This should stop all cougar arguments

[400bigbear]

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

Here we go . The lame comments will start . Well done .

TD

[impact]

This map clearly shows the range of the cougar albeit in a severely reduced population. Not surprising that there may be one or two wild ones around the area, just not in a large quantity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar

[Fenelon]

Prob. an escapee from the Muskoka Wildlife Center, a stone's throw from Mary lake Rd., on Hwy 11. They have/had cougars there. Anyone know if it's still open?

[Splaker]

Here we go . The lame comments will start . Well done .

TD

I was just having a bit of fun

I do think there are cougar populations in Ontario. But who knows if it's a viable breeding pop. I somehow doubt it. I think someone else pointed out the lengths they will go to travel outside their ranges.. even thousands of KM from what I've heard.. maybe this is what we're getting.."strays" ?

Does anyone remember the story out of Sunnydale? It's west of Barrie. Two hikers claimed they were "stalked" by more than one cougar - a mother and cubs, apparently. They heard a very high pitched sound (which is what cubs make) and saw eyes and flashes of their bodies in the underbrush... it happened in a county forest in 2012

[JBen]

Yeah, agree Splaker.

To me, anyways that might be the key point. Their range, which has been reported to be up to 1,000km.
Says to me, its highly likely we will get transients who come.......and go....

And some few that may decide our wilderness which offers everything a cougar may want...not the least of which is a very easy ability to remain unseen away from man, thanks to the remoteness and deep bush...a place to hang a hat and call home.

[Splaker]

Odd that Florida still has a breeding population of them and we don't? How does a state that is heavily developed, both agriculture and urban, hold on to a cougar pop??

This map clearly shows the range of the cougar albeit in a severely reduced population. Not surprising that there may be one or two wild ones around the area, just not in a large quantity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar

[400bigbear]

No worries Splaker . I just get a bit crusty since often or most cougar threads disintigrate into BS although this one and another seem to be holding their own for a change . Personally I believe they exist here and always have and never were extinct . It also makes sense they would migrate north from the states and also from western Canada . It wasn't that long ago deer were not seen around Dryden , Kenora,Thunderbay areas either but now there is . These are also areas that are getting cougar sightings . Old lads around used to speak of one being shot on the outskirts of Katrine by a fella by the name of Horace Benn in the 60's . All in the area went to see it . Nobody is going to tell me that was a release . Everybody was too busy looking after their homesteads then and #11 was just a bit better than a goat path circling around Little Doe Lake . No Zoo .

TD

[Splaker]

No worries Splaker . I just get a bit crusty since often or most cougar threads disintigrate into BS although this one and another seem to be holding their own for a change . Personally I believe they exist here and always have and never were extinct . It also makes sense they would migrate north from the states and also from western Canada . It wasn't that long ago deer were not seen around Dryden , Kenora,Thunderbay areas either but now there is . These are also areas that are getting cougar sightings . Old lads around used to speak of one being shot on the outskirts of Katrine by a fella by the name of Horace Benn in the 60's . All in the area went to see it . Nobody is going to tell me that was a release . Everybody was too busy looking after their homesteads then and #11 was just a bit better than a goat path circling around Little Doe Lake . No Zoo .

TD

Wow, interesting story... any way of confirming that? We are much better at tracking and recording events these days what with all the cameras, internet, etc... one day one will be caught on a cam, I'm sure... still, some will think it's an escapee, an it may very well be... I suppose we need to finding a breeder.. momma a cubs

[JBen]

Well consider this. In just the past 10 years.
Cormorants are coming back with a vengeance.
Osprey and Eagles.<<As a kid I don't ever recall seeing any
Bears
Wolves
Yotes

Just about 4 years ago, a jaguar was spotted and tracked outside Pheonix...Where once people thought they were gone forever.

And yet, for inexplicable reason many think wild Cougars here are an impossibility.

[400bigbear]

Wow, interesting story... any way of confirming that? We are much better at tracking and recording events these days what with all the cameras, internet, etc... one day one will be caught on a cam, I'm sure... still, some will think it's an escapee, an it may very well be... I suppose we need to finding a breeder.. momma a cubs

I can't get a confirmation likely because all are dead now but I sure remember the talk about it even by Horace himself . All from Katrine , Orange valley etc viewed it . Would not be a lie . I'll ask Vic Northcote . He might remember still .

TD