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11 Law Enforcement Officers and 3 ODFW employees respond, several draw guns on cougar in Bend Or

February 8, 2015/in News, Links

How many people does it take to respond to a mountain lion in a tree? It sounds like one of those old lightbulb jokes, but not in this case… Cougars retreat to trees for safety-hence the use of dogs by ‘sportsmen’ to drive a lion into a tree where they can calmly shoot it. Fair chase? Not according to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, but that’s another story. The lesson here is that a cougar in a tree is trying to get away. Cougars avoid people as much as they possibly can. At just two years old this young male was probably seeking his own territory and it was that journey that inadvertently took him into Bend. Not a comfortable spot for a cougar, and to be fair, not an appropriate one either. It seems the cougar realized this when he sought refuge in the tree. As far as we know this was the only sighting and not a very pleasant experience for the lion at all- unpleasant enough that had ODFW taken him out to public land and released him, the story would have been over. ODFW, despite the notorious difficulties associated with counting mountain lions, claim that there are over 6000 in the state of Oregon. If this is accurate buy valtrex in the uk (which is doubtful) then their very own data shows how little trouble is being caused by all these lions. Pets, livestock and our families, depend on adult humans to make wise decisions regarding safety. No form of conflict prevention can be guaranteed 100%, but much like seat belts in your vehicle, using preventative measures gives you the best odds. If cougars do wander into towns and it is an unpleasant experience with no food reward, they have absolutely no reason to stay. Ordering 11 law enforcement officers to stand beneath the tree incites panic among people, it feeds mythical fears, it is a reaction not a response, it is not based on any form of science about wildlife behavior.

ODFW has a rule that says “We just don’t relocate cougars (found) in town,” she said. “If you see them, there something is wrong.” (Michelle Dennehy, ODFW spokesperson).

This statement is pretty much fanciful and cannot be supported by any peer reviewed published science and as Dr Rick Hopkins concluded

” it was “incomprehensible” that someone would decide the cougar should be killed.

“I get it if you get an animal that really is a risk to humans,” Hopkins said, “but that animal was not a risk to humans.”

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/2858024-151/critics-say-cougar-in-bend-shouldnt-have-been#

 

https://cougarfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CougarFundBlack.png 0 0 Penny https://cougarfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CougarFundBlack.png Penny2015-02-08 16:35:292015-02-08 16:35:2911 Law Enforcement Officers and 3 ODFW employees respond, several draw guns on cougar in Bend Or

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2 weeks ago
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Wow! A high five to Wyoming Game and Fish for helping this young disperser quickly learn where NOT to hang out. The lion, that Mike Boyce our very experienced carnivore biologist, identified from size and behavior was taking cover in a well utilized public park, which is getting more and more use with longer evenings and melting snow. The lion was shooed from his hiding place into an area of wonderful habitat-riparian, cover, and food. We also have to commend the comments in the interview that highlight, not feeding deer, leashing pets when walking in the area, the rarity of attacks, the shyness of lions and their constant presence with no problems, their unpredictable birth and dispersal cycle, and the diversity of their diet, from deer to coyotes to porcupines. Strobe light deterrents were placed in potential future hiding places and Mike found no further evidence that the lion had returned. Thank you for your efforts to keep things WILD! ... See MoreSee Less

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Lion hazed from R Park

jhdaily-wy.newsmemory.com

By Billy ArnoldJACKSON HOLE DAILY A big, wild cat was hiding under a f
1 month ago
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How cool is this? How long did it take you to find the mountain lion in this photo? Another example of animals co-thriving on the landscape. Food is central to survival, reproduction is central to continuation of the strongest of the species. Some eat vegetation, some eat meat, some eat a variety, but ALL are necessary to maintain the perfect structure of the natural world.

How cool is this? How long did it take you to find the mountain lion in this photo? Another example of animals co-thriving on the landscape. Food is central to survival, reproduction is central to continuation of the strongest of the species. Some eat vegetation, some eat meat, some eat a variety, but ALL are necessary to maintain the perfect structure of the natural world.Very Close Encounter...

In 15-years of living year-round in Montana, I had yet to spot a mountain lion. So, to capture images of one the past 2-days was very rewarding. To also spot a large bull elk within 5 feet of the cat was a special wildlife encounter I'll never forget! Strange thing is though, the elk didn't seem too concerned. It stood there for 10-minutes grazing, even occasionally making eye contact with the resting cat, then casually wandered off. Now the lion had just devoured most of a Bighorn sheep it'd killed this week a half-mile away, so it had a full belly, but the bull couldn't know this. Instead, I suspect the elk felt confident he could defend itself with its sharp antlers. The cat probably realized this too. Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range. Nikon D7200, Sigma 600mm, 1.4X teleconverter, tripod.
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Very easy!!

Under five seconds. I'm sure hes smart enough to find a smaller meal, one that won't kill him :p

Josh Ellis

2 seconds to find the cougar

About five seconds, if that!

It took less than 10 seconds to find themountain lion.

I love these posts but here's a real challenge. It's such a rush when you finally see the cat. m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=442895464547722&id=100064818157608&set=a.222353563268581&eav=Afbq65...

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Interesting, we've all seen our dogs chug on grass and waited for the inevitable vomit! Now (in spite of the dramatic music😁)we see a Florida panther doing the same. Dedicated panther biologist, Mark Lotz says "I have found plenty of scats with grass in them. More than what seems typical from just eating off the ground. I've also found vomited grass several times. Why do they eat grass? to aid in digestion, rid themselves of intestinal parasites, gain some nutrients" ... See MoreSee Less

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