Minnesota Mountain Lions!

[Andrew Rothman]

The local paper says that a cougar (or maybe more than one?) has been spotted in the area. A cougar is another name for "Mountain Lion" -- you know, the harmless, scared-of-people creatures that maimed, killed and ate bicyclists in Orange County, CA?

I live in one of the municipalities mentioned. Across from a park surrounded by woods and a lake.

Niiiiiice kitty...


http://www.startribune.com/stories/106/5315012.html

Cougar on the prowl in western suburbs
March 30, 2005 WINSIDER0330
?
?

A cougar has apparently moved into the western suburbs.

The animal has been spotted in Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Chanhassen and Shorewood.

The protected species should not be dangerous. Cougars are usually afraid of people, and the Department of Natural Resources won't remove it unless there is some evidence of threatening behavior.

If you think you see a cougar, call police. Authorities are trying to keep track of the animal.

 

[Can'thavenuthingood]

I think it's a very good time for you Minnesota types to get out of the house and shop for a nicely wooded Marlin or Winchester in a .357 or .44, okay get a 30-30 too just in case.
Get the new coyote brown gear for stalking and you ought to be ready.
Don't forget the schnapps.

Some mountain lion attack stuff here. Be prepared.
http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks.html

They eat pets too.

Vick

 

[PATH]

Someone break out the 1001 Cat Recipes Cook Book!

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Yeah. My 12-year-old DSH (I've lived with her longer than I have my wife) is only about 8 pounds, so there's not much meat on her.

Best just use her for bait. Or is there honor (or professional courtesy?) among felines?

 

[Gordy Wesen]

The last report I heard from NW WA was a cat that measured 15 feet from tip to tip.
Get used to it. Shoot first and take the hindquarters home.

 

[yorec]

Er 15 feet? Not even in the relm of reality...

Hope this kitty lives long and breeds - minnesota houndsmen need something more than coons and bobcats to chase.

 

[cobb]

Reports in the rural areas, including Southern Minnesota are becoming somewhat regular.

 

[goalie]

Hopefully it will eat the deer that keep raiding the birdfeeder out back.

 

[ACP230]

Back when I still listened to NPR (also known as Radio Publica National-The Sandinista Network) there was a report on a guy in Colorado or Montana. He heard some racket around his house one night and went out, just in time to see a cougar carrying off his house cat.

He took a shot at it with his handgun but only hit the woodpile.

No professional courtesy amoung felines.

My son says, "Cougars think kitties taste like chicken!"

(He's wise for a 12 year old, or maybe just a wise guy.)

 

[mete]

"should not be dangerous" ???? I guess they've never heard of the cases of the cats attacking people !

 

[outofbattery]

Call me a pansy liberal if you will , but why rush out to go shoot something if it isn't immediately a danger to you ? I don't get shooting of snakes on sight either , unless some of you just like deer and rodents a lot more than I do

 

[Gordy Wesen]

15 feet.
No bull.

 

[burrhead]

Shoot, shovel and shut up.

 

[powerstrk]

Minn. Mountian Lions

I lived in Chanhassen for years, before I moved to Orlando last year, This story has been in and out of the paper for quite sometime. The last I heard a year or so ago It was spotted in Lakeville several times. You could probably search the Red Star Tribune and find a story.

 

[erik the bold]

goalie wrote:

Hopefully it will eat the deer that keep raiding the birdfeeder out back.

OT, but, how come you're not eating them ??

 

[jdege]

They eat pets too.

So get an Airedale.

 

[halvey]

Call me a pansy liberal if you will , but why rush out to go shoot something if it isn't immediately a danger to you ?

Because they will be. See: http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks.html

 

[Bear Gulch]

The Kitty population is on the rise here as well. However Fish and Game have them classed for a hunting season. Whatever you do, DO NOT RUN from a cat! Running triggers the gee I am going to pounce on this moving taget lobe of the cat brain. Often bikers and joggers get whacked because they are perceived as fleeing game.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The protected species should not be dangerous.

Not to presstitutes, anyway, unless they happen to live in the area.

 

[ChiefPilot]

The situation between here (MN) and California can't really be compared, since the population of the large cats out west is under a lot more pressure than the MN population is. MN is overrun with deer, providing plenty of food for the cats, so it's not like they are stalking joggers. Sure, it's a wild animal and *might* attack, but I'd rather be in the woods with it than in Minneapolis with who-knows-what.

Nothing to see here, move on....

 

[steveno]

I agree with Burrhead

 

[RavenVT100]

Does anyone have linkage to where the Cougar ate the bikers? I wanna read about that.

EDIT: N/M.

I like big cats. But not in a "they're cute" kind of way.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Ah...Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Birthplace of "The Mystery".

I do like shining the bear-sized racoons in my urban backyard with a Surefire light. I think I would take slightly more drastic precautions in the 'burbs or near the rivers.

We're talking VERY populated areas here folks - where mountain lions do not belong, where "The Mystery"...or political correctness has emasculated the polulation into a complete avoidance of the issue.

One of these cats is going to kill a kid and we'll spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to do the job a penny's-worth of .22 bullet used to do.

 

[BJPARKER]

If its in your yard, its fair game. Think 444Marlin.

 

[ChiefPilot]

If its in your yard, its fair game. Think 444Marlin.

Ummm, no. Unless it's about to attack someone, you'd better think DNR, game laws, and jail time.