150 lb Cougar shot and killed in Roscoe Village (Chicago, Des Plaines: house, live)

[dragoro]

Depends on where ya are. My friends live in Pen and other states where they aint illegal. they also have a tone more exp handlin venomous than most the curators in the US. They handle taipans, cobras, black mambas and what have ya. Most the curators in US aint even seen a taipan (google it, kill ya within a min). These guys aint idiots, they aint the ones that snakes escape from.

As for my hognose, I know it wasn't all that dangerous. And while I've caught western diamonds a bunch, it was the only on I felt comfortable keeping.

[LSDetroit]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

And western hognose snakes, while venomous, many dont even categorize them as venomous because their venom is incredibly weak. Cool snakes though!

Oh yeah, regarding the cougar, Im pretty sure it wasnt a pet. Theyve been seen more and more recently in the midwest. MN has a decent cougar population and there have been several sightings in southern IL recently too. Missouri has a rather large population as well.

A lot of people don't realize this, but Garter Snakes are also venomous. They are also rear-fanged and the venom is weak. However there have been cases of illness, swelling and pain followed by strong bites.

Cougar sitings over much of their former range have become very common in recent years.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

...Oh yeah, regarding the cougar, Im pretty sure it wasnt a pet. Theyve been seen more and more recently in the midwest. MN has a decent cougar population and there have been several sightings in southern IL recently too. Missouri has a rather large population as well.

Kentucky has quite a few also. They never left the mountains out east contrary to what most authorities will tell people.

[dragoro]

Originally Posted by LSDetroit

A lot of people don't realize this, but Garter Snakes are also venomous. They are also rear-fanged and the venom is weak. However there have been cases of illness, swelling and pain followed by strong bites.

Cougar sitings over much of their former range have become very common in recent years.

Garter snakes aren't venomous. That's a modern myth.

[jimbo13]

ahh, illegal snakes. my roommate and i had a pygmy rattler back in florida and he got careless handling it after a while. it bit him on the finger and by the time i got him over to the hospital his legs had already started going numb. he was in the hospital for eight days and received ten bags of antivenom, they almost had to chop the finger off it rotted so bad. we told the dr that our cat got out and when he reached into the bushes to get it something bit him.

[cdc3217]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

He probably used the trains tracks to come down. I am serious. He could find rabbits and squirrels to eat along the way easy.

I would agree that this was not a pet. It was four feet long! Who could keep that anywhere? I mean he sure had some good street smarts for being a pet!

I think they can do at least 20 miles a day.

Also, there are also greenways along the river corridors that he could have followed down.

Still not convinced it wasn't a pet, though. If they examine it, I guess they'll be able to look at its health and discern a lot.

[skipcromer]

This reminds me of the show 'Weeds' where the kid shoots the cougar in the eye.

[Lookout Kid]

I've seen a lot of cougars hanging out in the bars of Roscoe Village... Why is this a story?

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I've seen a lot of cougars hanging out in the bars of Roscoe Village... Why is this a story?

Ha. Atta boy.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by dragoro

Depends on where ya are. My friends live in Pen and other states where they aint illegal. they also have a tone more exp handlin venomous than most the curators in the US. They handle taipans, cobras, black mambas and what have ya. Most the curators in US aint even seen a taipan (google it, kill ya within a min). These guys aint idiots, they aint the ones that snakes escape from.

As for my hognose, I know it wasn't all that dangerous. And while I've caught western diamonds a bunch, it was the only on I felt comfortable keeping.

Sorry, didnt know they were in PA.

Yes, I know what a Taipan is. And while very dangerous, they wont kill you in a minute. Well, unless youre severely allergic to the venom that is. And many people out here in the US keep and handle cobras, taipans, corals, mambas, etc. The guy in Lake Forest (Rob Carmichael) has several cobras, some mambas, etc. Really neat place to go visit. He'll show you the "hot room" upon request. Ive been back in there several times and its awesome. I spend alot of time out in the AZ desert and MO glades herpin for venomous snakes. Havent had too much luck, but have run across western diamondbacks (Crotalus atrox), copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), etc. I mainly hunt for scorpions and tarantulas, but snakes are sweet to find too.