Mountain Lion killed in CT was domestic

[B the Hiker]

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2011/06/12/news/doc4df45d03b3d6e431526596.txt

Alas, no known wild mountain lions residing in Connecticut. The one just hit and killed on the highway is believed to have a domestic one that either escaped or was released.


Brian

 

[grouseking]

Sad to hear.

But, also....


How do you domesticate a mountain lion? I'm picturing it shaking its paw like a dog for a treat, and then ripping your face off for speaking too loud.

 

[Chip]

The one just hit and killed on the highway is believed to have a domestic one that either escaped or was released.

Brian

I'm not really sure it matters. A big cat is a big cat. Regardless: The initial claim is ALWAYS that it was a released pet. I suppose they'll need to locate kittens in a den before any other conclusion is drawn. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/nyregion/mountain-lion-is-found-in-connecticut.html

 

[una_dogger]

I saw a mountain lion on my property in NE corner of Dutchess County about 6 years ago -- the cat (or a cat) had been spotted many times over the years and was believed to have been introduced and escaped from a nearby Hunting Preserve. This animal, IMHO, was probably live caught as an adult from the wild and brought to the preserve and capable of sustaining itself in the wild _ especially given it landed itself in an area of approximately 2600 acres that the Appalachian Trail Corridor ran through -- a lucky cat that landed itself smack dab in the middle of a large white tailed deer herd with minimal competition from hunters and coyotes.

As much as I would like to believe that there is a native population of Mountain Lions in this area of the NE, its very hard for me to believe that they would be able to survive in such densely populated suburbia without there being many more sightings and confirmed pet/child/adult attacks.

Although at one time I beleived that the DEP/DEC in the NYCT area were experimentally releasing mountain lions as part of a deer population program, I have a hard time convincing myself of that at this point in time -- there has just been too much evidence from other parts of the country (California, Nevada, Colorado) to show that cougars in suburbia are a dangerously bad idea -- bad for cougars, bad for pets, bad for people.

I have to agree this time, with the DEP, that this was a home reared kitten caught up in an exotic pet trade. It would be interesting to know from this article if the animal was declawed. It would also would seem to me that it would be difficult for a person/persons to house/breed/maintain animals of this size in a breeding program for an exotic trade without being caught -- but given the part of the country that this took place in -- my hunch would be that's the case here.

Sad all around. Beautiful healthy animal. I wish People would leave just leave wild things alone!

 

[Chip]

Although at one time I beleived that the DEP/DEC in the NYCT area were experimentally releasing mountain lions as part of a deer population program, I have a hard time convincing myself of that at this point in time -- there has just been too much evidence from other parts of the country (California, Nevada, Colorado) to show that cougars in suburbia are a dangerously bad idea -- bad for cougars, bad for pets, bad for people.

Good article from Catskill Mountaineer that refers to that theory.

As much as I would like to believe that there is a native population of Mountain Lions in this area of the NE, its very hard for me to believe that they would be able to survive in such densely populated suburbia without there being many more sightings and confirmed pet/child/adult attacks.

I respectfully disagree. As is evidenced by the explosion of deer, bear, coyote, turkey and other wild populations around here over the past 40 years, I think the habitat is almost ideal (versus the clear cut for farming, wood and coal "habitat" we had here 100 years ago and the current lack of hunting).

 

[Little Rickie]

It's just as difficult for me to believe mountain lions are not native as it is for me to to believe so many are pets?

 

[B the Hiker]

There is a second one roaming around CT at the moment, according to sightings.

http://www.courant.com/community/greenwich/hc-mountain-lion-sighting-0613-20110612,0,6513194.story



Brian

 

[bikehikeskifish]

I respectfully disagree. As is evidenced by the explosion of deer, bear, coyote, turkey and other wild populations around here over the past 40 years...

Bears? What bears?

June 2010

June 2011, almost grown up (Note: there is no feeder on the pole there, it comes down when the snow is almost gone...)



Tim

p.s. We only see them at last or first light... very hard to take a clear photo of them

 

[Little Rickie]

There is a second one roaming around CT at the moment, according to sightings.

http://www.courant.com/community/greenwich/hc-mountain-lion-sighting-0613-20110612,0,6513194.story



Brian

I hate it when people don't keep their pets on a leash!

 

[DougPaul]

(Note: there is no feeder on the pole there, it comes down when the snow is almost gone...)

They are probably going after the seeds dropped by the birds.

Doug

 

[bikehikeskifish]

They are probably going after the seeds dropped by the birds.

Doug

Doubtful. The chipmunks and squirrels clean up any leftover seeds, of which none have fallen since late February. There is a jeep road right there up the power lines and that is where pretty much all the turkeys, deer, foxes, etc., go. I think most game walk down my neighbor's driveway and up mine (and across the back yard and to the Jeep road), rather than staying in the power lines because there is a steep drop-off to the road on one side and a drainage pond on the other. They take the easier way down and back up.

Tim

 

[pudgy_groundhog]

How do you domesticate a mountain lion? I'm picturing it shaking its paw like a dog for a treat, and then ripping your face off for speaking too loud.

You'd be surprised at what idiots will do. We visited a small animal sanctuary in Red Lodge, MT that was mostly injured or abandoned animals. Each animal had a little sign telling where they had come from and I was surprised at how many were animals people had at home (deer, bobcats, wolves), then gave them up when they couldn't take care of them. Sure, that bobcat is cute as a kitten, but come on, really?!

One deer apparently had lived indoors and ate any kind of food. When he came to the sanctuary he had to adjust to eating deer food (he probably felt punked, lol).

 

[TCD]

Having an exotic pet (especially something dangerous) is a badge of "coolness" for show-offs. Sad commentary. Shelters are full of beautiful, adoptable, domesticated dogs and (almost) domesticated cats. All my pets have come from shelters.

 

[Mike P.]

What does a hedge fund manager spend 100+ million a year on besides the Mets ?

 

[Maddy]

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2011/06/12/news/doc4df45d03b3d6e431526596.txt

Alas, no known wild mountain lions residing in Connecticut. The one just hit and killed on the highway is believed to have a domestic one that either escaped or was released.
Brian

Forgive me if I have posted this previously but I think it is very relevant in showing the part that we play causing injury and death to wildlife. Sometimes it's innocent but too often it is not.

Fortunately there are people ready and willing to pick up the pieces and try to make it right.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/19509098/detail.html