I read the second K.C. Star story accessed by
Kristi's link. The cougar was crossing I-35 (not I-70, as AP reported) and was
within Kansas City limits. It was 7'1" long from nose to tail and weighed 125
pounds. It was 2-3 years old. Its stomach was empty, but hairs resembling deer
hairs were found in its intestines. None of the usual signs of captivity was
present.
It will be some time, if ever, before it can be
determined whether the cougar was wild or released. Evidently,
cougars are occasionally kept privately in Missouri (and
in nearby-by Eastern Kansas), some legally, others illegally. A person
who wants to get rid of an Illegally-kept cougar may release it
because no legitimate keeper of such animals will accept it without proper
documentation. Plenty of deer, turkeys and other prey for cougars are
available in Missouri. Captive-raised cougars instinctivly know how to kill
prey, although they may not be as proficient at it as wild-raised cougars.
DNA testing may be used to determine the cougar's
origin. If it shows that the cougar belonged to a South American strain, it can
be inferred that it was a released captive animal. If it is from the North
American strain, absent further evidence about its origin, it may never be known
whether it was born wild or in captivity.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 8:45
AM
Subject: Re: Mountain Lion in or near
K.C.
Here's a link to the Kansas City Star's first story on the
mountain lion. It was struck crossing I-35 near Parvin Road in the
northland:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/4283221.htm
This follow-up story includes the report that the
mountain lion had hairs in its intestines that resemble deer
hairs:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/4292689.htm
When I was very small, our vet told stories about
losing several lambs off his farm near Kearney over a short period of time.
Then he found a large set of tracks that would fit a big cat. There were also
rumors, not too long before or after that, of a mountian lion being seen
lounging on a hay bale near Liberty Hospital (north of Kansas City). You never
know where one might turn up... That would make birding around here a little
bit more interesting, wouldn't it?
Kristi Mayo
Kearney,
MO
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