Cougars moving westward?

[Jetjock]

Have a place near Gleniffer Lake in Central Alberta where I have spent 90 plus days a year for the last ten years. Hunted that area for the last ten years and pleased to notice that the Whitetail population is recovering after a couple of hard winters. Last Sunday while driving east toward Bowden, i was surprised to see a large Cougar in the ditch. He looked up as I drove by and there was no mistaking it as a lynx or bobcat as it was a full grown mountain lion. Managed to turn around and drove back hoping to take a picture but he was gone back into the bush.

This is the second one I have seen as last year saw another west of the lake. Considering I have never seen one, or even tracks, in the ten years previous, I can only conclude that their range is expanding eastward into the farmland. Anyone else seeing more of these big cats?

[pikergolf]

They are all over the province, Medicine Hat has a few resident cats. I know of one taken southeast of Brooks on Christmas Eve.

[panko]

Two shot in Taber area last year

[gitrdun]

My cabin is a mile north of Bar-U trail and a mile east of Meridian Street. My neighbors a quarter mile south of my place have had cougar tracks in the farm yard. And only about 5 miles west of my place, I spotted a grizz while deer hunting. I don't get upset or panties in a knot over it. The way I see it, it's long been their range, it's just that we've moved into it. I actually enjoy seeing these animals close to my proximity, realizing that I am that one trespassing on their property. With that in mind, I absolutely love to live where I do and share the spaces. The people in my neck of the woods loose more stuff from two legged thieves than they do from 4 legged critters.

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

They are all over the province, Medicine Hat has a few resident cats. I know of one taken southeast of Brooks on Christmas Eve.

That ^

For every cougar you see in a given area/range, there could be as many as three or more you don't see.

And like Gitrdun said in post #4; " ... don't get upset or panties in a knot over it."

Selkirk

[creeky]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

My cabin is a mile north of Bar-U trail and a mile east of Meridian Street. My neighbors a quarter mile south of my place have had cougar tracks in the farm yard. And only about 5 miles west of my place, I spotted a grizz while deer hunting. I don't get upset or panties in a knot over it. The way I see it, it's long been their range, it's just that we've moved into it. I actually enjoy seeing these animals close to my proximity, realizing that I am that one trespassing on their property. With that in mind, I absolutely love to live where I do and share the spaces. The people in my neck of the woods loose more stuff from two legged thieves than they do from 4 legged critters.

^This^


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[NUK SOO KOW]

Seen one across the river from pavan park in Lethbridge last March.

[JareS]

They’re all the way east into Saskatchewan and have been regularly for the last decade plus. Amazing the biodiversity that the North Saskatchewan River system brings.

[270person]

Originally Posted by Jetjock

Have a place near Gleniffer Lake in Central Alberta where I have spent 90 plus days a year for the last ten years. Hunted that area for the last ten years and pleased to notice that the Whitetail population is recovering after a couple of hard winters. Last Sunday while driving east toward Bowden, i was surprised to see a large Cougar in the ditch. He looked up as I drove by and there was no mistaking it as a lynx or bobcat as it was a full grown mountain lion. Managed to turn around and drove back hoping to take a picture but he was gone back into the bush.

This is the second one I have seen as last year saw another west of the lake. Considering I have never seen one, or even tracks, in the ten years previous, I can only conclude that their range is expanding eastward into the farmland. Anyone else seeing more of these big cats?

Did you mean Eastward? As far as I know they've always been westward.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

That ^

For every cougar you see in a given area/range, there could be as many as three or more you don't see.

And like Gitrdun said in post #4; " ... don't get upset or panties in a knot over it."

Selkirk

And they are up here as well!
Cat

[Red Bullets]

Welcome to the forums JetJock.

There have been cat sightings in lots of Alberta for a while now. The cats do well because they don't have to compete with other large predators as much in many areas.

This picture was posted by AO member Full Curl a couple years ago saying the cam was set up between Red Deer and Calgary in a WMU in the 200's. (I saved the pic to show some folks that didn't believe cats were around)

This is the original thread. His cam picture was deleted by photobucket.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...=cougars+bales

[Full Curl]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Welcome to the forums JetJock.

There have been cat sightings in lots of Alberta for a while now. The cats do well because they don't have to compete with other large predators as much in many areas.

This picture was posted by AO member Full Curl a couple years ago saying the cam was set up between Red Deer and Calgary in a WMU in the 200's. (I saved the pic to show some folks that didn't believe cats were around)

This is the original thread. His cam picture was deleted by photobucket.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...=cougars+bales

Cool that you still have my picture!
It was near Hwy 22 east of Sundre.
There are definitely cats further east than these ones.

[Spooner]

It's safe to assume cats are almost everywhere. They wander into Calgary almost every year. There is a population on the west side of town along the elbow.

It's believed they are continuous in the boreal forest to Quebec. At least.

[KBF]

Originally Posted by JareS

They’re all the way east into Saskatchewan and have been regularly for the last decade plus. Amazing the biodiversity that the North Saskatchewan River system brings.

That's just what Shannon Phillips is looking for.

[lmtada]

Originally Posted by JareS

They’re all the way east into Saskatchewan and have been regularly for the last decade plus. Amazing the biodiversity that the North Saskatchewan River system brings.

Saw one last year while setting up xc ski trails in Fort Saskatchewan. The Big Cat was about 250m from City Hall. Took a picture, sent it to police. Whom then sent info to Fort Sask paper. Was funny article.

[HoytCRX32]

I remember seeing a cat run across Highway 36 at Matziwin Creek near Duchess in 1982....couldn't believe it, but others knew about it.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Talked to lady from Peers couple years back about cougar. She claimed F & W were moving cougar from Vancouver Island to Alberta. I question her again that it was just idle gossip. She assurd me it was not as she got info first hand from trucker that hauled them from BC.

[Jack Hardin]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

That ^

For every cougar you see in a given area/range, there could be as many as three or more you don't see.

And like Gitrdun said in post #4; " ... don't get upset or panties in a knot over it."

Selkirk

I knew a Conservation Officer that said the same thing. If there is one, the probability is good that it's not alone.

[35 whelen]

There's Lots of them around my cabin buy Valley View area

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk