[FEL-L] WI - Cougar Sighting

[Prometheus Horse]

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/breaking_news/268655
   
   
   
    Wild cougar in Rock County?  Bill Novak  —  1/22/2008 1:54 pm 
  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is looking into reports of a wild cougar being spotted northeast of the city of Milton in Rock County.
  The last known wild North American cougar, also called a mountain lion or puma, disappeared from Wisconsin about 100 years ago, even though there have been undocumented reports of cougar sightings since then.
  DNR warden Boyd Richter, warden supervisor Jeremy Plautz and wildlife supervisor Doug Fendry photographed the animal's tracks and were also able to collect blood and urine samples from the area, which will be submitted for genetic analysis to confirm if the animal is a North American cougar.
  "We've been getting reports of cougar observations in northeast Rock County and adjacent Jefferson County over the past couple of months," Fendry said.
  The tracks are "consistent" with that of the cougar, said DNR mammal ecologist Adrian Wydeven.
  DNR staff will be checking roadways, pastures, marshes and wild lands over the next few days looking for signs of the cougar.
  The search will be in the towns of Milton and Lima in Rock County, especially near Storr's Lake and the Lima Marsh wildlife area. The cougar apparently was last seen near the Storr's Lake wildlife area.
  If anyone sees what might be a large cat in northeast Rock County or southern Jefferson County, call Fendry at 608-275-3230.
  "If possible, take digital photos of the animal and the tracks of the animal, and a tape measure to show the size of the track," Fendry said. "Record the time and exact location of the observation."
  The DNR assumes the animal is a wild cougar until shown evidence to the contrary.
  "The department will continue to monitor reports and if the opportunity presents itself, we would then consider capturing or radio collaring the animal, or removing it from the wild if evidence indicates it's of captive origin," Wydeven said.
  Cougars are listed as "protected wild animals" in Wisconsin, which means a permit woudl be required from the DNR before someone could kill the animal.
  Cougars have been documented in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.
  There also have been several instances of captive cougars in Wisconsin escaping into the wild before recapture or disappearance.

  Bill Novak  —  1/22/2008 1:54 pm 

  
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