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Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Just in Time for Halloween
()
Date: October 30, 2011 10:23AM
Is there a cougar on the loose in D.C.?
Friday - 10/28/2011, 3:09pm ET
Amy Hunter, wtop.com
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2611181
WASHINGTON -- There's a cougar on the loose in Northwest D.C.
We're not talking about a good-looking, older lady. We're talking about an actual cougar, or mountain lion or puma.
And we can't say for certain that there is, actually, a predatory cat roaming Glover Park. But we can say that animal control officers are scouring the streets in search of such a creature.
"Someone could very well have had it as a pet and let it go," says Scott Giacoppo, chief of field services at D.C. Animal Control. "But we're leaning more toward some other kind of animal, maybe a fox, with a skin condition."
A sighting was first reported to animal control on Thursday, Giacoppo says. However, reports have swirled about the sighting over the past few days.
"I know it sounds crazy but two people were witness to the cat," a woman posted on a Cleveland Park online message board. "It seems to be a small one, not fully grown."
The woman, from McLean Gardens, says the animal was seen around 1 p.m. on Oct. 17 in McLean Gardens on the edge of Glover Park. She says the sighting "seems to coincide with the two sightings reported in the news in August this year, one in Loudoun County and the other in D.C. in the District Heights area."
In fact, WTOP's Max Smith was near 35th and Q streets on Tuesday -- before the media reports were circulating -- when he noticed "what appeared to be an unusually large, tan cat -- that looked much bigger than a housecat," he says.
"Then I was in the newsroom and heard people talking about it, and it clicked that I probably saw the same thing."
Giacoppo says while his department is skeptical the animal is, indeed, a mountain lion, they take all reports seriously and are investigating the possibility.
"If it is a mountain lion, our goal would be to safely and humanely capture the animal and then work with our partners in local zoos and sanctuaries to find a safe place for it," he says. "Unfortunately, if it is a pet, they are often declawed, which is on one hand makes him less apt to scratch someone, but they tend not to use their claws and go for a bite when they are declawed"
Giacoppo says there has never been a verified mountain lion sighting in the area.
Attachments:
Friday - 10/28/2011, 3:09pm ET
Amy Hunter, wtop.com
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2611181
WASHINGTON -- There's a cougar on the loose in Northwest D.C.
We're not talking about a good-looking, older lady. We're talking about an actual cougar, or mountain lion or puma.
And we can't say for certain that there is, actually, a predatory cat roaming Glover Park. But we can say that animal control officers are scouring the streets in search of such a creature.
"Someone could very well have had it as a pet and let it go," says Scott Giacoppo, chief of field services at D.C. Animal Control. "But we're leaning more toward some other kind of animal, maybe a fox, with a skin condition."
A sighting was first reported to animal control on Thursday, Giacoppo says. However, reports have swirled about the sighting over the past few days.
"I know it sounds crazy but two people were witness to the cat," a woman posted on a Cleveland Park online message board. "It seems to be a small one, not fully grown."
The woman, from McLean Gardens, says the animal was seen around 1 p.m. on Oct. 17 in McLean Gardens on the edge of Glover Park. She says the sighting "seems to coincide with the two sightings reported in the news in August this year, one in Loudoun County and the other in D.C. in the District Heights area."
In fact, WTOP's Max Smith was near 35th and Q streets on Tuesday -- before the media reports were circulating -- when he noticed "what appeared to be an unusually large, tan cat -- that looked much bigger than a housecat," he says.
"Then I was in the newsroom and heard people talking about it, and it clicked that I probably saw the same thing."
Giacoppo says while his department is skeptical the animal is, indeed, a mountain lion, they take all reports seriously and are investigating the possibility.
"If it is a mountain lion, our goal would be to safely and humanely capture the animal and then work with our partners in local zoos and sanctuaries to find a safe place for it," he says. "Unfortunately, if it is a pet, they are often declawed, which is on one hand makes him less apt to scratch someone, but they tend not to use their claws and go for a bite when they are declawed"
Giacoppo says there has never been a verified mountain lion sighting in the area.
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Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Just in Time for Halloween
()
Date: October 30, 2011 10:25AM
The WTOP Guide to Hunting a Mountain Lion in Glover Park
Friday - 10/28/2011, 2:34pm ET
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2611221
Editor's note: To be absolutely clear, WTOP does not endorse going out and hunting down this mountain lion without the proper training. But if you want to...
WASHINGTON -- Northwest residents have spotted what they think is a mountain lion prowling around the McLean Gardens/Glover Park area.
Local authorities are working to figure out what local residents have seen. Here's how you can contribute, if you have to.
The Puma concolor -- also known as a cougar, puma, catamount or panther -- tends to occupy remote areas with large deer populations, which happens to be the first clue for finding the elusive cats.
"They prey on deer, that's their main food item, and if a mountain lion is around, eventually you'd find a deer carcass," says Helen McGinnis, a former tracker and Cougar Rewilding Foundation information specialist. "They have a very particular way of handling deer."
Upon successfully killing a deer, mountain lions will eat their fill, then camouflage the carcass with sticks, dirt and leaves, McGinnis says. They'll then return to their stash when they're hungry again.
If you come across this kind of food store, a mountain lion is likely nearby.
Of course, the true tracker finds clues in the footprints.
"Cat tracks are more circular, while dogs are more longer than wide," says Warren Moon, an experienced tracker and executive director of the Wilderness Awareness School in Washington state. Domestic dogs are often confused with cats, because they're feet are less "fit, and more sloppy," Moon says.
"Cougars are your Bruce Lee, domestic dogs are your couch potato," he says. Markings from claws is another telltale sign, which cats only extend in muddy or slippery terrain.
The location of tracks also corresponds to the wild cat and dog's disparate hunting styles, says Moon. Dogs tend hunt prey quickly down exposed trails, where they can cross as many scents as possible. Cats, however, prefer to sneak up on their prey, and stay on the edges of places where they can hide and pounce. Learn more about tracks here.
Mountain lions also have the capability to cover long ranges, so it's best to pursue them in a truck, ATV or snowmobile, according to eHow.com.
If you have any trained hunting dogs around, be sure to bring them along as they're probably better at pursuing a mountain lion trail. They can also help chase the wildcat into a tree to capture it, for rereleasing in the wild.
This is important: Once your quarry is cornered, act quickly. These strong beasts may decide to make a break for it after regaining their strength.
"If you see a mountain lion and it seems to not be afraid, make yourself look big," says McGinnis. "Don't run because any animal, just about, would chase you if you start to run away."
To deter a startled animal, she recommends yelling, throwing rocks and picking up any small children. (WTOP also suggests leaving small children at home for this assignment.)
In case the mountain lion does not survive la chasse, consult Taxidermy.Net for more information on preserving the animal and its legacy. If you see anyone handling the mountain lion improperly, check out the PETA website.
Also, consider Tom Brown's Field Guide.
But, McGinnis adds, most mountain lion sightings are something else altogether. Usually the amateur trackers see part of another wild animal such as deer, and jump to conclusions. Or, most likely, they've seen an ordinary housecat and mistook its proportions.
Most of the time, local residents never see them, she says. They're commonly surviving in places like the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Boulder, Colo.
"The cougar may be right around the fringes of town but people would never know it," she says. "They're extremely elusive. That's their lifestyle.
In this photo provided by Gail J. Loveman, Zeus, an 11-year-old Maine Coon cat, encounters a mountain lion through a sliding glass door in Boulder, Colo. Loveman, Zeus's owner, told The Denver Post she was busy in the office of her home when she heard a noise and turned to see a young mountain lion on the porch. (AP Photo/Gail J. Loveman)Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com
Attachments:
Friday - 10/28/2011, 2:34pm ET
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=109&sid=2611221
Editor's note: To be absolutely clear, WTOP does not endorse going out and hunting down this mountain lion without the proper training. But if you want to...
WASHINGTON -- Northwest residents have spotted what they think is a mountain lion prowling around the McLean Gardens/Glover Park area.
Local authorities are working to figure out what local residents have seen. Here's how you can contribute, if you have to.
The Puma concolor -- also known as a cougar, puma, catamount or panther -- tends to occupy remote areas with large deer populations, which happens to be the first clue for finding the elusive cats.
"They prey on deer, that's their main food item, and if a mountain lion is around, eventually you'd find a deer carcass," says Helen McGinnis, a former tracker and Cougar Rewilding Foundation information specialist. "They have a very particular way of handling deer."
Upon successfully killing a deer, mountain lions will eat their fill, then camouflage the carcass with sticks, dirt and leaves, McGinnis says. They'll then return to their stash when they're hungry again.
If you come across this kind of food store, a mountain lion is likely nearby.
Of course, the true tracker finds clues in the footprints.
"Cat tracks are more circular, while dogs are more longer than wide," says Warren Moon, an experienced tracker and executive director of the Wilderness Awareness School in Washington state. Domestic dogs are often confused with cats, because they're feet are less "fit, and more sloppy," Moon says.
"Cougars are your Bruce Lee, domestic dogs are your couch potato," he says. Markings from claws is another telltale sign, which cats only extend in muddy or slippery terrain.
The location of tracks also corresponds to the wild cat and dog's disparate hunting styles, says Moon. Dogs tend hunt prey quickly down exposed trails, where they can cross as many scents as possible. Cats, however, prefer to sneak up on their prey, and stay on the edges of places where they can hide and pounce. Learn more about tracks here.
Mountain lions also have the capability to cover long ranges, so it's best to pursue them in a truck, ATV or snowmobile, according to eHow.com.
If you have any trained hunting dogs around, be sure to bring them along as they're probably better at pursuing a mountain lion trail. They can also help chase the wildcat into a tree to capture it, for rereleasing in the wild.
This is important: Once your quarry is cornered, act quickly. These strong beasts may decide to make a break for it after regaining their strength.
"If you see a mountain lion and it seems to not be afraid, make yourself look big," says McGinnis. "Don't run because any animal, just about, would chase you if you start to run away."
To deter a startled animal, she recommends yelling, throwing rocks and picking up any small children. (WTOP also suggests leaving small children at home for this assignment.)
In case the mountain lion does not survive la chasse, consult Taxidermy.Net for more information on preserving the animal and its legacy. If you see anyone handling the mountain lion improperly, check out the PETA website.
Also, consider Tom Brown's Field Guide.
But, McGinnis adds, most mountain lion sightings are something else altogether. Usually the amateur trackers see part of another wild animal such as deer, and jump to conclusions. Or, most likely, they've seen an ordinary housecat and mistook its proportions.
Most of the time, local residents never see them, she says. They're commonly surviving in places like the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Boulder, Colo.
"The cougar may be right around the fringes of town but people would never know it," she says. "They're extremely elusive. That's their lifestyle.
In this photo provided by Gail J. Loveman, Zeus, an 11-year-old Maine Coon cat, encounters a mountain lion through a sliding glass door in Boulder, Colo. Loveman, Zeus's owner, told The Denver Post she was busy in the office of her home when she heard a noise and turned to see a young mountain lion on the porch. (AP Photo/Gail J. Loveman)Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com
Attachments:
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
angrywhitechick
()
Date: October 30, 2011 12:11PM
I, for one, wouldn't doubt that there is a large cat roaming around. Either a loose pet or one that has moved in from somewhere else. For all of the urban characteristics of D.C. It is a city with great swaths of green corridors and plenty of deer.
I do have to wonder about how seriously this is being taken. A fox with a skin condition? LOL.
I do have to wonder about how seriously this is being taken. A fox with a skin condition? LOL.
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
riley
()
Date: October 30, 2011 01:13PM
That 2nd article is horribly written. Is there no one to proofread at WTOP?
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Whoa
()
Date: October 30, 2011 01:54PM
riley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That 2nd article is horribly written. Is there no
> one to proofread at WTOP?
She's doing traffic. LOL
-------------------------------------------------------
> That 2nd article is horribly written. Is there no
> one to proofread at WTOP?
She's doing traffic. LOL
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
AC
()
Date: October 30, 2011 02:48PM
It's probably just a fox with a swamp gas condition.
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Know Nothing
()
Date: October 30, 2011 04:19PM
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
biker
()
Date: October 30, 2011 07:57PM
Hope so--hee hee!
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Attachments:
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
The Cougar
()
Date: November 02, 2011 07:33AM
.......
Attachments:
Attachments:
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
CougarWatcher
()
Date: November 02, 2011 12:02PM
I saw this one sleeping in a tree
Attachments:
Attachments:
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Genevieve
()
Date: November 02, 2011 03:41PM
I wish I had a pet mountain lion...
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
watch out
()
Date: November 02, 2011 03:48PM
Conie has escaped from the zoo again god damitt
Attachments:
Attachments:
Re: Is there a cougar on the loose?
Posted by:
Yucky24.
()
Date: November 03, 2011 12:59AM
And people are surprised by this, because?
This is what the left-wing environ-mentalists want.
They want to help dangerous predators invade our areas because they've been brainwashed by demented misanthropic environ-mental propaganda since they were kids.
They hate humanity, they hate capitalism, they hate the West, they hate development, they hate any form of human progress.
And they worship nature as a new age religion to replace their secular lack of Christian belief.
They want bears in our neighborhoods, wolves, coyotes, tigers, crocs, snakes, you name it.
And they won't stop until it's impossible to take your dog for a walk without carrying a large bore rifle and revolver.
But oh wait, they want to ban those because the thought of evaaaal humans killing or injuring their precious beasts in self-defense causes them to spiral into a hulk-like rage.
It's the same reason they don't want people carrying guns to protect themselves from the Left's savage feral nigger pets.
This is what the left-wing environ-mentalists want.
They want to help dangerous predators invade our areas because they've been brainwashed by demented misanthropic environ-mental propaganda since they were kids.
They hate humanity, they hate capitalism, they hate the West, they hate development, they hate any form of human progress.
And they worship nature as a new age religion to replace their secular lack of Christian belief.
They want bears in our neighborhoods, wolves, coyotes, tigers, crocs, snakes, you name it.
And they won't stop until it's impossible to take your dog for a walk without carrying a large bore rifle and revolver.
But oh wait, they want to ban those because the thought of evaaaal humans killing or injuring their precious beasts in self-defense causes them to spiral into a hulk-like rage.
It's the same reason they don't want people carrying guns to protect themselves from the Left's savage feral nigger pets.