Potential Cougar killing lambs

Hey do you have access to one or two trail cams?

After a day or so it would be good to know what you are up against.

Secondly if its really serious get them to call the MNR and get a trapper in there. He could make short work with the right gear.
 
In that area ( I know it well, having hunted it, lived in Owen Sound and presently have a cottage on the bay out past Kemble) I would first guess wild dog(s).
But, there are most definitely cougars in that area. I have a friend who saw one numerous times south east of Owen Sound, towards Chatsworth. Also up near Oxenden, along the Peninsula there have been numerous sightings by credible witnesses, some of which involved a mother with kittens.
 
bearkilr said:
Did they find any of the dead animals dragged away from the kill site and covered? Cougar tend to cover their quarry for a later feast.

The bite marks around the head do sound like cat though. Bears will also cover the carcass and could leave bite marks. My experience with wolves and coyotes has been that they don't generally drag the carcass into cover.

I've heard of sheep farmers in the western US states losing dozens to cougar.
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The animals were obviously dragged away, but they haven't found the carcasses yet. I suggested throwing a carcass into a tree and pointing a game camera at it.

Gatehouse said:
I'd suggest locking up the sheep at night. Cougars LOOVE to eat lambs, it's liek candy to them.

A few large breed dogs may not be able to track or tree the cougar, but they will definitely make a stink when it comes around.
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They actually were already bringing their livestock in at night. This predator was killing them during the day. As I said before, it would even wait until the farmer left the field for supper before killing again. When the farmer came back after supper, more dead lambs.

Dominion Link said:
If your farmer friend's primary goal is to protect his livestock, I would highly recommend that he invest in a couple of Marrema guard dogs. They are VERY effective guardians. They will not leave their post and will aggressively chase/attack any predator. A lot of sheep and goat farmers have them in Ontario, and they can usually be bought for $200-$400 each. I know farmers who use donkeys and llamas for livestock protection, but they seem to have more issues with them than the farmers who use dogs.
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They had one of those dogs once, but it kept biting visitors, so they didn't want to go that route again :)

redbirddog said:
Hey do you have access to one or two trail cams?

After a day or so it would be good to know what you are up against.

Secondly if its really serious get them to call the MNR and get a trapper in there. He could make short work with the right gear.
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Unfortunately no, they don't have access to cameras. However, a couple CGNers have offered help in that department.
 
20 lambs isnt much for coyotes that are feeding there young. Find a coyote den and you will likely find the lambs.


I lived/hunted/trapped in Grey/Bruce Country fro 25 years and never once seen a cougar or tracks thereof.
 
gth said:
20 lambs isnt much for coyotes that are feeding there young. Find a coyote den and you will likely find the lambs.


I lived/hunted/trapped in Grey/Bruce Country fro 25 years and never once seen a cougar or tracks thereof.
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When did you leave? These cogar sightings around here haven't become common until about the last year or so.
 
cancer said:
When did you leave? These cogar sightings around here haven't become common until about the last year or so.
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I still hunt/trap there but just not as much anymore.

One farm I hunt/trap is a sheep farm. He has losses every year from predators. The local coffee club always blames the 'cougar'. We almost always find coyote dens full of lamb bones/hide. The farmers son and his coyote hunting army took 22 coyotes out of that concession last winter.............wouldnt take 22 coyotes very long to eat 20 lambs.

A 20lb lynx in Northern Ontario leaves tracks all over the place but a 100lb cougar in the south never leaves any. It would take me a week or less to capture a coyote (with a way better nose than any cat) in a trap or on camera but no one ever seems to be able to get a pic of a cat.

Tough to swallow for me.
 
Well, there are cougars in ont, the ministry let 40 or so go in the luther marsh becasue hunters arn't doing their jobs. If you do shoot one they have an ear tag that has a ministry number on there, you can call them and they will wonder how you got the number and they will finaly admit everything when you tell them you got the number from the dead cougar you just shot cause it's killing your sheep. But as far as i'm concerned kill away!!!
 
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