Cougar near Sandwich, IL? (Chicago, Wyoming: home, closing, moving)

[Avengerfire]

Ever heard of the Northwoods? Hello? There are Bears up there in addition to Cougars. Wow.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by runninfiend

It has everything to do with it. Cougars are large, solitary creatures that require huge territories, hundreds of miles--they're not bobcats or coyotes, smaller animals that can be conspicuous in smaller wooded areas. There may be more food here, but we don't have what cougars most need, huge spaces where they can range and escape human extirpation.

There are not sustained cougar populations in WI, MN, or MO. Sure, the occasional cougar may wander into the midwest as their home grounds are squeezed by a variety of variables, but the midwest is simply far too populous to sustain cougars on a permanent basis. Any cougar that does wander over will meet the fate that met the one that made it into Chicago.

Hmmm, I wonder why mountain lions are very common in Phoenix? There goes your theory right out the window.

There have been dozens of sightings in IL, more in MN, some in WI, and MO even has signs at some of their state parks warning people of mountain lions. Theyre becoming more and more common as time goes on.

[BUalumni]

I feel sorry for any ougar that wants to dare take up residence in Sandwich. Within twenty years that whole area will be consumed with Chicago sprawl. They won't stick around there to much longer after that. Or any animal for that matter.

[runninfiend]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Ever heard of the Northwoods? Hello? There are Bears up there in addition to Cougars. Wow.

Just a bit of research would tell you that there are not established cougar populations in MN or WI. The regular range of cougars is much further west. Do they wander outside their range? Yes. Wandering and establishing a permanent presence are two very different things.

Here is a nice map that shows the limits of cougar range and sightings/evidence of them further east:

The Cougar Network - Using Science to Understand Cougar Ecology

Hmmm, I wonder why mountain lions are very common in Phoenix? There goes your theory right out the window.

There have been dozens of sightings in IL, more in MN, some in WI, and MO even has signs at some of their state parks warning people of mountain lions. Theyre becoming more and more common as time goes on.

It's not a theory, Steve. There are mountain lions in Phoenix because it's in their established range and there are mountains, desert, valleys and huge amounts of undeveloped land that are suitable for mountain lion survival. As their native lands get squeezed, of course they're going to be encountered in more populated areas.

Illinois is not Arizona. We are too populous and do not have the habitat to sustain cougars. As I said, the occasional animal coming into in Illinois will happen, but there won't be permanent populations of them. It's common sense.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by runninfiend

Illinois is not Arizona. We are too populous and do not have the habitat to sustain cougars

ONLY in Chicagoland.

[runninfiend]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

ONLY in Chicagoland.

The whole state, actually. The only possible place would be Shawnee and even that most probably will not sustain permanent populations.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by runninfiend

The whole state, actually. The only possible place would be Shawnee and even that most probably will not sustain permanent populations.

My gosh, there would be a lot of areas in the state where they could live and flourish. There are tons of forested areas in the state (which they seem to prefer) and millions of acres to call their own. Yes, Id agree that the Shawnee National Forest might be the ideal location, and Im positive that the area could sustain permanent populations, as the Missouri Ozarks (very similar to the Pine Hills in IL) have populations.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

My gosh, there would be a lot of areas in the state where they could live and flourish. There are tons of forested areas in the state (which they seem to prefer) and millions of acres to call their own. Yes, Id agree that the Shawnee National Forest might be the ideal location, and Im positive that the area could sustain permanent populations, as the Missouri Ozarks (very similar to the Pine Hills in IL) have populations.

The more you talk, the more I honestly believe that you have never, EVER, been south of I-80. Typicall suburban attitude; acting like they know the rest of the state, but can't even tell you where Quincy is at. If you actually understood the Illinois way of life, you would understand that there aren't "a lot of areas in the state where they could live and flourish". What a totally inaccurate statement!!!!

See Steve-O. Down here we try to preserve our farmland because we know how internationally important it is to our survival as a human race. Since you guys seem to care 0% about what happens to your precious resources, maybe you should designate a couple hundred acres of your farmlands for forests and move all the cougars in there. That sounds like a jolly time. Downstate Illinois does not have the room for them. But I will not take the time to explain downstate dynamics to some one that thinks that places like Wasco are an amazing thing.

[runninfiend]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

My gosh, there would be a lot of areas in the state where they could live and flourish. There are tons of forested areas in the state (which they seem to prefer) and millions of acres to call their own. Yes, Id agree that the Shawnee National Forest might be the ideal location, and Im positive that the area could sustain permanent populations, as the Missouri Ozarks (very similar to the Pine Hills in IL) have populations.

You need to read up more on mountain lions. Cougars are not coyotes or bobcats. The Missouri Ozarks do not have large verified sustained cougar populations, although it is far more likely to be more possible there than in Illinois.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

The more you talk, the more I honestly believe that you have never, EVER, been south of I-80. Typicall suburban attitude; acting like they know the rest of the state, but can't even tell you where Quincy is at. If you actually understood the Illinois way of life, you would understand that there aren't "a lot of areas in the state where they could live and flourish". What a totally inaccurate statement!!!!

See Steve-O. Down here we try to preserve our farmland because we know how internationally important it is to our survival as a human race. Since you guys seem to care 0% about what happens to your precious resources, maybe you should designate a couple hundred acres of your farmlands for forests and move all the cougars in there. That sounds like a jolly time. Downstate Illinois does not have the room for them. But I will not take the time to explain downstate dynamics to some one that thinks that places like Wasco are an amazing thing.

Listen here, I am absolutely SICK AND F'IN TIRED OF YOUR BS. You follow me around these boards and harass me and make yourself look like an arse doing so! Either shut your trap and come with some useful information to this discussion or go swim with the sharks, Ive had enough. Not only did you call me a "typical suburbanite", but then you go on to generalize me saying you doubt Ive ever been "south of I-80". Now YOURE the one who is acting like a "typical downstater" (if there is such a thing), always thinking that those who live in Chicagoland dont care about farmland, and yada, yada, yada. Hey chump, IM NOT THE ONES SELLING THE FARMS, am I? Blame your own kind for selling out and making a profit from developers.

"Downstate Illinois doesnt have the room for them"? Pfft. There are almost 6 thousand acres in Shawnee alone! There is a small portion of the Black Hills in SD that has over 145 known mountain lions, several dozen of which have been tracked moving to IL, MN, IA, MO, etc. What have you got to say now?
Cougar sightings increasingly common around the Midwest « Illinois Cougar Watch

Why dont you google all the confirmed sightings of cougars in the midwest (there are even some on the like I provided) and THEN come back and open your pie hole, youll sing a different tune, guaranteed.