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Cougar in Southern MN

2.8K views 25 replies 20 participants last post by  Seth the XSlayr  
#1 ·
I was reading a local newspaper today and saw an article stating that there was evidence of a cougar in the river bottoms near St. Peter. There have been some sightings of a large "cat", and a fast moving black animal. There have also been some large cat tracks seen, and some feral cat live traps found no where near where they had been. Just thought this was interesting. Anyone have any evidence of their own?
 
#2 ·
I grew up just north of Stillwater, MN in Washington County. There have been sightings of a black panther a bit north of my place a few years ago. I'm not sure if it was ever shot. Also there are some black bears now within about two miles of my parent's house, and other actual cougar sightings in the past. It's rare, but folks see them every so often.
 
#3 ·
I orginally from Henderson, and my buddy found some tracks in the river bottoms near LeSueur. Also, probably 35 years my grandfather saw a cougar on our farm. I think there are occasionally big cats moving through the area, the Minnesota River Valley would provide good habitat for a cat or two, especially with the deer population in the area.
 
#4 ·
Everybody claims to have seen a "black panther". Last I checked, the only species of large cat un the US (larger than bobcat or lynx) is the mountain lion. This animal does not come in black except a rare melanistic color phase. There is no such thing as a "black panther"!!!!!!! If everybody is seeing them, where are the pictures?!? As background, I have my bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation. Definitely not claiming to be an expert. This is the way it is according to wildlife biologists. This is easily looked up on the internet. The black panther is urban legend. Not trying to hijack this thread, just venting. I have been called an idiot or stupid on matters of wildlife facts by complete morons so many times that it makes me see red. Clarification--not calling anyone on this site a moron, you all know the type. "My bow has one pin out to 80 yds" or "my 270 doesn't drop at all out to 500 yds". I'm done ranting now, thank you for putting up with this post.
 
#6 ·
Haaaaaaaaaaaa. Much better. I also should have clarified, I am referring to the US on the cat thing. There are some black color phase cats in the world, but these occur in areas like Asia. If you will excuse me, I have to pack for my Wyoming jackalope trip now. ha ha
 
#7 ·
Black Cats...

Thought Jaguars could also be black...pretty sure anyway, and recently I saw pics somewhere of a Jaguar "treed" on a ledge in AZ near the mexican border.....and historically, the southwest was habitat for jaguars, just not in the last hundred years.....

I think :)

PUG
 
G
#8 ·
Actually

Even the name Mountain Lion is nothing more than a nickname for a Cougar. The Cougar has about a dozen listed sub-species found from SW Florida to Oregon.

These cats are commonly refered to as Puma, Cougar, Mountain Lion, etc., etc..

I think the problem is, that people watch too much football. Jacksonville Jaguars?????

Black cats, specifically the Black Jaguar is often mis-called the Black Panther, when in fact it is a Jaguar..

Jaguars are also found in South America, Central america and small parts of the South West. There is also a Sub-Species of Jaguar called the Texas..
 
#9 ·
ok...

so after reading up, there have been reportedly 64 jaguars killed in Arizona since the 1800's and 80+ sightings....64 seems like a high number to me, but I'm no expert....

PUG
 
#11 ·
Those cats are efficent killing machines. They can thrive in about an eco system in the US if people dont make it impossible for them to live there (killing them).
 
#12 ·
sambo3006 said:
Everybody claims to have seen a "black panther". Last I checked, the only species of large cat un the US (larger than bobcat or lynx) is the mountain lion. This animal does not come in black except a rare melanistic color phase. There is no such thing as a "black panther"!!!!!!! If everybody is seeing them, where are the pictures?!? As background, I have my bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation. Definitely not claiming to be an expert. This is the way it is according to wildlife biologists. This is easily looked up on the internet. The black panther is urban legend. Not trying to hijack this thread, just venting. I have been called an idiot or stupid on matters of wildlife facts by complete morons so many times that it makes me see red. Clarification--not calling anyone on this site a moron, you all know the type. "My bow has one pin out to 80 yds" or "my 270 doesn't drop at all out to 500 yds". I'm done ranting now, thank you for putting up with this post.

I certainly agree that there are no natural black panthers or big cats in Minnesota naturally, but I know many families have seen this cat near my parent's house. Actually seen it. No photos, but it's not like people are just making it up. Most of us assumed that maybe it was a captive cat that was let go into the wild and has somehow survived.
 
#13 ·
Just finished looking up this very issue on the net. This has been reported twice on our lease this year. There is a sub species in Mexico and has been seen in Texas, it is called the Jaguarundi! It COULD be feesable this animal would roam. Not agreeing or disagreeing, just offering info!
 
#16 ·
It is funny how everyone is seeing black panthers and mountain lions. I must just be blind because I spend many days outdoors and have never seen anything that remotely looks like a mountain lion or even a track that comes close, but if you ask people around town hell they see em about every week. I would imagine those black and yellow labs are getting pretty thick. One guy claimed to have shot a mountain lion with his bow and when it was tracked down and found it was actually a bobcat. Not sure how you get those 2 confused.
 
#18 ·
A few years ago around here in east central MN there was a cougar running around here. A number of people saw it and even had pictures of it and if I remember right had found deer that it had killed. I'm not sure what ever happen to it if the DNR got rid of it or if it just left. Makes you wonder if they are real wild cats or if the ecsaped from someones pen. Just hope I never run into one in the woods.
 
#19 ·
Panthers are not all that uncommon throughout FL. However if one is reported, the Biologist immediately do everything they can to discount the sighting. I reported seeing a young panther in a Wildlife refuge where I hunt and the ranger told me to just keep it to myself. They knew there were panthers there but that they had been told no to contradict the official line.
There is a lot of money involved in panther research.

As to color, I have seen 10 or 12 panthers in my life and none of them were black.
 
#21 ·
I heard from this one guy who knows this other person who went to high school with this guy who used to know about wild animals. He told me that the black panther that everyone is seeing is a distant cousin to the infamous Bigfoot, and an even more distant cousin to the Yetti.




The only Benado thinking the black cat is Bigfoot's house cat.:)
 
#22 ·
SD Lions...

SD GFP wasn't too excited to publish the fact that there are lions in the state, especially the eastern half. We had our first season this year.

There have been sightings over the years, especially in river bottoms. They killed a great big one last year in the middle of a pretty good size town (Yankton) VERY close to an elementary school. Last year, the guy renting the land that I hunt claimed to see one run across a field and into the pasture that I hunt. I did not ever see any sign, but I also saw only 3 deer in about 30 sits compared to about 35 deer every other year.

My opinion is that there are plenty of cats around in the midwest, especially as their natural habitat gets gobbled up. The non-dominate males have to go somewhere!

As far as a black one, if it's true, then I'd guess it would be a captive one that was let go or escaped.

Chadmad
 
#23 ·
I can attest to the occasional occurance of cougars in northern Minnesota. My parents live near Leech Lake and my mother has actually seen one! Mom's a pretty sharp woman and I don't doubt she knows what she saw. They have aquaintences who also report sightings. Rare sighitngs but valid IMO. Whether these are transient natural cats, resident animals, or escaped/released domestic cougars I don't know. I have read that cougars have a huge home territory, in the hundreds of square miles, so it might not take as many animals as you would think to have a breeding population.

I remember a few years back there were several sightings of a black cougar-like animal around the Hugo area. Not sure if that animal was ever confirmed or if it was nothing but legend.

As far as a black cougar-like animal anywhere in this part of the world, I would think that would have to be an escaped/released domestic cat. There are a lot more people who keep exotic pets like large cats than most people think...