Cougar in Sterling Heights?

[gman12]

Any see the news yesterday? Police got cougar on their vidieo cam in Sterling Heights, I saw it on ch. 4 & 7. They estimate it at 40 to 70 lbs. A local dentist said they have seen 2 @ a time. Maybe someones pet? Now, how many people out there have friends or accuaintances with pet cougars?

[Mike Rathnow]

What are people on a cougar scare now or what? The cougar I saw on channel 4, was just a damn house cat. The cat was no where near 40 to 60lbs. I guess if you really want to get on tv now, all you have to do is tape a out-of-focus or distance house cat and claim it to be a cougar. As a matter of fact, I saw a grey wolf going down my street today in Eastpointe. Or was it the husky the neighbor on the next street has? Who knows, maybe the grey wolf has finally migrated down this far. I swear it was a wolf though. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[tedshunter]

I think the dentist and his patients are inhaling too much of that nitrous oxide.:D Looked like a domestic house cat to me.

[Adam Waszak]

Whatever happened to Lenewee county sighting? If they had confirmed tracks in the snow, why wouldn't they try to locate a houndsman to get on the tracks and find out once and for all if this was a legit sighting or not?

AW

[Mike Rathnow]

Because no one has put any true evidence of a cougar being around. They did trap a cat. But like the report says they trapped a cat. A domestic house cat. I've been to some of the areas where these so called cougar sighting have been reported. And no one I've talked to have seen anything that even comes close to looking like a cougar. No tracks, no kills that the so called cougar made, nothing. I'm not saying that there isn't any cougars in Michigan, or even a cougar escaping as a pet from someone. But as most people know cougars a illegal to have in the first place. And they will pay a fine for keeping one. But the reports of cougar being in Sterling Heights, or Lenewee Co. As far as I'm concerned are false. And people are bored and have nothing better to do, than come up with some skeem to get their name in the news or on tv. Especially the cougar in Sterling Heights. As populated as it is there, your going to tell me a cop, and a dentist are the only 2 people that have seen this animal. I Don't Think So. :lol:

[xringer223]

I think the dentist and his patients are inhaling too much of that nitrous oxide.:D Looked like a domestic house cat to me.

I agree it definitely is a house cat. I saw that clip on the film and immediately started cracking up. But I can understand why a bunch of city people would think it was a cougar. So not to hurt any feelings since that is what would be politically incorrect. I shall call it .................( CITY COUGAR ).

[walleyechaser]

LMAO !
That's a good one, City Cougar. Kinda Like CIty Chicken which
is not chicken at all but sure tastes good.

[SRT]

? The cougar I saw on channel 4, was just a damn house cat. The cat was no where near 40 to 60lbs. I guess if you really want to get on tv now, all you have to do is tape a out-of-focus or distance house cat and claim it to be a cougar. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I didnt see the clip, and dont get me wrong cause I dont believe it for a minute, but theyre saying that they determined the 40-70 lb size from using the pics they had from far away and applying the size of the cat to the width and height of the trees, distance between the trees, etc. in relation to the cat. Still not as scary as the liger sighting a few years back, which is pretty much my favorite animal.

[SRT]

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Possible cougar sighting reported



Sterling Heights police get some footage of animal



March 16, 2005













BY STAN DONALDSON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER





It was a game of cat, no mouse, for Sterling Heights authorities Tuesday as they tracked one very big feline through the city streets.



Police said the cat could be a cougar, adding yet another sighting to a long list from around the state in recent decades. So far, claims of cougars, panthers -- even a tiger-lion mix -- have ended with some photos and videos but no big cats in hand.



Sterling Heights police have video footage of the latest mysterious creature, taken from the camera on one of its patrol cars. An off-duty Detroit officer called them around 10:15 a.m. to say he'd seen the cat while getting his hair cut in the suburb.



Sterling Heights Officer John Pachla responded to the call and captured the footage, which shows a long-tailed feline the size of a large dog strolling through a vacant, wooded lot off Irving Road. It's described as 40-70 pounds with a white and sandy-brown coat.



Police Chief Barnett Jones said the cat appeared to be limping. He said several traps have been set at undisclosed locations in hopes of snaring and relocating it. Residents should be cautious, he said, and should call police immediately if they spot the animal.



"That is one big cat to just be walking around the street," Jones said Tuesday evening.



For years, the state Department of Natural Resources insisted that Michigan's last known cougar was killed in the early 1900s. With all the recent sightings, the speculation now is that the cougars are exotic pets that have been released. They are considered an endangered species and are not known to prey on humans.



Jones said it's possible the cat spotted Tuesday was once a pet, then an orphan when it grew too big.



"It's something that happens all the time," he said.



Maybe so, but Christine Marossy never encountered a potential big-cat castoff before Tuesday. Her dental practice is in the 8200 block of Irving, across the street from where the cat was spotted.



She said she was preparing to treat a patient when the patient exclaimed, "Hey, look at that!" and gestured toward the window. They crowded by the window and watched one large tan cat relaxing with a smaller black and white one. After about 20 minutes, the smaller animal ran off after a rabbit.



She still doesn't know the species of either animal. Both were gone by the time authorities arrived at her office. Anyone with information is asked to call Sterling Heights Police at 586-446-2800.

[Gobblerman]

I saw the video last night on Wood TV 8 and it sure looks like a large house cat. We need to see a video of a real cougar in the distance to compare. The one on TV sure looked like a huge tomcat.

I found the bottom clip of a video from Mississipi. Hard to see for sure, however you can hear the men talking in the back ground?

http://www.thejump.net/multimedia/cougar/cougar.htm

Here's an interesting article about cougars moving towards the midwest.

http://animals.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=animals&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.nationalgeographic.com%2Fnews %2F2005%2F01%2F0121_050121_tv_cougar_attacks.html

[tyke]

I agree it definitely is a house cat. I saw that clip on the film and immediately started cracking up. But I can understand why a bunch of city people would think it was a cougar. So not to hurt any feelings since that is what would be politically incorrect. I shall call it .................( CITY COUGAR ).

:yeahthat: Eye-witnesses are notoriously in-accurate. That's why gas stations,convenience stores,etc. have those measurments painted on wall. "He was HUGE,Officer!!!And he had a ROCKET-LAUNCHER!!!"

Anybody remember the Michael Smith song " Panther in MIchigan" ? I have it on tape -1986 ;)

[KEN C]

Using the MWC video footage I did a comparison and it is definetley a cougar LMAO :lol: :lol:

[Big50blaster]

Looks a hole bunch like a house cat to me also. I is gonna wate a while for I decide. The article below says the DNR is lookin at tracks to see if it is a cougar or a exotic pet. Makes me think it might reely be big :confused: or the DNR don't what a housecat track looks like.:lol:

http://www.nbc6.net/news/4291169/detail.html

[deerslayer#1]

House cat my *****!! Thats no house cat people. What are you guys looking at?
I cant believe that Michigan has the biggest house cats in the world! Because thats what those pictures would be, if it weren't a cougar. Wild/domestic/pet whatever, that aint no house cat.

[dyemen]

House cat my *****!! Thats no house cat people. What are you guys looking at?
I cant believe that Michigan has the biggest house cats in the world! Because thats what those pictures would be, if it weren't a cougar. Wild/domestic/pet whatever, that aint no house cat.
Agreed!!!!!! those picture are probably taken from 75 to 100+ yards and the car passing through the video puts size into perspective! Whatever it is......I doubt a House cat.

[Mike Rathnow]

And if you look close to the last part of the tape, the so called cougar has a collar on. And you're going to tell me, that only a dentist and a cop from Streling Heights are the only one's that have seen this so called cougar. You people really need to get a LIFE. There is no cougar running loose in Sterling Heights. Find out where this so called cougar was taped, and spotted. And I'll go out there with anyone that wants to go with me. And I'll prove to the media that the cat they saw was a house cat. I'll give them all the evidence they want including casts of the tracks. Anyone up to this. If so pm me or e-mail me a coyote@wideopenwest.com. Like I said before this is really getting ridiculous, and out of hand. :mad: :D

[deerslayer#1]

And if you look close to the last part of the tape, the so called cougar has a collar on. And you're going to tell me, that only a dentist and a cop from Streling Heights are the only one's that have seen this so called cougar. You people really need to get a LIFE. There is no cougar running loose in Sterling Heights. Find out where this so called cougar was taped, and spotted. And I'll go out there with anyone that wants to go with me. And I'll prove to the media that the cat they saw was a house cat. I'll give them all the evidence they want including casts of the tracks. Anyone up to this. If so pm me or e-mail me a coyote@wideopenwest.com. Like I said before this is really getting ridiculous, and out of hand. :mad: :D

The DNR, and the Detroit Zoo are checking the tracks. So, I am asking what can you do that they are not? I would like to hear it. Also I am very amazed at your challenge. Why, do you need someone to go with you? If you want to prove something to the media, then do it. Actions speak louder than words!! I have been seeing a few videos lately of some big cats, and I mean big cats. They sure look a lot bigger than any house cat my friend.

[Big50blaster]

and some is wrong. I thanks this could go either way. Might be a kitty kat or it mights be a yung cougar. The news story at this adress says the DNR and zoo is lookin at tracks tryin to tell what they is.
http://www.nbc6.net/news/4291169/detail.html

I reely thought it was just probaly a kitty til I read the article above. Surely they wood know what housecat tracks is.:confused: Probaly never know.:sad:

[BVW]

If it was a cougar there would be no question. Just like a deer running across the road or was it a horse? The other videos are the same thing, there was no question the deer in the MWC video were deer,Right? they were standing in the same spot as the house cats , so why is there a question if they were cougars? the deer are clear as day, the cats are not because they are soo small, like house cats..huh??

Also i think Mike wants the people that claim they have cougars in detriot to show him where they are, and where they have been seen,it's kinda hard going into detroit and finding out where these cougars are being seen. Why not take him up on it instead of bad mouthing his proposal?

[deerslayer#1]

If it was a cougar there would be no question. Just like a deer running across the road or was it a horse? The other videos are the same thing, there was no question the deer in the MWC video were deer,Right? they were standing in the same spot as the house cats , so why is there a question if they were cougars? the deer are clear as day, the cats are not because they are soo small, like house cats..huh??

Also i think Mike wants the people that claim they have cougars in detriot to show him where they are, and where they have been seen,it's kinda hard going into detroit and finding out where these cougars are being seen. Why not take him up on it instead of bad mouthing his proposal?

No question those are deer. Why?...............because you are used to seeing deer and know for sure what they look like! People in Michigan are not used to seeing cougars, so when they see one they are not sure! Suppose you take a trip to Africa, do you think most of us would even know for sure what half those animals running around are??

That deer and horse thing?? If you have either one on video, you will figure it out I'm sure. A horse is a lot bigger than a deer just like a cougar is a lot bigger than a Tabby!

No bad mouthing, if your going to sell yourself as something, BACK IT UP!!
Proofs in the pudding!

[BVW]

Most of us can tell the difference between a house cat and a cougar , dispite what animals live in Africa. I know a jackel is not a lion, i am not sure if the people that think those house cats are cougars could tell the difference.
" People in Michigan are not used to seeing cougars" So that is why you are soo sure that that is a cougar because people in michigan don't know what a cougar looks like? interesting logic.
Just answer this question, why is the deer in the video so large and the cats are not? this is silly, enough.

[Mike Rathnow]

I don't have to prove what I know to anyone. When I was going to MSU I was going to major in Biology and Zoology. Until Uncle Sam decided he needed me in the military and they weren't giving out deferments for school any longer. So I had to go in the service. (That was The Vietnam era) And I'll match my tracking skills with the best. Believe me I know the difference between a cougar and a house cat. And on the tape they showed on tv. If you think that animal looked like a cougar. Oh Well. Most of these so called cougar sighting are getting way out of hand. The funny part of the Sterling Heights cougar, next week no one will hear about it any longer. Another thing and don't tell me I can't tell the difference from looking at a track. Hell a normal house cat track is only going to be 1 5/16 x 1 3/8 of an inch at the most. Most cougar tracks are 3 3/4 x 4" and I don't think the stride of a house cat is going to come close to 16 to 18 inches. And as for someone coming along with me. I just said that so someone that doesn't know me could go with me and verify the finding. But you believe what you want to. And I'll believe what I want. As far as I'm concerned this conversation is over.

[Neal]

As far as I'm concerned this conversation is over.

Me too