Comments on: Answering some emails about alligators, mountain lions and bears

By: mike

mike — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:53:33 +0000

That “redneck” comment she made is offensive and for a person who pleads for the population of OK to have respect for these creatures, she needs to first have respect for the great people of Oklahoma, she can start by breaking her meds in half.

By: KIM

KIM — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:58:09 +0000

I have been reading all the blogs and information on the cougars/ mountain lions tonight because we have recently had problems with one taking small dogs and cats an what not. I have 7 or 8 steer calves who im taking to market next month and I am concerned. Was standing on my deck lookin down at where they normally lay at night an a large cat looked to be yellow walked through and we lost it. We have one sick calf that if it were to attack id suppose hed attack him. But how likely would it be for one of them to attack anyone in my family standing persay…. on the front porch or deck? I like to sit an just listen to the peace an quiet right now and im afraid to even look at the door. I am 8 months pregnant and i am just worrying about what to look out for, if I should be aware at all times? Or if there is anytime of the day that I shouldnt have to be looking over my shoulder? Im just a big scardy cat and I dont want to put myself an my bbay in a position that might hurt us both. He was not close to the house but close enough to see his coloring an the long tail an he jumped into a tree it looked like down by the barn? An ive been hearing some strange noises lately around my house. We raise cattle and im just very concerned that it will try to take down some of them. I wouldnt go down there to check it out tonight because of how dark it is obviously but…. Is it safe to go down during the day still? They shouldnt attack unless you give them feeling that you are going to harm them right? Or will they try to protect their catch if they have taken down my one sick calf who was in the yard where we saw the big cat?

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:57:50 +0000

I have done some research on this area, and I have found that Oklahoma was once home to the jaguar and the panther in the mid-to-late 19th century. They became extinct to this area ONLY due to over-hunting for their hides and sport hunting. It has been nearly 150 years since then, so the likelyhood that a few have migrated back is not out of the question. Even according to Prof. Jenks of South Dakota(Leading reseacher in Mountian Lions) has found that mountian lions have traveled(ove 600 miles) from the Black Hills to Oklahoma, so the why not the other way around?

By: edgodfrey

edgodfrey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:15:47 +0000

According to the state Wildlife Department and Wikepedia, there is no such thing as a black or melanistic North American cougar or mountain lion. There are black leopards and jaguars.
However, many people in Oklahoma say they have seen a black cougar, including just recently a friend of mine who claims to have seen one near Chandler.
But there are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars.
None have ever been photographed or shot in the wild and none have been bred.

By: Kenny Mumford

Kenny Mumford — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:29:10 +0000

My wife and I were watching Monsterquest on the “History Channel” and saw where according to the Wildlife department there are no large black cats in Oklahoma. They couldn’t be more wrong. They should talk to the people living in the Arbuckles in the Davis area. I don’t believe in Santa Clause, the tooth fairy or bigfoot, and I didn’t believe big black cats lived in Oklahoma until I saw one for myself. For all I know it was a pet that someone let go, but I know what I saw and I wasn’t the only one to see it.

By: Viola Ogle

Viola Ogle — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:35:00 +0000

I enjoyed the article. I was grown before I learned that alligators were native to Oklahoma.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:35:18 +0000

Thank you so much for publishing this blog. Please keep in mind that I was only so lucky to be able to be around these baby gators and learn about them through the students and teachers that did care for them from day one. The information I provided you with was not of my own knowlege so I would like to thank Jared Wood for answering questions pertaining to the issue. Thanks again Ed.

Heather

By: Cougar News » Blog Archive » Alligators, Bears and Mountain Lions in Oklahoma

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:37:07 +0000

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