Cougar in Michigan?

[Horserider]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081006/NEWS06/810060367/1008/news



Uh oh this actually isn't TOO far away... Mkes me a little worried...

[mtnmollie]

gogal cougar attack. Cougar human encounters are up.

When not hunted they are very people aggressive.

[JackieB]

Thanks for sharing this, horserider. I definitely now accept that cougars are in Michigan. I used to be more skeptical. However, the evidence in many cases is very solid, and even the DNR is admitting that they are here.

What we don't know is whether or not they are naturally occuring, or released/escaped exotics. I'm sure that an escaped "pet" would go feral just like the small cats that we see virtually every day in fields.

We have some good evidence that a cougar was sighted only about three miles from where I board Buster. However, I'm not really worried about him. There are lots of whitetails around here too, and it would be extremely dangerous for a cat to attack an animal the size of a horse. I'm sure that a cat would much rather take a deer than a horse even though I don't doubt the veterinarian that the horse in the article was attacked by a cougar.

[starkitten]

I've heard of a few sightings here in Iowa - I have personally never seen one. My friend who lives a bit further south then I do said he came home from vacation once to see one on his porch - yikes

[mtnmollie]

"not they are naturally occuring, or released/escaped ..."

They released wolves in Idaho before they "offically" brought them in.
They have brought in grizzly bears too- but that is not '"offical" either. :D