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Minco Mountain Lion Results
3/22/2012 1:54:01 PM
Here you go Dan.
March 22, 2012
A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Genetic analysis from "Minco mountain lion" confirms ties to South Dakota
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently confirmed origins of the mountain lion struck and killed by a motorist in November 2011 near Minco.
According to Erik Bartholomew, furbearer biologist for the Wildlife Department, the 130-lb. male mountain lion that was found dead along HWY 81 north of Minco is closely tied genetically to populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota. DNA analyses performed on tissue collected from the cat also confirm it was a wild mountain lion and not an escaped domestic animal.
"The cat's DNA shows a very close genetic relationship to wild populations in South Dakota," Bartholomew said. "We can say with a high level of confidence that this male was born in the Black Hills region. Another clue that this animal was wild is the fact that it had porcupine quills in its stomach. Apparently mountain lions consider them to be good eating, or maybe they are easy to catch, but many times western states report mountain lions with porcupine quills in their front legs and digestive tract."
A small tooth from the mountain lion's upper jaw also was sent to a lab for aging. Much like the rings on a tree, the root portion of the tooth has rings that can be used by experts to age the animal. The tooth from the "Minco mountain lion" showed that the animal was at least three years old.
"We have no idea of the path he used to get to Oklahoma," Bartholomew said. "However, with him being killed near the South Canadian, he likely was following the river where their primary prey - white-tailed deer - would be in high abundance. Males tend to have very large home ranges at or over 200 square miles. The Black Hills is a small island of habitat, and many times adult males will get in territorial disputes with young males and the loser leaves in search of new territory."
This mountain lion represents a unique research opportunity for the Department since the animals are secretive and because biologists have had few other opportunities to study them up close in Oklahoma.
Other wild mountain lions documented in Oklahoma also have tested positive for Black Hills origins, such as the female captured in the city limits of Tulsa last year and another believed to have been killed by a train in 2004 near Red Rock. A male mountain lion that was shot in 2010 in the Panhandle by a Department of Agriculture employee while depredating livestock tested positive for genetic ties to populations in eastern Colorado, and another confiscated by the Department's law enforcement division in southeast Oklahoma was genetically tied to populations in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. Additionally, several other sightings have been documented, including a young radio-collared male from Colorado that traveled through the Panhandle's Texas County in 2010 and is now living in New Mexico, and trail camera pictures from the fall of 2009 that show mountain lions in Tillman and Atoka counties.
Also called "panthers," "cougars" and "pumas," mountain lions are native to Oklahoma and historically would have been found statewide. Bartholomew said it is a common misconception that the Wildlife Department has released mountain lions in Oklahoma.
Officials with the Wildlife Department rely on the public to report verifiable sightings, photos and reports of mountain lions to help document the species in Oklahoma.
To submit photographs and report sightings of mountain lions in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com and report your sighting online or call Bartholomew at (405) 385-1791.
***Photo***
http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs043/1101667135045/img/59.jpg
DNA analysis of the mountain lion that made headlines in November after being struck and killed by a vehicle near Minco has confirmed that the cat was a wild animal with genetic ties to populations in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. In this photo, Erik Bartholomew, furbearer biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, takes the rare opportunity to conduct research on the mountain lion, which was hit on HWY 81 north of Minco.
March 22, 2012
A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Genetic analysis from "Minco mountain lion" confirms ties to South Dakota
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently confirmed origins of the mountain lion struck and killed by a motorist in November 2011 near Minco.
According to Erik Bartholomew, furbearer biologist for the Wildlife Department, the 130-lb. male mountain lion that was found dead along HWY 81 north of Minco is closely tied genetically to populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota. DNA analyses performed on tissue collected from the cat also confirm it was a wild mountain lion and not an escaped domestic animal.
"The cat's DNA shows a very close genetic relationship to wild populations in South Dakota," Bartholomew said. "We can say with a high level of confidence that this male was born in the Black Hills region. Another clue that this animal was wild is the fact that it had porcupine quills in its stomach. Apparently mountain lions consider them to be good eating, or maybe they are easy to catch, but many times western states report mountain lions with porcupine quills in their front legs and digestive tract."
A small tooth from the mountain lion's upper jaw also was sent to a lab for aging. Much like the rings on a tree, the root portion of the tooth has rings that can be used by experts to age the animal. The tooth from the "Minco mountain lion" showed that the animal was at least three years old.
"We have no idea of the path he used to get to Oklahoma," Bartholomew said. "However, with him being killed near the South Canadian, he likely was following the river where their primary prey - white-tailed deer - would be in high abundance. Males tend to have very large home ranges at or over 200 square miles. The Black Hills is a small island of habitat, and many times adult males will get in territorial disputes with young males and the loser leaves in search of new territory."
This mountain lion represents a unique research opportunity for the Department since the animals are secretive and because biologists have had few other opportunities to study them up close in Oklahoma.
Other wild mountain lions documented in Oklahoma also have tested positive for Black Hills origins, such as the female captured in the city limits of Tulsa last year and another believed to have been killed by a train in 2004 near Red Rock. A male mountain lion that was shot in 2010 in the Panhandle by a Department of Agriculture employee while depredating livestock tested positive for genetic ties to populations in eastern Colorado, and another confiscated by the Department's law enforcement division in southeast Oklahoma was genetically tied to populations in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. Additionally, several other sightings have been documented, including a young radio-collared male from Colorado that traveled through the Panhandle's Texas County in 2010 and is now living in New Mexico, and trail camera pictures from the fall of 2009 that show mountain lions in Tillman and Atoka counties.
Also called "panthers," "cougars" and "pumas," mountain lions are native to Oklahoma and historically would have been found statewide. Bartholomew said it is a common misconception that the Wildlife Department has released mountain lions in Oklahoma.
Officials with the Wildlife Department rely on the public to report verifiable sightings, photos and reports of mountain lions to help document the species in Oklahoma.
To submit photographs and report sightings of mountain lions in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com and report your sighting online or call Bartholomew at (405) 385-1791.
***Photo***
http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs043/1101667135045/img/59.jpg
DNA analysis of the mountain lion that made headlines in November after being struck and killed by a vehicle near Minco has confirmed that the cat was a wild animal with genetic ties to populations in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. In this photo, Erik Bartholomew, furbearer biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, takes the rare opportunity to conduct research on the mountain lion, which was hit on HWY 81 north of Minco.
3/22/2012 1:58:10 PM
No update on the skunk-apes??
3/22/2012 3:12:20 PM
The Tulsa kitty ended up in a Zoo in Kanasa ,never let her go . Assholes
3/22/2012 3:36:59 PM
Bigfoot's pet kitty
3/22/2012 5:08:11 PM
Yeah, all the mountain lions in Oklahoma came from South Dakota.
And Bigfoot came from another dimension through a temporary vortex.
There is an explanation for everything.....
And Bigfoot came from another dimension through a temporary vortex.
There is an explanation for everything.....
3/22/2012 7:28:38 PM
explain obama in the White House, then.
3/22/2012 8:24:22 PM
Originally Posted By hotdog250j:
explain obama in the White House, then.
explain obama in the White House, then.
His owners' spent more money to get him elected than the other candidates.
3/22/2012 8:33:16 PM
Originally Posted By hotdog250j:
explain obama in the White House, then.
explain obama in the White House, then.
He play the Race card and sold the left a line of crap , just like today BS .
3/22/2012 10:10:27 PM
Several years ago me and I guy I taught school with were at his uncle's place out by Binger and I saw tracks. When I asked the guy about big cats he said his uncle and aunt had heard screams in the night that were from big cats. I am sure there are more than we know about.
As to BHO, was glad to see him leave the state today. What a load of BS he was spewing about the pipeline.
As to BHO, was glad to see him leave the state today. What a load of BS he was spewing about the pipeline.
3/23/2012 4:39:47 PM
Must have been brought down by a custom cutter
3/23/2012 5:39:22 PM
I had a friend several years ago that kept two mountain lions as pets. We would be sitting in the living room watching TV and a full size couger would walk up and stand next to you and stare at you. He did tell me not to pet the big kitty or make sudden movements but that was already a given since whenever the cats came close I pretty much quit breathing too.
There was one incident that occurred while separately the male and female because she was in heat that ended up with the female getting loose and me needing a bit of therapy afterwards lol. They did catch her though which is good.
I have no doubt most of the cats seen above southern OK are probably 'pets' that were either accidentally or purposely released. I can say, for a fact, that there is at least one in the wild in northeast OK because I saw it up close and way too personal in the wild. It's something you can't forget...I was so scared I froze and watched it walk past me at about 15 yards. This was several years ago so i don't know if its still around.
There was one incident that occurred while separately the male and female because she was in heat that ended up with the female getting loose and me needing a bit of therapy afterwards lol. They did catch her though which is good.
I have no doubt most of the cats seen above southern OK are probably 'pets' that were either accidentally or purposely released. I can say, for a fact, that there is at least one in the wild in northeast OK because I saw it up close and way too personal in the wild. It's something you can't forget...I was so scared I froze and watched it walk past me at about 15 yards. This was several years ago so i don't know if its still around.
3/23/2012 6:27:58 PM
Seen tracks out by Heyburn Lake deer hunting ,that was all in needed to see . Had a friernd north of Claremore had one get in his barn and carry off one of his goats ,he say it was a long time before he could get his stock back in the barn.
3/23/2012 8:25:21 PM
I don't really give a damn if the one that was watching me put corn in a deer feeder was from Kalamazoo, MI or Gotebo Junction, OK.
I know I almost crapped in my britches because I know damn well it was thinking about a fat boy for lunch. All I had then was the 38 in my pocket. It just walked off in no hurry.
Now I don't go out there without a rifle CLOSE.
I know I almost crapped in my britches because I know damn well it was thinking about a fat boy for lunch. All I had then was the 38 in my pocket. It just walked off in no hurry.
Now I don't go out there without a rifle CLOSE.
3/23/2012 9:21:13 PM
Nice little kitty cats 
they just want some catnip! It's been runnin on low supply up north!
I'd like to put one up on my living room wall
I have seen tracks before... They're quite different from dog tracks so they're easy to spot
they just want some catnip! It's been runnin on low supply up north!
I'd like to put one up on my living room wall
I have seen tracks before... They're quite different from dog tracks so they're easy to spot
3/23/2012 10:54:09 PM
Originally Posted By soonerman:
Nice little kitty cats they just want some catnip! It's been runnin on low supply up north!
I'd like to put one up on my living room wall
I have seen tracks before... They're quite different from dog tracks so they're easy to spot
Nice little kitty cats
they just want some catnip! It's been runnin on low supply up north!
I'd like to put one up on my living room wall
I have seen tracks before... They're quite different from dog tracks so they're easy to spot
Easy to spot yes, and then the primal instinct to get out of Dodge kicks in with full senses heightened+o(
3/23/2012 11:02:59 PM
One guy on Vancouver Island was hit by one while walking. It had hold of him and he pulled a knife out and cut it's throat. He lost an eye and was really fooked up.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
3/24/2012 9:50:32 AM
Originally Posted By danc46:
One guy on Vancouver Island was hit by one while walking. It had hold of him and he pulled a knife out and cut it's throat. He lost an eye and was really fooked up.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
One guy on Vancouver Island was hit by one while walking. It had hold of him and he pulled a knife out and cut it's throat. He lost an eye and was really fooked up.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
Heck, forget the zombie apocalypse reason for going outside well armed
3/24/2012 10:00:11 AM
Originally Posted By soonerman:
Heck, forget the zombie apocalypse reason for going outside well armed
Originally Posted By danc46:
One guy on Vancouver Island was hit by one while walking. It had hold of him and he pulled a knife out and cut it's throat. He lost an eye and was really fooked up.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
One guy on Vancouver Island was hit by one while walking. It had hold of him and he pulled a knife out and cut it's throat. He lost an eye and was really fooked up.
He said the whole time that cat had hold of him it's heart never speeded up, was a slow steady beat, even after he stuck it in the throat.
The one deer kill I found the cat had drug it off into some brush and I left when I realized what it was. It must have got hold of the deer's throat, then raked it's guts with it's claws.
White hair was everywhere, along with blood and crap on the ground.
Matt found a lot of white hair/brown hair near that feeder where the cat was watching me. Never found any bones though.
They are a lot more common here in Oklahoma than people want to believe.
Heck, forget the zombie apocalypse reason for going outside well armed
I've been snake bit as a kid. As an adult I stepped on a rattle snake that bit my boot but didn't penetrate the leather. I still shit all over myself - the runny type down my legs.
I'm not sure if it was before or after I pinned it and picked it up.
When I saw that mountain lion I damn near did crap my britches. I guess if it had come at me, I would have. It did scare me the hell out of me.
I still don't know why I looked that way other than being blessed to do so. I don't remember pulling the 38 out of my pocket but it was in my hand all of a sudden.
We never caught the cat on the camera but Matt believes it's killed at least one deer by that feeder.
That is the third cat I've seen in Oklahoma, the second in Logan County.
BTW, they will kill pets as in somebody's lap hound. Bud told me about one being taken off someone's back porch back 6 years ago or so, not too far from where I saw this cat.
They are up and down the Cimarron and Canadian Rivers and that ain't no joke.
With hogs getting out of hand, so will the cats before it's over with.
3/24/2012 10:04:44 AM
FYI here are what cougar tracks look like:
Size will be bigger than your hand. The same size and smaller will be a bobcat.
I've posted a picture of one Matt took on our place but I can't find it right now.
Size will be bigger than your hand. The same size and smaller will be a bobcat.
I've posted a picture of one Matt took on our place but I can't find it right now.
