To that end here are two very poor pictures and a good story... LOL
Several weeks ago a bit of trauma unfolded across the street from my home in the quiet little West Coast fishing village where I live. Several of my neighbors had spotted 3 cougars boldly casing the neighborhood for stray cats, small dogs and young children! And all in broad daylight!
Needless to say the C.O. (Conservation Officer), the Police and the fellow with the cougar hounds were called to attend to the situation. By the time they got here the sun had set and they found themselves working in the dark. So for about two hours the cougars, hound dogs, and guys with guns all played cat and mouse in and around the neighborhood.
What I found interesting while watching the whole fiasco from my porch was that the big cats didn't leave the area when the men and dogs showed up and for the most part the cougars were following (stalking) the men and dogs rather than the other way around! Eventually the dogs managed to tree one of the cougars. But rather than kill the treed cat the C.O. shot a number of "bear scare" rounds (big loud bangs) near the treed cat and into the nearby woods before packing up and leaving for the night.
Before they left I asked the Police Officer what the reasoning was for bear scares rather than bullets. He told me it was to see if the cougars would leave on their own rather than having to be destroyed. Sure enough next morning no cougars and no sign of them since!
i'm surprised the cougars would leave like that - especially after not being put off by the officers and dogs.
ReplyDeleteFrankly Tex so am I... It's been about 3 weeks now and still no cougars. I guess time will tell.
DeletePretty darn good story! I'm assumed you have living in this area for years, but why these Cougars showing up now?
ReplyDeleteYes Q been here in this town for 27 years. On a number of occasions over the years cougars have been seen near town but always just one cougar and never so bold as these three!
DeleteKeep that camera handy, you might see them again.
DeleteI applaud the decision of the Conservation Officers! I would have been disappointed had they chose to eliminate them. Good Reporting and if they show again a follow up story is in order!
ReplyDeleteDon't sell yourself short Paul, you get some pretty damn good photos too. I have found that it's all about having the time to go take photos and making the photo opportunities. Seeing what others photograph has opened my eyes to many possibilities that I never would have thought of otherwise. If you would have asked me just five years ago to take photos of bugs and flowers I would have thought you were crazy. Now I'm crawling around on the ground to get a shot. I must be getting soft in my old age! LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is a great story and I'm like everyone else, surprised they didn't just shoot the cougars. The top photo is definitely out of whack but it looks like one of those artsy-fartsy photo prints that get sold for $10,000 in some gallery somewhere. YOu just need a really good title for it. LOL You never know, you may be the next Andy Warhall of photography.
LOL I can see it now... Paul Warhall exclusive photo exhibit in New York!
DeletePaul this is a great story and I am glad they didn't destroy the cat...
DeleteRon...even though I don't know you personally, I can actually visualize you crawling around on the ground to get the shot of bugs or butterflies I'm thinking of course little umbrella drinks could also be involved!! LOL I know, I know tell me to get back to work!!
Happy Monday :)
I'm out of the little umbrellas right now but drinks could definitely be involved! LOL
DeleteI think we will probably meet one of these days Val. We have too much in common not to. Maybe a big shin-dig in Hawaii sometime where a bunch of us can get together over some umbrella drinks.
I've gotten better about getting where I need to to get a shot but I still need help getting off the ground once I get down there. LOL