A ride on the wild side of life

We have kitty sightings out here quite often close to towns all around me.  Have been hunting in late Oct/early Nov and seen tracks in snow on the roads of bear and kitty very often.

Had one growl at me once....Backed up to truck, with hat about 3 inches taller than normal, trying to figure how to get keys out of pocket without compromising grip on rifle at the ready.  At least it wasn't that interested to push the issue.

Had a bow hunter that one followed him out of camp, and was ground crawling/stalking to him on his ground stand.  Finally had to stick it 20 ft from him.  Went and got a game cop, they backtracked it.  Game guy told him, no problem, you had no choice.

Makes life a little more interesting when you are out there and suddenly realize you aren't at the top of the food chain anymore.

That's awesome.

That tail is a real giveaway.

The last place we lived was way up in the hills. One night we came home late. My daughter was driving and I was in the back seat.

We pulled up the drive and she and my wife, also up front, exclaimed "mountain lion!".

I never saw it, it took off, but they saw it up on the front steps.

Sheriff came out and took a report, pretty common up there as there are a lot of deer and no hunting on the property.

Son in law worked swing, came home one night and had to sit in the rig for 20 minutes until the black bear on the front porch decided to wander off since no one would open the door for it.

As a land surveyor here in the mountains outside and in Dener and Boulder I was always looking for them.  Saw bear and deer on occasion.

GMorrison

That's awesome.

That tail is a real giveaway.

The last place we lived was way up in the hills. One night we came home late. My daughter was driving and I was in the back seat.

We pulled up the drive and she and my wife, also up front, exclaimed "mountain lion!".

I never saw it, it took off, but they saw it up on the front steps.

Sheriff came out and took a report, pretty common up there as there are a lot of deer and no hunting on the property.

 

Thanks everyone for your great stories. I loved reading them. 

The local vet in the small town (Quincy, CA)I grew up in had a hunter bring in a cub, he had shot mom before he knew she had a little one.  Just had it's eyes open. He had shot it right by the den, and heard it when he was collecting mom. Fish and game said since it had been handled couldn't be released by the time it would be old enough.  Gave him a permit for the fool thing.  He de-clawed and yanked the canines out, wife trained it to walk on a leash.

Whenever she would go downtown with it, she had a clear block, people would go to the other side of the street until she was half a block past.  It was the family pet and would just walk right along with her.  When I left in '71 they still had it, and it was 3-4 years old.

Was a shocker the first couple of times you saw it.

goldhammer

The local vet in the small town (Quincy, CA)I grew up in had a hunter bring in a cub, he had shot mom before he knew she had a little one.  Just had it's eyes open. He had shot it right by the den, and heard it when he was collecting mom. Fish and game said since it had been handled couldn't be released by the time it would be old enough.  Gave him a permit for the fool thing.  He de-clawed and yanked the canines out, wife trained it to walk on a leash.

Whenever she would go downtown with it, she had a clear block, people would go to the other side of the street until she was half a block past.  It was the family pet and would just walk right along with her.  When I left in '71 they still had it, and it was 3-4 years old.

Was a shocker the first couple of times you saw it.

 

 

A friend living just outside Monroe, Wa, lived at the start of a several mile county maintained trail. He is an avid walker, started out one day when it was just about at freezing temp, very light snow falling. There were about 1 or 2 inches of snow on the trail, dense trees and brush either side of the trail.

He saw no other people along the way. Even though he was wearing appropriate apparel, he was sweating after a couple of miles and decided to go back home. After reversal of direction he went several yards, then at the end of a curve saw that his weren't the only tracks in the snow, a cougar had been stalking him from an early point on his hike.

At first came shock, then he realized it had been following him for the majority of the hike, then when the cat heard him coming back he leaped off the trail and into the woods. It was out there somewhere, likely close by and maybe watching. Then some panic, he had nothing but a small pocket knife with him so he broke off a stout branch from a tree, sharpened one end and started the trip home.

Kept turning circles repeatedly, even walking backward a lot of the time so he might see it, rather than just get hit by it. He kept shouting, yelling "Cougar, don't walk this way," as a warning to others that may hear him, and hopefully to ward off the cat.

Made it back home with no further sign of the cat, but a brand new awareness of the potential hazard that does exist for humans in the wilderness. And never again woodland hiking without his .357 revolver.

Patrick

patrick206

A friend living just outside Monroe, Wa, lived at the start of a several mile county maintained trail. He is an avid walker, started out one day when it was just about at freezing temp, very light snow falling. There were about 1 or 2 inches of snow on the trail, dense trees and brush either side of the trail.

He saw no other people along the way. Even though he was wearing appropriate apparel, he was sweating after a couple of miles and decided to go back home. After reversal of direction he went several yards, then at the end of a curve saw that his weren't the only tracks in the snow, a cougar had been stalking him from an early point on his hike.

At first came shock, then he realized it had been following him for the majority of the hike, then when the cat heard him coming back he leaped off the trail and into the woods. It was out there somewhere, likely close by and maybe watching. Then some panic, he had nothing but a small pocket knife with him so he broke off a stout branch from a tree, sharpened one end and started the trip home.

Kept turning circles repeatedly, even walking backward a lot of the time so he might see it, rather than just get hit by it. He kept shouting, yelling "Cougar, don't walk this way," as a warning to others that may hear him, and hopefully to ward off the cat.

Made it back home with no further sign of the cat, but a brand new awareness of the potential hazard that does exist for humans in the wilderness. And never again woodland hiking without his .357 revolver.

Patrick

 

They aren't real agressive if they don't feel cornered. They'll avoid you if at all possible.

Making a lot of noise is a good thing, esp. with rattlesnakes and bears around.

Down here we have wild pigs all over, and they are something to fear. Coyotes too but they don't bother me.

Goldhammer, I've got relatives all over western Plumas county. I haven't been up there in quite a while, but I have made a few railfan trips on the old Western Pacific, and to see the Keddie Wye bridge.

Mine are all named Wilson and they are scattered around Quincy, Meadow Valley and Bucks Lake. My aunt still owns a cabin up by Spanish Peak.

I used to work for a company that had annual retreats up at Graeagle. Good golfing up there.

GM - You're right, they are reportedly seclusive for the most part, but my friends encounter is similar to an incident in West central Oregon, where a guys daughter and son in law were hunting on his property. A way into the hunt she happened to glance to the side and back, a huge male cougar was stalking them. They both shot, cougar was dead. I can't recall the weight, but the cat was huge.

I've heard some experienced hunters say it's possible a cat may be stalking out of curiosity or sport, or may be old/injured and can't bring down a healthy and strong animal.

But I also remember well in So. Cal. just a few years ago, at least one person mountain biking on a well used trail, was drug off the bike and hidden at the bottom of the slope. The kill was attributed to a mountain lion. Might have been a woman hiker in the same area that was attacked or killed, can't recall for sure.

So, even though they are not traditionally considered a major threat to humans, major incidents do seldom happen. I live at the outskirts of Springfield, Oregon, open land is just a few houses away. Over the years a mated pair of cougars has been sighted by the police on night patrols, sometimes as close to our home as two doors away.

A 110 ft wide stream flows through our property, I would guess they are finding plenty of good dining here, we have raccoons, possums, nutria, ducks and the like. I keep my eyes open, seldom venture toward the waters edge at night.

Patrick

We get reports of sightings every few months here in Ramona.  The attack you may be referring to was up in Laguna or Julian.  I used to camp regularly up on the north fork of the kern river and a young lady was mauled in parking lot on the johnsdale bridge.  Her boyfriend came back and stabbed it and the forrest service hunted it and put it down. This was a year after some big fires  which can to push wild life towards we humans.  They are beautiful, but read about their vertical and bounding capabilities and you'll get a lot of respect.  They are to be respected and feared for sure!   Absolutely in the food chain.  Ive had my run in with bears up at rock creek and lee vining as well.  

All great stories. Big cats are my favorite animals and would love to see one in the wild. I grew up in a city and for the first 30 years of my life, my idea of large wild animals were the wharf rats we'd see around the Bethlehem Steel Shipyards. When we moved out to the country, I remember seeing my first deer and was like hypnotized by it's beauty. And now, after living out in the country for almost 33 years, I still love watching the critters come and go in the yard. I live in Northern Maryland and the largest predators we have here are coyotes now and then. But between the deer, fox and groundhogs, they keep me amused.

In 1991 a 18 year old boy was killed and partial fed on by a mountain lion here at Idaho Springs, Colorado.  He was killed in town and he fought the animal and no one heard his screams for help.  His was the first known  death by a mountain lion here in Colorado.  They built a bridge over Clear Creek and named it after him in his memory.  He was doing a jog in the town after having a meal at a restaurant with some frends.  They found his body a few days later and shot and killed the cougar.  It happened right in the town on paved streets, in a occupied area.  Recently, they and coyotes, have been killing and eating pet dogs and cats.  Wild life is neat to have around, but there are some risks.  Be alert.  

GM - Mom was the Postmaster in Keddie for several years, ending in late "71. She put in the trailer PO across from the store.

 She bought a stove from the WP in '61 or '62 when they converted the last of the caboose's to oil stoves.  Cone firebox, square top and bottom, grill, everything that opens is lockable, lids with a slight turn.  Still have it in my storage.

The wye bridge is kind of a wonder, fished that section many a time after school waiting for Mom to close up. Would get snakey in the summer though.

I thoroughly enjoy the convenience of not having any real predators in my area. Coyotes are about it, and they're in quite small numbers in my immediate area. 

 I did have a badger come at me, while hunting in Kansas(years ago). That was one NASTY critter!!! I can still hear that growl/snarl...ferosious little ! Had it not been for that one tree right next to me, I'd have some serious wounds and that badger would likely have gotten dead.

Rabid wolverines are the timid cousins of badgers.  Those are a nasty bit of work, glad we don't have them.  Would rather face the cat or bear.

tankboy51

In 1991 a 18 year old boy was killed and partial fed on by a mountain lion here at Idaho Springs, Colorado.  He was killed in town and he fought the animal and no one heard his screams for help.  His was the first known  death by a mountain lion here in Colorado.  They built a bridge over Clear Creek and named it after him in his memory.  He was doing a jog in the town after having a meal at a restaurant with some frends.  They found his body a few days later and shot and killed the cougar.  It happened right in the town on paved streets, in a occupied area.  Recently, they and coyotes, have been killing and eating pet dogs and cats.  Wild life is neat to have around, but there are some risks.  Be alert.  

 

There's a large wooded area next to our home.  I've never seen them, but I've frequently heard the coyotes' howl.  I've developed a habbit of taking a holstered revolver with me to let the dogs out at night.  I doubt the coyotes would attack me, but I'd be heartbroken if one went for one my dogs.    

I'd be worried about shooting at coyotes in the dark with the dog in the mix. Maybe he should have a light on his collar.

I've already warned Steve about Kansas Cougars. All females over 50. We post these warnings around the farm for our annual Wine and Wildflower walk. Danger! 

Max

Hodakamax

I've already warned Steve about Kansas Cougars. All females over 50. We post these warnings around the farm for our annual Wine and Wildflower walk. Danger! 

Max

 

That's comical!!!

My father-in-law claimed to have seen a cougar (real...cat), in one of our hunting areas. This would have been about 20 years ago. It was out near Easton (just outside Leavenworth). I never saw any evidence, but that doesn't mean much. It certainly is possible! I do remember one being on the news back around '02-ish...got hit by a car near KC.

Hodakamax

I've already warned Steve about Kansas Cougars. All females over 50. We post these warnings around the farm for our annual Wine and Wildflower walk. Danger!