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Post by greyhair on Dec 24, 2008 10:36:43 GMT -5
Anybody been reading about the spread of cougars into the midwest? There is always a lot of stuff on the internet that needs to be taken with a big grain of salt, but there is some actual evidence too.
The Cougar Network and the Eastern Cougar Foundation are two websites that have good information on actual evidence. it appears that they are trying to spread into to the midwest through the big river drainages. The Missouri DNR admits to a small population and there are unconfirmed sightings in southern Illinois. I find it interesting that the dead ones often show that their DNA is part native North American and part Central American. That show that escapees which are imported from south of the border are breeding with natives.
There are definitely enough deer out there to support them, and the river bottoms don't see a lot of human traffic.
One escaped from a rehab facility in Clay County about a year ago and was never found - about 20 miles from my house. They know it killed some deer in the area because the remains were found with tracks. Occasionally someone around here claims to have seen it, or knows someone that saw it, etc. but nothing concrete.
On a personal note, I guy I know from St. Louis has a farm and some strip pits in Missouri right across the river from Quincy, Illinois. He has trail cam pics of one with what seems to be a cub.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Dec 24, 2008 11:55:01 GMT -5
There have been rumors of one running along the wabash river over in Sullivan County, but you all know how that goes.
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Post by beehunter on Dec 25, 2008 6:57:07 GMT -5
I think they could definetly move thru the area following the Wabash or the White Rivers but I don't think Sullivan county has enough unbroken tracts of woods to support a Cougar or a population IMO.
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Post by chicobrownbear on Dec 25, 2008 8:57:23 GMT -5
All the cougars I've seen in my area are usually just after a Cosmopolitan and some attention.
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Post by steiny on Dec 25, 2008 9:48:06 GMT -5
My buddy near Jefferson City Missouri claims they are getting a few over there, and they are starting to hit the deer pretty hard.
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Post by duff on Dec 25, 2008 9:54:23 GMT -5
I will believe it when I see a few dead ones show up. There is a story or two each year maybe 1 a month of a cougar or black panther that usually ends up being a house cat. Or some unexplained horse death yet never a trail cam pic that is definate or one shot by a hunter.
Not impossible but I doubt there are any wild ones in Indiana. FFG had an article probably 4-5 years ago about the big cats along the shore of Lake Michigan in all the dunes. No hard proof but lots of compelling stories...
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 25, 2008 10:04:42 GMT -5
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Post by greyhair on Dec 25, 2008 10:07:02 GMT -5
The evidence in Illinois - over on the western border - was from two dead ones, one killed by a train and one found dead with an arrow in it. Steiny the place I am talking about is about 80 miles NNE of Jefferson City.
There is also solid evidence of them returning to Eastern Kentucky. I agree with Duff though, as far as Indiana, it would be tough for them to survive and not be seen or at least their sign.
Kind of like black bears - you here a tale about somebody seeing one in the HNF now and then - but if you know much about bears you understand that if they are in the territory you can't miss them or their sign, especially if you spend time in the woods
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Post by duff on Dec 25, 2008 10:19:29 GMT -5
Holy cow Woody, do you know what you caught in that picture!!!!
It's definately a potential to have a wild one in Indiana, we had a wild wolf killed a few years back in East Central Indiana where there is very little continous cover. Came from Wisconsin. More likely to have escaped/released cats though.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 25, 2008 10:30:25 GMT -5
Holy cow Woody, do you know what you caught in that picture!!!! The audio sounded like "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!"
Seriously..I agree. A cougar was killed in Chicago that came from the Black Hills of South Dakota. That is a haul. If he had made just a little turn south he could have ended up in Indiana. dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/mammals/cougar/milton_cougar_timeline.htm |
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Post by swilk on Dec 25, 2008 13:35:06 GMT -5
I have seen one in knox county with my own 2 eyes.
It has been 6 or 7 years ago ...... we saw the couger on 3 separate occasions within 1 square mile. 2 times during daylight and 1 time at night.
Seen through binoculars and no unusual medication or alcohol was involved.
How or why it was there I have no idea ......
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Post by huxbux on Dec 25, 2008 14:24:16 GMT -5
All the cougars I've seen in my area are usually just after a Cosmopolitan and some attention. Chico, you really should stop hanging out in those sleazy bars. |
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Post by Decatur on Dec 25, 2008 15:19:45 GMT -5
Chico, ignore Hux's advice. Those are EXACTLY the kind of bars you want to hang out in! ;d
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Post by duff on Dec 25, 2008 17:42:12 GMT -5
Chico, ignore Hux's advice. Those are EXACTLY the kind of bars you want to hang out in! ;d Two good pieces of advice. #1 Ignore Hux ;D #2 is the type of bar to hang out in!!!  |
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Post by chicobrownbear on Dec 25, 2008 20:25:20 GMT -5
Chico, ignore Hux's advice. Those are EXACTLY the kind of bars you want to hang out in! ;d Wednesday night still good for you and Duff? |
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Post by Decatur on Dec 26, 2008 2:04:21 GMT -5
When and where?!
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 26, 2008 6:34:36 GMT -5
I still like that picture Woody!
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Post by duff on Dec 26, 2008 14:09:56 GMT -5
I am sure I could fit it in my schedule!!!!
I'm unemployed for a few weeks!
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Dec 29, 2008 12:59:22 GMT -5
There is one hanging around my hunting area in Owen county.
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Post by freedomhunter on Dec 29, 2008 13:33:48 GMT -5
All the cougars I've seen in my area are usually just after a Cosmopolitan and some attention. Plenty of bobcats around. Usually see one every year. Saw a juvenile playing with some deer this year. I know what lion tracks look like from spending time in Utah backpacking, never seen a track in any of Southern Indiana. I think some people see things that aren't there. |
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