Wisconsin Cougar from Illinois

Wouldn’t you know that Wisconsin’s first cougar in 100 years would be a FIB?

A male cougar shot and killed by police April 14 in Chicago was the same animal positively identified in Wisconsin - the first confirmed instance there in a century.

DNA results also showed the young animal was of North American origin with ties to the Black Hills of South Dakota, the nearest wild cougar population.

1. First cougar in 100 years my rear end.  Our DNR amazingly refuses to acknowledge that we have certain animals in this state for as long as they possibly can.  I am not sure why; my guess is they don’t want to have to create a management plan for new animals so they just pretend they are not hear.  Here is an old article (2003) that discusses Cougars in the UP.

   http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=189037

   I grew up about 30 miles from the UP.  Why am I supposed to believe that a Cougar will travel from South Dakota to Wisconsin and Illinois, but accept without question that the Cougars in the UP won’t move into Northern Wisconsin?

   Posted by on May 01, 2008 at 1028 hrs




2. The article says the cougar came from South Dakota through WI to IL.  Technically, does that makes it a FIB?  Was it wearing a Bears sweatshirt, or otherwise acting obnoxiously?  That sort of behavior would help us determine if it was a FIB or a relocated Cheesehead.

   Just my $0.02.
   - Leonard

   Posted by on May 01, 2008 at 1123 hrs




3. Mountain lions are dangerous.  If you acknowledge their presence, then you have to acknowlledge the danger they pose.

   Posted by on May 01, 2008 at 1251 hrs