[chance2jump]

There have been several horses throughout lower MI that have been attacked by a cougar size animal, and bite / claw marks have been consistant with that of a cougar. Also have quite a few horse owning acquintances that have seen cougars for themselves. Had a black bear sighting not too far from Lansing a few years ago, too.

Yes, cougars exist in lower MI. Yes, bears exist in lower MI.

No, they are not attacking people. Yet.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by sunshineann

lol..I didnt mean learn about them up close and personal..lol I probably should not have watched that show last week, where this women was riding a bike on a bike trail..granted it wasnt in michigan..and she was attacked by a cat of some sort....Now i really wanna run out and start walking and riding the trails..lolol.

That was in Californnia. The mountain lions are being driven out of their habitat and into populated areas by development and lack of game, plus excessive reproduction. There is nothing left for them to eat except us, so they are getting more and more agressive out there. A mountain lion which is what most people mean when they refer to a cougar, is big and very muscular with short hair. Until recently, they are shy and stay well away from humans.

It would be hard to mistake a bobat for a mountain lion. Bobcats are cute. An encounter with a mountain lion leaves you shaking. I have run accross both while hiking. I hope that I never see a mountain lion again.

Tracks can be decieving. If the animal is running and the ground is soft, they will leave a larger and distorted track. I had a very large dog that I took hiking. In the soft mud she left tracks that people mistook for bear traks.