Seattle tolerates tourists, until they start eating our cats

[pscot]

You have to draw the line somewhere.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_us_city_cougar.html


SEATTLE -- A cougar that prowled through Seattle for about a week and forced the closure of the city's largest park was captured early Sunday, wildlife officials said.

The cougar was immobilized with a tranquilizer in Discovery Park at about 2:30 a.m., Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Darren Friedel said.

An enforcement officer tracked the animal after authorities were told the cougar had been spotted Saturday evening, the latest sighting in or near the 534-acre preserve, Friedel said.

The cougar is a 2 1/2-year-old male, weighs 140 pounds and is in very good health, Capt. Bill Hebner said. Wildlife agents are considering releasing it into the wild in Snohomish County, north of Seattle, he said."It's a very good prospect for relocation," Hebner said. "It wasn't aggressive or stalking people, and it maintained its natural respect for the wild."

The animal likely preyed on house cats during its time in the park, he sa

[Warpy]

1. That's why I keep my kitty indoors

It's better for the songbirds and it's a hell of a lot better for her. While I live too far into the inner city for cougars, there are a few coyotes after dark and a few hungry hawks during the day.

She doesn't seem to mind and never tries to scoot through the door when I open it. She's happy as long as she has a window seat where she can chirp back at the birds.

[morillon]

3. Same here.

My guys stay indoors, too. There are way too many things around here that could eat them or run over them or God knows what. One of these days, I'll build some kind of screened-in outside area that would let them smell and hear the outdoors better.

[enlightenment]

2. I recall reading that mountain lions (cougars) establish

a 100 mile radius of territory as adults, and live very solitary lives. That's 64,000 acres. We humans continue to encroach on their territory, so it's not surprise more and more are showing up in human communities.

I hope they are able to find a place for him.

[pscot]

4. Every so often a puma

follows the railroad tracks into town. Discovery park is usually the end of the line. The fish and wildlife guys will take him back to the mountains where he can find his natural prey, marmots and the occasional backpacker.

[enlightenment]

5. *snork*

Well done . . . :evilgrin: