cougars

[FISH]

lol what happened with all the sightings?? did the bigfoot run them out of mi??

[wally-eye]

Cus people got "tired" of talking about cougars....

[Swamp Monster]

lol what happened with all the sightings?? did the bigfoot run them out of mi??

Um, you must mean the alledged sightings right?

[FISH]

yup, exactly swamp.. i've had a couple close encounters with cougars this month...... wait which one? the 4 footed ones or 2 footed?

[Swamp Monster]

Ah yes, the two footed members! Thick this time of year I tell ya! Tryin' to find someone to den up with for the winter Christmas/Valentines season so they are a workin' overtime! Oppurtunities abound if you know how to escape quickly!

[thill]

I think I might go cougar hunting this weekend!:evilsmile

[Eddie3412]

I've seen some topics on here in the past, but I'm fairly new on here.
Just to get this straight the general consensus is that there arn't cougers in Michigan?

[jim84]

I've been in the woods and fields for 60 plus years haven't seen a cougar yet. Have a grand son say he seen one buy ausable river back in the summer. Not sure if he was drinking or smoking something. will have to keep looking.;)

[tonyvan]

I saw on the local news here on TV that someone got one on a game camera in MN...

[tbbassdaddy]

I had one looking into my kitchen from my back deck... Now, what did I do with that picture?!?!?!?!
:hide::hide:
tb

[fishhogster]

ya never know whats out there. Who are you guys to say there are no couger in michigan? you dont know so there for you should give people a hard time for saying they saw a couger its there story let them tell it how they want

[Whit1]

As Quoted from Above:


"I've seen some topics on here in the past, but I'm fairly new on here.
Just to get this straight the general consensus is that there arn't cougers in Michigan?"

"ya never know whats out there. Who are you guys to say there are no couger in michigan? you dont know so there for you should give people a hard time for saying they saw a couger its there story let them tell it how they want"

Fish: You are a miscieve maker. Go sit over in yon corner for a spell!! :lol:

EJ, Let me explain about cougar threads on the site. Every now and then someone posts a report and even photos of cougars in Michigan. Last year there was the now famous photo of a cougar that was purportedly taken from inside a home in Martin, MI (north of Kalamazoo). The cougar was on a deck outside a sliding glass door peering through the window pane of said door. Posts touting the validity of the photo ran rampant on these boards. Over the course of a few short months the same photo would be posted again..........I think it ended up being five times in here.........with the author/member claiming it to be legit.

To put it simply the photo was not from Michigan. I don't know if it depicted anything that really happened anywhere although various members said that it was taken in.........are ya ready?......Colorado.......Wyoming........Montana. ........South and North Dakota.......and Minnesota. That particular cougar obviously had a VERY extensive home range.

You see, cougar threads are famous for drawing out believers, non-believers, and of course those skulldauggary and humorous wags who enjoy laying some chuckles on the membership of MS of which I happen to be one.

Are there cougars prowling about the Michigan landscape? Hell, I don't know. There might be. As of yet there is no irrefutable proof. Yes, certain organizations (the most famous one's name escapes me here at 1AM, but that group has stated that they are trying to prove the existence of a natural, breeding, viable and expanding cougar population here in MI. Stating the premise (called the problem in scientific method jargon) in such a manner debunks the validity of any "research" and "proof" the organization touts in order to prove their premise.

Despite claims (that usually find there way into these forums) no photograph of a Michigan cougar has ever been taken.

Concerning the photos of cougars in MI and the threads in which they are found they generally begin with something like this: "A guy at work showed us a photo of a cougar that was taken by his brother's brother-in-law last week near where his aunt's second cousin lives.................." When reports begin in such a manner one's mind should shift from the realm of true tales into the abode of tall tales. :lol:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/images/misc/progress.gif

PS: Please, those of you that are true believers, don't jump on my bones about the above post. My body has too much arthritis to support that much weight!!!!!!!!!

[Garret]

I had one looking into my kitchen from my back deck... Now, what did I do with that picture?!?!?!?!
:hide::hide:
tb

LMAO!

I'll have my trail cam back this weekend from a 5 week vacation hanging on a tree in the UP woods. I'm sure I’ll have 4 or 5 cougar pictures to post next week.:rolleyes::yikes:

[TrekJeff]

My dad stopped by yesterday, came down from Leroy/north of Evart/South of Marion. He told me Pine River High School is holding a seminar on them tonight....so we should see some sightings from well educated see'ers soon.:yikes:

[sigman]

There was an article in the paper on cougars last year. DNR took samples from dropings in the northern lower and did DNA testing and the confirmed that they were from a wild strain of cougar not one that was captive. I couldnt tell you what paper but it was in the news about a year ago.

[trailwart]

we seen some tracks and looked at tracks online to see what it was and it was the michigan couger that doesnt exist????? so everyone tells us. eastern UP in mackinaw county. we knew it wasnt bear or deer or wolf or bigfoot(well at first thought bigfoot). told the nfs guys in there truck and they laughed as expected, but they didnt even take it serious as to want to see the tracks we were talking of. funny thing is its so hard for people to see that animals hitch a ride on flatbeds and trains for rides around the country. wasnt a wolf found 1-2 years ago down south from mi or mn that hitch a ride on a train and ended up in missouri or somthin, had a radio collor and thats how they knew where it came from. there were dinosours here also at 1 time, but you wouldnt believe that since you didnt see them wandering around right?

[sigman]

Just to add. The DNR reconizes cougars in Michingan. In the hunting and trapping guide they are a protected species. Just like when they discovered the wolverine. They were also added to the list of protected species.

[Swamp Monster]

Just to add. The DNR reconizes cougars in Michingan. In the hunting and trapping guide they are a protected species. Just like when they discovered the wolverine. They were also added to the list of protected species.

Actually it doesn't mean much. The wolverine was proven not to be here naturally so it's fact that just because the wolverine is mentioned in a field guide means nothing. Wolverines were protected long before the western canadian speciman found in Michigan showed it's face.

[Swamp Monster]

There was an article in the paper on cougars last year. DNR took samples from dropings in the northern lower and did DNA testing and the confirmed that they were from a wild strain of cougar not one that was captive. I couldnt tell you what paper but it was in the news about a year ago.


Are you sure?

[FISH]

patience.. patience... cougar season kicks off the day after thanksgiving....i've had my best luck in the malls.. hmm. it's bout that time;)

[boehr]

Originally Posted by sigman
There was an article in the paper on cougars last year. DNR took samples from dropings in the northern lower and did DNA testing and the confirmed that they were from a wild strain of cougar not one that was captive. I couldnt tell you what paper but it was in the news about a year ago.

Originally Posted by sigman
Just to add. The DNR reconizes cougars in Michingan. In the hunting and trapping guide they are a protected species. Just like when they discovered the wolverine. They were also added to the list of protected species.

That is incorrect information.

[Whit1]

That is incorrect information.

Can you enlighten us Mr. B? That post sounded a bit like the scenario that I laid out earlier in this thread.

[boehr]

First, cougars like wolverines have been protected for years, not since the wolverine was found.

DNA tests do not reveal if a cougar is a pet cougar or wild cougar. DNA or hair for that matter can detirmine the species and possibly what area of the country the cat orginated from but can not reveal pet verses wild.

[H2OGO!]

buddy of mine saw one a couple months back near Honor.

[FISH]

i saw a couple last night at a halloween party! man are they fiesty this time o year! lol

[Rudi's Dad]

My dad stopped by yesterday, came down from Leroy/north of Evart/South of Marion. He told me Pine River High School is holding a seminar on them tonight....so we should see some sightings from well educated see'ers soon.:yikes:

Dont worry, if one shows up there, someone WILL send it to a taxidermist.:lol:

[Undertow]

I'd like to believe that there is some in Michigan I believe if there was a wild population then it would be in the U.P. Just a couple of weeks ago one of my dads friends said he seen one around lowell, he said it was a black cougar (jaguar). I know the guy and he's honest but I dont believe it. Probably just a dog. Hopefully someone will get one on a trail cam then we can end the debate and start up the Wild population or a released pet debate.
Undertow

[MEL]

[quote=trailwart;1833805] funny thing is its so hard for people to see that animals hitch a ride on flatbeds and trains for rides around the country. wasnt a wolf found 1-2 years ago down south from mi or mn that hitch a ride on a train and ended up in missouri or somthinquote]


Last year while driving back from Wyoming, I picked up a cougar who was hitch hiking. Even had a sign around his neck saying 'MICHIGAN"
Poor cougar said he was out there for days and couldnt get a ride. See they dont have thumbs, only paws, and its hard for someone driving buy to tell which way they want to go with out a thumb sticking out. Thats why he put the Michigan sign around his neck. Thats also why I knew he was a Michigan cougar. Not to mention his Maize and Blue, Michigan sweater he had on!

[fishhogster]

i saw a couple last night at a halloween party! man are they fiesty this time o year! lol

I hear ya there. I was at one last night to there was only on good looking cougar and one realy good looking fox.

[benster]

http://www.michigancougar.com/sightings.htm

[Swamp Monster]

http://www.michigancougar.com/sightings.htm


:lol::lol:

[sigman]

First, cougars like wolverines have been protected for years, not since the wolverine was found.

DNA tests do not reveal if a cougar is a pet cougar or wild cougar. DNA or hair for that matter can detirmine the species and possibly what area of the country the cat orginated from but can not reveal pet verses wild.
I found the information the Michigan Out door news. Do a google search of "michigan cougar dna" and you will find it. The information has been disputed. But like I said when I made my post I still believed it to be true.

[NBman]

In the Lapeer Co Press on Oct 24 in the police beat section theres an article about a hunter who says he spotted a cougar while hunting :lol:

[Michigan Mike]

I seen a cougar in oakland county too, not that long ago.
:SHOCKED:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/466242814_081b8e4492.jpg

[boehr]

The information has been disputed.I guess that is the key then.

[trailwart]

its real ignorant not to belive some are here, we seen the track, but not the cat itself, but there are no barriers keeping them fro cruising on in to this state..the funny thing is that some of the people that are bashing the people for seeing tracks, cats itself, or sign are people that beleive in god.. so my question is, since you cant see god or touch him, or even hear his voice or his track, how can you believe there is a god? but have such a hard time beleiving there is a couger running around michigan( and last time i checked there really are cougers in existance that you could see with your own eyes, see there tracks, and see there scat) go ahead and dont beleive cougers exist and keepyourself busy with the BLIND FAITH you have.

[bucknduck]

cougars in Michigan. I used to own one. It was a 73 black fast back convertible. 60's on the back and boy could that thing lay some rubber. Oh those teenager days.:D

[Swamp Monster]

its real ignorant not to belive some are here, we seen the track, but not the cat itself, but there are no barriers keeping them fro cruising on in to this state..the funny thing is that some of the people that are bashing the people for seeing tracks, cats itself, or sign are people that beleive in god.. so my question is, since you cant see god or touch him, or even hear his voice or his track, how can you believe there is a god? but have such a hard time beleiving there is a couger running around michigan( and last time i checked there really are cougers in existance that you could see with your own eyes, see there tracks, and see there scat) go ahead and dont beleive cougers exist and keepyourself busy with the BLIND FAITH you have.


Then feel free to believe that all these sightings are accurate. Hell we must have hundreds of these things running around. Feel free to believe the MWC which has been discredited numerous times. Feel free to believe every newspaper article written by Tom Dick and Mary. No one is telling you what to believe so what are you worried about? Some of us want proof, undisputable proof of wild Cougers. To this day, nobody has done it in the lower peninsula. Been lots of talk, been lots of I have proof and will show you....but never happens, just talk. I will not be surprised to find out some are running around, but like the Wolverine, we will find out that they are not here on their own accord.

[Swamp Monster]

cougars in Michigan. I used to own one. It was a 73 black fast back convertible. 60's on the back and boy could that thing lay some rubber. Oh those teenager days.:D



A buddy of mine has a pristine 1967! Great cars and don't get the recognition they deserve.

[trailwart]

swamp, i know what i beleive and have seen. my point to my last post was actually for the guys bashing on people for what they seen. its the (i havnet seen it, there full of ***** attitude) people that get to me. its fine not to beleive, everyone has there opinion. but to bash people that post there legit sightings or information are the ones that bother me because it will deter people from being open in the future on what they have seen, if all they got to look forword to is people trying to make them look like an ass. to bad the national forest service guys would of took us serious that day in the u.p. and then we would be talking about a confimed track that would have been looked into. but what are you to do when they dont even take it serious. and its hard to have that proof when you cant have the track even examined by a professional. if it would have been taking serious it would of been an easy tracking party with the snow that was on the ground, but we didnt have the balls to see where they went, and i dont know how much big cats travel, but we have since not come across another track hunting there.

[sigman]

I guess that is the key then.
I dont know if they exist or not. Just what I read. And what I read at the time they said they existed. Do a search and you will find plenty. Exactly what I read at the time.

[wally-eye]

I seen one a couple of years ago up by Freesoil, it was crossing the road and had a banner attached to it that read " RE-ELECT JENNY".......:dizzy:

[Shop Rat]

I was asked to post this here, although I don't think cougars are in the hunting catagory for Michigan.

I talked to my father-in-law last night. He had a near miss with a tornado at his place and I went up there to get pictures to show him. Well, he told me that someone he knows has a place near St. Helens and they saw a cougar last weekend. He also told me that the person called the dnr and someone came out and took plaster casts of the tracks. Also, he told me that "They" said the tracks were a cougar for sure.

I am not a believer, other than a few dumped off pets are around. With that said, this is the story he told me. I was wondering if anyone else heard about this incident near St. Helen. The information is third hand by the time it got to me, so I also wonder if the details are correct.

[boehr]

its real ignorant not to belive some are here, we seen the track, but not the cat itself, but there are no barriers keeping them fro cruising on in to this state..the funny thing is that some of the people that are bashing the people for seeing tracks, cats itself, or sign are people that beleive in god.. so my question is, since you cant see god or touch him, or even hear his voice or his track, how can you believe there is a god? but have such a hard time beleiving there is a couger running around michigan( and last time i checked there really are cougers in existance that you could see with your own eyes, see there tracks, and see there scat) go ahead and dont beleive cougers exist and keepyourself busy with the BLIND FAITH you have.I don't think anyone is bashing anyone for saying they seen something. Just keep in mind that we are talking about wild cougars. If is a fact that we have had some escaped pet cougars. I wouldn't even say we have never had any wild cougars in the UP passing through but I don't believe we have wild cougars living in Michigan at this time.

sigman, I don't need to do a search to read about the reports, I have been involved in investigating some of those reports.

[trailwart]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=189037

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/2005/articles12/another_horse_attacked_by_cougar.htm



http://www.miwildlife.org/cougars.asp

[boehr]

Example, the article about the horse being attacked in Berrien County was false. I was involved in that investigation. None of those sites you gave provide any proof of wild cougars.:eek:

[Swamp Monster]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=189037

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/2005/articles12/another_horse_attacked_by_cougar.htm



http://www.miwildlife.org/cougars.asp

The MWC??? Please don't use them in your quest to offer proof. You simply lose all credibility in your case when you use the MWC to back your case...all credibility. The pic in the first article on jsonline? Not a wild Cougar as the pic would suggest. Do some research on the MWC and all their "proof". They are in it for the money to some extent and I believe they and their staff have some questionable motives...just my belief but I know others that feel the same way. I have no problem looking at the issue objectively, but bring the MWC and that objectivity is gone. Believe them if you want to, thats up to you, but don't blindly read an article or a website and believe it verbatim.

[Michigan Mike]

..the funny thing is that some of the people that are bashing the people for seeing tracks, cats itself, or sign are people that beleive in god.. so my question is, since you cant see god or touch him, or even hear his voice or his track, how can you believe there is a god?
go ahead and dont beleive cougers exist and keepyourself busy with the BLIND FAITH you have.

Well, it's about time god got involved withone of these cougar threads!
Lord only knows the mods can only do so much!
:)

[Whit1]

Well, it's about time god got involved withone of these cougar threads!
Lord only knows the mods can only do so much!
:)



:lol:...........Thanks for the chuckle Mike!

Other than to say something like, "Here we go again" when someone posts that photo of the cougar on the deck peering into a house through a sliding glass door I usually don't comment in these cougar threads. "Marty from Martin" is what I call that cat......:lol:

In one of those sites listed a ways above that gives "proof" of wild cougars in the state a lady by the name of Pam Benson was mentioned. She used to own a feed/hardware store in Kaleva here in Manistee County. I've known her for many years having taught her two children in school. While I don't see her very often now and then we do run into each other. I'll ask her about the cougar map that she posted in her store.

A few years ago a member in another cougar thread stated that a cougar had attacked a horse in Manistee County. Shortly after that post I ran into Pam and asked her about it. She is a real horse lover and I figured she would have some insight.

She told me that she had sold a horse to someone who lives(d) between Kalava and Copemish. The horse was a bit skittish during the transfer and had backed up against some barbed wire and was scratched. That turned into a "cougar attacks horse" story that spread around the state. It was purely a false rumor foisted by those who pine with salivating glee in their efforts to proof that Michigan does have a viable, wild, breeding population of cougars..........which it very well may have by the way.

The problem comes along when groups and indviiduals that are trying to prove the existence of said population of cougars (that right there goes against the very core of the Scientific Method) jump on these reports and post them as factual when indeed they aren't.

That Berrien County "cougar attacks a horse" story is but one example of such tainted scientific research.

I'll see if I can get in touch with Pam and ask her about the map.

[Undertow]

boehr,
Since you have been involved in the states search for cougars can you answer this. Has there been actual cougar scat found. Has it been DNA tested and confirmed to be that of a cougar. Was if found in the U.P or L.P. Is the state doing any type of research to find out if we have an established population such as live trapping and etc. This one might be a little bit harder, if we have an established population, not just one or two that have wandered in from montana via the dakotas, minnesota and wisconsin can our states natural resources ( enough food, wilderness, and etc.) support a wild population. I just want some facts if you have them.
Thanks
Undertow

[Swizel Chest]

I don't think anyone is bashing anyone for saying they seen something. Just keep in mind that we are talking about wild cougars. If is a fact that we have had some escaped pet cougars. I wouldn't even say we have never had any wild cougars in the UP passing through but I don't believe we have wild cougars living in Michigan at this time.

.


If they have escaped and were pets don't they become wild again (kind of like the feral pigs) thus both sides could be somewhat accurate. Feral in and of itself is defined according to dictionary.com (not the most reputal dictionary I grant you) as wild.

I don't have a solid opinion on the issue. I am more of a skeptical observer. I think it is possible as they are known for the elusiveness, and have a home range of 200 miles or so. There have been plenty of new species discovered over the last 100 years, isn't it at all possible? If they are in Michigan I hope I am not the first one to meet a hungry one out in the woods.

[boehr]

boehr,
Since you have been involved in the states search for cougars can you answer this. Has there been actual cougar scat found. Has it been DNA tested and confirmed to be that of a cougar. To the best of my knowledge, not by the DNR.

Was if found in the U.P or L.P. Is the state doing any type of research to find out if we have an established population such as live trapping and etc. The state investigates some of the instances and the state gathers info from alledged sights. That is about it so far.

This one might be a little bit harder, if we have an established population, not just one or two that have wandered in from montana via the dakotas, minnesota and wisconsin can our states natural resources ( enough food, wilderness, and etc.) support a wild population. I just want some facts if you have them. There is no factual information to indicate we have any wild breeding cougars in the state little lone a established population.

[boehr]

If they have escaped and were pets don't they become wild again (kind of like the feral pigs) thus both sides could be somewhat accurate. Feral in and of itself is defined according to dictionary.com (not the most reputal dictionary I grant you) as wild.

I don't have a solid opinion on the issue. I am more of a skeptical observer. I think it is possible as they are known for the elusiveness, and have a home range of 200 miles or so. There have been plenty of new species discovered over the last 100 years, isn't it at all possible? If they are in Michigan I hope I am not the first one to meet a hungry one out in the woods.It is my belief that the escaped pet cougars end up coming back to the owner in about a week at the most because many are declawed so they would not be able to fend or find food for themselves. Hence the reason that none seem to ever get shot during the hunting seasons. Many hunting dogs would track a cougar just as fast as whatever else the dogs were after but that never seems to happen either. Also the reason that no tracks in the snow are ever found to enable easier tracking Most sightings are in spring and summer. If they didn't come back to their owner then I suspect they would soon die because they could not fend for themselves. If a pet cougar was able to fend and feed itself, you could be right, it might become wild but then there would be evidence of that animal being around in one general area sooner or later and not show up all over different parts of the state and never stay in one area, even at 200 square miles which is only a block of 10 miles wide by 20 miles long.

As for my personal opinion, you will never find a post by me that states it is impossible and will never happen (the wolves currently in the state came on their own from other states). You will find me saying if the state stated that yes there are wild breeding cougars out there then one could say prove it. Again the state can't prove it. So what is more right, to say there must be none because there is no hard creditable evidence or, to say yes they are there but we can't tell you anything about where because we don't know where.

Living in Florida now where there are also many areas where getting around is difficult, Florida does have cougars, not many but the factual evidence is there. They are protected down here too.

[Dom]

I know for a fact my ex-wife's second cousin's son's friend's neighbor saw a very large, tan . . . . OH, forget it, you's ain't gonna believe me anyway :lol:

I think it is possible, either passing thru or living very seclusively, but with more and more cams on 24/7 it may be just a matter of time. Actually, I'm kinda surprised none have officially been documented yet. Time will tell, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Overdew]

I have a question.
What is the big deal if there are wild cougars in Michigan?
They are all over the place in the foothills of the Rockies. Is it just to prove someone is wrong because they will not admit it, or just a good source for a joke?
Be more concerned about the YOTE population explosion.
:dizzy:

[Whit1]

It is my belief that the escaped pet cougars end up coming back to the owner in about a week at the most because many are declawed so they would not be able to fend or find food for themselves. Hence the reason that none seem to ever get shot during the hunting seasons. Many hunting dogs would track a cougar just as fast as whatever else the dogs were after but that never seems to happen either. Also the reason that no tracks in the snow are ever found to enable easier tracking Most sightings are in spring and summer. If they didn't come back to their owner then I suspect they would soon die because they could not fend for themselves. If a pet cougar was able to fend and feed itself, you could be right, it might become wild but then there would be evidence of that animal being around in one general area sooner or later and not show up all over different parts of the state and never stay in one area, even at 200 square miles which is only a block of 10 miles wide by 20 miles long.

As for my personal opinion, you will never find a post by me that states it is impossible and will never happen (the wolves currently in the state came on their own from other states). You will find me saying if the state stated that yes there are wild breeding cougars out there then one could say prove it. Again the state can't prove it. So what is more right, to say there must be none because there is no hard creditable evidence or, to say yes they are there but we can't tell you anything about where because we don't know where.

Living in Florida now where there are also many areas where getting around is difficult, Florida does have cougars, not many but the factual evidence is there. They are protected down here too.


That's a great post Ray!

The problem with it is that you bring in calm, logical thinking into an issue that seems to cause so much emotional excitement out of so many. We can't be havin' any of that there logic and sensible talk here in any cougar thread in these here forums............:lol: Why shucks, everyone knows that if ya aren't fer the fact of courgars bein' here in Mishigan ya are agin it.

[duckhunter187]

so cougars are protected in Mi??

[boehr]

so cougars are protected in Mi??Page 27 in the Hunting Guide.:eek:

[Linda G.]

The Michigan DNR has created a website, offered protection for, and sent biologists out west to study (what a waste of money that was, but must have been a nice vacation) an animal that hasn't been proven to exist as a wild animal in Michigan because of politicial pressure exerted by a Democratic administration that is, or was at one time, highly influenced by those with financial influence who were diehard believers in the ranting of the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy.

Talk to any DNR biologist in the field, privately, and they laugh hysterically at the entire situation.

Is it possible that a truly wild cougar might wander into Michigan once in a while? Absolutely. They have documented wild cougars right next door in northeastern Minnesota.

Do we have a POPULATION of wild cougars, especially in places like Madison Heights, Jackson, Monroe??

C'mon.

Ray hit on one thing I've always found laughable-yes, all of the sightings occur in the spring and summer, when most of the tourists are out and about in the woods.

In the wild, cougars don't move around much when it's hot, preferring the cooler weather of the fall and winter, and the cover of night.

In the fall and winter, the hunters are out, running dogs, trail cams, and video cameras...and yet, we have no proof of the existence of wild cougars. And we never get sightings reported in the winter.

A friend of mine, a man who I've become friends with over the years after I got to know him and his now 19 year old pet cougar-see Nina in my photo gallery-takes Nina to a vet in the Flint area who is known all over the Midwest for his knowledge of large felines-he is used by several zoos, and most of the owners of the legally kept wild felines in the Midwest. Per federal requirements he keeps huge logs on all of these animals.

And told my friend just a couple of months ago that there are now just 12 legally kept domestic cougars in the state of Michigan. All of them are incredibly old, like Nina, and simply living out what's left of their lives. There are no legal breeders of cougars for use as pets anymore anywhere that he knows of.

He does not keep track of all of the illegally kept felines out there-since it's a fad with drug dealers and people like that, it's possible there's a good many more felines in the state of Michigan living in someone's basement than anyone knows, he has said, and that incluldes panthers, lions and tigers

[KalamazooKid]

I knew this would flush you out Linda!:) (Hope all is well!)

I'm scared to the point of warning all of my neighbors in Lawrence .....

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/Cougar_sign.JPG

Please, don't let your pets out after dark!

[stillwaiting]

I used to raise exoctic birds in my 20s, and got to know a guy who brought in exoctic animals from other countries -- things weren't so strict like they are now. I went to his shop one day and he pulls out a baby African lion he was bottle feeding. He invited me to his house, said there's something you have got to see. When I got to his house he had a Tiger in his garage. He converted the entire garage into a big cage. Went in and played with a tiger. Will never forget that. Thing wasn't full grown, but when it jumped up on you it wanted to play, thing knocked me to the ground. And it wasn't declawed or de-fanged.

I think some people have to own "exotics" to make a statement. Myself, I just enjoyed something different. Really never told people about it, it was just a hobby for myself.

The things people own. :dizzy: