before scaring the everliving out everyone. I do have a problem with the total denial syndrome.

 

Nj too

 

This photo came from the lower penninsula in Michigan. Trail cam flash kinda messed up a clean picture of the head, but there is no mistaking what it is.

 

Everybody thinks every cougar is 200lbs.