Speaking of hikes in the park and cougars

pat · Jul 4, 2005

After my last post about doing a mini-hike in Federation Park, SE of Enumclaw and hearing what we are now sure was a cougar, there was discussion re captive cougars in the Enumclaw area...with dh and I not sure the sound would have travelled to where we were hiking - given all the hills, trees etc.

Anyway..to my great interest, we went to another, "new to us" park, closer to Enumclaw this time, and at the beginning of a 1.4 mile trail around a small lake, was this posted note: Warning! Cougars sighted here recently" and instructions on how to behave if coming face to face with one.

Let me tell you, I heard every crunch of leaf, rattle of wind etc! We still had a great walk...and the most exciting things we spotted were a Piliated Woodpecker going at the top of a broken, dead tree, and a turtle sunning itself on a log

I don't feel so silly anymore re my first "we heard a cougar" posting, and now I am more sure than ever, we did on that day.

katl8e · Jul 4, 2005

ALL trails around Tucson are posted with mountain lion warnings. Last summer, Sabino Canyon was closed, for several weeks, after several hikers were approached by the big cats. One cat was trapped and taken to a sanctuary and one had to be shot.

Mountian lions are also showing up in people's yards and on school grounds.

rosehawke · Jul 4, 2005

Chuff! I'd be like

if I saw such a sign.

Aren't pileated's awesome? Although ... we went to visit my brother in west Alabama a couple of months ago and we think...we think, we may have seen an ivory bill! Couldn't be sure of course, just a glimpse, but the environment in his area is almost identical to where the ivory-bill has been re-discovered (pine bottoms with swampy areas,) and really not that far away "as the crow flies." We saw this thing in flight, and I'm pretty sure it had the white trailing edges to the wings which is supposed to be one of the ID markers. Huge black and white bird, a sort of a "What the h*ll was that?" kind of moment.

Cindy

pat · Jul 4, 2005

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

we think...we think, we may have seen an ivory bill! Couldn't be sure of course, just a glimpse, but the environment in his area is almost identical to where the ivory-bill has been re-discovered (pine bottoms with swampy areas,) and really not that far away "as the crow flies." We saw this thing in flight, and I'm pretty sure it had the white trailing edges to the wings which is supposed to be one of the ID markers. Huge black and white bird, a sort of a "What the h*ll was that?" kind of moment.

Cindy

That sounds cool! I was thrilled last year when we had two pileated's land in our backyard and check out our fir trees. I tried to get them on video, but didn't get the best quality photo...very unusual cry, kind of lanky looking compared to the flicker's we get so often.

momofmany · Jul 4, 2005

I'm certain that a cougar lives around here. They have been spotted in the area, and last fall we found a deer carcass in the back woods that had been disembowled and licked clean. Coyotes and dogs don't do that and it was too big to have been taken down by a bobcat.

I'd love to see pileateds here, but only have the flickers and other more common woodpeckers. Saw a red-headed woodpecker the first year we moved here and haven't seen him since. The indigo buntings have returned now that the trees have grown up around the house and we are considered woods-edge again.

pat · Jul 4, 2005

Ooh, I would love to see Indigo Buntings

mybabies · Jul 4, 2005

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

After my last post about doing a mini-hike in Federation Park, SE of Enumclaw and hearing what we are now sure was a cougar, there was discussion re captive cougars in the Enumclaw area...with dh and I not sure the sound would have travelled to where we were hiking - given all the hills, trees etc.

Anyway..to my great interest, we went to another, "new to us" park, closer to Enumclaw this time, and at the beginning of a 1.4 mile trail around a small lake, was this posted note: Warning! Cougars sighted here recently" and instructions on how to behave if coming face to face with one.

Let me tell you, I heard every crunch of leaf, rattle of wind etc! We still had a great walk...and the most exciting things we spotted were a Piliated Woodpecker going at the top of a broken, dead tree, and a turtle sunning itself on a log

I don't feel so silly anymore re my first "we heard a cougar" posting, and now I am more sure than ever, we did on that day.

It is sooooo sad! People are moving in on the cat's territory and there is no longer any room for them. There is no prey for them so they now go after dogs cats etc. and some now are going after man.

It is just like with the wild horses. THere is no more room for them either so they too are being killed.

They don't just trap and release these cats, they kill them!

scamperfarms · Jul 4, 2005

I dislike cougars greatly. I have had a run in with several in my times of Endurance riding...and none of them were fun. Bless the fact that I have a wonderfull horse. BLESS HER BLESS HER! She has protected me on several occassions....and this was not in metro areas..this was in the Middle of nowhere trail ride heaven......one was the Jesse James ride.....600mile ride...two cougars. *shudder*

pat · Jul 4, 2005

Originally Posted by MyBabies

It is sooooo sad! People are moving in on the cat's territory and there is no longer any room for them. There is no prey for them so they now go after dogs cats etc. and some now are going after man.

It is just like with the wild horses. THere is no more room for them either so they too are being killed.

They don't just trap and release these cats, they kill them!

This state is not really that populated though..less than 7 million I believe in the entire state. The first park I spoke of, is extremely isolated, surrounded by many, many acres of timberland. This more recent park is still a bit out there - it is not one of those parks in the middle of a city or suburb, but rather an area preserved out in the country, for public use.

cougar · Jul 4, 2005

Oh you're lucky! I'd love to be close to a wild one

We're supposed to have them around here, but I've yet to see/hear anything close to one.

sashacat421 · Jul 4, 2005

Pat, that's really interesting to hear, thanks for sharing, considering we take Sandy in and around this same area. We were up at Mud Mountain about a month ago, but it was pouring rain - didn't hear a thing.

arlyn · Jul 4, 2005

Washington can boast a healthy elk and white tail population, the cougars have enough prey in that area.
Wasn't so 10 years ago though.

Wild horses and donkeys are overpopulating at least here and in Wyoming, USDA does roundups and culling via public auction twice a year.

ginger's mum · Jul 4, 2005

Why I love New Zealand, the biggest cat about is the neighbours tomcat.
Although here in Japan there was a few cases last autumn of bears coming down into the villages...

wellingtoncats · Jul 8, 2005

Originally Posted by Ginger's Mum

Why I love New Zealand, the biggest cat about is the neighbours tomcat.

Speaking of hikes in the park and cougars

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katl8e

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pat

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