Dead Cougar near Kakabeka Falls (Looks like killed by Porcupine)

[JBen]

Sometimes when I'm really hungry, I think "I'm so hungry I could eat the ask out of a skunk".

Hard to tell from the pics how much decomp had set it, but it looked to me like it was starving, and the taxidermist said or confirmed that. Does it surprise me a cougar would go for a porcupine? Not if its starving.

I personally think theres a good chance there are wild cougars in the province. They were here historically, we arent that far from Michigan. Considering the size of Ontario, especially N Ontario, their range, elusiveness, Getting the pics, sightings...What are referred to as golden BBs.

Wolves have returned to Western States where they haven't been seen in 50-75 years, If Im not mistaken almost as far south as Cali now. And just a few years ago, another animal thought be extirpated was spotted and photographed in Arizona. The Jaguar

So why not.
We forever think we know better than nature and she always proves us wrong.

Also in the news yesterday, an animal thought to be extinct turned up in Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/environm...land-australia

[GW11]

So where are the young ones?

[JBen]

Same place their parents are. Far away from humans, and very very elusive.

Their range if I'm not mistaken is around 500km. While that's large for any animal, it's a pin head in Ontario. Then if that wouldn't make it hard enough, they are solitary animals.

I don't know how many there are in Montana, a couple thousand maybe? While they are seen there, it's not every day, and Montana is a fraction of the size Ontario is.

Mnr is spreading it now.
Note the paragraphs at the end.

Endangered (doesn't mean gone)

Some in NW Ontario

http://mnrwatch.com/cougar-carcass-f...-lion-mystery/

[greatwhite]

??? Why would they stick around? Considering the fact that many creatures thought extinct were found to be alive. It was unlikely that the cougar ever was extinct the north of Ontario is a pretty big place.

So where are the young ones?

[GW11]

??? Why would they stick around? Considering the fact that many creatures thought extinct were found to be alive. It was unlikely that the cougar ever was extinct the north of Ontario is a pretty big place.

Sorry... I meant in general, not in this incident specifically.

As far as I'm aware, every recent cougar sighting in Ontario is of a fully grown lone cat. If we have a breeding cougar population, why are there no pictures or sightings of juveniles?

I would like to believe they're "here" as much as the next guy, but until there's more evidence I'll remain skeptical.

Is it more likely that we have a secretive, elusive breeding population of wild animals or just a few escapees or abandoned pets that have been seen on multiple occasions?

I understand that the province is vast, but that makes me think in the opposite direction. If there are a few cougars roaming the Ontario wilderness, it's unlikely that a male and female would ever meet. If a small population did happen to establish itself in some remote corner, surely they would have multiplied and spread out by now. Surely somebody somewhere would have more concrete evidence.

For what it's worth, I'm almost certain that I saw a cougar north of Bobcaygeon around ten years ago. There were a few sightings in the area at that time. I still don't believe that it was part of a breeding population. Shouldn't there be even more sightings there now if that was the case?

I hope that I'm wrong and this incident in the OP turns out to be the real deal.

[JBen]

"Ontario is vast and it's unlikely a pair would meet"

Hence why while I have no trouble believing some are around. I dont think we have a self sustaining population. More likely some transients from Michigan. A dozen, or two, maybe 3 and maybe occasionally a pair hook up but...

[Fox]

No one is denying the possibility even with pictures. Majority of the time 99% it has been proven that they were escapees from exotic animal farm or people someone having one as a pet and it was either let go or it escaped. They are elusive yes, they are not that common in this neck of the woods.

Sarnia no but I know of a few people in the Ottawa valley who have seen them, these people are not drinkers and do not do drugs either.

I think it is hard to say they are excapees from exotic animal farms, there are not that many exotic animal farms in Ontario.

[Fox]

Sorry... I meant in general, not in this incident specifically.

As far as I'm aware, every recent cougar sighting in Ontario is of a fully grown lone cat. If we have a breeding cougar population, why are there no pictures or sightings of juveniles?

I would like to believe they're "here" as much as the next guy, but until there's more evidence I'll remain skeptical.

Is it more likely that we have a secretive, elusive breeding population of wild animals or just a few escapees or abandoned pets that have been seen on multiple occasions?

I understand that the province is vast, but that makes me think in the opposite direction. If there are a few cougars roaming the Ontario wilderness, it's unlikely that a male and female would ever meet. If a small population did happen to establish itself in some remote corner, surely they would have multiplied and spread out by now. Surely somebody somewhere would have more concrete evidence.

For what it's worth, I'm almost certain that I saw a cougar north of Bobcaygeon around ten years ago. There were a few sightings in the area at that time. I still don't believe that it was part of a breeding population. Shouldn't there be even more sightings there now if that was the case?

I hope that I'm wrong and this incident in the OP turns out to be the real deal.

How often are bear cubs seen? I mean, we have a black bear population in Ontario of what, 100 000? They are spread out from Grey/Bruce east to Ottawa and every part north but yet how often do people actually see bear cubs for the population?

It is rare to find a dead bear in the bush or any animal for that matter, there are lots of things that eat animals once they die yet we do not deny they exist.

I do not doubt that they are around, if they are original strains from Ontario or ones moving back from the west in a similar way to how the coyotes moved over time.

[Oddmott]

I've never seen bear cubs, wolf pups, bobcat kittens or the juveniles of most predators.

The only ones I can remember ever seeing was a litter of fox kits... And that wasn't even "in the wild" as they came out of the marsh across the road from the Ottawa General Hospital.

[yellow dog]

Sarnia no but I know of a few people in the Ottawa valley who have seen them, these people are not drinkers and do not do drugs either.

I think it is hard to say they are excapees from exotic animal farms, there are not that many exotic animal farms in Ontario.

You would be surprised who has exotic animals and exotic animal farms in the Ottawa Valley. I know 2 retired MNR guys from the valley and both say highly unlikely that the valley has any population of wild cougars based on their almost 40 years of experience each.