Mountain Lions in New England

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I know some folks who think they've seen mountain lions around Conway.

I saw one recently on a long trail run I finished at night. It was right at the edge of town in Boulder. I'd already passed several deer whose eyes were lit up by my headlamp so I didn't think much of the big green eyes staring at me until I moved up the trail to a place where I could see the silhouette of the cat head against the sky. Less than a hundred feet away. It was terrifying. Huge. I backed up while making a racket, as one is supposed to, then ran like a fucking cheetah as a soon as I'd put some distance between us. Running anywhere at night still feels different than it did before. I hear a skittering beetle and I react like it's a fucking rattlesnake.

[Sirshredalot]

I know some folks who think they've seen mountain lions around Conway.

I saw one recently on a long trail run I finished at night. It was right at the edge of town in Boulder. I'd already passed several deer whose eyes were lit up by my headlamp so I didn't think much of the big green eyes staring at me until I moved up the trail to a place where I could see the silhouette of the cat head against the sky. Less than a hundred feet away. It was terrifying. Huge. I backed up while making a racket, as one is supposed to, then ran like a fucking cheetah as a soon as I'd put some distance between us. Running anywhere at night still feels different than it did before. I hear a skittering beetle and I react like it's a fucking rattlesnake.

There are a shit ton of them in the canyon behind my house. I definitely don't like being back there solo after dusk. The 11 year old obese dog and the 13 year old arthritic dog don't lessen the feeling of unease, either.

[From_the_NEK]

I know some folks who think they've seen mountain lions around Conway.

I saw one recently on a long trail run I finished at night. It was right at the edge of town in Boulder. I'd already passed several deer whose eyes were lit up by my headlamp so I didn't think much of the big green eyes staring at me until I moved up the trail to a place where I could see the silhouette of the cat head against the sky. Less than a hundred feet away. It was terrifying. Huge. I backed up while making a racket, as one is supposed to, then ran like a fucking cheetah as a soon as I'd put some distance between us. Running anywhere at night still feels different than it did before. I hear a skittering beetle and I react like it's a fucking rattlesnake.

Cool story bro but we are talking about eastern mountain lions. They are way sneakier than those western pussies.

[nutmegchoi]

(rumor has it she was there for deep dish and sushi)
Attachment 212443

FIFY

[Timberridge]

Probably a yellow lab. Was it wearing a collar?

[plugboots]

^^^ First time I saw a Cougar that's what I thought.

[::: :::]

Probably a yellow lab. Was it wearing a collar?

rhinestone

[I've seen black diamonds!]

[QUOTE=From_the_NEK;5104194]Cool story bro but we are talking about eastern mountain lions. They are way sneakier than those western pussies.

That's true if you're talking about coyotes.

[babybear]

That Heart of a Lion book was great and yea proves they are around new england at least occasionally'

Also anyone into mtn lions/ cougars the book "Beast in the Garden" is a good read- about mtn lions repopulating the Boulder, CO area and wreaking havoc. Kind of spooky read but super interesting/ riveting

[nutmegchoi]

b-bear is opening a book club today. lol

[babybear]

haha yes I am a nerd. figured you all knew that already

[The SnowShow]

That Heart of a Lion book was great and yea proves they are around new england at least occasionally'

Also anyone into mtn lions/ cougars the book "Beast in the Garden" is a good read- about mtn lions repopulating the Boulder, CO area and wreaking havoc. Kind of spooky read but super interesting/ riveting

Sounds spooky...I think I would be terrified to hike alone in Boulder if I read that.

[babybear]

yea I have taken to carrying bear spray and a river knife with me when I run/hike alone -
I know I'd probably get attacked from behind before I even knew it was there, but I feel comforted by knowing I could *try* to defend myself with one big, sharp, manufactured tooth.
have never seen one in person where I live but they are all over. Got at least 1 new grey hair after watching this Nat Geo Wild program of mtn lions in the wild around a bunch of the places I frequent
Now I can actually picture it
Maybe I'll start golfing

[iceman]

In the Sundarbans, in India, there are still a lot of tigers. Tigers also prefer to attack from behind so many of the locals wear long hats with faces painted on the backs, so the tiger thinks they're facing it and theoretically won't attack.

edit: Here ya go. NYTimes claims it worked in '89 at least. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/05/sc...s.html?mcubz=1
Pretty sure I remembered the article from when it came out, yikes .

It's a bizopp for some hippie here in the U.S. I'd say. Knitting face hats for people who go in the woods a lot.

[cat in january]

Lynx population has made a nice rebound in Northern Maine and are driving the bobcat South.

Had a couple guys with a lot more time in the woods than me tell me to my face they have seen mountain lions.

Will be interesting to see which one the mountain lions or the wolves are the first to set up a permanent population in NE

[babybear]

someone on etsy must be making those-
yea I recall reading about that in one of those mtn lion books too- how funny yet simple- and hey if it works even once that's a pretty big win

[iceman]

I think wolves would have a hard time outcompeting eastern Coyotes except maybe way in the north.

[babybear]

wolves and mountain lions do not get along out out here in greater yellowstone region
mortal enemies as one would generalize

[plugboots]

^^^ This is why Mountain Lions have become emboldened, and aren't afraid of dogs. Author of Beast in the Garden goes into this.

[babybear]

for sure- higly rec both books- learned so much

also would edit to say I haven't seen one in person on accident
have seen them thru spotting scopes from my neighbor's house as well as one other time on elk refuge
My preferred way to see them for sure!

[hutash]

I read a mountain lion book...Charlie the Lonesome Cougar.

It was also a movie.




We have tons of them here in the hills of soCal. Seems like everybody but me has seen them, and I spend more time out hiking and running then all of them combined. We even get reverse 911 calls about a lioness and kittens denned up near our house, but still never see them.

[iceman]

have seen them...on elk refuge

I hope they let them know that's supposed to be a safe place for the elk.

[babybear]

ha! there are pretty much too many elk so yea they hang out there sometimes for the "fast food drive thru"

[::: :::]

I hope they let them know that's supposed to be a safe place for the elk.

#safespace
#triggered

[babybear]

but the funny thing is that spook is not spooky