Second Confirmed Cougar Sighting

Generally only in surprise encounters. They could potentially attack small children but we're all pretty big. Family has been advised if they have a surprise encounter to face the cat and try to look big. Making run for it would be a mistake. That's what their prey does. The chances of an encounter are pretty slim.

@koopharper yikes. good luck

@bunnybon7 We've managed to live in harmony with the wildlife so far. Just can't stupid about it.

@koopharper I have no idea what kind of snakes I have encountered. When i was 9 years old we moved to a house my parents bought. It has this old warehouse next to it that my father had destroyed and there were a lot of snakes in there. There was an instance I went down the stairs and there was this snake (looked like a teenage snake lol), with his head up at me wanting to strike. That scared the wits out of me and I jumped over it. Fortunately he wasn't that long enough and wasn't able to bite me.

@toniganzon That might be really scary if they weren't as harmless as the ones we have,.

We have plenty of those too. Counted five of them when I transferred a small pile of firewood. Only harmless Smooth Greensnakes and Garter Snakes.

I can’t help but feel sorry for wildlife, especially predators, we’ve destroyed so much of their habitat and it doesn’t look like there’s ever goin to be an end to it @koopharper

@rebelann I debate whether it is fair to the cougars to reintroduce them to this part of the country. It's only a matter of time before they become hunted once again and crowded out of what habitat there is here for them. Our deer population is declining and that is their primary prey. They have to compete with coy-wolves which are an adaptation to civilization. They are more "successful" than coyotes or timber wolves. Timber wolves at this point are already losing badly in this competition. I'm not sure how the cougars really are doing. They are so secretive that it is hard to know exactly what is going on with their populations.

We live rather far off the beaten path. Our neck of the woods is scattered farms and wilderness.

We have a pack of what they call coy-wolves. They're a cross between the two. They're about the size of coyotes but they live in a pack like wolves. We also have black bear and moose which can be dangerous.

@Carmelanirel2 The plural of moose is moose. We jokingly call them meese. They can be extremely dangerous. The antlers aren't the main concern either. They can snap a seven inch thick tree trunk with a kick. Those hooves are sharp and will go right through a person. Hitting one with a car is scary. The legs break and that half ton body will take the roof right off your car along with probably your head.

@koopharper I have heard that moose (don't know the plural of this word) ) are very dangerous.

It is a concern. I'm not going to get too worked up over it. They likely have been in the area for quite some time. I'm just glad we haven't had any surprise encounters. At this point though we just reviewed with the kids how to handle themselves and restricted my youngest for going off by himself very far.

@JudyEv A dog would be a nice addition.

@koopharper Good idea to take what precautions you can.

The saw the car.

@Hannihar They tend to shy away from any and all contact with humans to the point that it is hard for the government to prove they are here. I'm surprised she saw them anywhere close.

@koopharper So when they saw the car did they come closer to see inside?

@koopharper A lot of people will "see" things that are being talked about. Having plaster casts is better proof. When they cry out, it sounds like a woman screaming in the worst sort of way.

@peavey That would be unnerving.

Haven't heard them yet but I'm sure in time we will. We're kind of hoping to find a footprint in the mud. We can make a plaster cast of it and bring it to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute. Apparently the government is looking for confirmation of their existence here beyond just sightings.

I think we're only getting started with sightings like this.

@koopharper Most of them seem to be that way, but there is always that one grumpy one. Please be careful. What always scares me, if they come into contact of a rabid one.

@crossbones27 Yeah, that isn't a pleasant thought. We always try to conduct ourselves out here with some intelligence.

We have coy-wolves here. About the size of a coyote but hang out in packs like wolves. I'm not frightened by them at all. Black bears don't really frighten me a great deal either. I talked loud to get the kids attention (it was down the road and I wanted them to come have a look) and that bear just took off.

They are unlikely to attack humans but may under some circumstances. We will take appropriate precautions.

@shshiju Tiger is bigger and stronger. Cougars can do some incredible things though. They can jump down from sixty feet without getting hurt. Dig a Tiger trap and a Cougar can jump right out of that no problem.

Tiger is very dangerous. Puma is less one than tiger.

Considering how far off the beaten path we live it is an issue of some concern.

We'll see how quickly we can find an appropriate dog.

@fishtiger58 Thank you.

@koopharper Much good luck

Probably react like I do. Excited if it wasn't a direct confrontation situation.

@koopharper Very true.

As long as we don't leave the dog tied outside at night, it should be safe.

Chances of an encounter are slim but we will take precautions anyway.

It is especially since that confirms that we live in their territory.

That's kind of how I would like it to be as well. I would like to see one though but either from the safety of my car or from a safe distance.

They need to be treated with caution, respect and intelligence. Unfortunately not all humans are going to do any of the above.

Not usually. The wildlife people would tend to take wild animals to our area rather than take them away from here.