Northern Ontario Trail Cam Pic
- Thread starter reconboyz
- Start date
Justin Black
Member
- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
I am no wildlife recognition expert, but that definately appears to be a Cougar. Are they becoming common in Ontario?
Their population is definately on the upswing here in Northern Alberta. They even offer an over the counter tag for November. Unfortunately they will not allow us to use hounds during the general season, so any Cougar tagged will likely be taken by chance.
Their population is definately on the upswing here in Northern Alberta. They even offer an over the counter tag for November. Unfortunately they will not allow us to use hounds during the general season, so any Cougar tagged will likely be taken by chance.
Justin Black
Member
- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
I think we can safely rule out anything canine due to the extreme slenderness of the tail. The tree it is slipping behind looks to be fairly mature suggesting the animal to be of moderate size, too large to be a domestic cat I would think. Of course we can't be 100% sure without a clearer picture, but I think its safe to assume it is a Cougar.
I grew up around the corner from you and we heard tell of a couple of cougar sightings back in the 70/80's. Never any photos or other evidence though. Make a track trap in the area cause they're territorial. Let us know how you make out.
Justin Black
Member
- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
That would explain the lack of black on what I took to be the tail.
Here is the latest cougar sighting in Thunder Bay.
Photo showing supposed cougar actually a fox, says wildlife expert
By Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com
http://tbnewswatch.com/news/230334/...d-cougar-actually-a-fox,-says-wildlife-expert
Submitted photograph
This submitted photograph, which shows what wildlife expert Don Barnes calls a “mangy old fox” has spawned new reports of cougar sightings in the city View larger pictures
This is not a cougar.
That’s what Lakehead University wildlife technologist Don Barnes confirmed after seeing a photograph sent to media Tuesday afternoon. The photograph was said to be of a cougar sighted in the Cumberland area Tuesday afternoon.
“That’s a mangy old fox,” Barnes said Wednesday, his findings confirmed by an MNR official later in the day.
The photo was taken by Murray Munro off Cumberland Street near the Harbourview Funeral Home.
Barnes speculates that people may have thought the pictured animal was a cougar because of its long tail. But because mange, a skin disease caused by mites, causes an animal to rub away its fur, the fox’s usual bushy tail is skinnier than normal. Generally a long tail is the tell-tale sign of a cougar he said.
“The tail is so long on it that’s why they call it a cougar,” he said. “I can see right now why they called it a cougar… it does look like a rope almost but the thing is with a cougar tail it’s very erect it doesn’t fall to the ground like that.”
Then there’s the size of the animal itself. Cougars are up to seven feet long. Barnes encourages people to search the internet for images of a cougar to see what the difference is.
MNR spokeswoman Michelle Novak said cougar sightings are infrequent at best in the province.
"Cougars are extremely rare in Ontario," she said in an email response to questions asked earlier on Wednesday. "Researchers have recently confirmed that there are cougars in Ontario, but the origin of these animals is unknown.
"They might be escaped or released animals, cougars from other areas, remnants of the native cougar population, or a genetic mixture of these possibilities."
Cougar fever has swept people and media in Thunder Bay since police reported sightings of the elusive animal last week. The animal, along with a reported lynx and wounded bear, even have Twitter accounts. So far the mangy fox has been absent from social media.
Photo showing supposed cougar actually a fox, says wildlife expert
By Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com
http://tbnewswatch.com/news/230334/...d-cougar-actually-a-fox,-says-wildlife-expert
Submitted photograph
This submitted photograph, which shows what wildlife expert Don Barnes calls a “mangy old fox” has spawned new reports of cougar sightings in the city View larger pictures
This is not a cougar.
That’s what Lakehead University wildlife technologist Don Barnes confirmed after seeing a photograph sent to media Tuesday afternoon. The photograph was said to be of a cougar sighted in the Cumberland area Tuesday afternoon.
“That’s a mangy old fox,” Barnes said Wednesday, his findings confirmed by an MNR official later in the day.
The photo was taken by Murray Munro off Cumberland Street near the Harbourview Funeral Home.
Barnes speculates that people may have thought the pictured animal was a cougar because of its long tail. But because mange, a skin disease caused by mites, causes an animal to rub away its fur, the fox’s usual bushy tail is skinnier than normal. Generally a long tail is the tell-tale sign of a cougar he said.
“The tail is so long on it that’s why they call it a cougar,” he said. “I can see right now why they called it a cougar… it does look like a rope almost but the thing is with a cougar tail it’s very erect it doesn’t fall to the ground like that.”
Then there’s the size of the animal itself. Cougars are up to seven feet long. Barnes encourages people to search the internet for images of a cougar to see what the difference is.
MNR spokeswoman Michelle Novak said cougar sightings are infrequent at best in the province.
"Cougars are extremely rare in Ontario," she said in an email response to questions asked earlier on Wednesday. "Researchers have recently confirmed that there are cougars in Ontario, but the origin of these animals is unknown.
"They might be escaped or released animals, cougars from other areas, remnants of the native cougar population, or a genetic mixture of these possibilities."
Cougar fever has swept people and media in Thunder Bay since police reported sightings of the elusive animal last week. The animal, along with a reported lynx and wounded bear, even have Twitter accounts. So far the mangy fox has been absent from social media.
My thoughts as well. The pic. was taken at a bear bait. If it's a deer the left leg outstreched seems out of proportion--too long, it looks more like a tail. I also think it would be a strange way for a deer to step over a log, with the right rear leg slightly back, and the left rear leg stretched way out. It's hard to see but, there appears to be a stripe pattern on the inside right rear leg. It's definitly a questionable pic., that's why I shared it with everyone.
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That would be my guess.
Guy's got to be careful he doesn't read too much into what you can see.Grizz
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Strangest looking leg I ever seen. could be a tail...cant be sure of what exactly from that one pic.
