OT - Mountain Lions around Cossatot??

[Roger]

Ryan, serious reply:

Acknowledging presence of said creature would throw into play a lot of resources to manage and protect the said creature. As the "outdoor" writer for what passes as state newspaper these days wrote in his column, AG&FC employees admit that the creature roams our state in come areas. But to accept that will cause them more problems.

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/251800/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the AG&FC website:

"The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is not currently asking the public to report mountain lion sightings. If you have lost livestock to what you believe is a mountain lion and have fresh evidence, such as a carcass or tracks, please contact the nearest Commission regional office for assistance in determining what animal is responsible for the incident and the best course of action to prevent future problems. "

http://www.agfc.com/wildlife-conservati ... mmals.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most of the commission's news releases say that any sightings are of creatures that were released into the environment after being held as pets. Even Sheffield Nelson was quoted as such:

"Recent reports of alleged sightings have brought to light the issue of mountain lions in Arkansas. During the monthly meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, chairman Sheffield Nelson responded to those reports, pointing out that people can defend themselves if they feel they are in eminent danger from an animal.

Nelson said that people shouldn't be afraid to go out into the wilds of Arkansas for fear of being attacked by a mountain lion. "People should know that if they feel that they are in danger, they can kill an animal to protect themselves," he said. "I don't want people to be afraid to deer hunt because someone has released an animal into the wild," he added.

Mountain lions were historically present throughout Arkansas until their apparent eradication, which occurred by about 1920. Since that time efforts have been made to determine the existence of this animal in Arkansas.

There is no evidence that there is a wild, reproducing population of mountain lions in Arkansas, but it is probable that there are a few free-ranging mountain lions that are most likely either escaped or released pets rather than remnants of the state's original mountain lion population. In order to reduce the chance of escapes happening in the future, the Commission passed regulations last year requiring owners of pet mountain lions to obtain permits and meet minimum caging standards in order to keep their animals."

http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Ark ... 90603.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Use to live in West Texas and frequent Big Bend a lot where there are mountain lions. Only report of an attack on a human that I remember was by a creature recently released in the park by some idiot who had it has a pet. Attacked a child who was hiking with his father. Animal was tracked down and killed. All evidence pointed to an animal that was not wild.

Spent a week in the same area during the xmas and new year holidays. Our group spotted one running in an arroyo near the Rio Grande
Village campground. Didn't even want to be spotted much less be around humand. Or so I think.

Read between the lines of the agency's statements.