[GeoStL] Cougars in IL??
- From: Joe Taylor <rockey_f_squirrell@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 06:15:26 -0700 (PDT)
Dont worry it will get into geocaching after an introduction to why I am asking
a question, to IL Geocachers (This is sent to both SLAGA and
RiverValleyGeocachers)
I have been doing a little research, after I thought my mind had been playin
gtricks on me. From about 4 years ago to just last month, I have been
interested in Cougars /Mountain lions, here in IL.. It first started one night
when I was driving a backroad in the Shawnee National Forest, near Rockwood IL
(near chester), and I saw this shadowlike figure walk in front of my car.
I love touring backroads, and I was new to the area so I was exploring all
around, but this time at night, looking for a spot to see the stars with no
lights. Going up and down hills on an isolated gravel road, I saw an animal a
little larger than a dog, with a long thick tail. It looked like sort of a big
cat. It took a brief glance at me and I saw the reflection of it's eyes, so it
is an image that still haunts me and I remember very well.
My friend also saw it, but I still did not know whether I should tell others or
not, they might think I was crazy, I mean all the facts say there are no
Cougars in IL. I mentioned a few times at work, and to my surprise, about 5
different people who hunt say they seen some sort of big cat as well.
About 3 years ago (or was it 2?); it was when the river got somewhat high again
and they closed IL-3. But when they opened it I went out to the Spillway at
Kinkaid Lake to see what the waterflow looked like, and on my way back out
(this was daylight too) I saw a similar figure I saw that night, only with
better perception.
It did not run like a dog or a coyote, but like a cat. I sped up to see a
closer look, because now IDNR was taking reports of Mountain Lion Sightings.
Before I could catch up to it, it veard sideways and off into the woods, but I
saw it's long tail.
I went to the IDNR Conservation Police to file a report, cause now I was sure I
saw one. They tried over and over again to convince me it was a bobcat, but I
went to the STL Zoo to get another look at the Mountain Lion and it looked the
same.
I then found out that IDNR quit taking reports due to an overflow of Cougar
sightings, and after a local newspaper reported they found a dead cougar on
some railroad tracks locally, then about a year ago, a local ostrich farmer had
3 of his ostriches attaked (2 killed) one survived, and they matched that up to
Cougar claw marks.
Now the Geocaching part comes...
When obtaining permission for a cache site, I noticed an IDNR office had a
Mounted Bobcat. This brought up conversation about wildlife and then cougars.
This time instead of "IL has no Cougars", like in the past, they now admit to
them being there, but do not admit to releasing them but claim that others have
brought them and released them. The story is always changing.
I would like to ask if anyone's been caching or hiking in IL if they have seen
any Mountain Lions in thier adventures, but also like to let y'all know that
they are here, in the Shawnee National Forest. Just something of interest we
can look forward to if and when they grow in numbers
again, asking for any other Cougar sightings in IL; just a little research I am
doing
Joe Taylor
ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
(Good for anytime of the Year)
Rockey the Flying Squirrell
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