DNR admits Indiana HAS Mountain Lions!

[Indycar]

DNR finally admits to Mountain lion(s) first time since the Civil War era!

http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/53876.htm

Indystar - State officials confirm mountain lion in S. Ind.

Mountain lion spotted in rural Greene County - 13 WTHR

 

[MarkM]

Ah ha I wasn't crazy! 4 years ago I was in southern indiana deer hunting and I told my friend I saw a mountain lion, he told me there aren't any. But I knew what I saw. Thank you for posting this. .

 

[duke]

Bigger pictures here:

http://www.in.gov/dnr/images/co-dnr-lion1.jpg
http://www.in.gov/dnr/images/co-dnr-lion2.jpg

 

[96firephoenix]

bout time.. friend of mine down in Jasper said he saw one hiking....

I've been hearing about them for a while... never seen any in person.

so whats the law here? if they are attacking farm animals/livestock on our property, are we allowed to shoot them?

 

[smoking357]

Great! It's a gorgeous animal.

 

[IndyMonkey]

are we allowed to shoot them?

Not anymore. This changed a few years ago dealing with exotics

 

[ihateiraq]

ive had a couple run-ins with cougars. i think their natural habitat is the bar.

 

[IndyMonkey]

ive had a couple run-ins with cougars. i think their natural habitat is the bar.

Pics

 

[ihateiraq]

Pics

pm me your email address.

 

[dburkhead]

About a year and a half ago I saw pawprints down in Yellowwood that were a full four inches across. Way too big for bobcat (from everything I've seen) but just right for Cougar.

Chance: I can't believe I'm running from a cat!
Shadow: I won't tell if you won't.
Chance: Of course, this isn't your ordinary housecat. This is like Arnold Schwarzen-kitty!

 

[360]

People have been reporting them for the past several years in BTown, but no one ever got photos like that, so it was merely passed up.

 

[dooleydclown]

Thought we had them for years, DNR being a state agency doesn't want to scare tourist away. Seriously, I've had friends at Crane and they said they had seen them down there. From what I understand the cats like to follow the deer population.

 

[POC]

Don't tell my wife, she'll never let our daughter go outside again!!

Also, it DOES appear you can shoot them:

Mountain lions are a protected species in Indiana, but state law allows a resident landowner or tenant to kill a mountain lion while it is causing damage to property owned or leased by the landowner/tenant. If the landowner/tenant wishes to have someone else take the mountain lion, that person is required to secure a permit from the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Now I HAVE to get a bigger pistola to carry...

 

[POC]

Oh, and I'd like for them (DNR) to come clean about releasing rattlesnakes in HNF too.

 

[Boilers]

To be honest, I don't think a law would make me pause if I should happen to cross paths with one of those. I'm sure it's a better hunter of humans than I am a runner from big cats.

 

[Sailor]

I heard they were/are going to release Elk and Bear.

 

[96firephoenix]

I know we're allowed to shoot them in self defence, but I'm a little relieved that we aren't supposed to let them ravage our livestock.

 

[360]

Armadillos are also on their way.

 

[cubby]

last week i overheard some people saying one was hit on a highway not far from me.... not sure of the validity of the statement, but seems there were alot of witnesses.......

i saw one about a decade ago...... just for a minute, but it was most definetely a cougar.

 

[Big Hank]

My mountain lion sighting was December 2009, 20 feet from my hood about 3 miles west of Columbus, IN on State Road 46 I've spent many hours around these animals and I have no doubt in my ability recognize it as a cat other than a Bobcat.

Good do know they've admitted!