SOUTHEAST TEXAS.....

Look at what James Snipe hit with his car on a country road 1 mile south of Silsbee, Texas in Hardin County.
The lion was still alive but unable to move, so our neighbor called animal control and they came out and put him down.
A land ownder had seen this one a week before dragging off a 320 lb. steer.
Our neighbor is an amateur taxidermist and he is going to stuff him.
He weighed 260 lbs. While most mature male mountain lions weigh 80 to 150 lbs.
We had no idea they still roamed around here!

Sad that he was hit by a car. I'm wondering if he wasn't someone's pet or previously on an animal reserve or something. As you mentioned, adult male mountain lions almost never get over 150-170 pounds.

Very cool pics!

Flamberge

Needs a bath.

I wanna see the car that hit him! a 260lb, all muscle lion, sure has to do some damage!

Was he located close to the boarder? maybe hes been feeding well?

quote Originally posted by DjDraggin: I wanna see the car that hit him! a 260lb, all muscle lion, sure has to do some damage! Was he located close to the boarder? maybe hes been feeding well?

Now there is an idea! The new border patrol!

quote Originally posted by DjDraggin: I wanna see the car that hit him! a 260lb, all muscle lion, sure has to do some damage! Was he located close to the boarder? maybe hes been feeding well?

Out in the country, that would have been a jacked up pickup truck. Prob just thought they hit an armadillo....

That's a fair sized cat!

The largest reported Cougar (as we call them here in BC) was one in Arizona that was 276 pounds!

Here's a map of their range in North America (although their habitat extends to the southern tip of South America).

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-06-2008).]

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...........

That cat would make one heck of a nice coat, hat and footwear. I don't see any reason to let that hide go to waste. I'm not a hunter any longer and would only shoot to kill such an animal if it were taking domesticated stock down but, I see no reason to just stuff it and put it on display, put that hide to use.

Ron

Beautiful cat. Too bad he had to go that way.

Judging from the racks in the other room, that guy has killed quite a few deer, maybe even more than that cat.

quote Originally posted by Patrick:

Since there are none on the east side of the country, how do they get to the middle of Florida? Do they fly or swim?

oh and this one was 100lbs overweight, maybe that is why it got hit, maybe it was to slow.

I have recently learned that cougars refer to women aged 35-55 who like being with younger men.

[This message has been edited by Gecko (edited 12-06-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Gecko: Since there are none on the east side of the country, how do they get to the middle of Florida? Do they fly or swim?

They were hunted. Human settlers drove them out of most of the southeastern US. But the Florida Panther is now protected, hence the little "island" of habitat in Florida. Check out this website for more details.

quote Originally posted by Gecko: Since there are none on the east side of the country, how do they get to the middle of Florida? Do they fly or swim?

The great spirit protected them ( florida indian reference )

One evening just about dark a cougar not quite that big, walked within 100' of me in Aug 2006. We had been in drought for 3 months. I was sitting in my front yard, drinking some iced tea, and he came sauntering down the power line road. He never glanced at me, and after he passed, I got up, went in and got my good flashlight, and my SKS. Shined my light down the dirt road and saw nothing, but then saw him walk back onto the road, from a small pond. Evidently he was thirsty. Those green eyes shone at me for a moment, then he just turned and walked on down the road till he was out of sight. That was the day I decided to erect a 6' chain link fence around the yard. I never finished the entire fence, but did get it up in the front next to the power line road, and told Jane not to wander the property at night unarmed This is located less than 100 miles from Silsbee. It is very unusual to see a big cat in good weather--even at night. They normally hunt during the worst weather imaginable, wet cold and still, when scents stay close to the ground..

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 12-06-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Gecko: Since there are none on the east side of the country, how do they get to the middle of Florida? Do they fly or swim?

They walk.

But they stay for the tourists.

quote Originally posted by Gecko: I have recently learned that cougars refer to women aged 35-55 who like being with younger men.

Does this explain why your reptile buddies are currently feeling neglected?

Probably, but they normally will not. The wild ones usually avoid human contact unless threatened, surprised, or very hungry. My nearest neighbor has a permit/lic to keep cougars and the Texas game wardens routinely bring him cats they have either captured from farm areas, or have confiscated from owners who either mistreated the animals or that can no longer afford to keep them. His pens are 6' high chanlink fence. The pen where the older mature animal is, has no top. The pen with the younger healthy animals has a chainlink top. He's never had one escape, but if he has a female in heat, it does cause wild males to come in to the area more often than they normally would.

Next time I am over there, I will get some pictures of his cats.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: My nearest neighbor has a permit/lic to keep cougars and the Texas game wardens routinely bring him cats...

Does he keep them as "pets" or what?

Does he breed them?

Are they ever released back into the wild?

I'm looking for the day when somebody hits a Bigfoot on the road.

I want to reintroduce the grizzly to the valleys of California.

quote Originally posted by TK: I want to reintroduce the grizzly to the valleys of California.

I want to reintroduce the grizzlies to Vancouver.

On second thought, forget it. They were a terrible basketball team.

quote Originally posted by texasfiero:

That is a BIG boy to be wondering around in Texas no matter what area he was killed in. I would have hate to run into him while walking thru the brush.

OK...I WANT A CAT like that !!!!!

Think he will sleep on the foot of the bed and purr same as my current cat?

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 12-07-2008).]

quote Originally posted by MidEngineManiac: OK...I WANT A CAT like that !!!!! Think he will sleep on the foot of the bed and purr same as my current cat?

He'll sleep anywhere he dang well pleases, and yes, will purr contentedly------right after he has you for supper.

I agree.....I want to see pictures of the car that hit that behemoth.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Does he keep them as "pets" or what?

More or less, but they are always cats that have previously been in captivity for many years, have been abused, sick, injured, and that have already become dependant upon, and used to interaction with humans.

quote Does he breed them?

He used to, but not as a profit making business. He gave the litters to Texas fish & Wildlife as soon as they were weaned (or close to it)--to be released to the wild. Once the female had young, he interacted with her and the young as little as possible, so the young don't see humans as something they could trust or approach after being released to the wild again. His old male still "does it" with the females, but evidently is now 'shooting blanks'. Hasn't been a new litter in several years.

Please understand. My neighbor is an avid outdoorsman, but is exteremly careful to try to keep things as they should be. He truly is a good steward of nature, & only takes in animals that need care, or that have been abused by someone. He never traps them, and to be honest, I don't know how he can afford to feed the and care for them. He is on a very limited income, is disabled, and really cares for these beautiful cats. He wouldn't harm one in the wild or anywhere else, except as a last resort of self defense, and I have never known him to even do it then.