Mountain Lion Released At Current River Ca

[ozark trout fisher]

I know it's conjecture, but we've gone from mountain lions being extremely rare to almost common. Mountain lions are here. I hike, float and probably most dangerously run through the outdoors. (Trail running and orienteering.) I'm not so concerned about myself but about my little ones. We don't want to see a mountain lion on Bell Mountain for example. I am especially concerned about my pre-dawn runs through my small town on the Missouri River. We have deer a-plenty and one credible source who claimed she's heard an unmistakable mountain lion squawling. A few years back I saw what appeared to be a mountain lion while driving the county roads. I don't like the idea of mountain lions in my neighborhood, but it appears to be a real possibility. I'm not a knee-jerk wacko who says kill 'em all, but I would prefer that we not accept established mountain lions and instead take measures to assure they don't get established.

My two cents.

I see what you're saying and I can respect that, but when you get down to the actual likelihood of a mountain lion attack, well maybe compared to some of the other dangers we all face in our lives it's just not worth worrying about. Even in Colorado or Montana or California or any other area where there are heavy mountain lion populations, the chances of getting attacked are so small as to negligible. Yes, it happens occasionally, but better to spend our time worrying about car accidents or drowning or getting struck by lightning or any of the other things that are infinitely more likely to cause us any real trouble. Of course that doesn't mean that as mountain lions (and bears for that matter) become more common in our state that we shouldn't take some basic precautions, but I don't think it's anything to lose any sleep over. And mountain lions that are shown to be causing trouble with humans of course need to be dealt with, but the rest I really think we ought to leave alone.

[skeeter]

Man, that is one pissed-off Cougar. See the way his ears are laid back ? That is any cat's body language for " I am mad as Hell and you better watch out ". He sure seems to be in great shape from a bountiful supply of yummy deer. Probably a good thing too that the trapper was a County Commissioner or MDC might have charged him with something illegal. Next one they catch they should release in Town & Country to help out with the deer overpopulation.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not worried one bit about mountain lions being around, but what does hack me off is all the people that are freaked out and trippin' about it. And here's why....

The real thing was supposedly spotted in my neighborhood, it had killed a goat, and one of my neighbors was told by MDC and the Morgan county sheriff that it was ok to bait it and kill it. They left a dead goat in their field within sight of their house and shot my best friend with a .30 cal.

Luckily (if you can call it luck) he was a piss poor shot

He is healing up ok, but I now, because of all this f---ing cougar paranoia, have a 800.00 vet bill and a gun-shy best friend.

So please....no really, PLEASE don't loose your minds over all this mountain lion rhetoric. Chances are if you ever do see one it will be his hind end as he is running away.

I'm no COUGAR.....I'm a BALLCHINIAN !

[Outside Bend]

Wow wrench, that sucks. Glad to hear Fido's doing alright, though.

No chance of getting the shooter to cover vet costs?

[jdmidwest]

Not to be mean, but why was Fido roaming free on the neighbor's land? Around here that could result in charges against you of animal abuse by letting your animal run out of your control. I doubt if the landowner will be liable for any damages.

[Feathers and Fins]

Shooting dogs is illegal

The Conservation Department and local sheriff offices often receive questions from dog owners, landowners and hunters about laws pertaining to free-running dogs in rural areas. While landowners do have some recourse if dogs are injuring or killing livestock under Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 273.030, dogs that merely enter private property may not be killed. In fact, Section 578.012 provides penalties for intentionally killing a dog or other animal.

Anyone killing a dog under circumstances other than the narrow ones described above can expose themselves to significant legal difficulty. Those who kill dogs may be forced to pay restitution and/or face criminal charges. Because dogs are considered personal property, dog killings are investigated by local law enforcement authorities, not by conservation agents.

It is illegal for persons to trespass on private property without permission. Ethical hunters who use dogs do their best to keep them off property where dogs are not wanted, and should contact the property owner for permission to retrieve them when their dogs follow game onto such private property. The Conservation Department works with the Sporting Dog Association of Missouri and other groups to encourage legal and ethical hunting activities and to establish good relationships with private landowners

Dogs may be killed, when.

273.030. If any person shall discover any dog or dogs in the act of killing, wounding or chasing sheep in any portion of this state, or shall discover any dog or dogs under such circumstances as to satisfactorily show that such dog or dogs has or have been recently engaged in killing or chasing sheep or other domestic animal or animals, such person is authorized to immediately pursue and kill such dog or dogs; provided, however, that such dog or dogs shall not be killed in any enclosure belonging to or being in lawful possession of the owner of such dog or dogs.

(RSMo 1939 § 14536)

[fishinwrench]

Wow wrench, that sucks. Glad to hear Fido's doing alright, though.

No chance of getting the shooter to cover vet costs?

Thanks man. The neighbor has apologized up one side and down the other, I am gonna send them a copy of the bill to see how sorry they really are, but I'm guessing that we will forever be non-speaking neighbors.

JD, River was on their property because he got a sniff of the dead animal, my guess is that he was fixin' to freaking roll in it.

Everyones dogs run free around here, even the guy that did the deed, we have no leash laws and we like it that way. Nothing moves around here at night without getting barked at or chased....and that's worth a few torn up trash bags and missing boots.

[eric1978]

Not to be mean, but why was Fido roaming free on the neighbor's land? Around here that could result in charges against you of animal abuse by letting your animal run out of your control. I doubt if the landowner will be liable for any damages.

Not to be logical, but why was this neighbor shooting at something he couldn't identify? Around here that could result in charges against you for unlawful use of a weapon, at least. The landowner has no brains, and people need to put their guns back in their closets unless they're hunting or they hear a brick come through their window. This wild west mentality is so sophomoric, irrational, unnecessary and dangerous. Shoot first and ask questions later, right JD? Hey, it's YOUR property and this is America...it's your right!

Would you be asking the same questions if Wrench's little girl wandered onto the neighbor's property wearing a tan coat and took a round in HER shoulder?

[laker67]

Glad to see River on the mend. FishinCricket had informed of the mishap a while back.

[Tim Smith]

Thanks man. The neighbor has apologized up one side and down the other, I am gonna send them a copy of the bill to see how sorry they really are, but I'm guessing that we will forever be non-speaking neighbors.

JD, River was on their property because he got a sniff of the dead animal, my guess is that he was fixin' to freaking roll in it.

Everyones dogs run free around here, even the guy that did the deed, we have no leash laws and we like it that way. Nothing moves around here at night without getting barked at or chased....and that's worth a few torn up trash bags and missing boots.

Terribly sorry that happened to your dog, wrench. Your neighbor owes you more than the bill and I hope he has more character when it comes time to pay than he did when a story about a boogie kitty made him take pot shots into his property. Had he even seen any tracks or did he have any notion a mountain lion was there?

On the other hand, it's probably worth pointing out that free running dogs will eventually become prey for mountain lions when and if a population does establish.