Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

I've done tons of research on this over many,many years. Even before European settlement the Indians...... should I say native Americans?..... rarley saw cougar when they were most abundant in this area anyway and I'd assume the same throughout most of their range. There have been quite a few sightings here by homeowners and hunters alike and though some have made regional news most are poo poo'ed.
I saw the tracks and am pretty sure of what I saw and went as far as to drive 45 mins one way the next day to go photograph the tracks.......


lorax.... I'm not speaking to you......but if I was speaking to you I'd say.... Brocket deer?...always wanted to hunt one. The biggie...no Javelina ?.... I felt sure they would be indigenous to your area?

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

I saw one of those Cougars on Fort Campbell, Ky. 15 yrs ago.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

You just reminded me that one was spotted south of MKE here a few years ago. It ate a pet dog & chickens. The paw prints were verified as cougar. SCARY!
We have:
Morning Doves
seaguls
Eagles
Quail
Pheasants
Ducks
Wild Turkeys
Geese
Beavers
Badger (our state animal)
Chipmunks
Groundhogs
Frogs/Toads
Turtles
wolves
Bear
SQUIRRELLS
RABBITS
MICE
DEER
SKUNKS
OPPOSUM
RACCOON
Gopher snakes
Falcons
Hawks
Owls
Horses
Donkeys
Goats
sheep
Buffalo
Pigs
Cows
and, ppl have pet birds that look like ostrich (can't think of name)
I'll think of more :)

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

There's a private herd of elk in N. Wisc. as well. Talk about an over priced property... :^)

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

That's kind of a shame, really! There aren't any around in Iowa...and maybe if we had a few they'd keep the deer populations a little more controlled. Why do hunters feel the need to shoot anything that there isn't a law against?

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

I never went hunting, but if I did & I saw a cougar, I'd shoot it too. Better him than me!
This year, deer hunters were complaining that deer pop. was way down & a lot of them never even saw one. They all said that if they saw a wolf, they'd shoot it. Wolves are killing a lot of deer & if they get the chance, will attack a human.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Not all of us do feel that way Bryan.... just those that make the news. I think Patty just meant in defense.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

We have all the usual suspects, plus the Chesapeake''s own Blue Crab and Striped Bass, known here as rockfish, Bald eagles, and herons (they love my backyard pond). Saw my first coyote near the house the other day.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Well, don't get me wrong...if it was coming toward me and I had a gun, I'd sure as heck shoot to kill. But beyond that, I feel these animals have an equal right to be a part of the ecosystem as we do. I don't feel that killing animals that do not pose a direct thread to you is right.

And as for deer populations....there are ALWAYS more than there need to be these days. Just cause hunters aren't finding enough to kill doesn't mean they are UNDERpopulated. It just means that other animals are doing their part in the circle of life to keep their populations controlled...as it should be.

I realize this all makes me seem like quite the hippy (and I sorta am :ha: ) but I just feel that humans make a habit of killing things that we feel 'inconvenienced' by when they have just as much right to be here as we do. No, I'm not hardcore about killing things (by any means) but I think we should think before we shoot....or some of these things won't be around for our children.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Bryan, I agree. Unless it was for self-preservation or livestock preservation,, I'd leave these magnificent animals alone. They are slowly moving east from the Rockies. I can't wait until they return to the eastern woods and swamps. Here's an interesting group for more info.
The Cougar Network - Using Science to Understand Cougar Ecology

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

I love animals... don't get me wrong. But, the deer population is really low this year - they said it on tv. Now, if wolf population goes up (ecosystem) & deer going down, those wolves will kill pet horses, cows, dogs & chickens etc. Deer don't kill other animals - they are shy & afraid of everything. I'm sure farmers will gladly shoot a wolf to defend his livestock.
There are hunters that like to hunt for food & sport, who really do appreciate the beauty of these animals. They don't hunt just for the killling -& only in season.
Howard, I would love to see more wildlife around my pond! Oh, to see blue Herons would be a real treat. I once saw 6 mallard ducks in my yard & it was a treat to see!
My neighbor saw a baby bird that fell out of nest & brought it to me thinking that -- I am so "nurturing", so I took the baby in & tried to feed it & it died. I felt so bad.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Plenty of room for friendly disagreement here. No offense taken at all. In New Jersey deer are way overpopulated... not at all like when I was younger and there was so much more open space.... sounds contradictory but true.
Even with all the new suburban hunting programs the population is going up. Some towns locally have resorted to paying "professionals" to shoot deer at night... leaving them to rot for no good at all. Every scrap I get is used , my dogs are on a raw diet and I eat all the best parts myself, nothing goes to waste. Besides I get to actually see more wildlife in person than most see on tv in a lifetime.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Bob, why are you not speaking to me?

Brocket are an interesting challenge, but only if you're using a bow or a blowgun. Firearms seem like overkill, given that they're so teensy.

And we do have both Peccary and Javelina; I forgot them entirely.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Since we haven't spoken in a while so it was my way of saying Hi!

I figured you had these pigs there but ........ I assume you don't hunt them yourself for food so forgot them.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

You're right - they smell pretty nasty and I can never really get past that to cleaning and cooking them... There is tastier and less dangerous game in them thar woods.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

I'm also told bobcat are back in the areas forests. I love it when the original wildlife returns after being either run off or extirpated from the region.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

Yeah, I can see both sides of the story. Like I said, I'm not against killing predators if they are endangering you or your animals...but if they aren't, leave them be. Defensive killing, only, essentially. When it comes to deer, they are overpopulated here...no shortage. I can't drive at night here without seeing at LEAST a couple (and I don't really see any other wild animals with that frequency). If numbers are down in an area, don't allow as many hunting permits that year...simple as that. It wouldn't hurt some of the hunters to not kill one for a year or two. And if they truly do hunt for the beauty of the animals, they can still take a hike and try to find some to observe. I feel that some hunters feel a sense of entitlement/right to hunt/kill a deer each season. This is NOT the case.

I think a lot of people don't realize that natural predation is a GOOD thing for deer populations...it kills the weak ones and leaves the bigger/stronger animals to continue to reproduce (selecting for better genes in that species for effective evolution). If wolves or cougars get too overpopulated that it becomes an issue (NOT likely IMO), then maybe we can have a hunting season for them. Otherwise, just like anything, if their numbers are up and their prey numbers are down, they tend to starve or die from diseases/malnutrition. The same is true for prey populations...when high and predation is down, things like reduced resources/food and disease keep them in check.

In Iowa, people are allowed to go around killing coyotes for no reason at any time of the year. I have YET to see any problem with these animals....they don't kill random cows, they don't kill people's dogs, etc. But people continue to reduce their numbers without need. People in the US have been working for years (for some unknown reason) to reduce the numbers of large predators in our area. We have successfully extirpated MANY species from their normal areas and this has caused spikes in the populations of other species (deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc). Why not just let things level themselves out rather than selectively deciding what has the right to live/not live around us.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

You might be surprised Bryan that hunters are often the first ones to suggest reduced bag limits when necessary..( I'm mostly talking about deer hunting , carnivores in the U.S. statistically arent to big a threat to people as opposed to say Africa) . Sportsmans groups until recently had a lot of input on our state fish and game commision. This is no longer the case as it has been administered politically during the past governors reign. There was a limited bear hunt here a few years back based on scientific evidence. This was ended the next year based on political rather than scientific input despite the information provided by the state biologists for several years running and the bear population is currently three times the states carrying capacity the last I read. This surely will lead to problems and has already as most of these incidents are effectively hushed up by the conditioned media. Coyotes may not be quite the same threat but I have seen the damage and injury caused to horses( we have the most per capita in the US !) by them here. They search the stables for food. Believe me it happens.
Hunting is certainly a privilege as proved by the several hundred dollars on licenses and special permits I spend each year that recently were less than $100. Where does this money go in NJ? ....not back to conservation efforts but directly in to politcal coffers. It IS my right to choose meat for my family that is free of hormones etc. and hunting not only provides this but is a relaxing and worthwhile pastime. I've always thought that with proper management we could have it all, good populations as well as providing enough for people as a renewable resource. The real issue is who decides and their motivation for game management.... facts or votes.

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

It's kinda like a fox.. your not going to see it untill in your hen-house in most cases. Any farmer that sees a predator is more likely to shoot it, to prevent a larger problem later. That definately includes abondoned pets as well. It's not the farmer's fault some people aren't responsibile, just left to keep the peace on the property.
Now Every year I go crabbing on the inland waterway.. usually I wait till its nice & hot so the gator's are out & done nesting so I can tap the water w/ some chicken on a string.. and it's on.. Gator Wrestlin' :^) When they let go I'm only cartin' a line and chicken bone to shore. we both get a workout and he gets some chicken.. of course they steal some off my crab-lines too.. thus is life.. :^)

Re: Introduction Of Your Local Wild Life!
 

This surprises me. It seems that the meat could be put to use somewhere. Meat processors could process the deer, and it could be donated to homeless shelters, or soup kitchens, or the local zoo, or something! What a sad, sad, waste of life. I think the program still exists here where hunters can donate their kill and then the meat is processed and given to low-income folks.