After rereading my post again, I feel it's only fair to let you know that I am not intentionally picking on you, fishinmajishin. I just don't feel the same sense of urgency that you appear to be feeling. That's all.

Bob

That was a really nice way of calling me a liar, Bag. Your subtle jabs/sarcasm are much appreciated.
BobT...I guess when you said "crying wolf" I took it as meaning you didn't believe that a cat was even seen. Your stats are most likely right on, but I don't think they're much reassurance to my friend as he walks into his stand anymore. And your right, MOST of us have much more important things to worry about.

There are a number of big cats north of Fergus and in the Maplewood SP vicinity.

They've torn up some Horses in the last few months in the area.

As someone said.....


Shoot

Shovel

Shut up

One stat that I didn't include because I couldn't find specifics, only reports, was that bobcats are also known to attack humans on occasion. From what I found, many of these situations are the result of unhealthy animals but some were not.

We even hear of deer, moose, and other animals attacking occasionally. My guess, and it is a guess, is that there have probably been more buck deer that have injured humans in Minnesota than cougars.

Bob

Im confused on where this is going

my post was off topic and deleted.

I think BobT's post was just saying that we have less to worry about with a few cats roaming the state than we do with other critters.

I dont think anyone is worried well i should say there probably are the select few i think more people are like holy cow there are cougars in MN and were seeing more of them, and some people just deny cougars being here. And then there is mine and pinks theory BUT.......we wont go into that again

That's about it. There seems to be this wide-eyed concern about cougars roaming the state as if to say we have to walk outside with one eye watching our back all the time.

I'm saying that yes there are cats around but we have a lot of other reasons to be looking over our shoulder besides them but there's no sense of concern there.

I feel we are making a "moutain lion" out of a "mole" hill.

Bob

BobT, not to read too much into your post, just wondering where those numbers came from? I was at the North American Bear Center and Wolf Center this summer, and I thought the numbers of deaths and attacks that they had was actually lower than what you posted. I don't remember the specific number, but was surprised at just how low the numbers were.

MrK/dwight, which theory is that one? The latest one I am working on is the cover-up in the DNR that goes thru the metrodome, hangs a right thru white bear lake, then east to the whitehouse, and that is that the DNR is re-integrating the mountain lion population here in MN, has to be by all the sightings. I am still waiting for "my guy" at the DNR to get back to me on this, I bet he'll deny it though. Like Metallica said, sleep with one eye open

Im still working with the DNR letting them go with the help of the president

pauly,

I heard the rumor of the DNR releasing cats in SE MN many years ago, but there just wasn't enough proof there to make me believe it. You're entitled to your opinion. I respect that.

I actually had someone bring this up in one of my turkey hunter clinics. The question started out as, "Can I carry a .45 while turkey hunting". Only after the C.O.'s asked why he needed to carry a handgun turkey hunting did the person provide the reason. There was a good chuckle throughout the room. The hunter has heard so many rumors of Cougars in the river valley between LQP and Le Sueur, he wanted to carry his .45 with incase he was attacked.

Then someone else asked whether it was true or not the DNR was releasing the cats. You already know the answer to that one. I have no reason not to believe the DNR though.

As BobT has mentioned there are other cases of cats attacking people. One case I heard of is a hunter was turkey hunting and was attacked by a Bobcat from behind. They figured the turkey calls attracted the cat which saw some slight movement (the guy in camo) and thought it was the turkey.

What ever the reason for the increased sightings, I find it interesting that we have so many more cats around. Will there ever be a limited season? Possibly. But I have my doubts on that.

The bear statistics came from Wiki. They have a list of the attacks including dates, names, etc.

The only thing I can say is that like anything else, how valid is the information. I have no reason to date not to accept the information as factual.

I'll have to dig a little to find the information about fatalities from cats.

Bob

If you do a web search for Tom Chester cougar attacks you’ll find an org site using tchester.

If you search for list of cougar attacks and check out Wiki’s site you’ll find supporting information similar to the bear data.

Bob

So my friend's dad who worked for the DNR out of Bemidji, now St. Paul, e-mailed him back and the quote was LMAO!! OMG, so he said, no, of course not. What did you expect him to say. interesting the whole what did you expect him to say? I am trying to get him to go on the record here, cause I smell a cover up!