Mountain Lion shot in Des Moines
- Thread starter oldman
- Start date
I called the DNR over 4 years ago when i spotted two mountain lions at the I80/65 bypass (West of Bass Pro). It scared me so much i went door to door notifying the neighbors of what i had seen. The DNR told me i was seeing things and there was no mountain lions in Iowa.
I'd agree if it was out in the country (I'd probably just leave it alone because it was so cool). In town though, different story. Sad deal, but its a dangerous animal out of its territory.
In their defense 1:you were prob seeing things, 2: they dont travel in groups 3: they had already aknowleged there were lions in IA 4 yrs ago.
so i am confused, are you arguing that since mountain lions have killed 5 people in 120 years, we should shoot them all? or that they ONLY killed 5 people in 120 years?
Bees kill 53 people every year in the US. Everybody go outside right now and start killing every bee you see, they are crazy dangerous to have in your town! We can't afford to have them flying around killing everybody! Go, now, before its too late!
I actually love these animals so I hate hearing about this, but in a city with many people around it is understandable (even with extremely minimal risk). I was very unhappy with that ****** in eastern Iowa that killed his trophy a couple of years ago while it was just hanging out in a tree.
Also, I am glad it was a young male rather than a female out hunting for her cubs.
Also, I am glad it was a young male rather than a female out hunting for her cubs.
In a 100 years, mountain lions have attacked in California (which there really is few cougar attacks out of California) as many times as there are people killed each year in the US by dog attacks.
Why are we letting dogs take over our states? It is time to do away with this dangerous species.
Not trying to get political on here, but we as humans have a serious problem of latching on and declaring something dangerous while ignoring real dangers. The number one accidental death cause in Iowa is not firearms, or cougar attacks, or vehicle accidents, it is falls. How many on here ice melt their sidewalks like they should or offer to hold a ladder for your neighbor while he is hanging his Christmas lights? How many that don't do the above is quick to jump on the bandwagon to kill all the cougars?
Kinda a morbid but interesting site:
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/apl/common/pdf/health_statistics/2010/vital_stats_2010.pdf
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Almost all cougars/bears you will find in this state are young males. The strong breeding populations are to the west/north of us. As the males mature they try to establish their own domain. When there is no room, they are forced out to look for new land. That's why they come to Iowa. Food, space, no competition.
In a 100 years, mountain lions have attacked in California (which there really is few cougar attacks out of California) as many times as there are people killed each year in the US by dog attacks.
Why are we letting dogs take over our states? It is time to do away with this dangerous species.
Not trying to get political on here, but we as humans have a serious problem of latching on and declaring something dangerous while ignoring real dangers. The number one accidental death cause in Iowa is not firearms, or cougar attacks, or vehicle accidents, it is falls. How many on here ice melt their sidewalks like they should or offer to hold a ladder for your neighbor while he is hanging his Christmas lights? How many that don't do the above is quick to jump on the bandwagon to kill all the cougars?
Kinda a morbid but interesting site:
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/apl/common/pdf/health_statistics/2010/vital_stats_2010.pdf
So, if your house next summer was colonized by africanized bee's what would you do? Hire a bee specialist to come out and move them out into a local field while putting your block under quarantine to ensure that no one is hurt by these animals in the mean time? Or do you hire an exterminator to remove the threat as soon as possible?
I respect cougars greatly as one of natures most effective hunters. I for one was sad to see the animal put down but agree 100% with the actions in an urban location. The only other two scenarios that I would want the animal put down is if I or my family were threatened or if we were loosing livestock.
I'm not arguing for or against anything. I guess you ARE confused. Cougars did only kill 5 people in 120 years -- in California. 2 attacks happened before 1910. The rest happened after 1985.
Actually the family dog kills more people than cougars, though one could argue that it might be because there are a lot more dogs than cougars.
After reading all the responses and reading the facts of the situation, I agree that shoot to kill was the best option. I think these cats are cool and beautiful but you can't have them roaming around schools, children, heavily populated areas and domesticated animals.
What breeding opportunities are these young males going to find in Iowa? At least he knew to not go to Ames where breeding opportunities for young males is quite limited.
They quiet often head to Johnson County... Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Unlike humans they don't follow the females. If that were the case then they would go directly to Cedar Falls or IC.
They can't honestly know what is in Iowa for them...they just know they are not welcome were they were born because of more dominant males.
Correct. I don't know about bears, but there has not been a confirmed case of a female mountain lion in Iowa in the last 100 years. Iowa is a sink population for young males roaming from western South Dakota and the panhandle of Nebraska.
Well Ray, I just looked it up. Initally the DNR reported it as female. Then four days later they changed the story to male. So you're right and I'm wrong.