Must we shoot big cats in “cougar country”?
What a difference a few years make. Several years ago, before a wild cougar was positively identified through a trace of blood as having been in Milton and possibly Janesville, Clinton and Elkhorn before making its way into Illinois, Wisconsin DNR officials seemingly were in denial that these big cats roamed Wisconsin. Wildlife officials weren’t convinced despite repeated reports from state residents who spotted what they believed were cougars through the years.
Now, a DNR proposal to let landowners shoot cougars that are attacking domestic animals is on the agenda for the annual spring conservation hearings. Those hearings will occur in every county April 11.
Currently, cougars are protected in Wisconsin. No one can shoot or trap one without permission from the state.
The DNR now says the closest known cougar population is in South Dakota, but four cougars have been confirmed in our state in recent memory.
The one that was roaming around Milton and other nearby communities in January 2008 met its unfortunate demise in northern Illinois. Police on Chicago’s north side shot and killed it after it got too close to a school.
Last summer, the Gazette received unconfirmed reports from residents who believe at least one cougar was again cruising the tangled hills, swamps and fields near Edgerton.
So what do you think of the DNR’s proposal to let landowners shoot a cougar attacking a pet or some other domestic animal?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter
Jan 28, 2011 at 3:47 p.m.
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When it's kill or be killed, most definately the animal is not going to make it. Cougars are not the big issue in our state. It's the wolves the idiots at the DNR brought back in Wisconsin. You don't hear much about them now but wait until a pack of them kills someone.
Jan 28, 2011 at 11:25 a.m.
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The cougar moved south to Illinois, probably to snack on freshly killed Bears.
Jan 28, 2011 at 8:07 a.m.
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kraut - naw, this was when I was younger and lived in Kalifornia.
Jan 28, 2011 at 7:26 a.m.
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Sigma 40... Theres a rabid animal coming at you, there's a person with a gun next to you, you tell him not to shoot it??? A cougar coming at you or a rabid dog, both deadly! The cougar will kill you quicker, it grabs you by the throat or head and crushes.The odds of being attacked by a cougar are slim, as long as the animal stays reclusive and poses no threat we leave it alone, the question is "if it poses a threat!" You do what is neccesary to protect yourself and your own. DUHHHH
Jan 28, 2011 at 7:26 a.m.
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I agree with Frogger. If you make it legal they'll be organizing "Cougar Crawls" before you know it. On the other hand if a cougar is threatening my pet or any humans all bets are off. It shouldn't have to be "legalized" in order to protect your property.
Jan 28, 2011 at 6:53 a.m.
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Why propose shooting them? Duh... we're human. The most frightened scared species on the planet. We have to kill anything that poses a threat, or even if we have a bad dream about it we have to kill it. Since we cant put a ban on them, make them illegal, start a website with where they live, or get restraining orders on them... we have to kill them.
Jan 27, 2011 at 9:38 p.m.
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I agree with the DNRs proposal.
Hopefully I'll be able to read the Gazette's views on this in next Sunday's newspaper.
Jan 27, 2011 at 8:27 p.m.
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Why is there a proposal to shoot them??
Jan 27, 2011 at 6:06 p.m.
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Never shot one, but nailed one once!
Jan 27, 2011 at 5:59 p.m.
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I don't disagree with shooting if in trouble but many may shoot just for fun.
Jan 27, 2011 at 5:55 p.m.
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The DNR know about how many animals are in this state about as good as the weather people can accurately predict the weather. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!
Jan 27, 2011 at 3:44 p.m.
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If a cougar was attacking my pet, an animal I owned or worse yet my family, the thought of not shooting it would never cross my mind.We don't need these animals here for any reason,they can live out west in sparsley populated areas where they belong, times have changed.....
Jan 27, 2011 at 2:42 p.m.
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Any wild animal attacking a pet or domesticated animal should be able to be shot without any worries of legal problems. No matter what type of animal it is.
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