Spooner Wisconsin lion
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not color blind
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Spooner Wisconsin lion
any of you wisconsin guys know any more about the lion they treed there (other than what's on the news)? was it in farm country or the big woods, who treed it, did they get a decent run out of it, etc.?
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Dan Edwards
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
I never heard about it. How far north is spooner?
By the way, I got your pm but dont know if I responded correctly or not.
By the way, I got your pm but dont know if I responded correctly or not.
Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
the way they made it sound on the news they have been having some with it the last couple of days. It sounded like they chased it a couple times.
Thrill of the chase
Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
they treed it three times near hertel
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Hounder-
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
I just heard about it this afternoon, don't know who originally treed it but I guess a DNR guy tried to get a tissue sample from it but didn't get a chance to before it bailed.
I guess they ran it the next day but they still didn't get the sample.
All I know, any more info would be cool....Like who originally treed it etc.?
-Hound
I guess they ran it the next day but they still didn't get the sample.
All I know, any more info would be cool....Like who originally treed it etc.?
-Hound
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not color blind
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Emily
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
here's some more info:
http://www.spooneradvocate.com/articles ... 567412.txt
hit the link to see the nice photo here's the copy:
Cougar treed west of Spooner.
Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009 1:04 PM CST
Photo by Matt McKay, DNR elk biologist
Cougar treed west of Spooner. People in areas around Spooner, Trego, Minong and Springbrook have reported seeing them for generations, big cats with long tails dashing across country roads or salking through the forests like a shadow. This week the first verified cougar in Northwestern Wisconsin was treed by bear hounds just west of Spooner after hunters began chasing it near Casey Creek. Department of Natural Resources biologists would like to dart and collar the animal, estimated at around 130 pounds to determine its health, monitor its movements and possibly find out where it came from through DNA samples. If the cougar is successfully captured it will be released back into the wild.
http://www.spooneradvocate.com/articles ... 567412.txt
hit the link to see the nice photo here's the copy:
Cougar treed west of Spooner.
Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009 1:04 PM CST
Photo by Matt McKay, DNR elk biologist
Cougar treed west of Spooner. People in areas around Spooner, Trego, Minong and Springbrook have reported seeing them for generations, big cats with long tails dashing across country roads or salking through the forests like a shadow. This week the first verified cougar in Northwestern Wisconsin was treed by bear hounds just west of Spooner after hunters began chasing it near Casey Creek. Department of Natural Resources biologists would like to dart and collar the animal, estimated at around 130 pounds to determine its health, monitor its movements and possibly find out where it came from through DNA samples. If the cougar is successfully captured it will be released back into the wild.
esp
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Emily
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
click for pic and reader comments
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-new ... JCFJ5P1I4K
Hunt on for confirmed cougar in Washburn County
By Joe Knight
Leader-Telegram staff
A cougar was seen in Washburn County on three consecutive days this week, but despite tracking it, treeing it and trying to tranquilize it, state biologists haven't been able to fit it with a radio collar.
Although there have been numerous reports of cougars around the state in recent years, the confirmed sighting is only the second of a cougar in Wisconsin since the early 1900s, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
The other sighting was last year near Milton, in Rock County. That animal later was shot near Chicago when authorities became concerned about it entering populated neighborhoods. Based on DNA tests, authorities believe it was a wild cougar of North American origin, possibly from South Dakota.
The cougar in western Washburn County is a male that probably weighs between 100 and 120 pounds, possibly more said Ken Jonas, DNR wildlife biologist. It appeared to be in good shape, Jonas said. Its main food source in Wisconsin probably would be deer, Jonas said.
It's unlikely the cougar has remained in the area because it lacks the main thing a wandering male cougar is looking for - a female cougar, Jonas said.
Biologists collected some cougar hair and a small amount of cougar urine and blood, the latter from the cougar's foot on crusted snow, Jonas said. He didn't know if the samples would be enough to provide a DNA sample that might help determine the animal's origin, he said.
Efforts to tranquilize the cougar on Wednesday and Thursday failed when biologists gave the cat too low of a dose. Biologists don't have experience with cougars and used a mild tranquilizer to prevent any chances of an overdose, Jonas said.
"The drug that we used is extremely safe, but it's not the best to quickly immobilize an animal," he said.
"We'd love to have a radio collar on it to find where it goes, where it stays, to learn more about the behavior of a large, dispersing cat like that," he said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to do that."
The cougar first was seen Tuesday when a Sawyer County resident saw tracks in the snow. He contacted a friend who had hounds, and they followed the tracks by truck. The tracks crossed Highway 70 headed south.
When the tracks looked fresh, the men released the dogs, which chased the cougar up a tree within 20 minutes. They photographed the animal and later contacted the DNR.
State biologists with hounds picked up the trail Wednesday and again treed the cougar. They tried to slow it with a tranquilizer shot from a blow gun. They used the blow gun because they thought a hypodermic shot from a gun might damage muscle or bone, Jonas said. But not enough of the drug penetrated the skin, Jonas said.
The cougar fled.
On Thursday they picked up the trail again, and again using dogs they chased it up a tree. This time they used a dart gun. They needed two darts with tranquilizers, Jonas said, but the cougar didn't stay long enough for a second shot.
Biologists followed it on foot for a mile to see if it would fall asleep, but it showed no signs of slowing down, Jonas said. They didn't want to turn the hounds loose again out of concern that the dogs would catch and injure the partially drugged cougar.
The DNR is giving up the chase to avoid stressing the animal, he said. The agency may try to relocate it next week, but by then it could be in Minnesota, Jonas said.
Jim Bishop, DNR spokesman at Spooner, said it's unlikely there is an established cougar population in northern Wisconsin.
"Every year we do winter snow track surveys. They cover 7,000 miles. We've not come across any verifiable cougar tracks, other than the one down in Milton and now this one," Bishop said.
Cougars were native to Wisconsin but disappeared following settlement.
Knight can be reached at 830-5835, 800-236-7077 or joe.knight@ecpc.com.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-new ... JCFJ5P1I4K
Hunt on for confirmed cougar in Washburn County
By Joe Knight
Leader-Telegram staff
A cougar was seen in Washburn County on three consecutive days this week, but despite tracking it, treeing it and trying to tranquilize it, state biologists haven't been able to fit it with a radio collar.
Although there have been numerous reports of cougars around the state in recent years, the confirmed sighting is only the second of a cougar in Wisconsin since the early 1900s, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
The other sighting was last year near Milton, in Rock County. That animal later was shot near Chicago when authorities became concerned about it entering populated neighborhoods. Based on DNA tests, authorities believe it was a wild cougar of North American origin, possibly from South Dakota.
The cougar in western Washburn County is a male that probably weighs between 100 and 120 pounds, possibly more said Ken Jonas, DNR wildlife biologist. It appeared to be in good shape, Jonas said. Its main food source in Wisconsin probably would be deer, Jonas said.
It's unlikely the cougar has remained in the area because it lacks the main thing a wandering male cougar is looking for - a female cougar, Jonas said.
Biologists collected some cougar hair and a small amount of cougar urine and blood, the latter from the cougar's foot on crusted snow, Jonas said. He didn't know if the samples would be enough to provide a DNA sample that might help determine the animal's origin, he said.
Efforts to tranquilize the cougar on Wednesday and Thursday failed when biologists gave the cat too low of a dose. Biologists don't have experience with cougars and used a mild tranquilizer to prevent any chances of an overdose, Jonas said.
"The drug that we used is extremely safe, but it's not the best to quickly immobilize an animal," he said.
"We'd love to have a radio collar on it to find where it goes, where it stays, to learn more about the behavior of a large, dispersing cat like that," he said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to do that."
The cougar first was seen Tuesday when a Sawyer County resident saw tracks in the snow. He contacted a friend who had hounds, and they followed the tracks by truck. The tracks crossed Highway 70 headed south.
When the tracks looked fresh, the men released the dogs, which chased the cougar up a tree within 20 minutes. They photographed the animal and later contacted the DNR.
State biologists with hounds picked up the trail Wednesday and again treed the cougar. They tried to slow it with a tranquilizer shot from a blow gun. They used the blow gun because they thought a hypodermic shot from a gun might damage muscle or bone, Jonas said. But not enough of the drug penetrated the skin, Jonas said.
The cougar fled.
On Thursday they picked up the trail again, and again using dogs they chased it up a tree. This time they used a dart gun. They needed two darts with tranquilizers, Jonas said, but the cougar didn't stay long enough for a second shot.
Biologists followed it on foot for a mile to see if it would fall asleep, but it showed no signs of slowing down, Jonas said. They didn't want to turn the hounds loose again out of concern that the dogs would catch and injure the partially drugged cougar.
The DNR is giving up the chase to avoid stressing the animal, he said. The agency may try to relocate it next week, but by then it could be in Minnesota, Jonas said.
Jim Bishop, DNR spokesman at Spooner, said it's unlikely there is an established cougar population in northern Wisconsin.
"Every year we do winter snow track surveys. They cover 7,000 miles. We've not come across any verifiable cougar tracks, other than the one down in Milton and now this one," Bishop said.
Cougars were native to Wisconsin but disappeared following settlement.
Knight can be reached at 830-5835, 800-236-7077 or joe.knight@ecpc.com.
esp
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Emily
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
With hunters on his side, lion's no easy catch
., Wisconsin DNR
This photo of a mountain lion was taken on Wednesday west of Spooner, Wis.
By DENNIS ANDERSON, Star Tribune
Last update: March 5, 2009 - 11:08 PM
Treed near Spooner.
Steve Curtis, Star Tribune
The four hunters fixed their eyes on a rare sight: a mountain lion their hounds had run up an oak tree Wednesday near Spooner, Wis. Then they looked over their shoulders for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials who minutes earlier had attempted -- and failed -- to tranquilize the big cat.
For Mark Brown and his three friends, it was a no-brainer: They liked the big cat more than the DNR.
"We just pulled the dogs off and that was it,'' Steve Thompson said. "Hopefully the lion can go wherever he wants.''
Not exactly a Free Willy story.
The three-day saga played out in northwestern Wisconsin this week.
Today, the mountain lion -- having thwarted multiple stings from a DNR tranquilizer gun and the baying of dogs -- remains free.
Mountain lion sightings are rare in Minnesota and even rarer in Wisconsin. Some are thought to be captive animals released into the wild. But some wild cats are slowly moving east from the Dakotas, officials say.
Brown, Thompson, Steve Curtis and Kevin Radman are experienced mountain lion hunters who frequently travel to the western United States with their dogs to chase cats. Tuesday morning, they received a tip that a mountain lion track had been found near Spooner -- about 100 miles northeast of the Twin Cities -- and that afternoon they crisscrossed the nearby backcountry in their pickups until they found hand-sized cat prints fresh enough to put their dogs on.
"We just used two dogs. We didn't want to put a lot of dogs down and risk a fight,'' Brown said. "It doesn't take a lot of dogs to track a cat, just good, straight dogs that won't go off following a deer or coyote.''
A crowd of admirers gathers
Brown and the other houndsmen and their dogs eventually treed the mountain lion Tuesday afternoon. The cat, which they estimated weighed 130 pounds, was believed to be only the second wild mountain lion seen in Wisconsin in generations, and the men soon lit up their cell phones, calling hound-running friends. And hound-running friends of hound-running friends.
"Soon we had 30, 40 people standing around that tree,'' Brown said.
When dark fell, the crowd dispersed and the mountain lion skedaddled.
Wednesday morning, DNR wildlife technician Gary Dunsmoor of Spooner asked the four houndsmen if they would run the cat again. DNR wildlife researchers wanted to tranquilize it and fit it with a radio collar, Dunsmoor said. "If this truly was a dispersing mountain lion, it would be interesting to see where he goes and how fast he travels,'' he said.
Fresh hounds were put on the cat's track and the mountain lion was treed again Wednesday. But the DNR's tranquilizer dart either didn't pierce the animal's hide, didn't pierce it fully enough or missed altogether.
That's when a tranquilizer-gun-toting DNR employee climbed up the oak tree to get a closer shot.
"A lion ain't going to attack nobody, I wasn't worried about that,'' Brown said. "I ain't saying it's never going to happen. But I ain't never seen it.''
But neither was this mountain lion inclined to be shot again. He bounded to the ground gracefully and booked it into the distant beyond.
With dogs in pursuit.
Soon, the lion was again in a tree, this time a basswood. Arriving on the scene, Brown, Thompson, Curtis and Radman didn't like what they saw.
"You can only harass a cat so much,'' Brown said "Before the DNR guys got there, we let the cat run. That cat had earned our respect. We let him go. We won't use our dogs on him again. We've called our friends with dogs and told them if the DNR calls for help tracking the cat, tell them to go to hell.''
But the DNR was not so easily dissuaded.
One dart isn't enough
Area wildlife supervisor Ken Jonas of Hayward, Wis., said his agency could gain valuable information from the mountain lion if it wore a radio collar, and if tissue samples could be obtained.
Thursday morning, other houndsmen were found to help the DNR, and again the mountain lion was put up a tree. But not without a confrontation with Brown, Curtis, Radman and Thompson.
"We found out where they were and gave them hell for chasing the cat again,'' Curtis said.
The DNR's attempt to tranquilize the mountain lion "didn't go very well'' Thursday, Jonas said.
"We got one dart into him, but it didn't make him groggy enough,'' he said. "He jumped from the tree and ran.''
This time the dogs were held back, and the mountain lion, Jonas said, would not be tracked again anytime soon.
Continue to next page Next page
Brown and the other houndsmen and their dogs eventually treed the mountain lion Tuesday afternoon. The cat, which they estimated weighed 130 pounds, was believed to be only the second wild mountain lion seen in Wisconsin in generations, and the men soon lit up their cell phones, calling hound-running friends. And hound-running friends of hound-running friends.
"Soon we had 30, 40 people standing around that tree,'' Brown said.
When dark fell, the crowd dispersed and the mountain lion skedaddled.
Wednesday morning, DNR wildlife technician Gary Dunsmoor of Spooner asked the four houndsmen if they would run the cat again. DNR wildlife researchers wanted to tranquilize it and fit it with a radio collar, Dunsmoor said. "If this truly was a dispersing mountain lion, it would be interesting to see where he goes and how fast he travels,'' he said.
Fresh hounds were put on the cat's track and the mountain lion was treed again Wednesday. But the DNR's tranquilizer dart either didn't pierce the animal's hide, didn't pierce it fully enough or missed altogether.
That's when a tranquilizer-gun-toting DNR employee climbed up the oak tree to get a closer shot.
"A lion ain't going to attack nobody, I wasn't worried about that,'' Brown said. "I ain't saying it's never going to happen. But I ain't never seen it.''
But neither was this mountain lion inclined to be shot again. He bounded to the ground gracefully and booked it into the distant beyond.
With dogs in pursuit.
Soon, the lion was again in a tree, this time a basswood. Arriving on the scene, Brown, Thompson, Curtis and Radman didn't like what they saw.
"You can only harass a cat so much,'' Brown said "Before the DNR guys got there, we let the cat run. That cat had earned our respect. We let him go. We won't use our dogs on him again. We've called our friends with dogs and told them if the DNR calls for help tracking the cat, tell them to go to hell.''
But the DNR was not so easily dissuaded.
One dart isn't enough
Area wildlife supervisor Ken Jonas of Hayward, Wis., said his agency could gain valuable information from the mountain lion if it wore a radio collar, and if tissue samples could be obtained.
Thursday morning, other houndsmen were found to help the DNR, and again the mountain lion was put up a tree. But not without a confrontation with Brown, Curtis, Radman and Thompson.
"We found out where they were and gave them hell for chasing the cat again,'' Curtis said.
The DNR's attempt to tranquilize the mountain lion "didn't go very well'' Thursday, Jonas said.
"We got one dart into him, but it didn't make him groggy enough,'' he said. "He jumped from the tree and ran.''
This time the dogs were held back, and the mountain lion, Jonas said, would not be tracked again anytime soon.
., Wisconsin DNR
This photo of a mountain lion was taken on Wednesday west of Spooner, Wis.
By DENNIS ANDERSON, Star Tribune
Last update: March 5, 2009 - 11:08 PM
Treed near Spooner.
Steve Curtis, Star Tribune
The four hunters fixed their eyes on a rare sight: a mountain lion their hounds had run up an oak tree Wednesday near Spooner, Wis. Then they looked over their shoulders for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials who minutes earlier had attempted -- and failed -- to tranquilize the big cat.
For Mark Brown and his three friends, it was a no-brainer: They liked the big cat more than the DNR.
"We just pulled the dogs off and that was it,'' Steve Thompson said. "Hopefully the lion can go wherever he wants.''
Not exactly a Free Willy story.
The three-day saga played out in northwestern Wisconsin this week.
Today, the mountain lion -- having thwarted multiple stings from a DNR tranquilizer gun and the baying of dogs -- remains free.
Mountain lion sightings are rare in Minnesota and even rarer in Wisconsin. Some are thought to be captive animals released into the wild. But some wild cats are slowly moving east from the Dakotas, officials say.
Brown, Thompson, Steve Curtis and Kevin Radman are experienced mountain lion hunters who frequently travel to the western United States with their dogs to chase cats. Tuesday morning, they received a tip that a mountain lion track had been found near Spooner -- about 100 miles northeast of the Twin Cities -- and that afternoon they crisscrossed the nearby backcountry in their pickups until they found hand-sized cat prints fresh enough to put their dogs on.
"We just used two dogs. We didn't want to put a lot of dogs down and risk a fight,'' Brown said. "It doesn't take a lot of dogs to track a cat, just good, straight dogs that won't go off following a deer or coyote.''
A crowd of admirers gathers
Brown and the other houndsmen and their dogs eventually treed the mountain lion Tuesday afternoon. The cat, which they estimated weighed 130 pounds, was believed to be only the second wild mountain lion seen in Wisconsin in generations, and the men soon lit up their cell phones, calling hound-running friends. And hound-running friends of hound-running friends.
"Soon we had 30, 40 people standing around that tree,'' Brown said.
When dark fell, the crowd dispersed and the mountain lion skedaddled.
Wednesday morning, DNR wildlife technician Gary Dunsmoor of Spooner asked the four houndsmen if they would run the cat again. DNR wildlife researchers wanted to tranquilize it and fit it with a radio collar, Dunsmoor said. "If this truly was a dispersing mountain lion, it would be interesting to see where he goes and how fast he travels,'' he said.
Fresh hounds were put on the cat's track and the mountain lion was treed again Wednesday. But the DNR's tranquilizer dart either didn't pierce the animal's hide, didn't pierce it fully enough or missed altogether.
That's when a tranquilizer-gun-toting DNR employee climbed up the oak tree to get a closer shot.
"A lion ain't going to attack nobody, I wasn't worried about that,'' Brown said. "I ain't saying it's never going to happen. But I ain't never seen it.''
But neither was this mountain lion inclined to be shot again. He bounded to the ground gracefully and booked it into the distant beyond.
With dogs in pursuit.
Soon, the lion was again in a tree, this time a basswood. Arriving on the scene, Brown, Thompson, Curtis and Radman didn't like what they saw.
"You can only harass a cat so much,'' Brown said "Before the DNR guys got there, we let the cat run. That cat had earned our respect. We let him go. We won't use our dogs on him again. We've called our friends with dogs and told them if the DNR calls for help tracking the cat, tell them to go to hell.''
But the DNR was not so easily dissuaded.
One dart isn't enough
Area wildlife supervisor Ken Jonas of Hayward, Wis., said his agency could gain valuable information from the mountain lion if it wore a radio collar, and if tissue samples could be obtained.
Thursday morning, other houndsmen were found to help the DNR, and again the mountain lion was put up a tree. But not without a confrontation with Brown, Curtis, Radman and Thompson.
"We found out where they were and gave them hell for chasing the cat again,'' Curtis said.
The DNR's attempt to tranquilize the mountain lion "didn't go very well'' Thursday, Jonas said.
"We got one dart into him, but it didn't make him groggy enough,'' he said. "He jumped from the tree and ran.''
This time the dogs were held back, and the mountain lion, Jonas said, would not be tracked again anytime soon.
Continue to next page Next page
Brown and the other houndsmen and their dogs eventually treed the mountain lion Tuesday afternoon. The cat, which they estimated weighed 130 pounds, was believed to be only the second wild mountain lion seen in Wisconsin in generations, and the men soon lit up their cell phones, calling hound-running friends. And hound-running friends of hound-running friends.
"Soon we had 30, 40 people standing around that tree,'' Brown said.
When dark fell, the crowd dispersed and the mountain lion skedaddled.
Wednesday morning, DNR wildlife technician Gary Dunsmoor of Spooner asked the four houndsmen if they would run the cat again. DNR wildlife researchers wanted to tranquilize it and fit it with a radio collar, Dunsmoor said. "If this truly was a dispersing mountain lion, it would be interesting to see where he goes and how fast he travels,'' he said.
Fresh hounds were put on the cat's track and the mountain lion was treed again Wednesday. But the DNR's tranquilizer dart either didn't pierce the animal's hide, didn't pierce it fully enough or missed altogether.
That's when a tranquilizer-gun-toting DNR employee climbed up the oak tree to get a closer shot.
"A lion ain't going to attack nobody, I wasn't worried about that,'' Brown said. "I ain't saying it's never going to happen. But I ain't never seen it.''
But neither was this mountain lion inclined to be shot again. He bounded to the ground gracefully and booked it into the distant beyond.
With dogs in pursuit.
Soon, the lion was again in a tree, this time a basswood. Arriving on the scene, Brown, Thompson, Curtis and Radman didn't like what they saw.
"You can only harass a cat so much,'' Brown said "Before the DNR guys got there, we let the cat run. That cat had earned our respect. We let him go. We won't use our dogs on him again. We've called our friends with dogs and told them if the DNR calls for help tracking the cat, tell them to go to hell.''
But the DNR was not so easily dissuaded.
One dart isn't enough
Area wildlife supervisor Ken Jonas of Hayward, Wis., said his agency could gain valuable information from the mountain lion if it wore a radio collar, and if tissue samples could be obtained.
Thursday morning, other houndsmen were found to help the DNR, and again the mountain lion was put up a tree. But not without a confrontation with Brown, Curtis, Radman and Thompson.
"We found out where they were and gave them hell for chasing the cat again,'' Curtis said.
The DNR's attempt to tranquilize the mountain lion "didn't go very well'' Thursday, Jonas said.
"We got one dart into him, but it didn't make him groggy enough,'' he said. "He jumped from the tree and ran.''
This time the dogs were held back, and the mountain lion, Jonas said, would not be tracked again anytime soon.
esp
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Emily
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/40826742.html
Cougar found cattin' around
DNR confirms sighting, will wait a bit on chase
By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Mar. 5, 2009
enlarge photo
Matt McKay/DNR
A cougar surveys the Wisconsin landscape Thursday from a perch in a tree near Spooner in Burnett County.
more photos
Matt McKay/DNR
A cougar surveys the Wisconsin landscape Thursday from a perch in a tree near Spooner in Burnett County.
This was no ordinary cat up a tree.
A mountain lion balanced atop an oak Thursday in the Burnett County woods west of Spooner, warily eyeing state wildlife biologists below.
After a tranquilizing dart was fired but failed to immobilize the cougar, it bounded away into the pin oaks, a long, tawny shape rarely seen - but now undeniably confirmed - in Wisconsin.
"Things sure have changed," said Ken Jonas, area wildlife supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources in Spooner, reflecting on the increase in large predators in the state over his 27-year career. "It was a very healthy looking cougar, no doubt about it."
To avoid overstressing the cat, Jonas said officials decided to call off the chase for a day or more.
Jonas said the department intended to immobilize the animal, take blood and hair samples, affix a radio collar and then release it. He described the lion as a 110- to 120-pound male, perhaps 2 or 3 years old.
Information from the tracking device would help biologists learn more about the range and behaviors of the cougar in Wisconsin.
The mountain lion, also known as cougar, catamount, panther and puma, has a well-established breeding population in the Black Hills of South Dakota and has been spreading east into other Midwestern states in recent years. A male cougar was confirmed near Janesville last year; it was later killed by police in Chicago.
Reports of cougars in Wisconsin have been common in recent years, including eyewitness accounts and shadowy images on trail cameras. But confirmation from state officials has been difficult to come by.
"This is exciting news," said George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. "There had been some naysayers, but now that is history.
"It's a native predator to the state so I'm pleased to see it back. Just so it doesn't go down to Illinois."
Protected species
The mountain lion is a protected species in Wisconsin; a permit is required to kill or capture one.
The Burnett County cougar's tracks were seen Monday in a yard near Trego, according to reports from the DNR. On Tuesday, a team of hounds led by a private citizen followed the trail and treed the cougar.
DNR officials were notified and took up pursuit of the animal Wednesday and Thursday, also with hounds. The cat has so far eluded capture.
"We've done everything to try to protect the health of the cat, including using a low dose of the drug," Jonas said.
Adrian Wydeven, wolf program leader with the DNR, has tracked many large predators in Wisconsin. He found himself on a new chase Thursday.
"Following the large cat prints through the northern Wisconsin habitat was an unexpected treat," Wydeven said. "It was exhilarating for me."
Wydeven said some hair was collected Thursday from the cougar and would be retained for testing. Blood and hair samples can reveal the origin of the animal.
The cougar is likely a dispersing male looking for a territory, Wydeven said. It was last seen west of Spooner, near the Burnett and Washburn county line.
Snow covered the ground Thursday in most of northwestern Wisconsin. But warm weather predicted in coming days will deteriorate tracking conditions.
Jonas asked the public to notify the DNR if they see the cat. He also urged people to avoid harassing the animal.
"We don't want people or dogs chasing the animal," Jonas said. "They, their dogs or the cat could end up harmed."
If the cougar stays in the area, another capture attempt might be made in several days, Jonas said.
"It's hard to say with a dispersing young adult like this," Jonas said. "It might keep moving and the next sighting could be well away from here."
Regardless of where it goes or if it's seen again, the picture of the handsome cougar in the Badger State has left an indelible - and indisputable - image in the minds of Wisconsinites.
Cougar found cattin' around
DNR confirms sighting, will wait a bit on chase
By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Mar. 5, 2009
enlarge photo
Matt McKay/DNR
A cougar surveys the Wisconsin landscape Thursday from a perch in a tree near Spooner in Burnett County.
more photos
Matt McKay/DNR
A cougar surveys the Wisconsin landscape Thursday from a perch in a tree near Spooner in Burnett County.
This was no ordinary cat up a tree.
A mountain lion balanced atop an oak Thursday in the Burnett County woods west of Spooner, warily eyeing state wildlife biologists below.
After a tranquilizing dart was fired but failed to immobilize the cougar, it bounded away into the pin oaks, a long, tawny shape rarely seen - but now undeniably confirmed - in Wisconsin.
"Things sure have changed," said Ken Jonas, area wildlife supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources in Spooner, reflecting on the increase in large predators in the state over his 27-year career. "It was a very healthy looking cougar, no doubt about it."
To avoid overstressing the cat, Jonas said officials decided to call off the chase for a day or more.
Jonas said the department intended to immobilize the animal, take blood and hair samples, affix a radio collar and then release it. He described the lion as a 110- to 120-pound male, perhaps 2 or 3 years old.
Information from the tracking device would help biologists learn more about the range and behaviors of the cougar in Wisconsin.
The mountain lion, also known as cougar, catamount, panther and puma, has a well-established breeding population in the Black Hills of South Dakota and has been spreading east into other Midwestern states in recent years. A male cougar was confirmed near Janesville last year; it was later killed by police in Chicago.
Reports of cougars in Wisconsin have been common in recent years, including eyewitness accounts and shadowy images on trail cameras. But confirmation from state officials has been difficult to come by.
"This is exciting news," said George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. "There had been some naysayers, but now that is history.
"It's a native predator to the state so I'm pleased to see it back. Just so it doesn't go down to Illinois."
Protected species
The mountain lion is a protected species in Wisconsin; a permit is required to kill or capture one.
The Burnett County cougar's tracks were seen Monday in a yard near Trego, according to reports from the DNR. On Tuesday, a team of hounds led by a private citizen followed the trail and treed the cougar.
DNR officials were notified and took up pursuit of the animal Wednesday and Thursday, also with hounds. The cat has so far eluded capture.
"We've done everything to try to protect the health of the cat, including using a low dose of the drug," Jonas said.
Adrian Wydeven, wolf program leader with the DNR, has tracked many large predators in Wisconsin. He found himself on a new chase Thursday.
"Following the large cat prints through the northern Wisconsin habitat was an unexpected treat," Wydeven said. "It was exhilarating for me."
Wydeven said some hair was collected Thursday from the cougar and would be retained for testing. Blood and hair samples can reveal the origin of the animal.
The cougar is likely a dispersing male looking for a territory, Wydeven said. It was last seen west of Spooner, near the Burnett and Washburn county line.
Snow covered the ground Thursday in most of northwestern Wisconsin. But warm weather predicted in coming days will deteriorate tracking conditions.
Jonas asked the public to notify the DNR if they see the cat. He also urged people to avoid harassing the animal.
"We don't want people or dogs chasing the animal," Jonas said. "They, their dogs or the cat could end up harmed."
If the cougar stays in the area, another capture attempt might be made in several days, Jonas said.
"It's hard to say with a dispersing young adult like this," Jonas said. "It might keep moving and the next sighting could be well away from here."
Regardless of where it goes or if it's seen again, the picture of the handsome cougar in the Badger State has left an indelible - and indisputable - image in the minds of Wisconsinites.
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arizonabeagle
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Re: Spooner Wisconsin lion
sounds like he's been chased quit a few times if they couldnt catch him after three trees
or maybe the dogs aint too good...
but you wisconsin guys, its possible these cats come down from canada isnt it? ihavent been huntin em too long but they sure travel a hell of a ways
or maybe the dogs aint too good...
but you wisconsin guys, its possible these cats come down from canada isnt it? ihavent been huntin em too long but they sure travel a hell of a ways
hank taught me just how to stay alive, you'll never catch out the house without my 9 or .45. i got a big orange tractor and a diesel truck and my idea of heavens chasin whitetail bucks...