A mountain lion in the neighborhood

[judy]

Our bears have been getting into a lot of garbage cans! We have over 100 units, and the bears have discovered that this place is like a buffet!

I don't know what will be done about it if anything. They haven't been back to my road. We are pretty careful with our garbage, and nobody has bird feeders.

Cougars are pretty aggressive, aren't they? I say, shoot them!

[gja1000]

Do they provide bear proof garbage cans? They should, that's the only type of outdoor garbage can that can be used in places with lots of bears, otherwise they'll just keep coming to the buffet. I remember once in Alaska, we couldn't figure out how to get the bear proof garbage can open at one of the cabins where we were staying. LOL!

Yes, I agree, shoot the cougar - but it is in a pretty heavily populated area and if the shooter missed, it could possibly hit something/someone it shouldn't. I haven't heard of any more sightings. Hopefully, it has moved on.

[Janet]

Just saw on Animal Planet yesterday a series titled ManEaters. It had bear, wolves and coyotes on it and all the damage and killing they do. I had no idea that coyotes were so vicious. The show told of where they are coming into urban areas and one attacked a three year old girl. I guess with them losing their areas because of us...they have to go somewhere.

[gja1000]

Coyotes can be very vicious, especially when they are being crowded out of their space by urban development, or drought/famine. A few years ago one of my students was walking his dachsund on lease in a green belt on the outskirts of Austin when a coyote ran up and grabbed the dog and ran off with it. It was very traumatic, to say the least.

[judy]

Originally Posted by gja1000

Do they provide bear proof garbage cans? They should, that's the only type of outdoor garbage can that can be used in places with lots of bears, otherwise they'll just keep coming to the buffet. I remember once in Alaska, we couldn't figure out how to get the bear proof garbage can open at one of the cabins where we were staying. LOL!

Yes, I agree, shoot the cougar - but it is in a pretty heavily populated area and if the shooter missed, it could possibly hit something/someone it shouldn't. I haven't heard of any more sightings. Hopefully, it has moved on.

I have to say that a lot of people who live here are pretty dumb sometimes! They don't provide garbage pails. Some of our homes have garbage rooms on the porch with a bolt lock, others have outdoor wooden structures. People can all buy their own bear proof garbage pails. They can also take down the bird feeders!!! Prevention is the best plan, and it really doesn't cost that much!

Those of us with some smarts are keeping the garbage inside until garbage days (Monday and Friday). Some people only have hummingbird feeders, which supposedly don't attract bears. I also keep my grill accessories inside, and keep my grill really clean.

Thank goodness the bears hibernate , and a lot of these weekenders go somewhere else in the winter! Darn these city folk!!!

Hopefully, bear hunting season will be successful and weed out a lot of bears.

Cougars are not part of hunting season, as far as I know. If I knew how to shoot, I would just shoot them anytime I saw one. They are feral animals, and you cannot walk your dogs around here at night as far as I'm concerned. Dogs need to be trained to go potty right outside after dark if they're too big for pads.

[judy]

Did I say cougars? Sorry....I meant coyotes. Wed don't have cougars (so far).

I hate coyotes!