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1.) DParker - 11/24/2020
No, not that kind. The kind that wear fur, have claws and go about on all fours. Er, maybe I still need to be more specific.
OK, that established...
We've all heard countless stories about reported sightings of mountain lions/cougars/pumas in areas where conventional wisdom says they ain't, with the vast majority of the reports that are ever resolved turning out to be cases of misidentification of bobcats, or even large housecats seen from a distance...in low light...out of the corner of someone's eye...after a few rounds with the other members of the local 'shine-tasting club. Of course, we have our share of that here in North Texas. But in 16 seasons of spending as much time in the woods as I can I've never seen so much as a hint of a sign of one of such a critter. The official position of TPWD is that while there have been some known instances of a big cat wandering into the state from surrounding areas from time-to-time, legitimate sightings of big cats in these parts are about as rare as hen's teeth. Jack-jawing with numerous game wardens about the matter reveals that their experiences are similar to my own. So any time I hear anyone in this part of the state claiming that they saw one (a big cat, not a game warden) I've always regarded the claim with as much skepticism as I could possibly muster.
But that might have to change.
3 days ago there was a local woman who made what I judged to be an at least somewhat credible claim of having a cougar enter her front yard and then climb over the 6' foot wooden fence into her backyard. I based my assessment of her on her clear and detailed description of the animal (which she said she spotted from inside her car as she was approaching her home, which sits on a large lot adjoining a green belt, that is itself connected to a series of other woodsy lands, creeks, etc., several of which afford ingress from some of the surrounding rural areas), as well as the general absence of the usual tell-tale signs of "Hey, internet! Pay attention to me!" nonsense. She also lacked a history (as far as I know) of tall-tale-telling, or just general stupidity. I didn't flat-out believe her, and I was still skeptical, but I didn't just immediately dismiss it out of hand. The fact that her home is only about a block and a half from my own gave the story an additional element of interest for me.
Then yesterday, a local guy who lives on a parcel of about 1.25 acres that also abuts a green belt that runs along the shoreline of the nearby lake shared with the community two "night vision" videos (not true night vision, but the product of the sort of low-light sensitive security cameras in common use these days) taken prior to twilight that morning that very clearly show an animal that could only be a mountain lion (if in fact it is a wild animal native to N. America) walking through a grassy area behind his home toward said green belt. This individual is another one who I assume to be credible, with a good local reputation, a nice home and again...a claim lacking any of the usual red flags. Also, the identifiable features seen in the video (barbed wire fence line, location of surrounding wild stands of trees relative to the house, locations of city lights seen in the distance, etc) track with satellite imagery of his property I viewed via Google Maps.
There have also been numerous reports of missing cats and dogs, but those are easily explainable by the coyotes and bobcats that routinely roam the area.
Both individuals called TWPD and shared readily verifiable details of their exchanges with the urban biologist they were put in contact with, and who is investigating the reports. I'm still clinging to a healthy dose of skepticism...but another part of me says that this has the potential to become very interesting if true, and if the big kitty wasn't just passing through. It'd be a hell of a thing to spend that much time in the woods without ever experiencing something like that (luckily), only to have one prowling around within 2 blocks of my suburban home.
OK, that established...
We've all heard countless stories about reported sightings of mountain lions/cougars/pumas in areas where conventional wisdom says they ain't, with the vast majority of the reports that are ever resolved turning out to be cases of misidentification of bobcats, or even large housecats seen from a distance...in low light...out of the corner of someone's eye...after a few rounds with the other members of the local 'shine-tasting club. Of course, we have our share of that here in North Texas. But in 16 seasons of spending as much time in the woods as I can I've never seen so much as a hint of a sign of one of such a critter. The official position of TPWD is that while there have been some known instances of a big cat wandering into the state from surrounding areas from time-to-time, legitimate sightings of big cats in these parts are about as rare as hen's teeth. Jack-jawing with numerous game wardens about the matter reveals that their experiences are similar to my own. So any time I hear anyone in this part of the state claiming that they saw one (a big cat, not a game warden) I've always regarded the claim with as much skepticism as I could possibly muster.
But that might have to change.
3 days ago there was a local woman who made what I judged to be an at least somewhat credible claim of having a cougar enter her front yard and then climb over the 6' foot wooden fence into her backyard. I based my assessment of her on her clear and detailed description of the animal (which she said she spotted from inside her car as she was approaching her home, which sits on a large lot adjoining a green belt, that is itself connected to a series of other woodsy lands, creeks, etc., several of which afford ingress from some of the surrounding rural areas), as well as the general absence of the usual tell-tale signs of "Hey, internet! Pay attention to me!" nonsense. She also lacked a history (as far as I know) of tall-tale-telling, or just general stupidity. I didn't flat-out believe her, and I was still skeptical, but I didn't just immediately dismiss it out of hand. The fact that her home is only about a block and a half from my own gave the story an additional element of interest for me.
Then yesterday, a local guy who lives on a parcel of about 1.25 acres that also abuts a green belt that runs along the shoreline of the nearby lake shared with the community two "night vision" videos (not true night vision, but the product of the sort of low-light sensitive security cameras in common use these days) taken prior to twilight that morning that very clearly show an animal that could only be a mountain lion (if in fact it is a wild animal native to N. America) walking through a grassy area behind his home toward said green belt. This individual is another one who I assume to be credible, with a good local reputation, a nice home and again...a claim lacking any of the usual red flags. Also, the identifiable features seen in the video (barbed wire fence line, location of surrounding wild stands of trees relative to the house, locations of city lights seen in the distance, etc) track with satellite imagery of his property I viewed via Google Maps.
There have also been numerous reports of missing cats and dogs, but those are easily explainable by the coyotes and bobcats that routinely roam the area.
Both individuals called TWPD and shared readily verifiable details of their exchanges with the urban biologist they were put in contact with, and who is investigating the reports. I'm still clinging to a healthy dose of skepticism...but another part of me says that this has the potential to become very interesting if true, and if the big kitty wasn't just passing through. It'd be a hell of a thing to spend that much time in the woods without ever experiencing something like that (luckily), only to have one prowling around within 2 blocks of my suburban home.
2.) Swamp Fox - 11/25/2020
If any place would have suburban cougars, it would be The Metroplex, Hot 'Lanta, or "Uptown Charlotte" ... :re:
Maybe Chatanooga ...
Maybe Chatanooga ...
3.) DParker - 11/25/2020
Sorry to get your hopes up about a possible Courtney Cox thread.
4.) Swamp Fox - 11/25/2020
LOL ... +3
I don't see why a young male mountain lion out on the prowl wouldn't want to wander through the Dallas area...
When I was his age, I thought I might like to visit Houston ....
I don't see why a young male mountain lion out on the prowl wouldn't want to wander through the Dallas area...
When I was his age, I thought I might like to visit Houston ....
5.) luv2bowhunt - 11/25/2020
We get the exact same kind of reports here. My daughter swears she saw one this year in a field near where I work. I never know what to believe because the logical side of my brain says there should be hard evidence.
Not the vague report about something that looked kind of like a big cat but of course it was getting dark and I didn't have a camera....and it was way back in the brush.....
Not the vague report about something that looked kind of like a big cat but of course it was getting dark and I didn't have a camera....and it was way back in the brush.....
6.) bluecat - 11/25/2020
[QUOTE=DParker;62364]No, not that kind. The kind that wear fur, have claws and go about on all fours. Er, maybe I still need to be more specific. [/QUOTE]
+3
[QUOTE=DParker;62364]
We've all heard countless stories about reported sightings of mountain lions/cougars/pumas in areas where conventional wisdom says they ain't, with the vast majority of the reports that are ever resolved turning out to be cases of misidentification of bobcats, or even large housecats seen from a distance...in low light...out of the corner of someone's eye...after a few rounds with the other members of the local 'shine-tasting club. [/QUOTE]
What about cat-a-mounts? Don't they matter? CLM
+3
[QUOTE=DParker;62364]
We've all heard countless stories about reported sightings of mountain lions/cougars/pumas in areas where conventional wisdom says they ain't, with the vast majority of the reports that are ever resolved turning out to be cases of misidentification of bobcats, or even large housecats seen from a distance...in low light...out of the corner of someone's eye...after a few rounds with the other members of the local 'shine-tasting club. [/QUOTE]
What about cat-a-mounts? Don't they matter? CLM
7.) bluecat - 11/25/2020
I notice that with the new thread title 'Suburban Cougars', business is really picking up.
8.) DParker - 11/25/2020
I need to figure out how to download copies of the videos. The only place I have access to them right now is in a closed FB group, and you can't share stuff from those. I'm going to try to figure that one out today.
9.) bluecat - 11/25/2020
Most cougar sightings go like this.
"Officer, here are the tracks, do you see the claw marks?"
"Have a nice day ma'am."
"Officer, here are the tracks, do you see the claw marks?"
"Have a nice day ma'am."
10.) DParker - 11/27/2020
The guy who retrieved the videos from his property cameras finally decided to post them on YouTube.
11.) Triton Rich - 11/27/2020
[B]There sure isn't much doubt there! Right down to the black tip of a very long tail that no other N American animal has. Of course, the cops killed one in the city of Chicago a few years ago so nothing surprises me any more :-)[/B]
12.) DParker - 11/28/2020
I hadn't heard about the Chicago lion...though I'm more surprised to hear that the cops managed to hit the cat instead of bystanders.
13.) bluecat - 11/30/2020
Wow, those things have to eat quite a bit to keep going.
14.) DParker - 12/01/2020
It's official.
[URL="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/mountain-lion-spotted-in-dallas-county-tpwd-confirms/2492828/?fbclid=IwAR1APHckyA8hjw7WAEk-95yiAXzjXvmN0ksd_MERm2IdjSw1AlHoDd4898Y"]Mountain Lion Spotted in Dallas County: TPWD Confirms[/URL]
[URL="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/mountain-lion-spotted-in-dallas-county-tpwd-confirms/2492828/?fbclid=IwAR1APHckyA8hjw7WAEk-95yiAXzjXvmN0ksd_MERm2IdjSw1AlHoDd4898Y"]Mountain Lion Spotted in Dallas County: TPWD Confirms[/URL]
15.) DParker - 12/05/2020
Damn.
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/05/missing-man-killed-possible-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas/"]Missing Man Killed In Possible Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas[/URL]
This happened about 25 miles WSW from Ft. Worth, which is about an hour and a half from my house.
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/05/missing-man-killed-possible-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas/"]Missing Man Killed In Possible Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas[/URL]
This happened about 25 miles WSW from Ft. Worth, which is about an hour and a half from my house.
16.) DParker - 12/06/2020
But wait...maybe not.
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/06/texas-parks-and-wildlife-says-no-evidence-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas-area-where-man-found-dead/?fbclid=IwAR2vzDw9phHc11RsZKX44weyVS4sn6qTBB_W_nBulDsmi0ocv5VCMa3HiY0"]Texas Parks And Wildlife Says No Evidence Of Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas Area Where Man Was Found Dead[/URL]
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/06/texas-parks-and-wildlife-says-no-evidence-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas-area-where-man-found-dead/?fbclid=IwAR2vzDw9phHc11RsZKX44weyVS4sn6qTBB_W_nBulDsmi0ocv5VCMa3HiY0"]Texas Parks And Wildlife Says No Evidence Of Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas Area Where Man Was Found Dead[/URL]
17.) bluecat - 12/07/2020
[QUOTE=bluecat;62383]Most cougar sightings go like this.
"Officer, here are the tracks, do you see the claw marks?"
"Have a nice day ma'am."[/QUOTE]
Hint, cat's claws are retractable.
"Officer, here are the tracks, do you see the claw marks?"
"Have a nice day ma'am."[/QUOTE]
Hint, cat's claws are retractable.
18.) Swamp Fox - 12/09/2020
[QUOTE=DParker;62413]But wait...maybe not.
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/06/texas-parks-and-wildlife-says-no-evidence-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas-area-where-man-found-dead/?fbclid=IwAR2vzDw9phHc11RsZKX44weyVS4sn6qTBB_W_nBulDsmi0ocv5VCMa3HiY0"]Texas Parks And Wildlife Says No Evidence Of Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas Area Where Man Was Found Dead[/URL][/QUOTE]
LOL:
[QUOTE]
“It appears we have two conflicting reports from two agencies that are experts in their fields,” the sheriff’s office said. “We stand behind the preliminary findings of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office that rule out a suicide and a homicide on the death in question.”
“[B]Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds always airs [[I]sic[/I]] on the side of caution [/B]when it comes to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Hood County and will continue to alert them of any safety issue that may affect them,” the sheriff’s office added.[/QUOTE]
[URL="https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/12/06/texas-parks-and-wildlife-says-no-evidence-mountain-lion-attack-north-texas-area-where-man-found-dead/?fbclid=IwAR2vzDw9phHc11RsZKX44weyVS4sn6qTBB_W_nBulDsmi0ocv5VCMa3HiY0"]Texas Parks And Wildlife Says No Evidence Of Mountain Lion Attack In North Texas Area Where Man Was Found Dead[/URL][/QUOTE]
LOL:
[QUOTE]
“It appears we have two conflicting reports from two agencies that are experts in their fields,” the sheriff’s office said. “We stand behind the preliminary findings of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office that rule out a suicide and a homicide on the death in question.”
“[B]Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds always airs [[I]sic[/I]] on the side of caution [/B]when it comes to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Hood County and will continue to alert them of any safety issue that may affect them,” the sheriff’s office added.[/QUOTE]