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photo by Louisisana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
This cougar photo was taken on Sept. 29 in Allen Parish by a similar camera.
Photos show La. cats; give Natchez mystery validity
Published Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NATCHEZ — Two recently taken photographs have provided the newest confirmed documentation of cougars in Louisiana, and have lent some legitimacy to recent sightings in Natchez.
In early and late September, trail cameras in Natchitoches and Allen parishes took photos of the golden cats.
The last confirmed cougar sighting in Louisiana was in 2002.
And in the past five months, at least two locals have reported spotting cougars across Adams County.
This photo of a cougar was taken on Sept. 4 in Natchitoches Parish by a camera set up on a trail in the woods.
After the first Natchez sighting, in June, Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries exotic species program leader Richard Rummel said the chances of actually seeing a cougar in the area were close to zero.
But September’s evidence does lend some credence to the fact that the cats seen in Natchez could have actually been cougars, Rummel said.
While Rummel said there has not been a confirmed cougar sighting in Mississippi in over 100 years, the new photos do suggest they could be in the area.
But Rummel said it’s highly unlikely those cougars are staying in the area.
Instead, Rummel said, the cougars in the photos have either escaped from captivity or are simply cougars on the move.
Those roving cougars are called disbursing animals, meaning they’ve left a larger breeding population.
The Louisiana department’s large carnivore program manager, Maria Davidson, examined the sites where the photos were taken and said aside from the photos there is no evidence of the cats to be found.
“There is zero physical evidence,” Davidson said.
Davidson, like Rummel, said if there were a breeding population in either area there would be some physical evidence — killed prey, prints or dead cougars in the form of road kill.
Davidson said one area of Florida with a known population of approximately 100 cougars normally loses 15 cats a year to road traffic.
“We don’t have anything like that,” she said.
And Rummel agreed.
While the cougars aren’t likely to have originated in the area, they could have come from a great distance to get here, Rummel said.
Rummel said there’s a population of cougars in West Texas that has been spreading east that could account for the cats seen in the region.
And Rummel said a cougar heading east could swim across the Mississippi River.
Davidson said cougars, tracked with radio collars, have been known to cover hundreds of miles.
And while Davidson and Rummel said the chances of spotting a cougar are slim, Rummel still has hope.
“We’d love confirmation,” he said.
Comments
Posted by regard (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's no cougar - that's my cat Remi, who wandered off a couple years ago. See: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgard/120315272/" title="Remi Hunting by robert_ntz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/120315272_34829aeda8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Remi Hunting" /></a>
(Okay, I don't know if that link will actually work, but I gave it a shot).
Posted by regard (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 12:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Try this instead: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgard/...
If that doesn't work, I will leave y'all alone. Have a great night!
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those look like real cougars to me. I'm a believer.
Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well... my question is, what's to become of these cats when someone actually DOES find them? Are they gonna kill them, or what? Or is there some kind of law protecting them? I sure hope so....
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 14, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In LA, the cougars are protected. One year in jail and/or $100,000 fine.
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Rummel, why don't ya'll set up camera's along the trail like the other towns did? Out on the Trace some where or out Liberty Road...way out in the woods. Where did that guy jogging or riding a bike, see the one a few weeks ago.
I think that's cool, the Cougar swimming the river. We've got lots of unused woods in Natchez and I hope they find a place to live. Peace to all...including animals...the Tiger will lay down with the man?? Read your Bibles...The time is near...Praise God and love all his creations. Amen
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where are the cat songs now?
Posted by zzzzipy (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder if that is someone's pet cougar escaped or turned loose?
Posted by gator (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchezbell I don't know about that one . Presently wild big cats will lay down only to dine on man .
Posted by crawgator (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can remember in the mid 70's my Dad taking a picture of one out on Airport road. Still wish I had that picture. Back then there were only a couple of houses and it was nothing to wake up to a herd of deer in your front yard. With the way we are destroying these animals habitat it's no wonder they are coming closer to town. (Or our towns coming closer to them) I've seen deer in my back yard now and I live in downtown Vidalia. These big cats are a thing of beauty but should be respected. I believe in the hunting of game for food but not for fun.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love animals as well, not only do I believe in hunting for food but I also believe in man over animal and if studies are correct in cougar behavior which I am sure they are, if you spot a cougar near your home you should not just stand around in awe or admiration you should shoot first think later.
Posted by dovechase (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard one of them scream in the woods at night in Franklin County. It will send shivers down your spine. My in-laws used to live over there and they saw a black one years ago.
Posted by geauxtigers (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh there are lots of cougars in Natchez all right...but not the kind with tails. Come to think of it they do wear alot of leopard print.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One of these cats ran across the road in front of me out in Sandy Creek Management Area back in about 1980. No one believed me then. A huge beige cat with a long tail cleared the gravel road in three bounds.
Posted by 110193 (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im a hunter in Adams County and hopefully one doesn't walk out on that 270! Nall seriously I really dont know how much hunting im going to do with a wild cat roaming around looking for prey to feed on!
Posted by comminatcha (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please don't shoot them just to shoot them. They are beautiful and we are infringing on thier habitat. If your life is in imidiate danger then yes, protect yourself. But don't shoot them just because.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How exactly is it us that is infringing on their habitat?
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me see him and let him hold still for just a second. I'll send something down his ear that he don't want to hear.
Posted by starla (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a map of their habitat range:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Puma_...
Natchez is not in that range, so if someone did see a cougar, it could be one that someone had as a pet and let go.
Posted by starla (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And why do you guys want to shoot the animal? If it threatens you, you have a valid reason. Shooting it for no reason is just stupid. If you see it, call animal control or the police.
Posted by 4real (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I have not seen any cougars where I live, but I have heard the panthers in the woods. They have a peculiar sound, like a baby crying to the top of his lungs. It's rather scary when the time changes back. It's dark in the mornings, and I think that's when they start roaming for food.
Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to comment on two blogs on here. First starla, do you think maybe the cats forgot to read that web page? And 4real please reread your comment about the time changing maybe they forget to set thier clocks back! C'mon guys think before you type!
Posted by unclered (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Assuming these animals were photographed in the location claimed, and the Louisiana wildlife officials seem to have doubts about that, how could they migrate across the Mississippi River? Cougars don't swim. If they came from West Texas, they would have to cross either the Sabine River or the Red River to get to Allen Parish.
In a post to an earlier article on the subject, someone compared the cougars to Black Bears living in the area. The difference is that the bears leave evidence of there presence and have been captured and tagged by state wildlife officials. If there is a cougar in the area, it is an escaped pet.
Posted by oldshool (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya'll don't shoot em now,bring it to me and i'll give you an award for it.My pitbull is in heat and i'll love to breed them together,Please don't shoot em.
Posted by unclered (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oldschool: If there really is a cougar out there, your pitbull wouldn't survive long enough to get aroused.
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When will people accept this is common cougars, bears, panthers & bobcats have been sighted all over Adamas County as far back as I can remember. Years ago they had more places to hid but now most of their homes are being cleared away for "Progress" Just don't make eye contact & leave NOT RUN when you see one.
Please people don't go on a hunting frenzy to kill these innocent animals they probably only see one human in their entire life.
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by generoberts on October 14, 2008 at 1:12 p.m.
Let me see him and let him hold still for just a second. I'll send something down his ear that he don't want to hear.
____________________
You're gonna urinate in his ear?
Sorry. I just couldn't resist. I can't believe you would shoot an endangered species. I grew up hunting and fishing and am a big advocate of gun rights, but I also believe in being responsible. These cats are so reclusive that only a few will ever see one in this area. Don't shoot them. Please.
Posted by happyreader (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people just get sooo excited about the prospect of getting to go out there and shoot something, just because they can - no other reason. The bigger and more dangerous the animal, the better. How pathetic. What are they trying to prove?
Maybe, if these trigger-happy folks have their way, one day their great-grandchildren who have to look in books or at videos to see what certain animals were once like.
Posted by eagleX2 (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some years back, while hunting on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River, I heard an animal roar/scream that I had never heard before. It was not a Great Blue Heron (which does have a scary alarm call). It gave me a chill, goosebumps, and made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Whatever it was had to swim the river to get on the island (like the deer often do). My dogs just looked at me as if to say "what should we do.....go after it or go get in the boat?"
Posted by bchandler24 (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
4real,you were talking about the panthers,yes you"re right,this time of the year,and when the time,changes next month,but mosly its this time of year,autumn,fall,they come thru,our area where we live also.When you hear them,you will know,because to me and others it sounds like a woman screaming real loud! Just the sound of it will send chills up and down your spine! But they do come thru,it never fells,this time of the year.When I was a small child I remember walking from my parents house to my aunt and uncles house,not very far,but when I heard that sound,believe me!! it took way less time to get there!!!!!! lol!
Also just sitting out on a cool night on the porch,hearing the coyotes howling will scare the crap out of you also,but some nights,they really get intense with their howling,and you can hear,different ones howling!!! And put the hoot owl in,and put it this way you know,you are really in the country,or just lucky to be able to hear so many different sounds of the wild,long as they leave me along,and I leave them along,I"m fine with it!
Posted by dragonflyday (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i hope that if someone does see one ,they don't start calling everyone and letting anyone know,because now there are some people who would love to kill such an amazing animal. because of mankind ,this animal want be around for our grandkids,if people go around killing it.
Posted by starla (anonymous) on October 15, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I did read my post. I just posted a link to their habitat range, that's all. I didn't say they can't be in this area. YOU reread my post!
Posted by horselover (anonymous) on October 15, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you look up a picture of a panther, you will see that panthers for our area look just like the picture of that cougar. There are panthers in our area, so it is more likely a panther that has been sighted.
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