Texas - Better Be Looking Over Your Shoulder

Today was a great day for a ride. However, I was a little nervous on my Lucas rural ride in Collin County today. I've seen bobcats, goats, coyote, and various other critters over the years but on the news last night they did a story of a Cougar / Mountain lion sighting in Lucas / East Allen.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa071206_ac_mountainlion.73f4f588.html

Every rabbit and varmit that scurried away today was potential cougar.

Keep in mind that in areas where mountain lions are common, attacks are very uncommon, and I've not heard of any attacks on cyclists even there. You're probably 1000 times more likely to get hit by a truck than to get attacked by a cougar up there.

We lived in Colorado for several years, and in the winter when it got dark early, I'd go hiking up to Horsetooth Rock near Fort Collins at night. Not quite the hazard you might expect. I think in all that time, I saw mountain lion tracks in the snow twice, never saw a mountain lion, saw bears twice while hiking.

Mountain lion sightings are still a somewhat common occurrence across much of Texas, west of I-35. But being the stealthy animals that they are, you are not going to see them very much, even if they are there.

A few months ago I was doing the Mineral Wells-Weatherford rail trail and had a mountain lion (cougar, big cat, whatever) zip across about 40 yards ahead of me. And no, it was not a bobcat.

They might kill and eat your cat or poodle, but the chances of them attacking an adult are very slim.

Mountain lions sightings are still a somewhat common occurrence across much of Texas, west of I-35. But being the stealthy animals that they are, you are not going to see them very much, even if they are there.

A few months ago I was doing the Mineral Wells-Weatherford rail trail and had a mountain lion (cougar, big cat, whatever) zip across about 40 yards ahead of me. An no, it was not a bobcat.

They might kill and eat your cat or poodle, but the chances of them attacking an adult are very slim.

Agreed. As these cat's environment gets taken over by development what do these home owners think is going to happen? I would have some concern for a small child, but you're right that an attack on an adult is quite rare. Those that do happen are usually provoked or from a diseased animal.

I spotted a bobcat at I-75 @ Renner over the summer, in a small grassy area on Renner between the highway and Plano (north side)... at rush hour.

Fear not, I live in East Allen. I have caught the big slug. We are safe now.


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I'm not so sure what this one guy saw was actually a cougar/mountain lion.
no other sightings, no spoor, no tracks. . . (at least not yet).
as for the pet disappearances? I'd put my money on coyotes or maybe
bobcat.

just saying.

Marty

I see coyotes fairly often along White Rock Creek and occasionally bobcats. Most people would be surprised how many still live in that area.
A few years ago, I was geocaching in the marshy area between Mockingbird and NW Highway and got to watch a coyote and two pups wrestling around in a clearing. They didn't catch a wiff of me for about five minutes. Once they did, Mama made an oddish, gurgling growl and poof, they disappeared into the brush. It was way cool.
As for mountain lions, I would love to see one in the wild, (not bearing down on me, mind you).:)

There is a piece of property on the Sachse/Wylie border called Muddy Creek Preserve that has a few larger cats living on it. I have seen the tracks on a freind property that backs up to the preserve. One of his neigboors lost a calf to a larger cat last year. We still here packs of wild dogs/coyotes up there also. The perserve backs up to the landfill up there so there is plenty of food.

My post was sort of tongue and cheek based on the interviews the news station did (Oh my, the children can never go out and play again!!!!). However, I was surprised that any are in this area. I've lived in North Texas my entire life and never heard of a confirmed mountain lion sighting. Thought they were long gone; driven to the south and west parts of the state.

I'm not sceered of a bally ole oversized hairball with long razor sharp claws and big ole sharp fangs.

[QUOTE=simonite;5764348] I've lived in North Texas my entire life and never heard of a confirmed mountain lion sighting. QUOTE]

Can't say for sure about North Texas. Its more common than you think to the west of Fort Worth. Several years ago I was in Stephenville, pulled into a C-store, and saw a bunch of good 'ol boys looking in the back of a pickup. I walked over to see what the fuss was about. The owner had shot and killed a mountain lion that was the size of a german shepard.

They might kill and eat your cat or poodle, but the chances of them attacking an adult are very slim.

Just be a little more careful next time you get a flat, when you are crouching over and not paying attention ...

In Texas, people legally shoot these big cats, so they tend to give people a wide berth. California does not allow shooting of big cats, so they are not afraid of humans, and that seems to be where the attacks usually occur. I am not saying not to be careful; while looking out for mountain lions, you just might see that two-legged predator with a tire iron, which is a much more likely threat.

well it's been about 2 weeks since the "sighting" and the news ran a follow up story.
No one has seen it, seen tracks, nothing.
One local biologist suggested it might have been a large bobcat, I would tend to
agree with this assessment. Now if I were in the Davis Mountains down in Big Bend
that'd be a different story.

marty

well it's been about 2 weeks since the "sighting" and the news ran a follow up story.
No one has seen it, seen tracks, nothing.
One local biologist suggested it might have been a large bobcat, I would tend to
agree with this assessment. Now if I were in the Davis Mountains down in Big Bend
that'd be a different story.

marty

I told you, he's living in my house. He made a break for my chickens and is now my pet slave.

Yeah, I saw that. No new information other than hysterical neighbors in the area having a meeting with a zoologist or somesort. My money is on Coyotes for the missing pets. Saw one in my backyard with an injured foot just Sunday Morning on the way out the door to go to Church. Why is it you never have a camera available for quick shots like that?