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A cougar among us?
Published Friday, June 13, 2008
NATCHEZ — In the wilds of Briel Avenue two local women got quite a shock when they spotted an unlikely critter lurking in the weeds.
Sharon Browning said at first she thought the animal was a goat; it wasn’t.
Browning said she and her passenger, Agatha Weeks, believe they saw a cougar.
Browning’s encounter happened approximately two weeks ago in the field next to the church on Briel Avenue.
“It was just slinking along,” she said. “I tooted the horn at it.”
Browning said the big cat showed no reaction to the car’s horn.
She estimated the animal to be between 100-150 pounds and was golden tan in color with black markings on its face.
“People need to be aware,” she said. “Those things can be dangerous.”
And this wasn’t Browning’s first big cat sighting.
Originally from north central Texas, Browning said she has seen cougars on more than one occasion.
“There we call them mountain lions,” she said.
After seeing the animal Browning said she called George Vines, who owns Southern Carriage Tours, and keeps his horses and mules at a stable on Briel.
Vines said he has no doubt Browning correctly identified the animal she saw.
“I believe her,” he said.
And while Browning called Vines to warn him to be on the lookout for the animal Vines said he’s not overly concerned about his stock.
“I feel like my horses would stomp him to death,” he said. “And I know it won’t fool with the mule.”
Vines said after hearing Browning’s news he then warned surveyors working in the area to watch for the animal.
And while Browning is sure of what she saw some are not so sure.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries exotic species program leader Richard Rummel said the odds of Browning seeing a wild cougar in this area are almost zero.
Rummel said there has not been a confirmed citing of a cougar in Mississippi in over 100 years.
“There is no remnant population in the area,” he said.
Rummel said if Browning did see a cougar it was likely one that had escaped from captivity.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
State Game and Fish people always deny they still exist. Its easier to call people stupid, confused and drunk than it is to get out of their office chairs, check out any evidence and put protections in place for the animals. This is true for Mississippi cougars or Colorado grizzlies. Denial is the easy way out.
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GEEZ! I kinda hope it's not true. That's not really all that far from here. I'd hate to think i have to worry about a COUGAR attacking me right here in the middle of town. That's SPOOKY!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure he's just passing through. Unless he happpens to find a steady diet of little kids and puppies. One killed a high school boy running on the school track in Idaho Springs some years back, but that is extemely unusual. No need to get spooked. We need more of them back in the local environment, not less. This one just took a wrong turn, that's all.
Posted by bombingeight (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps it can be trapped and dropped off at Danny's in Vidalia to help solve some of the problems there.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you OldGrandDad, man needs a few more natural predators locally. It keeps us on our evolutionary toes.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Moved into that area years ago from the boonies in the county. Pulled into the back drive and scared a tom turkey out of the trees, had a squirrel family with babies in the attic, and a raccoon under the house. That area must be popular with the wildlife, and I would not be surprised if she really saw one of the cats.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the NPD and the ACSO could capture the species and train it and use it for crowd control? Street Survival!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe it can be trained to toy with tax proposing out of town hotel developers.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll just be glad if it cleans the neighborhood of stray dogs. Or, the dogs that folks simply refuse to keep put up. Poor old cats have gotta eat too.......
Posted by rattlesnake (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just proud nobody with a gun has seen it. A lot of people would kill it just for a trophy. That would be a shame.
Posted by starla (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's possible she saw a bobcat, not a cougar. They have a wider habitat range, plus they have black spots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THE WOMAN IS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS MATTER.PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE SITE WHERE THE BIG CAT WAS SEEN,HAS REPORTED THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO THE SHERIFFS DEPT AND GAME AND FISH WHO HAS DONE NOTHING TO CAPTURE THE ANIMAL.THESE LIONS>MOUNTAIN LIONS KILL AND ATTACK PEOPLE,EVEN EAT THEM ALIVE.THE REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR ALONE THERE WAS 6 DEATHS AND 30 ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES.NOTHING WILL BE DONE TILL THIS CAT KILLS SOMEBODY OR TARES THEM TO PIECES.THEN IT WILL BE TO LATE.ONE INCIDENT IN MONTANA INVOLED A CHILD THAT CAME UP MISSING AND TRADGETLY BECAME DINNER FOR A COUGER.YOU GUYS GOOGLE MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS IN THE U.S.AND YOULL BE TERRIFIED AT WHAT YOULL SEE.AND STARLA THERES NO WAY TO MISTAKE A BOBCAT FOR A MOUNTAIN LION.BIOLIGIST SAY STATISTICS SHOW THE ANIMAL IS MIGRATING FURTHER AND FUTHER SOUTH.REPORTS OF THE MOUNTAIN LION ARE ALREADY COMING IN FROM ALA,GA,AND TEXAS AND ARK.TY
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
supertrucker47, I don't know what you are worried about. If you keep shouting like that no cougar is gonna come anywhere near you.
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
panther, cougar, mountain lion, all the same animal they do not exist in mississippi. There are tens of thousands of game cameras in the woods being used year round by hunters and not one cougar , lion, tiger or bigfoot has been captured on any of them. Bears, yes. Lions, no. all of them are in the west and they have yet to swim east of the mississipi river. The lady probably saw a large dog or a bobcat....possibly. ever saw a road kill lion? I've seen bears deer squirell possum rabbits armadillos but no simba. saw a group of black panthers one time on tv but they were having a rally in washington dc about civil rights. show me a cougar in mississippi and ill show you E.T. living in my basement.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.interaktv.com/MS/MSMammals.ht...
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's another....
http://www.wildlifemiss.org/magazine/sf9...
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With all due respect Supertrucker, I don't believe 6 deaths last year is enough to warrant drastic action taking place. More people are killed by snakes, but you don't see a big movement underway to totally eradicate snakes. More people are killed by lightning strikes which is just considered bad luck in some cases. 400,000 people a year die from free-basing nicotine so I think we should concentrate on that a lot sooner than our national cougar problem.
Posted by bayou (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's true there are cougars in Mississippi I was taken one night by a cougar boy she tore me up I sure was glad to escape the next morning!
Posted by EuropeanAmerican (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eyeinthesky, that was a good one about the black panthers you saw.
I have seen panthers three times around my house, everytime it has been early morning when it was foggy.
I have no doubt what I saw was a panther, and not a 100 pound house cat.
No I do not live in Natchez, and have not reported as I don't want the government coming in and messing with my land. We have a no fly zone in place for the Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers; protecting the environment from Nuts.
Posted by bubbawows (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
about 3 weeks ago my brother seen a cougar ran over on highway 84 between jonesville and ferriday, he stradled it with his suv and said it was so long he thought he was going to hit it, he turned around a little ways up the road to get another look at it but someone had already picked it up
Posted by blindink (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad posted this and it something all of you should read before you type. it is from the Mississippi Wlidlife...state government...and it states it good be...so read it then type
http://www.wildlifemiss.org/magazine/sf9...
Posted by blindink (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad posted this and it something all of you should read before you type. It is from the Mississippi Wildlife...state government...and it states it could be...so read it, then type
http://www.wildlifemiss.org/magazine/sf9...
Posted by humorme (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bayou that is a totally different spices. Your cougar inhabits Dimples Lounge and are only seen very late at night. They look like a different cat in the dim light and use alcohol to distort your preception. Glad you made it but don't give up the hunt.
Posted by Natchez3 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone on the bluff had to call animal control about 3-4 weeks ago. She found her cat dead on her back porch. No blood just a huge bite mark around his neck. After looking around on her porch they found scrach marks on her porch that did not look normal. Animal control said that what ever killed her pet looked to be a huge cat. They mentioned to her that they believed it to be a cougar. She called all her neighbors and warned them. That is two different reports within weeks from both sides of town.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you sure the Democrat wasn't referring to the two women as Cougars?
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Billy Bob, Lets go round the boys and get our rifles and go on a hunt!!! I believe that there could be a big cat lurking and living in the hills and bluffs surrounding the area. With the water as high as it has been it may have been pushed away from its natural habitat. I know for a fact that there are panthers in the area across the river in the little levee town called Slocum. My grandfather told me and had pictures of a Black panther standing in the middle of the Levee road. He talked about that and showed the pictures off for years. And for all you people saying there aren't any panthers or big cats in Mississippi, you folks outta wake it up..There here. Just becuase your camera's don't catch them, doesn't mean they aren't in the state. Go out in the woods after a big rain and identify some of the animal tracks that you come across in the mud. Some you won't be able to identify. Trust me.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It's the eye of the cougar.
It's the thrill of the fight,
rising up to the challenge of a rival.
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night,
and he watches us all with the eye of cougar"
.....oops, do I have the right animal? LOL!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A "black panther" would be a black leopard or a black jaguar. Or a jaguarundi. Cougars tend to be one main shade of color and no black ones have ever been documented.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw something (I am not even going to speculate as to what it may have been) but it was large and black. It was much bigger than a dog and much wider through the body. It was running about 100 feet in front of me and ran into the ditch by the Fruit of the Loom plant. Could have been a really big dog like a Mastiff, I don't know, by the time I got to the big ditch there it was gone and I was alone so I was not going to get out and chase it.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go out in the woods right before the sun comes up and just sit and listen. Can you identify all the critter's? I know I can't and really don't want to see some of the things I hear!! Spooooky!
Any reports from the government are questionable to me. Do yall believe everything they tell you?
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, we still have bear(s). I have photographed three separate sightings (pawn prints), in the creek beds, about Natchez, MS. The last occurrence was April 14, 2008.
Posted by msfixit (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is certainly possible they saw a cougar, but I think it is more likely that it was a very large bobcat. I know that those occasionally wander into town and move around through the bayous and gullies that snake through town. A few years back we had one that was apparently passing through and was sighted in the big gully off of Homochitto Street on Winchester Rd.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever it was, I would've shot and made me a nice rug or throw. Just Kidding, don't get upset!
In Arkansas last month, we saw a wolf, we could tell it was a wolf due to its REALLY blue eyes. When I tried looking for what type it was (via internet), I found that many species (if not all) at a high risk of extinction.
You never know what's in those woods. Thats why I always bring Chuck Norris along, safety first!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever it is, Leave it alone
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama that is just a mean comment about the rug.
Be nice to all animals.
I love animals...they are delicious.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There have been wolves and coyotes seen where I'm from.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last year before the water got up so high there was a den of coyotes over the levee where the Jim Bowie festival is held in Vidalia.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry this year
Posted by supermom (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All you have to do to see interesting wildlife is ride down Melrose-Montebello or Liberty Rd (by the back entrance to First Baptist) . I have seen deer, a fox (several times) on Melrose and what I thought was a wolf, but might have been a coyote on Liberty Rd. Believe me, this was NO dog!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember that years ago a wolf was shot on Marblestone Alley. I think it could be a cougar, ended up here because of the high water. It will leave soon.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Puma appear to be returning to many of their former "stomping grounds", and are being reported with greater frequency. I was at a wildlife park outside of Omaha last year, and two of the keepers there reported three had been found dead on I-80 over the last several months. Our modern whitetail population is huge, as evidenced by the numbers of deer carcases we all see on the highways: nature abhors a vacuum. Personally, I think it is great that they are coming home. They are elusive, quiet, and can move like a ghost; an interesting part of Mississippi's biota.
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you have ever heard a Panther scream you would remember it for the rest of your life. It is the most blood curdling sound you've have heard, it sounds like a woman screaming, loud piercing, will send chills up your spine. I know my husband and I heard it, we live in the Kingston area, they are around here.
Posted by SniperX (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Drive by shooters at Buger King, Danny's shootout, and now Cougars! Natchez and Vidalia is becoming a sporting place to live! or die!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know what you mean wifetoone, its eerie. From really far off it can sound like a baby crying or saying "mama". That's what my sister-in-law said it sounded like to her dad. When I heard it, it sounded like a loud piercing scream.
Posted by Desiderata (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I use to live in the area behind Trinity (Woodhaven), and our family saw what we called "black panthers" sometimes. They were big black cats, definately no dog. Of course, this was years ago. We could also hear them at times, a very distict sound.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen wifetoone...
Posted by ncogg (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ROTFL @ SniperX. Natchez and Vidalia has ppl gang bang over whoppers and onion rings now. WOW!!!
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember that sound, wifetoone. I live on Highway 33, in between 33 and Old McNair Road, in Fayette. There are woods about 500' from the rear of our house. I remember one night, our neighbor calling us complaining about noices, sounding like a baby crying, coming from under her house. My dad went to the back door and fire a gun shot into the air. He said that, although it was dark, he saw something big and black run from under her house back towards the woods. I've heard crying sounds often late at night.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
draw you are talking about Fayette and something big and black hanging around the house? Really now. Unbelievable.
I heard there were a lot of cougars hanging around Dimples.
Big cats are dangerous but a little cat never hurt anybody.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hahah! Funny hardcorps... I seen a lot of them big cats in that area too! Better be careful, sometimes they can scratch pretty hard.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hardcorps, you can say what you want say. I'm sick of and your silly insults. I don't associate with you, and I want to keep it that way. I know what I heard, you sat what you want about Fayette. You aren't any better than me.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ha, from what I've seen all the cougars are at Doc Big Love's now! Watch out cause they'll Getcha!
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I could care less what you all think and say.
Posted by Godschild77 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am happy to see some of these comments about how the Mississippi Department of Wildlife does nothing when it comes to public safety.It seems they are only concered with illegal hunters or fishermen without a license.or being one of those illegals themselves. I live out in the Cranfield area and My 12 year old dughter ran home in tears one day after getting of of the school bus; She said momma "I just say the biggest black cat that I have ever seen".I said where? She stated that he crossed our driveway in front of her while she was walking along.She said It was so big and it had avery long tail that nearly touched the ground as he moved it from side to side.I asked if she saw a picture of some animals would she be able to pick out the animal that she had just seen.She said momma I know I can.We put in a wildlife video and when a panther came on the screen; she yelled,"that's him momma, that is the kind of cat I saw". We called our neighbors and told them to be careful when outside and to watch their kids and not let them outside alone.We contacted those pitiful people at the Wildlife Department only to be talked to over the phone and told that spotting a panther in this area is impossible since there has not been one spotted in a number of years.My children have since been captives in our home because they are afraid to go outside. They are afraid to walk to and from the bus stop.Weeks later my father and about (8) of our neighbors were outside late one evening when some wild animal cried and it rang out through the entire neighborhood.No one but the older gentlemen knew what it was because they had heard that sound before.They all say it was a panther. Once again with all of these witnesses to this sound; I called the Wildlife Department only to be told that someone would come out and check into it.That has been about (5) months ago and no one has got here yet.My father says that this large cat walked out in front of him one night on Liberty Road.When the beams of light shined on him his eyes glowed a bright red color.My mom was riding with him and witnessed this large cat also.Guess what the Wildlife Department done about this report. They said "call us if you spot it again"
I aked this question. CALL FOR WHAT??????
They are so quick to say what is not in these areas, but how hard is it for one to get here or be brought here by man???????
I wonder if they understand that nothing is impossible. Just the same as my cousin in Franklin County who reported scorpions at her house and in her yard. They still have not figured out just how that type of scorpion got into Mississippi. Well, go figure!!!!!
Mississippi Wildlife Department you guys really need to pep up!!!!!!!!Before somebdy gets hurt. This is an accident waiting to happen.; saying we did not know after it happens won't help a thing.
Be wise and don't just ignore what you know that you saw.
Thank you,
Mrs O.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Somebody needs a pill and a nap and jus a wittle bit a wuvin sometimes.
Posted by meluvcookies (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We used to live on Airport Road in Vidalia close to the National Guard Armory several years ago, and at night you could hear coyotes howling in the near distance! It was eerie!!
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw a cougar, puma, mountain lion, panther in Sandy Creek in about '77. They are very secretive. Like my little wifemate when I axe her where my paycheck has gone.
I've seen many scorpions out in the Sixtown area of Franklin County. They were very common.
I once drove through Fayette and saw some huge black beings building a house. Maybe they were going to live there.??? They were working hard and didn't seem dangerous though.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ask WL&F if there is a danger of alligators in the Miss-Lou area and they will be quick to tell you "No" that the alligators are more afraid of you than you are of them. Alligators LOVE dogs, cats, small children and ME!
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see Supertrucker's short bus has made it to town.
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i dern saw dem there scorpions 2 in franky county
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I called about an alligator in my backyard once, and no one came.
But if we would have shot it, we would have been arrested...so what are we supposed to do in these situations?
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is that where you got those nice boots and that matching wallet ntzmom?
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hardcorps, woa!!! That is a highly unbelievable story!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shhh... don't tell.... its a secret!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading alot of these comments it sounds like people think the dept of wildlife and fisheries sole job is to exterminate any animal that comes near a house. If you move in the woods, you need to realize there are varmits out there.
I did see a black cougar or panther a few years back in the swamps, it was there only in the open for about 10 seconds, then quietly disappeared. I thought it was a very cool sighting, and I wouldn't think of calling the game warden to dispose of it.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know the mathmatical odds of a cougar hurting them in Mississippi? Or an alligator?
You would more likely be struck by lightning while a snake was biting you as it was being run over by a car.
Godschild you could get a picture, a recording or a track of it preserved and I bet folks would listen better.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well, Mike, I love wildlife also...especially when they "quietly disappear" from me. My problem is the ones that do not "disappear" but instead hang around and stalk me or my pets! And yes, sometimes that happens. I do not think wild animals should be eliminated just because of their reputation alone, but when they look upon humans as prey....that's another story. Most of these cats and yes, even the alligators will run from humans....unless they are really hungry.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well noneya, if they are stalking you, shoot them. I am just saying don't call the MDWF and complain when they don't drive to you house and exterminate your pests for you.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, Mike...that's what I pay taxes for. I'm not about to shoot an alligator. That's a FEDERAL OFFENSE. You shoot 'em....love for you to see what happens.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One other thing...they aren't my pests....they are the governments...the government won't allow me to take care of them.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if the Feds would let Natchez have a few spare IRS agents to stake out on Briel Avenue to see if the cat could be baited in. We could rub them down with pork chop and chicken fat to advertise them better.
Posted by eveningstar052 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live on Briel Avenue and have lived there all of my life. I have never seen anything like that other than the occasional possums, racoons, armadillos and a couple of times deer have run through my yard. However I'm not saying a cougar wasn't spotted. The yard next to the church and around the horse barn is terribly overgrown and needs to be cut down, so there is no telling what could be hiding in there. I guess the main thing that concerns me is that I wasnt told about this and I live on the street. Whether it was a cougar or not, we should have been informed that possible danger was near. About three weeks ago when the thing was supposedly spotted, my little three year old grandson was here for a visit. Someone should have told us about this. Of course we always kept a watchful eye on him but we would have been much more cautious if we had know something like that might be lurking about. And not to mention, I have teens coming to and from home after dark. We never had a clue. If there is a dangerous animal spotted anywhere around where people live, please let them know so they can beware.
Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know my ex used to tell of hearing the "screams" down in Anna's Bottom and several times we had something large and dark cross the roads that looked like it could be a panther. I have also witnessed a large black cat cross the pasture at my grandmother's home in Lawrence County. It was longer and heavier, but not taller, than a huge german shepherd mixbreed dog that we had at the time.
Do I totally agree with the wildlife official standpoint? No, I do believe that they are out there. They may be "pets" that have been released, migrating to new territories due environmental reasons or that slowly they are rebuilding their populations.
It just pays to keep your eyes and ears open even if you do live in the middle of town.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is Briel Avenue?
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
enkikur: we don't want any "spare" IRS agents...we want to use the active ones! lol :-)
Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Briel runs between Canal Street and South Pearl Street.
Posted by radio1 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The wildlife people who discount a panther living in MS because they have never seen one in 100 yrs is crazy. I bet 99.9% of these people have never seen a buzzard nest, yet they know they exist.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Noneya - the there is no federal law against taking an alligator. The American alligator was removed from the endangered species list in 1987. MS has established a hunting season for these alligators also - http://www.mdwfp.com/Level2/Wildlife/Gam...
If you are so worried about alligators, why did you move to an area that has them at your house? I don't think its the taxpayers job to fix this.
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leave the animals alone-unless you are in direct danger. They were here before us and they will be here after us
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
people said for years that we did not have bears, well my neighbor had one in his backyard several years ago and confirmed by the Ms Wildlife Dept out of Jackson,MS
Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Grew up in the country on our place which bordered Cherry Grove Plantation. We heard the screams of cougars, panthers, whatchamacallums at night sometimes. A neighbor had a calf killed by one. We found the tracks in the bottom of the bayou behind the house. No nails showing, only pads, and it was huge..big as a mans fist.
That was about 40 years ago but the sounds that cat made are still very clear to me. I remember we didn't go outside and play at night...and it wasn't the neighbors or strangers we were afraid of.
I caught a glimps of what looked like a panther late one day, just before dark in the edge of a field next to the deep woods. Got away quickly when it spotted me. Wasn't a dog, bobcat or any of the normal creatures one sees in the country. Dark body, long tail, moved like a cat. Still think it was a panther.
As far as those scorpions go, my cousins and I would break the bark off of old pines stumps at my grandma's house in McCall Creek and find them. We'd put them in jars and keep them for a while.
I have a school teacher friend who hunted at Adams-Franklin hunting club who, along with her husband and a couple of other people, saw a panther cross the road in front of them early one morning.
I saw a bear and two cubs on what is part of the St Catherine Creek Wildlife Reserve back in the late 70s...not in the distance either....came within about 30 yards of me. I was thankful that the wind wasn't blowing their way. Just waited until they passed and got the heck out of those woods!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone see that email about the 260lb panther killed in Amite county? I think the story might have been stretched, anyone know about this?
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
afraid not
Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That one was not killed in Amite county.
snopes.com/photos/animals/mountainlion2007.asp
Posted by peachpit (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've seen a cougar or florida panther close to Ferriday when I was a kid. I also have freinds near Churchhill who have told me they have seen a panther around there.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thats is 3on23, I figured it was BS, the email I got said it was killed in Amite County
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hardcorps, woa!!! That is a highly unbelievable story!
All true. I poop you not.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have one other post above. Just so happens, that while I was out Creek-Walking today, I found my third set of bear tracks! I was able to take digital pictures of them, along with their coordinates (GPS-wise). According to my calculations, if it is of the same bear, and continues in the general direction, it is heading to town.
Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
leave the poor kitte be!!
Its one of God's creatures just like you and me! Its harmless until people start interfering with its life.. it hasn't done anything to anybody.
Everyone on this forum has said they've only SEEN or spotted these animals... none of them have had any negative encounters with these poor critters, so leave them alone.. i'm sure they're running back to their parents at night talkin about the crazy human that tried to hit them with the car and whatnot.
So please, just be kind and leave the innocent kitty alone!!
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well what about the black panther that was supposedly seen on Linton Ave.? I know the son of the man who spotted it and he should a pretty reliable source. Anybody know anything about that one?
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 2:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"should be" that is. It's late!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 2:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Black panthers are in the Bigfoot - Lochness Monster category. Never ever been proven in the southeast US.
Posted by meluvcookies (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, free_radical, the time your comment was posted was in the AM, so it would be EARLY not LATE. LOL! :)
Posted by Natchez3 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Panthers have been seen in Natchez but they are reddish/brown color.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This cougar was probably born in town but it's the first time anyone has encounter it. Natchez has had wild animals as far back as I can remember.
Natchez & Vidalia has become a dangerous place to be in not because of the wild animals but the wild humans.
Now as for cougars there are more reports of people being mauled to death by pit bulls each year.
The earlier comment was good about taking it to Danny's but I imagine the pit bulls on choke chains that you see in most yards would take care of it so that would be no help.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Comanches call him ....puma. And yes, I have seen them in Adams county, years ago. I seen one on rifle point as well. If the game warden says there "are none" here.....then he is ignorant.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Overthehill60---While the thought of a wild cat in the area is frightening, I am like you, I am worried more about the wild humans. Pit bulls are one of the best family dogs according to most reputable web sites with breed info. It is all in how they are raised. Over close to Danny's I think they have them on the chain them up, starve them for a week, beat them and then feed them routine. It is sad and do you think the police care. I called once about the thin as bones dog chained up in the heat to a fence with no water or shade. Guess what! Went back the next day there he was again. It was a puppy maybe 4 months. It will most like die in a fight someday. So sad.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is the way pits are treated. My dauhter had one that was very sweet. It all has to do with the way it is raised & treated. Anytime you see a pit bull on a chain it is because it strenghtens their muscles for fighting. That area of Vidalia is full of pit bulls & you can always see them being walked not on leashes but chains. What I can't understand is dog fighting is against the law & that area is right down the street from the police station so you know they see the dogs. WHY is nothing done? Cock fighting is also big in the area which is also cruel.
The Humane Society needs to step in this situation now & do something.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that you are very right. They should take the dogs and give them to good homes. The thing I worry about with those dogs that are chained up at the corner of the drive way is the kids that walk that way to go to school. I see lots of young kids that go to the middle school or get on the bus there. One day a child is going to be hurt very badly or killed. I am glad I am not the only one around here worried. We have a very large dog that is often mistaken for a pit. He is the most loving dog. He lets the kids crawl on him and pull on him. I do however always keep my eyes on him just to be safe.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone be on the look out for large paw prints. Especially in muddy ground. Both, bear and cougar tracks, are about the same in size. The print consist of one large impression, with four or five smaller ones in front. A good source, for reference, can be found at the following web address...(http://dirttime.ws/Notebook/Notebook.htm). Please copy and paste the link into your browser.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well mike, maybe you should read up on your alligator knowledge. may I assist you? check out this site: http://agrigator.ifas.ufl.edu/gators/ As you will read, alligators are still FEDERALLY PROTECTED although yes, one can still sign up for a lottery and be granted a small number of "tags" to hunt alligator during a regulated season by the state.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
by the way, mike, you should be so lucky to live where I live. Good day.
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's ridiculous! Who cares where you live? lol
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