The Whitecourt Cougar Incident

cats

Worries about kids and small dogs being attacked by a cougar seem to me to be very good reasons not to have either one.:D :D

All this talk of carrying handguns and harpoons and such for protection from a cat worries me. Anyone who has been married more than twice should have no problem dispatching a cougar using only a mean glare.

Is it an indication that I may be a "bubble off plumb" when I go in the mountains and blow my wee distress call in an attempt to sound like "lunch" for a cougar?:rolleyes:


And lastly, can anyone tell me why in the wide, wide, world of sports, every time a cougar story is brought up someone tellls of a F/G dept somewhere that disavows the very existence of cougars in the area. Are cougars really doing covert ops for F/W depts around North America. Can anyone say for certainty???:confused:


Every year in the west we have cougar/human conflicts. They can be serious/fatal. In areas with open seasons, hunters should make the effort to hunt them. While calling cougar can be successful and exciting, I like it as an option for those of us that can't run all over the hills chasing dogs chasing cougars.:D
 
FYI Redfrog the Whitecourt Fish Cops told the women that there are all kinds of cougars, all around the acreages where they live.

I have not seen one personally yet, but they are spotted regularly enough in this one particular river valley, by guys on the drive to work, that I believe eventually I will see one.

I have considered doing a cat hunt here. Sorry, I forget the dude's first name but he's from Drayton Valley and his last name is Stewart and he is the "cat man" of Alberta. Anybody interested in a cat hunt here in central Alberta should give him a call.
 
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Hey "D" I saw the branch response in your first post. What I was referring to was these cougar threads in general. There always seems to be someone who says that F/W denies the existance of cougar in whatever area they happen to be in. I wonder why F/W would deny their existence???

Certainly was not doubting your word. Cougar are all over much of the western part of the province.
 
A cougar hunt sounds like a great idea to me. Either type.:D Heard about that today at work, would be pretty scary. That story reminds me of the one from Hinton, if I remember right, where a woman was walking the family dog, and a cougar pounced on them. The dog laid a whoppin' on the cougar. It was a Shiba Inu if I recall correctly.
 
I remember a few years ago when I was coaching girls softball, we had a tourament going when the RCMP and Conservation showed up and told us not to let any of the kids near the bush as a cougar had been sighted. After the tourny was over I went back to the park and looked around. I found some tracks about 100 yards in the bush by a creek commonly used as a swimming hole by us locals.
I've only twice seen the rear end of a cougar while out hunting.
 
Redfrog said:
Hey "D" I saw the branch response in your first post. What I was referring to was these cougar threads in general. There always seems to be someone who says that F/W denies the existance of cougar in whatever area they happen to be in. I wonder why F/W would deny their existence???

Certainly was not doubting your word. Cougar are all over much of the western part of the province.
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Here is a quote right out of the Summer edition of Outdoor Canada...Page 22.
"Under the provinces Endangered Species Act, the eastern cougar is listed as a protected species, making it a defacto resident-even though the Ministry of Natural Resources has yet to officially acknowledge its presence!"


Why would the MNR not recognize the cougar in Ontario?
I can only speculate... like the number of sightings skyrocketing at the news... and the MNR not being able to sort out the real sightings from the panic sightings...:rolleyes:
 
I wonder if all of those who promote the "shoot on sight" ideology have any experience whatsoever or have ever even seen a cougar? I ride summer ranges in and around Kananaskis country, hunt and explore back country for pleasure. I have had countless encounters, the latest was when my riding partner's horse damned near stepped on one. We are always armed, but have never felt the need to "shoot on sight" if seen within 100 yards. I certailny support protecting one self and one's pet or children, but to say that they should be shot just because they are within range :(
 
It is the same here in NB. DNR denies that cougars exist, although sightings are too frequent and too credible to deny. If you shot one, how would they prosecute you? Cougars don't exist, right? It is simply easier for DNR to keep their head firmly planted between their knees and ignore this species rather than acknowledge its presence and then have to develop some sort of management plan for it.

The latest cougar pics I saw from NB showed a relatively small cougar (about 80 lbs) pacing back and forth in front of a patio door eyeballing the family pet!

I believe in live and let live, etc. etc, but the only cougar or bear in my backyard near where my two young children play will be very dead, thank you:shotgun: . I will have to work up some special loads to kill those phantom cougars that don't exist...any suggestions out there for killing imaginary animals?:p
 
Last time I saw a cougar in my yard I was lying under my truck with a 5/8" wrench, looked over at the bushes and saw the cat staring at me. Luckily for me he did not attack while I was squirming out the other side. I know they are around my area along with bears, which is why even in the city I have several differance means to ward off animals from my property when my kid is outside playing.
 
I've heard MNR officials admit to the presence of cougars in Ontario. However, they still claim that most or all of them are released/escaped from captivity.
My wife and I saw one ourselves a few years back crossing a back road near our cottage.
 
i have only ever seen cougers a couple of times in my life all of them west of the rockies and all of them involved me being WAY to close for comfort.
they are magnificent animals but they are also good at what they do and that is kill. the few times i have been graced with there company once was while i was sleeping in a lean-to in the foothills of van isle another was me and the wife had backpacked across canada and where walking up the transcanada just outside of salmon arm. i often have felt them watching but those 2 times i know for a fact they where eyeing me and my mrs up for supper. i dotn doubt they have made there way to Ontario and likely further east then that. the only advice i can offer would be to stay alert nd have a viable means of protectiong if you actully do see one
 
i have only ever seen cougers a couple of times in my life all of them west of the rockies and all of them involved me being WAY to close for comfort.
they are magnificent animals but they are also good at what they do and that is kill. the few times i have been graced with there company once was while i was sleeping in a lean-to in the foothills of van isle another was me and the wife had backpacked across canada and where walking up the transcanada just outside of salmon arm. i often have felt them watching but those 2 times i know for a fact they where eyeing me and my mrs up for supper. i dotn doubt they have made there way to Ontario and likely further east then that. the only advice i can offer would be to stay alert nd have a viable means of protectiong if you actully do see one
 
I would sooner find a bear following me anyday than a cougar
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The problem is you wont ever find a cougar when he is hunting you! You might see him when he is curious about you but once he is hunting your done.

I called one in with a fawn bleat call while deer hunting on a coastal bluff, never saw him but there were wet cougar tracks on the rocks behind me! Humbled me big time.
Also walked up a fine sandy trail to a flat plateau rock once it was about as big as a house. On the way back down the trail there were cougar tracks heading down. This rock was flat, flat, flat! Either I am way blinder/stupider (likely) then I'll admit or those cats are near magical in thier stealth.
 
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Either I am way blinder/stupider (likely) then I'll admit or those cats are near magical in thier stealth.
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Not saying your the sharpest hoe in the shed, but they are stealty. ;)
 
Good Dog!

next best thing than a loaded gun.


There are cougars in Ontario. The MNR is aware of them and are even tracking a few in Southern Ontario, this is a second hand report but the source is good.

Cougars are cool and all.....only if they are kept out west.
I do not like being second place on the predator list.
 
2 years ago in Cypress Hills looking for my elk I crossed a set of fresh cougar tracks....:runaway:


Hoofed it back pronto to my partner and suggested strongly that we should scope out another area. Didn't want the hassle of trying to peel a cougar of my back or his.

Bears I have respect for but cougars scare the ####e out of me.




BAD KITTY!

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