On Jul 17, 1:15*pm, H the K wrote:
thunder wrote:
On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:06:26 -0400, H the K wrote:

Cougars, by the way, are wonderful animals. An atypical example:

Cougars are a little different than the other animals you mention. *We
are on their menu. *

There's considerable debate/denial, but it seems cougars are returning to
the east slowly, but surely.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/g...columns/story?

* columnist=springer_craig&page=c_col_Springer_couga r_east

We've been intruding upon the habitat of cougars and other apex
predators for decades. We hunt and kill bears, wolves, cougars for
"sport." It's no surprise to me they are beginning to intrude on us.

I saw a piece on a cougar attack out in Wyoming somewhere. A guy, his
wife, and two very small kids were "camping" in an area not usually used
by "campers." They were visited by a fairly small and hungry cougar. The
guy fought off the cougar with a chainsaw, and it ran away, only to be
shot later by rangers. Well, I'm happy for the guy and his family. Maybe
next time, they'll stay out of deep critter habitat.

I've never been fond of firearms although I have no objection to
them. However, with the bears being so plentiful there, I felt I
needed something other than a machete I carry in FL mostly to knock
down spiders so I bought a short barrel shotgun. I doubt I'd shoot
anything with it but maybe the noise would scare a bear.
Last year while wandering down a canyon beside a stream looking for a
cave, I was very concious of it being bear territory. I found fresh
elk tracks and then bear scat. The high grass and flowers all over
the place could easily hide a bear and her young and my daughter was
running ahead of me. I figure I will have to get her some bear pepper
spray and teach her to use it. I will also get some for myself and my
wife.