Cat caught on camera is confirmed as cougar

A mountain lion prowled a deer trail recently in northern Missouri, a digital photo proves.

[Rodger McKinney]

Why such denial about these very smart animals? I saw a cougar just south east of Pilot Grove Missouri in 1999. It was on a oak fence post on a highway between MO. State 135 and 5 highways.

[missouri thunder]

Its because people that never go into the woods know all about the woods;)

[BarnGoddess]

lol, Missouri thunder. I agree53

[jimbo]

There is no denial from MDC....they said it was a cougar after all didn't they?

[Un-Common Sense]

The wisdom of jimbo...

You should open a Dojo in Steele.

[Rider]

I had a cougar messing with my stock (killed 4) over the summer...dogs went after it, one dog got his entire side slashed open...vets even said it was a cougar that did it...MDC said "no, I'm sure it was just a bobcat, we don't have cougars in MO"...however they did said if I could take a picture of it for them, they'd look at it...if I can site it in for a picture, then I sure as heck can site it in for a shot!!!

[jimbo]

Rider,
How do you know it was a cougar that killed your stock? What type of livestock was it?
There are several types of predators roaming the woods....bobcats, coyotes, stray dogs....cougars are probably the rarest animal in the state. Why was it a cougar and not one of these other more common critters?
As far as the vet goes... Most vets have zero training when it comes to identifying wildlife damage. Vets in Missouri are especially unfamiliar with cougars, just like most citizens of the state.
I'm not calling you a liar....but the probability that a cougar attacked you stock is pretty minimal.
Sorry...just calling it like I see it!

[Rider]

jimbo wrote:

Rider,
How do you know it was a cougar that killed your stock? What type of livestock was it?
There are several types of predators roaming the woods....bobcats, coyotes, stray dogs....cougars are probably the rarest animal in the state. Why was it a cougar and not one of these other more common critters?
As far as the vet goes... Most vets have zero training when it comes to identifying wildlife damage. Vets in Missouri are especially unfamiliar with cougars, just like most citizens of the state.
I'm not calling you a liar....but the probability that a cougar attacked you stock is pretty minimal.
Sorry...just calling it like I see it!

no offense taken...however, the probability that a cougar attacked my stock is 100%...the "stock" is goats, the damage on the dog (claw marks and depth) greater than any other cat can cause, paw prints molded and sent to a wildlife expert, dead goat hanging high up in a tree where it had been drug up it, and a complete visual, not once but twice...a few others had encounters as well and reported them, but they were also told "we don't have cougars in MO" ...no question, it was a cougar

[jimbo]

Well...I have to admit that does sound like a cougar...especialy being dragged up into a tree.
I'd put a trail camera out to try to get pictures if I were you.

[Silverowl]

I saw a cougar in Cabool, Missouri in Texas county in 1998. Driving on a country road and he was standing behind a fence out in a field, close to the road. He didn't move when I stopped the truck. He just stood his ground looking at me.

[closetohome]

I saw my first bobcat north of Richmond Missouri in 1976. We had been hearing them screaming at night for several weeks, then one morning one walked across the pasture not 500 feet south of our house. It could have been a couger, however it was a long sleek cat. I do remember it's ears were pointed at the tips.

[Laura]

I know someone that has a stuffed cougar mounted over their fireplace north of chillicothe, mo that he shot on his own property several years ago. They are around, and by the way I have seen myself, along with several other sightings, of wolves in the woods between chillicothe and chula. To deny these animals exist in Missouri is silly, most people that spend time around these woods know they are there.

[toledo outpost]

I live in a suburban area with woods in back of my house and have seen one fox in my back yard. Probably moved on, what with all the urban sprawl going on these days here.

[Me_Myself]

Saw a black panther early at dawn in the fall of 1994. I was traveling West on 60 Hwy from the twin bridges. There at the tristate bridges over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. On the Missouir side west about a mile and a half. The black panther was eating an animal on the side of the road and snarlled at me as I passed. I thought it strange he didn't run.

[anon]

IN 92, I was living in my moterhome near Cabool and had a black panter come right up to the door of the moterhomewhile I was eating, no camera handy to take a picture. Year and a half ago was about 3-4 miles from the first sighting and I was driving down a dirt road and seen something standing in the road a little ways up ahead. By the time I got up to where it was in the road, it had went into the woods. I did have a camera with me this time and I got out of the car and found paw prints bigger then my hands and at least an inch or more deep into the ground. Big cat if you ask me!!! And not a bobcat.

[rwende]

believe it------THEY ARE HERE! My boys and I saw a pair of cougars frolicking in a field near Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area where there are lots of walkers........i hope the deer food supply doesn't run out!!!!!!!!!

[Ian J Robinson]

Where's the proof?

[MO-jo]

We live in the country outside of Mexico, MO. In 2002 or 2003 me and my wife saw a cougar in our driveway. When we called the conservationist who also happens to be a family friend, he confirmed the reports of Cougar sightings in Audrain County. Believe me, I've spend many years hunting in the woods throughout North America. I'm not surprised by these sightings. Country residents beware!

[Heather]

I saw one about 6 years ago on Hwy A outside of Richwoods. It ran across the road in front of me around 5:00p.m. just before dark.

[Barry]

I live @ 10 miles east of Columbia along the Cedar Creek & Hwy WW. I saw what I thougth was Cougar traks MDC said Nope its a dog. If MDC says so it must be true.