Only 27 people TOTAL have been killed by mountain lions in the United States in the last FIFTY YEARS. So, if we have a small population in the Midwest, I doubt that they would be "eating people", let alone attacking or killing anyone. You have a lot more to fear from pet dogs (20-30 deaths in the US per YEAR) and lightning strikes (50 fatalities per YEAR in the US). So, 3750 deaths in the last 50 years from dog bites and lightning versus 27 deaths from cougar attacks.
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Possible Mountain Lion Attack in Owen County
- Thread starter DoggyDaddy
- Start date
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Only 27 people TOTAL have been killed by mountain lions in the United States in the last FIFTY YEARS. So, if we have a small population in the Midwest, I doubt that they would be "eating people", let alone attacking or killing anyone. You have a lot more to fear from pet dogs (20-30 deaths in the US per YEAR) and lightning strikes (50 fatalities per YEAR in the US). So, 3750 deaths in the last 50 years from dog bites and lightning versus 27 deaths from cougar attacks.
littletommy
Grandmaster
I spoke to the park ranger at red rocks park in Nevada a few years back, he was telling me he had been employed at the park for 16 years, and in that time, had never seen the cats that are known to exist in the park. They are there, and documented, but it’s very rare to actually see one. I do not doubt for a second that mountain lions are roaming southern Indiana, and probably several other areas of the state.
Timjoebillybob
Grandmaster
- Feb 27, 2009
- 9,389
- 149
There was a confirmed photo a couple years ago from a hunter in a tree stand. And the DNR caught one on trail cams.
https://www.thenewsdispatch.com/sports/article_92685832-9479-521e-bebf-34ac8db0cf51.html
Both bobcats and rattlesnakes are completely, 100% native to Indiana. There is no clandestine "black helicopter" salting of the national Forest with either species. I've lived near public lands in many states my whole life and keep hearing this nonsense repeated. It just doesn't make a bit of sense.
I live within 3 miles of where the horse got attacked. Seen many bobcats around, but never a cougar. None of my trail cams have picked one up either, but if the vet and DNR say it’s a cougar, I kind of believe it.
Ill probably get more cameras and put up on the farm and hope to catch a picture.
Ill probably get more cameras and put up on the farm and hope to catch a picture.
I live north of the Hoosier National forest. We have choppers fly over all the time usually heat scanning for marijuana. It wasn't clandestine, it wasn't black. I could draw you a picture if you like.
The next day there were three write ins to the local paper about rattlers where none had previously been including one at my neighbors mailbox.
The local DNR officer in an interview with a reporter from the paper said they had done it to keep the number of turkey chicks in check. The next day there was an article where the DNR denied anything like this had ever happened.
Granted, none of this makes any sense. But not making sense does not mean it did not happen.
Bobcats are native, but with DNR tracking collars? How did the DNR become aware of this bobcat? Because the shooter is the one who called the DNR.
I am not contesting that these animals did or do live in Indiana. I am confused as to how the conflicting reports from the DNR would come to be, thus the first sentence of my statement.
Or I could have just said, "I wish the DNR would learn to lie more convincingly..."
Hoosier Carry
Expert
I humbly bow to your sarcasm. The fallacy of thought that prevails in your posts self proclaims your omnipotence. My meager, deluded life experiences would have no value in your wise self centeredness. Please accept my apology.
These few keystrokes are all I will offer someone who insists on inferring I am a liar. You go looking for it. I won't spend a moment to try and educate someone who would obviously blow off anything presented to your disliking.
These few keystrokes are all I will offer someone who insists on inferring I am a liar. You go looking for it. I won't spend a moment to try and educate someone who would obviously blow off anything presented to your disliking.
Hoosier Carry
Expert
What’s wrong with posting up the references? I’d love to learn something here as well.
So a search led me to this:
First I’ve heard of the parachuting snake idea. I would like to see them free-jump some raccoons.
https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-7_Indiana_Wildlife_Myths_Busted.pdf
....
So a search led me to this:
First I’ve heard of the parachuting snake idea. I would like to see them free-jump some raccoons.
https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-7_Indiana_Wildlife_Myths_Busted.pdf
....
Last edited:
Timjoebillybob
Grandmaster
- Feb 27, 2009
- 9,389
- 149
They've been spotted in lower peninsula MI, Kentucky, two have been killed in recent years in IL. One of the ones in IL was DNA traced to wild cougars farther west. That's a lot of released/escapees. There have also been reports of them at Crane navel base. I don't believe we have a large population, and quite possibly not a breeding one even. But...
This you tube expert sounds legit with his theories on the Kentucky Mountain Lion attacks. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJzm4NZxfsg
Lot's of people in here with pretty strong opinions.
If I ever kill one on my property in Owen County, I'll be sure to post it here first. In the meantime, I will continue to carry whenever I am out there. When it gets dark, you just can't see anything but hear everything. Cats don't make noise.
I always think it's funny people assume that if we "really" had cougars, then you'd see them around. Doesn't work that way.
Not only are their population densities always low (compared to, say, prey animals), but they're also nocturnal/crepuscular and generally sneaky (i.e. good at not being seen). They're around.
"The population density of cougars is always fairly low, as is tends to be for all large predators. Cougars are solitary animals and strongly territorial, with home ranges of 30 to 100's of square km. Home ranges of males can be as large as 1000 square kilometres, females' ranges are usually much smaller. Home ranges of both sexes will vary greatly with the availability of prey." [1]
"Habitat fragmentation, degradation, lack of connectivity and cultural intolerance of mountain lions even on prime habitat makes it difficult to use habitat density to extrapolate and calculate populations on a large scale. This means we just don't have good estimates of mountain lion numbers in the United States. Nor do we know precisely what population levels are required in order to maintain genetically healthy subpopulations..." [2]
"The cougar is territorial and survives at low population densities." [3]
[1] - Biology of Cougars (Puma concolor) in Manitoba.
[2] - https://mountainlion.org/us/-us-population.asp
[3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar
Not only are their population densities always low (compared to, say, prey animals), but they're also nocturnal/crepuscular and generally sneaky (i.e. good at not being seen). They're around.
"The population density of cougars is always fairly low, as is tends to be for all large predators. Cougars are solitary animals and strongly territorial, with home ranges of 30 to 100's of square km. Home ranges of males can be as large as 1000 square kilometres, females' ranges are usually much smaller. Home ranges of both sexes will vary greatly with the availability of prey." [1]
"Habitat fragmentation, degradation, lack of connectivity and cultural intolerance of mountain lions even on prime habitat makes it difficult to use habitat density to extrapolate and calculate populations on a large scale. This means we just don't have good estimates of mountain lion numbers in the United States. Nor do we know precisely what population levels are required in order to maintain genetically healthy subpopulations..." [2]
"The cougar is territorial and survives at low population densities." [3]
[1] - Biology of Cougars (Puma concolor) in Manitoba.
[2] - https://mountainlion.org/us/-us-population.asp
[3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar
