Big Cat in WDM

[CycloneYoda]

The DNR has been using unmarked helicopters for years dropping cougars into Iowa.:wink:

I have family ties to the DNR, as well as friends that are wildlife biologists for the DNR.

Mountain Lion sightings are rare in Iowa, but very possible. These animals can wander for thousands of miles. With that said, it is highly unlikely that an Iowan will ever see one in this state. They are extremely elusive, and know how to avoid human contact.

I have a buddy that lives in University Heights here in Iowa City who swore he saw a cougar in broad daylight in his backyard. I asked him about the tail. He said if was maybe a foot long. I laughed because it was obvious he didn't know what he was talking about. They have 3-4 foot long tails. The Heights Police Chief made it his mission to find and kill it. 5 years later.............

 

[CycloneYoda]

Lake Rathbun area has a ton of bobcats.

 

[CycloneYoda]

Ok, so I come home to my wife freaking out last night. We live just west of Des Moines Golf and Country. She was on her way home from working out and she said she saw a mountain lion cross 88th St by the railroad tracks going towards a water detainment pond. I told her that she probably just saw a big dog, and she flipped out on me saying she knew what she saw. She discribed it as, as big a great dane and its tail was as long as its body.
I called WDM animal control to let them know, and they said that they would look into the matter, but believe it was just a large bobcat or coyote. It was still dark when I got home and left for work this morning, so I haven't had time to go look for tracks, but I will definitely do so after I go home today. Anyone else in the area seen anything peculiar?

This is accurate. I would listen to the woman.

 

[isuno1fan]

Pretty confident she did not see a mountain lion.

 

[everyyard]

The reason 99 of 100 flee is because of their fear of humans and the
possibility of being shot. In other words, they've learned it the HARD
WAY. Mind you, this is -not- a bad thing.

Not that many years ago a couple from our church moved to CO Springs.

Shortly after their move they were out for a walk with their grandson who
was attacked when he ran ahead of them, a very short distance and turned
a corner ahead of them. He was out of their sight for literally only a
moment, but that's all the time it took.

After the authorities found the childs remains, they tracked the cat and found
it had been stalking that trail for some time.

I don't think anyone will dispute mountain lions being magnificent, but
let's not allow them to lose their fear of humans by protecting them to
the point where we can't protect ourselves. That would be just as stupid
as saying let's kill them all period.

Oh, and just in case you think things haven't already gone too far in the
other direction? Our friends were recipients of numerous vicious phone
calls about it afterwards from people that were WAY bent out of shape
about the cat being put down.

In fact, immediately afterwards, the "nature lovers" started a drive to
build a big war chest to support "Save the Wild" (or whatever they
called it)

Folks, I know this is a free country, but imho people acting like that after
a little child is mauled shows just how sick our culture is becoming.

peace.

moo.

The vast majority of cougars have NEVER been shot at yet would still flee human contact as they have no interest in us. They don't view us as prey unless threatened or extremely hungry...much easier to take down rabbits, etc (exception: a lone toddler on a trail lagging behind the group...that is like a rabbit) They don't want to risk injury to themselves with an encounter they can't view as having a definite good outcome for them. They don't hunt bears either...do you think it is because the bears have been shooting at them? Geez, people. How many cougar attacks against people in the state of Iowa again? Yah, they are clearly dangerous here. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. I backpack the mountain west all the time and have never even seen a cougar, and they are fairly common there.

 

[everyyard]

Pretty confident she did not see a mountain lion.

Well, they shot a bear in Sheffield, IA. Pretty sure if there is an occassional bear in Iowa there are a few more cougars out there. Bears aren't near as elusive.

 

[CycloneYoda]

Pretty confident she did not see a mountain lion.

Care to elaborate on why you are so confident that they didn't see what they think they saw? Unless you were in the car.........

 

[Al_4_State]

there are bobcats that show up on local deer cameras all the time in central iowa along the rivers.

Interesting. The DNR caught a bear in the same campground I saw the Bobcat about 10 years back. Wandered in from Northern Wisconsin...

 

[NWIAclone]

Mountain lion sightings in the "Missouri River Basin" have become common in NW Iowa. The hunting season was even expanded this year in neighboring South Dakota. The explosion of the deer population makes for easy pickins' along the Sioux rivers for the lions.

As a matter fact.... we've even had an occasional horny, bull moose wander in from Minnesota through the years.

 

[Cyclone42]

Mountain lions have most definitely been seen in the extreme western parts of Omaha. The Omaha zoo has one that was cought in western Omaha. It is certainly possible that they could move east, across the river.

 

[Steve]

Mountain lion is just another name for cougar.

Mountain lion = cougar = puma. The term mountain lion seems to used more in the rockies, puma in the pacific northwest, and cougar more in general areas.

Some may recall that a mountain lion was spotted a few years ago in Omaha in the 112th & Dodge area. They ended up bringing in someone from the zoo who was able to take it down with a tranquilizer. The theory was that it followed a creek bed for at least 5 miles into a metro area.

 

[bellzisu]

Probably because 95% of the "sightings" they get are from people who can't distinguish a cougar from your average tabby.

My uncle's yellow lab has been called in several times as a mountain lion... He lives out in the country and the dog runs the ditches at night. Funny how many people swear they seen a lion.

 

[Wesley]

Omaha has had three mountain lions in last five years coming in from the West chasing racoons. I saw one crossing the highway. It went about 30 moph across the road and was tip of head to tail as wide as one highway lane. The three were 105-140 pounds.

 

[jaretac]

Mountain lion = cougar = puma. The term mountain lion seems to used more in the rockies, puma in the pacific northwest, and cougar more in general areas.

That's why they are the Washington State Pumas:wink:

Cougar and mountain lion are both used in the pacific NW. Pumas is more associated with the south.

I saw one crossing the highay.

How did you see it, I would think it would blend in.:wink:

 

[kingcy]

Rumor has it someone shot a Mountain lion, had it hanging in his barn and the DNR showed up wanting their mountain lion back.

 

[Wesley]

That's why they are the Washington State Pumas:wink:

Cougar and mountain lion are both used in the pacific NW. Pumas is more associated with the south.



How did you see it, I would think it would blend in.:wink:

I was driving 1000 feet behind another car. It crossed in front of my car at nine at night - it was so big I knew what it was. The tail was straight out and the guy was really moving to the ditch. It was two miles north of gretna on Hiway 31. A car hit it two weeks later.

 

[jaretac]

I was driving 1000 feet behind another car. It crossed in front of my car at nine at night - it was so big I knew what it was. The tail was straight out and the guy was really moving to the ditch. It was two miles north of gretna on Hiway 31. A car hit it two weeks later.

Just giving you a hard time because you spelled it highay

 

[CycloneYoda]

Rumor has it someone shot a Mountain lion, had it hanging in his barn and the DNR showed up wanting their mountain lion back.

This is hilarious. I remember my uncle (DNR guy) talking about this one. His favorite is still the rumor that the DNR has used unmarked helicopters to release mountain lions in the state.

 

[CloneIce]

Probably true, but if 5% actually do see a cougar... that means cougars have moved into the area (albeit very few). The DNR denies this claim... even though they have been found dead (and also killed by humans) in the recent past in Iowa.

Actually your post is incorrect.

The DNR knows and acknowledges their are mountain lions in Iowa, but they always deny the idiotic claim that they were introduced in the state by the DNR.

A friend of mine saw one just outside KC (just outside Lee's Summit).

 

[CycloneYoda]

Actually your post is incorrect.

The DNR knows and acknowledges their are mountain lions in Iowa, but they always deny the idiotic claim that they were introduced in the state by the DNR.

A friend of mine saw one just outside KC (just outside Lee's Summit).

Spot on.