Mountain Lion?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I lived in Mtn lion country for 13 years. I've had them come through the barn lot, tracks not the animal, and seen tracks when elk hunting in the snow, never attacked. Oregon stopped hound hunting years ago and a population of 3K went to an unknown. Its not uncommon for an old cat or a young tom being driven out to go through town and the little kittys and dogs pay the price. Occasionally a llama or calf gets eaten, but with a verified population in the thousands, no kiddies.

Cats don't leave their territory voluntarily, they are driven out because they old or young toms and biologist don't believe they travel any farther than the food supply forces them too. Its not likely many cats are going to end up in MO, much less in a city without a large deer herd, their steak and potatoes.

[stlfisher]

The MDC might not check it out, but if no one reports it then no one will investigate and at least they will be aware of the sighting. It is a phone call that takes 5 minutes and IMO and you don't lose much. As stated above it is probably a young male looking for territory or an old cat that has been pushed out. I have read that you are 10 times more likely to get killed by the family dog than a mountain lion.

As a side story my brother had a Coyote in his neighbors yard last week...which is strange in the middle of STL city. Anyway, his neighbor kept running around the neighborhood in a panick yelling wolf It was quite entertaining actually.

[snagged in outlet 3]

The Post Dispatch ran a story with pictures of coyotes in Tower Grove Park last year.

SIO3

[Martin]

The MDC will check it out if you have a photo or video....Other then that it's just another reported sighting. Still, I would think they might like to know.

[brittsnbirds]

Herd that sucker down my way .... might help with my bambie problem.

PC,

I know they are southeast of you down in Linn County. My sister-in-law watched one a couple years ago on her farm one morning. It was in their garden prowling around, within 20 yards of the the house. She called for her husband (retired photographer) to bring his camera. Apparently the cat's hearing is very intense, and it took off to the timber.

She called me and descibed the unit. I thought it was a Bobcat by her description but she said it had a very distinct tail "as long as cat was". She pulled up some pictures on the internet and verified it was a Mountain Lion. They later called the Kansas Dept. of Conservation. They weren't interested and discounted her claim. My brother in law took some pictures of its tracks in comparison to his dogs, much bigger!!

So there you go!!

[ness]

Yeah -- they're around, and it's worth making a report. Maybe it turns out, maybe not.

We scared one up in SW Kansas about 8 years ago while pheasant hunting. Happened awfully quick, but the size and long tail was unmistakable. Definitely not a lab or a bobcat. Can't be 100% sure either. For whatever that's worth.

[stlfisher]

The Post Dispatch ran a story with pictures of coyotes in Tower Grove Park last year.

SIO3

That is sort of close to my brother's house. He is closer to the lindenwood park area just south of 44,but apparantly they migrate up the pristine waters of River Depres.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Coyotes have no problem with civilization. LA is reportedly full of them.

I don't see any advantage to the MDC or taxpayers wasting money looking for big cats. With hunting laws as they are in the west their arrival in this are is guranteed. The thing is however, they have a very large hunting area and they are very shy creatures. In the years I lived in OR I never saw one, despite a lot of time in their backyard. My BIL, who spent more time than I in the woods, saw one, while he was fishing a somewhat remote lake.

What would be the advantage if one was confirmed? It's not like you can go watch one.

[stlfisher]

I guess if there was enough possible sightings I would like to at least know if one is in the area even though it is extremely unlikely there would ever be an issue. I am thinking more about kids, pets, and such that might be easier targets even though this is still extremely unlikely. Certainly not necessary for the MDC to go running over the place looking for them, but I guess I would like to know if I have one in the area.

[walleyerich]

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/30/2487861/mountain-lion-photographed-in.html

I'd say that there are some around here.