Ontario Cougars!

A few years ago the Missus was returning home to Dryden from an afternoon spent with our young grandkids at Blue Lake (just north of Vermillion Bay) . Halfway home she slowed down to pass a fairly large cat-like animal walking on the opposite shoulder of the highway . She got a good look at the animal because it was heading in the same direction as she was .
Later on that evening she asked me what had a longer tail 'a Bob cat or a Lynx'? I showed her a couple of pictures of each on the internet and she said "Nope , it had a much longer tail ". When I brought up a bunch of pictures of cougars she said that was what she saw ....but of a darker colour and of about the same size as our black Lab .She said the tail was a bit shorter than the body..
My son's neighbors reported to the MNR a predator killed smallish but mature bull (they had borrowed it for breeding some of their heifers ) The Ministry guys said " Yup ,Wolf kill " ...but the biologist told them later that wolves don't claw and bite the back of the neck ....plus the whole back was torn to ribbons ...He said the little bull was killed by a cat ...a big cat...
If the tracks are only three inches by three and a half inches ( I thought bigger)we might have seen cougar tracks before but thought they were Lynx or Bobcat .
Of all the trail cam pictures that we have taken over the last 6 or so years with multiple cameras in different locations we have a few of bears, a couple of dogs or cats, a few Martin, one Fisher, one Racoon(multiple times... that bugger loved raking out our corn) and one of a Wolf (we have LOTS of wolves around here) .
A few winters ago a Wolverine was struck and killed on the highway between Ear Falls and Vermillion Bay by a Chip haul truck. The Ministry came to the shop and confiscated it . I've never seen one of those either....but they are obviously around .
 
bearkilr said:
Well, for starters, they won't let you keep it, so some trappers may not dash to the phone to report the catch. There's been a couple trapped in MB, with the latest one being a big male caught in a coyote snare in SW Manitoba last year, Turtle Mountains.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/scientists-excited-by-rare-cougar-discovery-113752669.html


Is there any particular reason you figure they can't be in Ontario? The deer population is probably higher than ever in NW Ontario. We have them in the Whiteshell, that's just across the border. Cougar have been known to the MNR in Kenora for years,lots of info on the internet. When provincial game officials affirm the fact, there's usually some truth to it.
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Your link proves my point, they are being caught in MB by trappers and are being reported. The Ontario trappers I know would report an accidental catch of one if it happened, they have no reason not to.

I am not a firm non-believer, I just haven't seen any proof that they are here.
 
the keepa said:
A few winters ago a Wolverine was struck and killed on the highway between Ear Falls and Vermillion Bay by a Chip haul truck. The Ministry came to the shop and confiscated it . I've never seen one of those either....but they are obviously around .
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There are quite a few wolverines around. MNR has trapped and radio collared a few up near Red Lake for years now.
 
There were two cougars in the Shedden/Indian reserve area when I was in grade 7-8...soooo 1998 give or take a year.

They were spotted on multiple occasions.



And a lynx drinking some tasty chlorinated pool water in my buddy's backyard in Lynhurst, just outside St. Thomas. Google Lynhurst, its extremely close to the city and the cat would have had to walk a decent way into the neighbourhood to get to his backyard.
 
Ardent said:
See what I mean Brad when I say fifty guys here are claiming sightings? ;)

There are more Cougar sightings in Ontario, than in Cougar country!
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Yes... yes I do....lol.... in fact someone started a "what's best for cougar defence?" thread... I suggested a camera....

After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure....
 
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Wow. I shouldnt take it personally, it is the internet.
But the sightings i had were two....over the last 22 years of trapping. And as a point of reference.....neither were on my line but rather going to it. And most of my sets are species specific. So catching a cougar in a set would be unlikely. The MNR has finally admitted they are here. I am familiar with all the species...and def did not confuse it with anything else in the middle of th
e day in a wide open area. Believe what you want.....just maybe be a little less vocal in blanketing everyone with your doubts.
Best,
cheapsk8.
 
cheapsk8 said:
Wow. I shouldnt take it personally, it is the internet.
But the sightings i had were two....over the last 22 years of trapping. And as a point of reference.....neither were on my line but rather going to it. And most of my sets are species specific. So catching a cougar in a set would be unlikely. The MNR has finally admitted they are here. I am familiar with all the species...and def did not confuse it with anything else in the middle of th
e day in a wide open area. Believe what you want.....just maybe be a little less vocal in blanketing everyone with your doubts.
Best,
cheapsk8.
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I am sure they exist.... I am sure some have seen them.... but I have to agree with Ardent that it is unlikely that everyone who says tehy have seen one in Ontario has actually seen one....
 
I think the conventional wisdom is that they are coming out of the states and getting pushed into Canada looking for new unclaimed territories
 
Some people like feeling special and get whipped into a frenzy. Oddly enough, I think the goof that faked that shot actually believes there are Cougars at his place (when there almost certainly aren't) and was so desperate to back up his story he lied and forged a photo. Wild Cougars just plain won't let you that close, and that's why I thought it could be a captive Cougar.

I won't jump on the bandwagon until the trail cam pics come out and they capture and collar one. Cougars are caught on trail cams in the west (even just search this site for 'gorky' and 'cougar' if I remember correctly, a Calgary guy on here got one on his), even in traps, but not in Ontario for some reason. To repeat again, I do believe there may be a few isolated animals, perhaps even an extremely small population, but all the sightings are nearly certainly bogus. There's an old guy with a quarter section next to our land in the Rockies that has been there a long time, and he has never seen a Cougar closer than across a valley except on a trail cam. We even have a season for them, tags, and outfitters hunting the area so there's a very viable population. If they are in Ontario in any numbers, we'd have real photos by now. And folks need not worry, they won't destroy your deer population or eat your kids, I promise. :p

People will see what they want to see, and believe what they want to believe is the sad truth. Look at the accuracy of witness statements, doesn't mean people are lying, some are of course, many won't be- but it also doesn't mean they are seeing what they thought they were. I'll wait for pictures and the MNR to live trap one. They can do it here with Cougars scared poopless of hunters so they can definitely do it with any that may be in Ontario. Again, are we really to believe the MNR didn't invest $80 in a trail cam to put at their fur capture bait site?? THAT seems ludicrous. I'm not going make any friends in this thread and should probably bow out, god hates cynics... :redface:
 
Ardent said:
Some people like feeling special and get whipped into a frenzy. Oddly enough, I think the goof that faked that shot actually believes there are Cougars at his place (when there almost certainly aren't) and was so desperate to back up his story he lied and forged a photo. Wild Cougars just plain won't let you that close, and that's why I thought it could be a captive Cougar.

I won't jump on the bandwagon until the trail cam pics come out and they capture and collar one. Cougars are caught on trail cams in the west (even just search this site for 'gorky' and 'cougar' if I remember correctly, a Calgary guy on here got one on his), even in traps, but not in Ontario for some reason. To repeat again, I do believe there may be a few isolated animals, perhaps even an extremely small population, but all the sightings are nearly certainly bogus. There's an old guy with a quarter section next to our land in the Rockies that has been there a long time, and he has never seen a Cougar closer than across a valley except on a trail cam. We even have a season for them, tags, and outfitters hunting the area so there's a very viable population. If they are in Ontario in any numbers, we'd have real photos by now. And folks need not worry, they won't destroy your deer population or eat your kids, I promise. :p

People will see what they want to see, and believe what they want to believe is the sad truth. Look at the accuracy of witness statements, doesn't mean people are lying, some are of course, many won't be- but it also doesn't mean they are seeing what they thought they were. I'll wait for pictures and the MNR to live trap one. They can do it here with Cougars scared poopless of hunters so they can definitely do it with any that may be in Ontario. Again, are we really to believe the MNR didn't invest $80 in a trail cam to put at their fur capture bait site?? THAT seems ludicrous. I'm not going make any friends in this thread and should probably bow out, god hates cynics... :redface:
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As a taxpaywer in this province I take great exception to this one statement of yours Ardent.....

The MNR is a government run bureaucracy and as such an 80 dollar trail cam would cost the province approximately $500.00 .... that is all....
 
Ardent said:
Some people like feeling special and get whipped into a frenzy. Oddly enough, I think the goof that faked that shot actually believes there are Cougars at his place (when there almost certainly aren't) and was so desperate to back up his story he lied and forged a photo. Wild Cougars just plain won't let you that close, and that's why I thought it could be a captive Cougar.

I won't jump on the bandwagon until the trail cam pics come out and they capture and collar one. Cougars are caught on trail cams in the west (even just search this site for 'gorky' and 'cougar' if I remember correctly, a Calgary guy on here got one on his), even in traps, but not in Ontario for some reason. To repeat again, I do believe there may be a few isolated animals, perhaps even an extremely small population, but all the sightings are nearly certainly bogus. There's an old guy with a quarter section next to our land in the Rockies that has been there a long time, and he has never seen a Cougar closer than across a valley except on a trail cam. We even have a season for them, tags, and outfitters hunting the area so there's a very viable population. If they are in Ontario in any numbers, we'd have real photos by now. And folks need not worry, they won't destroy your deer population or eat your kids, I promise. :p

People will see what they want to see, and believe what they want to believe is the sad truth. Look at the accuracy of witness statements, doesn't mean people are lying, some are of course, many won't be- but it also doesn't mean they are seeing what they thought they were. I'll wait for pictures and the MNR to live trap one. They can do it here with Cougars scared poopless of hunters so they can definitely do it with any that may be in Ontario. Again, are we really to believe the MNR didn't invest $80 in a trail cam to put at their fur capture bait site?? THAT seems ludicrous. I'm not going make any friends in this thread and should probably bow out, god hates cynics... :redface:
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If I send you a picture as proof we have them in Manitoba, will you send me an AB cat license in return? :D
 
Superbrad said:
Hahahaha.... thanks.... what type of idiot would bother with a hoax like this?.... it's not like there is a reward or ransom....
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Some will go to great lengths to fool people....

I know a guy who didn't want his neighbor building next to him so he notified the MNR that there was endangered birds living on the proberty...Even provided pictures of the Loggerhead Shrike that his cousin took at another location....Building permit was denied....
 
The MNR is a government run bureaucracy and as such an 80 dollar trail cam would cost the province approximately $500.00 .... that is all....[/QUOTE]

Haha love it
 
captonion said:
Some will go to great lengths to fool people....

I know a guy who didn't want his neighbor building next to him so he notified the MNR that there was endangered birds living on the proberty...Even provided pictures of the Loggerhead Shrike that his cousin took at another location....Building permit was denied....
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So true... The wife works in permits... We are along the st. Lawrence... You wouldn't believe the lengths folks will go through to prevent their view of the river getting blocked... Crazy
 
Ardent said:
See what I mean Brad when I say fifty guys here are claiming sightings? ;)

There are more Cougar sightings in Ontario, than in Cougar country!
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Just so I get this straight.

& feel free to correct the numbers as I don't have, nor care to spend the time to get them but it goes like this.

80-90,000 members on Gunnutz, of which 30-40,000 are in Ont!
30-40,000 Ont gunnutz (who do tend to spend more time in the outdoors than non-gunnutz) & of which how many claim to have seen a cougar in the 1-50 yrs of outdoor activities?
Your saying 50 :cool:
I saw nowhere near that number, but lets say 10-15 in this forum.
Can you calculate how many hrs it took per sighting?
35,000 people in 1-50yrs of outdoor activities for 10-15 sightings reported.

Yep Ont must be overrun with Cougars from all those sightings :rolleyes:
 
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