Mountain Lion Update

[Justin Spencer]

I have friends that have seen cougars as well, and I believe they believe what they saw was a cougar. That doesn't mean that I always believe them. I have been fooled once by a deer sneaking in on me with its head down, and also by a huge bobcat in thick brush, and had they disappeared before I could positively identify them, I probably would be telling people that I saw a cougar as well, when in reality I saw a deer and a bobcat.

I have had as many people swear they have seen black panthers as have seen mountain lions, both when I lived in KS. and here, they firmly believe they have seen them, but I have my doubts.

I do believe cougars are more prevalent than MDC cares to admit, but I'm sure they hear every day about people seeing them, and most of the time I bet they aren't actually cougars.

[Smalliebigs]

My uncle live off of HWY A near Bell Mountain Wilderness area just north of Johnson Shut ins.You can hear cougars fighting and screaching every other night or so, this has been occuring for the last 5 years. There are Cougars in that area for sure, I have seen them at dusk crossing his pastures more than once. If there are no breeding pairs down there as the MDC claims, they are some seriously horny and pissy cats that I would'nt want to be around. Andy you don't have to justify your opinion, the MDC's stance on Cougars is just that an opinion as well. I happen to agree with you, I think there has been to many sightings to not have some pussy around.

[ness]

If there are no breeding pairs down there as the MDC claims

Uncle.

[Feathers and Fins]

I would like to say this first as to qualify my response. I am a Herpetologist and worked with many of this world’s snakes, venomous reptiles were my specialty. I worked with several wildlife rescue groups and importers so I have seen firsthand and worked closely with Cougars, Panthers, Bears bobcats and especially wolves (actually owned several wolves)

First misidentification from a layman who has no experience is extremely common. I have misidentified a bobcat for a Florida panther in the evening several times and I knew the animals well. Fast moving at night with no light to low moon light it’s an easy mistake to make. Also at distances people make mistakes even in the daylight. If I had a dollar for every person who told me a snake was 8 to 10 feet long I would have been rich. I would get called out for a 8 foot rattler and get there to find a 4 foot pine snake and so on.

Also I have seen people call Mountain Lions in California while I’m sitting there looking at the Lion with a high power scope and it was a bobcat. Misidentification and second hand accounts leading to faulty identification is very common!

If indeed we have mountain lions in the plains states then the game and fish agencies would need to find them, collar them and track them to verify the population status. This is not a cheap endeavor and they are as stretched for money as everyone else. Maybe with more credible reports and sightings with picture evidence and tracks, then possibly they could justify the expense.

The scientist and naturalist in me would love to find out if they are here and are not just released or escaped pets or circus animals. The kid inside me who remembers his first encounter with one years back really wants to hope it’s true as I would love to see them again. Next to wolves they are one of the most majestic animals I have ever been around. Reptiles were a business and a passion but seeing and hearing the cry of a wolf or cougar. Well not much beats that. Accept hearing it in the wild.

[Trout Commander]

I would like to say this first as to qualify my response. I am a Herpetologist and worked with many of this world’s snakes, venomous reptiles were my specialty. I worked with several wildlife rescue groups and importers so I have seen firsthand and worked closely with Cougars, Panthers, Bears bobcats and especially wolves (actually owned several wolves)

First misidentification from a layman who has no experience is extremely common. I have misidentified a bobcat for a Florida panther in the evening several times and I knew the animals well. Fast moving at night with no light to low moon light it’s an easy mistake to make. Also at distances people make mistakes even in the daylight. If I had a dollar for every person who told me a snake was 8 to 10 feet long I would have been rich. I would get called out for a 8 foot rattler and get there to find a 4 foot pine snake and so on.

Also I have seen people call Mountain Lions in California while I’m sitting there looking at the Lion with a high power scope and it was a bobcat. Misidentification and second hand accounts leading to faulty identification is very common!

If indeed we have mountain lions in the plains states then the game and fish agencies would need to find them, collar them and track them to verify the population status. This is not a cheap endeavor and they are as stretched for money as everyone else. Maybe with more credible reports and sightings with picture evidence and tracks, then possibly they could justify the expense.

The scientist and naturalist in me would love to find out if they are here and are not just released or escaped pets or circus animals. The kid inside me who remembers his first encounter with one years back really wants to hope it’s true as I would love to see them again. Next to wolves they are one of the most majestic animals I have ever been around. Reptiles were a business and a passion but seeing and hearing the cry of a wolf or cougar. Well not much beats that. Accept hearing it in the wild.

Just spend a couple nights by Jonhson's Shut Ins and you are guaranteed to hear a breeding pair. They are supposed to mate every other night. If you are lucky you may even see some frolicking in a field in low light!

So I hear.

:D

[Feathers and Fins]

LOL... Yup and Im sure I would hear Lions and Tiger and Bears OH MY... or as we said in my high school production of that show WINEO'S and JUNKIES and PIMP'S Oh Yaaaaaaaaaa.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Quite a few years ago you could not convince me that I did not see a Mountain Lion/Cougar/Puma in St Francois State Park. It was in the late morning/early afternoon. I was hiking a trail not too awfully far from the camp sites. I had my son, nephew and neice all under 10. We were making lots of noise and on a very well travelled trail. I was looking for anything I could point out to the kids and as I glanced here and there, I seen a large cat. No spots just a beautiful tan coat and perked ears. Now, first thing that flashed in my mind was fear/defense. I quickly looked for an out, and a large solid stick. Surveyed where the kids were, and were camp was as I estimated where we could go. Just as I seen what I thought would be the planed retreat, I looked back toward the cat, and it was not there. No noise, no obviously disturbed area where it was standing, just gone. The trees were small but tall, and I am not sure that they would have held the large cat. I don't know where it went, or how quickly it could have left. I never reported it formally, and now wonder if it was a mirage, a bobcat, or what.

Just my own account of an experience I have had.

P.S. We did not see anymore wildlife on that hike. We did continue and ending up off of the trail we started on and on a larger loop. But the kids still enjoy hiking.

[junkman]

Drew 03, I have been building the new house on the property adjoining La Cygne lake. My brother is the ranch manager there and yes it is prime habitat for a big cat. The farm there is 3600 acres and some pretty rugged country for Kansas. Been wanting to scout out some of the rock outcrops south of the lake for any signs, but have not had the chance yet. maybe better wait till the new litters are born right? My sister in law said something about a pair of cats were seen killing some horses somewhere out in Kansas but don't know the details.

[Smalliebigs]

Come on down, to where HWY 32 and A intersect and see all these Bobcats with real long tails, they are pretty cool looking.

Be sure and bring your Tenkara rods we have some Rainbow Darters that need to be cleaned out of Ottery Creek

[Tim Smith]

3) Due diligence? How do you survey mountain lion populations? Door to door?

Unfortunately, this is the nub of the matter. It's expensive to sample populations of low density animals in a scientific way. No one's going to put state funds into scouring the woods full time for mountain lions unless there's a compelling economic reason to do so. So they wave a little money at the issue and maintain a skeptical view...which as Ness indicates, is the proper scientific stance.

It's probably a more compelling question what management steps are being taken. It seems there's a pretty solid wall of people out there ready to shoot the first thing that looks like a mountain lion....home range or not.