Big cat spotted in Milton

Continue previous discussion:The DNR has made it possible for me to see and/or hunt many more animals than otherwise.However, I note that all is not perfect. They cannot completly protect us as the police cannot completly protect us from the much worse predators (man-murders,rapists,thugs etc.---ARM-yourself!!!

I've read quite a few of the comments.Here are a few pionts to ponder.
I hunt I see humans as part of the entire setting (the circle of life) not seperate.
Let the montain lion live if it can. However, if you do spend much time outdoors I would encourage you to arm yourself (any large predator can be a real threat)

It is human nature to kill large animals. What do you think happened to all of the megafauna of the North American continent? When man arrived, they soon all disappeared or greatly subsided. I am not making a moral judgment, just an observation.

So far everyone who has commented on seeing the big cat have indicated that it wanted nothing to do with them. And there have been no reports of it threatening anyone.

So why are so many of you so anxious to kill it?

And here I thought I wouldnt have a use for my shotgun for another 10 months.....

I have looked into the eyes of the giant beast. It ran past me while pheasant hunting outside Footville last year and It was more afraid of me than I was of it. It ran about 40 yards past me, but if it would have run in my direction, I wouldn't have thought twice about shooting it. These are great creatures, but in their own enviornment; not in a corn field that myself and my children are hunting.

I think this is cool to have a wild animal in the area like this. Let it roam freely and those with animals and small children in the area. Be careful of them.

Right on Pandow, this is a potentially very dangerous situation, and we won't know how it will end until something else happens

I don't know what the big fuss is about... It is kind of cool that an animal of this magnitude is on the prowl in this area. I don't feel that we should all jump in our 4 wheel drives, with our guns and go hunt it down but if it ends up on someone's property and you feel that it is a danger to you or your children, I say shoot it and for god's sake don't tell anyone. Now if it ends up on your property, you want to take pictures of it, approach it and/or just let it be and you go out some morning to warm your car up and it attacks you, so be it. I don't care if people want to let it be. That's their decision. I'd let it be if I saw it roaming around (a great distance from me and my children) but as soon as it got too close I'd have no problems killing it or letting someone else kill it.

here kitty kitty kitty

I will still argue that this is an escaped or released pet, not a wild cougar. I do not argue that it is impossible for a cougar to roam this far to establish its own territory. I will agree with Fendry's quote inquiring on the source of this animals whereabouts. I dont think a wild cougar would curl up in an inhabited barn. I think a released captive cougar is much more dangerous than a wild one, and we need to focus more upon what a released unpredictable cat might do than what has happened so far

Grumpy: I think it would be very cool to see a wild cougar. A big dominant predator in its environment, struttin' around on the top of the food chain, acting like a big ol' cougar. I wish I would have the opportunity to get some undisturbed pictures of it. Unfortunately in southern WI, we do not have the land area to support this creature. A big dominant creature in our home means that humans are not necessarily on the top of the food chain. I beleive that all wildlife should be given the right to exist in their place and not be encroached upon by people. However in this piece of the world the biggest piece of land is the back 40 behind the farm, which is not big enough to support a this creature

oops sorry i thought you said isnt that what the deer are for not, that is what deer hunting is for.

Housewife, what is it you're confused about? You just further explained my point in your first sentence.
How do you know it is "not an established species that is vital to the well being of local ecosystems, as the Dutch Elm and wild honeybees are."
Drug Dealer? That's a good pet for a drug dealer, easy to hide. You're funny.

deer are not carnivours duh!!!!

apparantly deer hunters arn't killing enough.

a cougar only kills one or two deer a week. According to statistics. Yes it would be cool to see this animal

evilhousewife-- if somebody is stupid enough to shoot it YES I DO believe theyre dumb enough to say they did it!!!

What are you smoking woman?

why would the DNR be so stupid as to plant mt lions in our area to cut down the wildlife population. isnt that what dear season is for

i would love to see in person or come accross a print. cool

Thank You evansvillehousewife. Maybe it is time for nature to reclaim once was once theres. Maybe we should look upon our actions to where are these poor animals going to go? People who are scared be scared and for those who are not, are not. Leave nature alone if your afraid. I think nature should take its course and shame on those who get hurt in the process of trying to harm any animal.

fldpan- Whaaat? Messing with nature? We "mess with nature" every time we build a house, hit a bird with a car, or farm a strip of land.
This cat is a fluke- most likely the abandoned pet of a drug dealer. It's not an established species that is vital to the well being of local ecosystems, as the Dutch Elm and wild honeybees are.
Mess with nature, and you get... well, where we are now. And as the people in Stoughton, the ones near the Rock River, and anyone that has had MRSA well know, nature tends to win out.

Hey Grumpy,

I think I stated the reasons I have very clearly.

I don't engage in back and forth arguements. I think I made my point very well. And already answered that question. So you can just re-read my long posts below.

Again, thanks for expressing your thoughts. Have a great day.

NVgrf- SSS. Shoot, shovel, and shut up. The fine the DNR would give me is worth saving a child or prize livestock.
Also, spotted owl tastes just like chicken.
Are you a friend of Timmy Treadwell, or just an ardent admirer?

An animal is definitely less important. No one here said the contrary.
Like said before, there are a lot more probable ways to die than by cougar attack. Everyone ASSumes this cougar is blood thirsty? Why hasn't it attacked anyone yet? You don't think it has enough food around here? It sure does!
People start messing with nature, and the consequences will be very undesirable.

Hey pro no I do not take an animals life over a humans. But has this cat hurt anyone or attempted to hurt anyone? The answer is no. So why bother something that is doing its own thing? I live within the city limits and see deer constantly. Does anyone bother them? The answer is no. So tell me if this animal is minding its own business why bother it and make it attack a human or someones pet?

Grumpy,

I hear your thoughts. Were we disagree is that you seem to value an anmials life over a humans. I don't nor will I ever.

You are entitled to your opinion, glad you are expressing it.

Thanks NV thats exactly my point. People seem to think that this cat is going to come running thru a window to get to them. They are blowing it out of proportion!

You sure as hell aren't protecting kids by teaching them to kill anything we irrationally fear. And listing these killings is a joke. Do you want me to stat listing everyone in the country who has died of a bee sting, auto accident, fall to the floor, hand gun accident, etc. etc. etc.?? They are far, far more dangerous than that cat. But no one is proposing eliminating bees, cars, or floors. And look at all of the rednecks that yelped when the Brady Bill went through.

Hey protect is it possible that maybe this cat that you are quoting maybe of felt threatened by them entering its territory? Would you be threatened if someone or something walked into your home and was unannounced! Anyone knows that walking in the woods you would have the knowledge of everything around you! And as cold as it has been if I was that cat I also would of entered an abandoned barn as quoted in the story I believe.

10 December. (Attack #10, death #5) Iris M. Kenna, a 5-foot-4 and no more than 115 pounds, 56-year-old woman in excellent physical condition, was killed near Cuyamaca Peak at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park while hiking to Cuyamaca Peak alone in the early morning. She was attacked near the bench dedicated to her at the intersection of the Lookout Fire Road and Azalea Springs Fire Road / Fern Flat Fire Road. (SDUT 12/11/94 A1)

24 January. Hiking in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park sometime before 3:00 p.m. in Humbolt County 50 miles north of Eureka in Orick, California, 70-year-old Jim Hamm was attacked by a cougar, apparently as it crept up from behind. The Fortuna, California, man was accompanied by his 65-year-old wife Nell. Both were reported as under 5'6".

According to supervising Ranger Maury Morningstar, "The wife said she didn't see the lion until she heard her husband, and when she turned around, the lion was attacking her husband."

Nell Hamm said she first saw the lion when it had her husband's head in its jaws. The lion pounced on Jim Hamm near the end of a 10-mile hike. He was trailing his wife when the big cat attacked, pinning him face down on the trail. He didn't scream, Nell said. "It was a different, horrible plea for help, and I turned around, and by then the cat had wrestled Jim to the ground." Dec. 2007

I would like to ask, what these people did to provoke these animals to hurt or kill? Nothing, of course is the answer. Please read my earlier post again about maintaining the bear population that gets close to humans. I hope it is not your son or daughter or grandchild that is wounded or killed.

You are right on the mark grumpy!! I am sure none of these "shoot on sight" folks have ever lived in an area where Mountain Lions are common. For some reason they believe that humans can not coexist with them. Sure, a lion can kill a human. It happened a few years ago 15 miles from where I live. But to use the warped logic of "kill before a .001% chance occurance takes place" is completely insane. Before you kill that lion, be sure to eliminate all bumble bees. They kill a hell of a lot more folks annually.

Its so funny half of you people dont even live in an area that this cat has even been spotted. You live in the middle of town and your worried about an attack. These cats are going to run the other way unless provoked. Your more proned to getting attacked by the dog next door let alone this cougar. Preserve the poor animal. It has done nothing so do nothing. Its just news cause its in Rock County where all that happens is drug busts and robberies. Now something of nature happens and everyone is freaking. You corner it or provoke it you get what you deserve.

Good point Protectingkids.

I think you should all really listen to Coyote hunter, the one who found the tracks. He knows what he is talking about. I WOULD not want my children or myself anywhere near this animal. KIDS and HUMANS come first.....(Thus my screen name)

In Northern Wisconsin, where I camp a lot, anytime a black bear gets near humans it is caught and released further in a secluded area. If it really has been a bother near humans (as in eating garbage and invading campgrounds), it is shot. That comes straight from the Forest Ranger where I camp. A wild animal near humans (cozing up in a barn) unfortunatley will probably be shot.

And as far as wolves in Wisconsin, that number is over 500 at last count also. And about a year ago there was a documentated human killing by a wolf in Canada. I am sure you can find it somewhere if you google it.

Well put Ekim8404. I believe in killing all sorts of animals. For eating! If you are worried about your little kiddies being eaten, then try this. Keep an eye on them! Keep a gun handy, but like said previously, you probably won't see it.
Do you people think this cat just came around yesterday? It's been here a while and there are maybe more.
This is a harsh world sometimes. Are we just going to start being our own mother nature? Just because people are scared?

evansville........Why don't you pump one in the chamber and then into the cat, and we will see how the State reacts to killing a protected animal. Talk is quite cheap.

"CRAFTY said, "the Earth is not made to sustain the population we have now."

"hmmmmmm, how do you know this?" Booch asks

I don't know it. But does it not make sense? Wouldn't you think that's why there are people starving, global warming, smog, gigantic cities, and huge natural disasters?
Do you have proof otherwise, Booch?

Truth says: "They have been transplanting Cougars for over 10 years now."
According to who...or what source? Also, I do not recall the DNR ever definatively saying there were no wolves in the BRF area...matter of fact they have been known to be in the area for quite some time.
Additionally, its kind of funny - one minute someone is claiming how stupid, or useless the DNR is...and in the next sentence claim how they come up with all of these wolf and cougar stocking conspiracys. Which is it, useless and stupid; or uber genious.

I am one of the individuals in Jefferson County who found the tracks. At first glance I thought they were wolf tracks due to their size. A closer look in the snow revealed that there were no claw prints and a traditional feline shap to the track, only in the neighborhood of 4" long. We quickly came to the mountain lion conclusion. One of the local landowners has said that the deer in the area are very spooked lately. A mountain lion would explain that. Does the animal concern me? Yes as it is a large predator that MAY attack a human. A mountain lion will bury a deer kill and be in the area until the meat goes bad. I would not want to be the one standing between a mountain lion and it's food. Yes 90% of the time the animal will run away but I sure wouldn't want to be the one standing in front of the animal when it's the 10%.

I think the best way to resolve this to put out an amber alert for this big cat, because obviously there are a few people that have way too much time on their hand's.

NVgrf- Not paranoia- a financial motive to protect my livestock. Since the re-introduction of timber wolves in WI, the DNR has had to shell out for livestock predation. This is a case of a species intruding into an area that it is not wanted, welcomed, or needed. You can accuse me of being unedumicated all you want... that's fine.. I've had plenty of animal rights activists claim that about my science. None of them are scientists, however.
Ekim, nice claim about "not getting within 500 yards" of the animal. Did you miss the part about this guy being in someone's hayloft?
Here, kitty kitty.....* pumps one in the chamber*

Long Time Gone and Evansvillehousewife....I would never accuse either of you of having too much education!! The reality is that it is typical of folks like yourselves to want to kill, or in some other way eliminate, what you don't understand. Paranoia can be a powerful motivator!!

To Evansville Housewife:
You are knowledgeable and articulate - and don't back down. You are spot on!
I have been accused of having too much "edu-ma-cation" and my friends are often suprised by my postion on gun ownership, hunting, and the environment.
Nonethess, those who say leave the mountain lion alone are only accustomed to seeing white tails munching their arbor vitaes, or cattle grazing along a fence line.
Book smarts and common sense are not mutually exlusive.

1. Cougars are a predator and an excellent one. However the problems that occur out West with cougars is because of the massive growth and development into once undeveloped land added to a decade of drought and you have lions with a hearty appetite who will overcome their fear of humans to survive. We don't have that problem here. There is a massive abundance of easier to get prey, such as rodents, deer, etc... so relax, good grief. I can tell many of you have barely stepped outside the confines of the midwest with some the things I read here.

2. The WI DNR is only the state agency charged with "managing" public lands and wildlife and are not the end all, be all. They have scientists on their staff, however like everyone, they are human. The thing to remember is it's all about politics and in the end, money. Game management, habitat preservation, "protected" species, are only a few things that lie under the umbrella of keeping the hunting and fishing money machine in movement. I wonder sometimes why Wisconsin is so far behind other parts of the country.

3. If an individual does shoot this animal, I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Ignorance will only get you so far, until it bites you in the @!#.

4. Unless it is injured, chances are you'll never get within 500 yards of that cat with a gun, and if you do, you won't know it, thus the reason for using dogs to hunt mountain lions.

This past fall I saw a large tan cat crossing Hwy TT between Marshall and Cottage Grove a ways in front of my car. I thought about calling the authorities or DNR but figured they would just tell me there are no big cats in WI. Also sometime last year there was a report that Milwaukee police officers were called to a wooded are near the zoo there where I believe one of the officers reported seeing a large cat.

Hah hah. Right now the Gazette has an eBay advertisement right below this topic for John Cougar Mellencamp, Mercury Cougar Reproduction, and Cougar nameplates.

Long_time_gone: Total and utter agreement.
DNR is not about wildlife management- the gubmint just doesn't care enough to pump money into ecology.

wcm4life grunted and typed:Hmmm...I really don't understand why the Gazette Admin doesn't ban evansvillehousewife..it always has to bring trash to the boards.

Apparently so... YOU showed up to spout a monosyllabic one-liner, didn't you sweetie?

"Protected..." yea right. If the one-in-a-million chance presented itself, and a mountain lion was in my barn or slinking through my yard, that cat would be one heckuva conversation piece hanging on my wall.
"Gee Bob, where did you shoot a mountain lion?"
"In my garage Tom. She was hiding behind the kids' pack n' play, chewing on a leg bone from the neighbor's Retriever."
The earth is my habitat too, and given that the government has not taken away my rights to own a GUN (gasp), I will shoot for sport, and I will shoot for sustenance, and I will shoot to help the DNR correct their mistakes of overpopulating my habitat with GEESE, and importing DISEASED deer into my habitat.

Isn’t a cougar a woman that dates younger men? If that’s the case we got thousands of cougars here.

Someone said that the DNR are scientists? HAHAHAHA. not in a million years are the dnr anything remotely like scientists, they may employ science in the field of DNA testing and forensics once in a while but the DNR themselves are not scientists.

Should I tell them about the Cougar that has been sighted by at least 5 people south of Afton? Whoops, there goes that inner monologue again.
The DNR says that there are no Cougars in Wisconsin, but it would be exciting to know they were found (i.e. have migrated) in Southern Wisconsin.
Didn't they have to admit to the pair that was released in the Dells in the 90's?

husbandofmath says "can live next to lions, tigers and bears"

OHH MY. I guess we need to be off to see the wizard... you know the wonderful wizard of OZ.

I don't care what any of the "animal rights" people say. I'm sure cougars do tend to stay clear of people, but I do believe, if hungry, they would be a danger to any small child. Protected or not, fine or not, I would shoot it if I thought it was getting too close. I would rather be in the news for shooting a protected animal rather than for having one of my children attacked and killed by one. I completely agree with evansvillehousewife on this one. Ok, maybe I would call the DNR first but if they didn't come out and do something right away and that thing was lurking around outside of my house, I would shoot it. Same as if I had caught someone trying to break into my house, shoot first and ask questions later...

I just read this on channel3000.com:

"Cougars are listed as "protected wild animals" in Wisconsin which means a permit would be required from the DNR before someone could kill the animal."

"Fendry said that people shouldn't get overly concerned about news of a possible cougar sighting in the area. He said cougars coexist fine with people and that it is very rare to have an incident between a cougar and the public."

(Doug Fendry, DNR wildlife supervisor at Fitchburg)

"Fendry said that people should contact him if they observe a large cat in the northeast Rock County and southern Jefferson County area. He can be reached at 608-275-3230."

http://www.channel3000.com/news/15113257...

It would have been nice if the Rock Co. Gazette could have gotten this information instead of starting a big scare and a witch (cougar) hunt and making us go to a Dane Co. news source for the info we need.

Does anyone know the answer to this:
The DNR has set particular weeks/months and we have laws that enforce when one can hunt many animals/birds such as deer, rabbit, fox, possum, coons, woodchucks, badgers, bobcats, mink, beavers, turkeys and even skunks, squirrels, crow and doves.
See:http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/hunt/seasdate.htm

So what's the law on cougars?
Bobcat is from Oct. 18-Dec. 31. So would one shooting a cougar be ticketed?

It appears as though RobEms is a cougar mind reader. If therefore, if therefore. However, you need to justify killing an animal I am sure you will find it. I find it interesting that biologists can live next to lions, tigers and bears, film them and somehow manage to not kill them. You could try having some courage and use your brain instead of your gun.

If the DNR are scientist as husbandofmath states then we now have proof that scientists are definitely fallable, just look at the state of their wildlife management.

To clarify my standing on the issue, if I came upon this animal while hunting, I would shoot it. If I was close enough to this animal to see it, it would have been aware of me for long enough to sneak away without being seen. If it had not run, it would mean it is not afraid of people and sees me as a source of food, therefore making it dangerous, not coexistent

I did a little research and all three sites I looked at said cougars tend to avoid humans. Also, one of the sites said that cougars in North America, generally give birth in the late winter/early spring. Perhaps this cougar (if a female, of course) is trying to find a spot to give birth. Please don't shoot it.

Yes, mountain lions can be dangerous. However, so is a gun. In fact, more children die from their parents guns then cougars. More children die being hit by cars should we shoot cars? The DNR is skeptical of sitings because they are scientists. Science requires proof. We know from science that people are terrible witnesses and often see what they want to see. Don't shoot the animal!!! I find it odd that dirt poor Africans can live with lions but many of you are afraid of a cougar that has clearly tried to steer clear of people by sleeping during the day. Also, was it the DNR that released the Kangaroo that was running around last year too?

If this was indeed a cougar, I don't believe it was a wild one. A cougar is a very large cat which needs a very large territory to sustain itself.
I don't think the DNR would have released a cougar into southern Wisconsin because we simply do not have the environment to support it.
I have spent hundreds of hours in the woods hunting over the last several years and have seen nothing I would thought was "gosh big wild predator." The only strange dead farm animal I have heard of recently was the dead baby alpaca (Gazette).
A wild predator will not climb into a haymow because it senses humans which it is terrified of. An escaped pet would act like this because it is accustomed to people and associates them with food.
If this is an escaped pet, it will sadly die in the wild soon because it wouldn't have the instinct to hide from people (hunters with guns), or the skils to feed itself in the wild

Benthinkin.......I know two people who live along Turtle Creek in the Beloit area saw
a big cat on numerous occasions along the Creek two years ago. Both felt it was a Mountain Lion.

CRAFTY said, "the Earth is not made to sustain the population we have now."

hmmmmmm, how do you know this?

Sorry to burst your small town bubble Evansville, but I have spent more time in the wild and had more encounters with wildlife than you will have in three lifetimes. And just the fact that you believe that Nevada Lions feast on our mustang population leads me to discount everything you say. Lions are short burst animals and have near to no endurance. Mustangs do not put themselves in tight environmental quarters where cats would be able to stalk. You might want to google different sites for your information from now on.

Whether the Earth was meant to sustain the present population (and more) is really moot, but we’re here-and hopefully we’ll figure out what to do about that. I recently saw a news story about some government body or other studying physician assisted suicide-I hate to think, when discussing things like the overcrowded Earth- where things like that might lead if we’re not careful, like physician prescribed suicide?
But-if it really is the animal’s natural habitat (but I thought in the case of the cougar, he was transplanted?), how can we also say their numbers are up to us (by saying their number is up). If we weren’t taking up so much of their space by trespassing, they would have more of that habitat left to forage.
The other side of the coin: Survival of the fittest? Well, if that’s the case, that’s different-and the concept of whose natural habitat it is would not exist.
Anyway-I also say, leave the (possible) cougar alone, but if you happen to accidentally come across it, hurry up and decide if it should be his habitat/his choice, or survival of the fittest. (I’ll be honest-I’m wishy-washy on this one-and I shouldn’t be able to have it both ways.).

Back in 1996 I thought I saw something down by turtle creek east of hwy 140. When I was explaining it to some hunters at work they stated that I saw the Mountain Lion and that several others saw it in that area also. More than one hunter new about it.

Like I said, I hunt for the (food), not for the sport of it. I do not take game that I will not eat. But if by some chance that one of the animals I come across in the wild decides I would be good food and attacks then, yes, I would shoot it, but not kill because it may attack. I have not heard of any problems concerning this animal. I think if the DnR feels that this animal may pose a problem, then maybe they should try to capture it and relocate it. Not just go out and kill it.

timdog- very well said!! The only danger are the sight seers that think they'll have to go and find this animal so they can see if it really is out there... they will be the ones that ire this animal and put themselves and/or others in danger. Just let the thing be unless it is causing someone (or lifestock) some sort of harm there is no need to hunt it down, track it, or in any other way bother it.

RUserious, the Earth is not made to sustain the population we have now. Therefore, yes we are in this animals habitat. People and animals can live together if people are smart.
Hunting is to control the population of wildlife, that's why you can't hunt protected animals. Their population is not an abundance. Being said I am not a wildlife nut, I don't believe a cougar should come above a human.

timdog and dub190, just for the sake of argument, what if those animals felt you would make good food? The thing is, people say we have encroached on the animal's natural habitat (as if the Earth is not the natural habitats of humans),but when it comes to your sport, hunting, those same animals are fair "game". In case you ask, I had chicken for dinner-I said it was just for the sake of argument.

Most wild animals will stay clear of humans at all cost. But that's not to say during these cold temps. that they won't take advantage of a nice cozy place to bed down for the night. (Evansvillehousewife) Deer will usually stay clear of horses, apparently there is something about horses they do not like, on the other hand, they will herd up with cattle in the field, that I have seen many times. Now, I am a hunter (I hunt for the food) and have had a few wild animals come closer to me in the woods than I would have expected, apparently they didn't feel threatened by me at the time. Now, for all of you YAHOOS that want to kill this animal because you feel it is a danger. Well, what if someone felt you were a danger, whether it be your driving habits or you looked at someone the wrong way or whatever. Do you think maybe they should just lock and load on you?

Very cool....

Come on! If you are scared of wild animals, and think they should just be killed or moved, (from THEIR natural habitat) Move back to the city! You people should hear yourselves. Kill it, Kill it, Kill it. This animal is protected. That is not to say, that if it was killing livestock I wouldn't kill it myself. Fiveonearth is right.
Housewife, a high end tranquilizer gun can shoot up to 1000 feet, and if you were hunting the animal, you'd just annoy it to death anyway.
Why don't we just wipe out all the animals that get in our way? I am totally against that, they taste too good.
Also these animals are more likely to run than attack.

Not that I think anyone should go out looking for this cougar and hunt it down, thats for the DNR to do. I do know that if I saw it around my house, I would definately want to be protected. If that cat chooses to, it can overpower anyone. I would think its first instinct would be to flee, but if cornered, it wouldn't be pretty. If you have a reasonable fear that the cat would attack, even though it is protected, you would be allowed to shoot it. You would probably have to prove that you were afraid for your life though. As for the wolves, they are in Northern Wisconsin, as I saw one this year stalking two deer while out hunting.

or an aviary!

Yup...you show your superior intelligence again evansville :)

NVgrf- How many mountain lions have you had hand-to-paw combat with? I've been lucky enough to not come upon while packing on horseback- just grizzlies. And they're not a species I advocate introducing to WI either.
For someone who lives in "Nevada", you sure seem ignorant on the differences between WI and NV ecosystems.

What in the world is this evansville woman babbling about? A couple of internet googles and she's an expert on big cats. I am sure the only Mountain Lion she has ever seen is in a zoo. And I am also sure she was quite ready to run back to Evansburg and get her piece and grease that one too. And as for an "educated woman", she is certainly letting that high school diploma go to your head!

Kilgore- I agree with you 100%. An animal has to deal with species in it's environment. Likewise, this "cougar" has the benefits of nice species like holstein calves and miniature horses. It has the detriment of humans with guns and fast moving cars.
Humans are the prevailing species for a reason. Don't put people above animals. We are animals and not the only species that manipulate the environment.

uh, WCM4life- I was writing about the STORY and FACTS about cougars and wildlife. Do you have anything to say about the topic at hand? Little men like yourself often are afraid of educated women- your problem, not mine. Maybe you're just jealous I can shoot a gun.
NVgrf- That's great you're writing from NEVADA. Check out the stats on California cougar stats vs Nevada stats. In Nevada, the cougars have a place to run TO. In southern WI, the density is way higher and therefor one cougar is much more of a danger here than in NV. Heck, Nevada has 15,000+ horses running around out there with no issues- can you imagine the roadkill issues here in WI if we had feral horses?
1919- Hardy har har. DNR fine? That's only if you're dumb enough to call them. People that have to farm or deal with the natural elements (as opposed to tenderfoots like wcm4life and mvgrf) call it the Three SSS= shoot, shovel, and shut up.

Hmmm...I really don't understand why the Gazette Admin doesn't ban evansvillehousewife..it always has to bring trash to the boards.

channel 27 website has another article on it

Maybe you people didnt read the part that it is a protected animal. Shoot it then we can all listen to the complaining about your big fat fine your gonna get. I'm not surprised it would be roaming around. Cougars have a huge range, I've heard as much as 1000 miles. And as much snow as there is out west, poor thing is probably hungry!!

Hey.........this Evansville broad sounds pretty tough. Why not just send her out after kitty kitty? Then she could finish her evening off by kicking some buttski in a Midnight Basketball League. But I guess that would have to be outside of Evansville.

Ummmm.... hello, there's Cougars at Craig HS... DUH! =) hehehe

Oh for goodness sakes. I hear "shoot it" and "It shoudl be returned to its natural habitit" Um,, it IS in it's natural habitat, and why shoot it when the humans are the ones who invaded their spaces when they propgated all over the planet. Sheesh!
(sits back waits for the angry replies)

Someone who sees it should definately shoot it. You can't have something that big roaming around. What if a child is attacked? If I had a gun and seen it on, or even around, my property it would be dead. I wouldn't take any chances at it attacking one of my children.