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Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Myth

The Myth

Our blog vacation seems like it was a waste as our windows aren't in yet and we didn't have to hit the bright lights of the big city. The PM thought we'd blog a little while while we are waiting.

The foxes are still around but the kits are big enough to be with parents, hunting. They seem to drop by everyday but are not in the dens anymore.

We haven't made it outside to roam and no amount of protest turds right outside the litterbox seem to help.

Shade and I have been out on the harness with the bodyguards. It's not that bad but we are pretending it is horrid, ignoring the PM when she attempts get us to pose for the camera.









I am afraid that the prospect of running in the wilds isn't looking too good after the events of this weekend. The PM and the wee ones were getting ready to head outside when they heard mom and pop fox barking furiously. They give warning barks once in awhile but these were continuous barks from both of them. The PM figured another fox had come onto the property or a runaway dog. She walked up to the field and saw the foxes barking, looking towards the barn outback and their second den. The PM looked over and couldn't see a thing. She told them to relax and go check on their kits. They barely acknowledged her presence and she was about 15 feet away from them.

She picked up a shovel and walked towards the barn, thinking she would have to chase a porcupine away. Nothing was there so she started walking down our side driveway heading back towards to house. She looked at the back of the small hills where the fox den is and saw one kit running into the den. She left a small twinge of fear that maybe a bear was on the other side.

She looked around the first hill and saw a light brown, sandy coloured animal in the field. Her first thought was it was a coyote as she has seen them around before and they were of a similar colour. She clapped her hands and yelled "Git!" and the creature turned to look at her. She realized then that it was a cat, a really, really big cat. It happened so fast, her brain was trying to figure if it was a bobcat or a lynx as she has seen both of them before but this cat was bigger then they were. The cat started walking into the woods and that was when she saw it's long curving tail. She knew at that instant that she was looking at a cougar.

Since her shovel doesn't take photos, here's one we found online.



The PM is still in shock over the whole ordeal. She talked to one of our neighbours who is a naturalist at a National Park near here said that a couple of park wardens have seen one. He says it makes sense as his horse was really spooked this past week, not wanting to go into the back pasture.

The Eastern Cougar is somewhat of a myth in this part of Canada. There has been about 1000 sightings in the Maritimes but hardly any concrete evidence; no photos from this province. The official stance is that they do not exist even though many of the biologists believe there are small breeding pockets this far East. The PM called the Department of Natural Resources and she was shocked with how rude they were. She felt like she had told them that she saw Bigfoot. They were pretty condescending. She wishes she would have had her camera, that would have been proof. They can't be deemed an endangered species as they technically aren't here. One of the people at the DNR said she just wishes someone would shoot one. What???? These are the people who are in charge of the welfare of wildlife in this country?

The PM is kind of sad about the whole affair but she feels so special to have had a glimpse of such a spectacular animal. The foxes started barking like crazy a couple of nights later from 930 to 330 in the morning. The Music Man went out this time but couldn't spot anything as it was getting dark. I kept patrolling the windows in hopes of a sighting too! I thought maybe I could go out looking for it, give it a high paw for being such a survivor, so true to it's feline nature but I was not allowed. The PM explained to me that the cougar is normally very shy and stays away from people but there has been recent attacks out West and a hungry cougar has been known to eat just about anything, including other felines!

Best be on look out from inside. I think our trip to the city will actually be relaxing after this week!!!

24 comments:

Parker said...

Wow - a Cougar! I can understand how you might not want to roam around. Stay safe and enjoy all of that nature...from the window!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Wow, wow, WOW! You have a cougar roaming around your property?! Does it kind of look like Tama-Chan in a giant size? We hope the big guy makes it. Sorry for the kitties, though, as they obviously can't be roaming around. Phew!

The Monkeys said...

That is a heck of a week! It's awful how the DNR was so rude!

You guys are better off checking everything out from inside...

We hope your trip to the city is good and you all remain safe!

Hansel said...

glad you are back back back we missed you!

The Creek Cats said...

Holy cougar! Sure hope the cougar finds somewhere else to hunt!
Hope all the kits are ok!

We have a momma fox and kit around our house too!

Cory said...

Oh, too bad your mom doesn't have shovel-cam. I'm so glad you are all on leashes because it sounds like there is way too much wildlife for you to be outside on your own...so stop the protest turds ok? Your mom is just trying to protect you.

What an exciting week!!!!

Anonymous said...

While I agree that foxes and a cougar are both beautiful animals.Stay inside and safe I would be very sad if anything happened to you....Hugs

Forever Foster said...

Gadzooks! That is wild! A cougar?!?!?! And you guys want to go out?!?!?! The wildest thing we've ever had in our yard is our friend Cricket, the neighbours kitty.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Huffle will be sooooo furry proud of your NONposing skills!

As fur the khoughar: now THAT is a khytty!

Tank woo fur sharing YOUR great adventures with us!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Sweet Purrfections said...

Wow! Cougars and foxes. You two better stay inside and stay safe.

Anonymous said...

First thing that comes to mind is the same thing everyone else is saying -- WOW! We're glad it didn't harm your PM... if it was that close, it might have been desperately hungry and willing to put aside its fear of humans.

The Island Cats said...

Wow-wee-wow-wow!!! Sounds like you guys won't be doing any prowling outside on your own for awhile!!! If ever!!!

Quill and Greyson said...

OMC! How crazy! Foxes, cougars, and bears oh my. Be careful all of you.

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Wow, a cougar!!!!!! That is exciting news. We wishes your Mom could have gotten a picture so those RUDE beans would have to believe her. Please stay safe inside or outside with the bodyguards. ~S,S,C & F

Anonymous said...

No, a shovel does not take very good photos! You sure do live close to the wild! Wowie!

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Yikes! A cougar! That is scary.You all have to be very good and only go out on your leashes. We know it won't be as much fun, but it would be even less fun if you were a cougar's dinner. You hafta keep safe, okay.

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Holy Smokes!!!!! And we were worried about you with foxes around! Now we are more concerned! Please be very careful! It is sad that the beans in charge don't believe what your Mom saw...and even worse wishing that someone would shoot one....some people.......

Sorry you didn't get your windows yet. Hopefully that will happen soon.

Everycat said...

A cougar! Cripes, you lot stay safe now please.

W. Wuudler

Anonymous said...

It sure seems dangerous where you live, furriends! Keep your claws at the ready!

Tuck said...

A cougar?? WOW! You guys have all sorts of cool creatures around! Although, I think your humans are right -- better to stay on leashes to be safe.

(angel) Grrreta and Fam said...

Wow! That is so cool that the PM got to see a real live cougar in the wild...and unfortunate that she was carrying a regular shovel instead of a camera-shovel.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Wow!!! This is so interesting. We don't have any of these animals and we are fascinated by your experience.

Winston Kitty (Mr. Big Foot) said...

I thought I had fun wild friends at my house, but yours are great. I love the Cougar, big kitty kitty cat. Can I come visit? Your orange kitty looks like my neighbor kitty Haley. I luv Haley. Glad to meet you and I have added you to those I follow.

quiltcat said...

Wow, Goldie, that's really exciting about the cougar! How extremely rude those "officials" were, too! Not too far from where i live (the Blue Ridge mountains) there have been reports of cougars for years...the officials are still poo-pooing, or saying they're illegal pets that were released in the mountains and aren't a real breeding population. But the people who've seen them are quite sure about what they've seen! (and there's no denying that we have an expanding black bear and deer population) We hope the PM gets to see the cougar again, with camera in hand. And we hope you guys will stay safe and agree to go out only on your leads.

© 2008 Sumac Stories by Goldie, Shade & Banshee - 3 Canadian Cats