Catymology

More wildcat news. Last week, hunters used their dogs to tree this gorgeous cougar, apparently a wild one, near Spooner, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin officials who came to look have said that wild cougars are rare in Wisconsin and next door here in Minnesota. I sort of wonder whether the cougars might not be migrating. After all, in some parts of the country, it's spring, and young cats have been known to range out quite widely to find mates. Uh, oh. That could lead to more cougars.

The interesting thing about this cougar story is that the hunters backed off. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources asked them to try to trap the cat so that they could put a marker on him and see where he was going. But the hunters, who seemed to have a bad attitude toward government workers of any kind, pulled their dogs out and let the cougar go. I sure hope he's managed to catch some prey, because it's been beastly cold up here in the Upper Midwest recently.

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/local/40797587.html?elr=KArksUUUUå

This cougar is joining the Friday Ark !

Labels: wildcats