This should stop all cougar arguments

[FAMABRAV]

I hunt in wainfleet, niagara. Last year me and my apprentice walked into our spot at 5ish am and from the corner of my eye I spotted what looked like a cougar. It was crouched down hidden behind a fallen tree and all that I could see were these big eyes staring back at us. With My headlamp facing him I slowly walked away and I could see his head adjusting to my position to get a better look. My apprentice deuced in his pants poor guy and he's never wanted to go back since. I went back in the afternoon to find huge cat prints and turkey feathers and carcass right in that same area. I've hunted many times there since and haven't seen anything out of the ordinary no prints neither.........

[kurt tealo]

Personally in any of these topics cougars and past that. I would rather go with what credible people have heard or seen.Or what I have heard or seen.
Or what some research or discussion with field level people brings back.
Then just screaming "can't be"!..from the living room.......
Or just what filtered media says is true.Alarming how often both happen.

No better way to control the mindset of the general population than that.And is neccesary is some cases and topics for sure.What have all the urban people scream if any of these things are said to be true?They are still trying to get over that coyotes exist in Toronto. And yes even come in the city just like snowstorms and natural disasters without the army there to shoot them on sight.
All the farmers wanting payouts for livestock once proven?Political caos?Religious arguments of creation vrs evolution and on and on.
Political suicide admitting anything to the contrary or giving out any money or grants for much research.All the Bigfoot guys are on thier own dime.Or some limited school funding and mocked by thier peers.The odd interested millionaire will pitch in.Like the BFRO crap on "Finding Bigfoot" TV show.I met some guys that actually have been out them that think some of the best stuff is withheld.
World was once flat right guys?......We all know that right guys!!.....Who would think anything but.....
They are still discovering new things every day that they actually tell us about.
And the plan is still working very well.Look how this discussion goes back and forth and we are all hunters.And everyone has good points on both sides and entitled to thier own opinion.
Can you imagine this thread with the general population included or 1000 urban people from Toronto....
I like the "get out of the box" and "keep an open mind" about all possibilities.But I could be wrong for sure.
Sorry to get off topic and ramble.Kind of related in a way though.

[kickingfrog]

We are the only planet of millions with life?Have sent people to the moon but no one else can?Off topic I know.

Life "out there" is more likely then not, but to suggest that we've been visited is altogether a different matter.

[blasted_saber]

No one is saying Ontario has no cougars. What we are arguing is the existence of a wild, self sustaining population. No one has come even close to proving that. We barely have credible reports of adult cougars, we have NO reports at all of kittens.

[MikePal]

No one is saying Ontario has no cougars. What we are arguing is the existence of a wild, self sustaining population.

..and that it's unlikely a true 'wild' one would be found hanging around in a populated area...

[bthunter]

I spoke to a wildlife biologist last year who said that we better hope that the MNR does not confirm that there are cougars in Ontario. He said that they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and under that Act it is unlawful to damage or alter any of their habitat. If the habitat area is the whole Province of Ontario that could place all kinds of restrictions on some or all the land in the Province. Restrictions on logging, building of new roads etc.

[Splaker]

I say we should all round up our guns and hit the woods... lets shoot it up until we get a carcass... it'll be like that seen from Jaws I when all those fishermen head out like madmen to catch the shark eating the folks on the beach. It'll be a blast (no pun intended)

[JBen]

bthunter,
Thats an interesting point. They are on the endangered and that could create a bit of a mess politically.

Some have said there are no Cougars, period. Many said that up until the first escapee was caught. Personally I have no trouble "accepting" the possibility/likelyhood of wild ones. Breeding and self sustaining…Harder to credit. My thinking is that because they are solitary and because they can range very far indeed. As urban sprawl continues, especially to the South and SW (The states, and MI) where they have been found….Like bears are ranging further and further here (for different reasons), they are ranging further away…..and Ontario would look very nice indeed to the odd Cougar that travels into it. A place to stay and call home.

Heres an interesting thought. A handful of years ago, the first "real" proof was acquired. That being scat, presumably tracks if they found scat (and DNA) somewhere around the Niagara region if Im not mistaken.

Im getting old and my memory isn't the steel trap it used to be.
But I don't recall any cat ever being caught.

So they had "proof" (scat and tracks)...and they had an area to zero in on…………………
Escapee? One might think that an escapee thats somewhat domesticated, might hang around, get caught……..And yet

Here today, gone tomorrow, never to be seen or caught

[Splaker]

I once saw Sasquatch at a truck stop taking a leak on a truckers' wheel well... then it farted.

[JBen]

Ahhh, but unlike Sasquatch Splaker.

A) Cougars are very real. At least the last time I checked in with reality they are an actual thing
B) We do have proof they are here..Scat, DNA, tracks.

When you factor in their behaviors (solitary, elusive, avoidance of mankind, huge range)
When you factor in they have been found all around us
When you factor in just how huge Ontario is, and how sparsely populated it is….