First cougar seen in Kentucky since the Civil War is promptly shot dead

It was hard to get the color because of the low sun light and all the shadows. A man outside of Louisville had a cougar on his front lawn. Also known as cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts, the cats are considered top-line predators because no other species feed on them. I am a nice woman who seeking for a caring and honest man to spend the rest of my life with.

There were four distinct claws about 2 inches apart and 6 inches across overall. The premier dining and entertainment destination in the city, Fourth Street Live regularly attracts hundreds of patrons nightly with many of them single, mature women looking for a date. I live in Greenup County, KY, and I have seen a cougar along the AA highway right off of US 23.

Kentucky - A hoaxster typically uses a legitimate mountain lion photograph taken in another state then claims the image was taken in Kentucky. One option would be to chase it away from populated areas with trained hounds.

Photo courtesy of Bill Lea While mountain lions were once common in Kentucky, research shows the state has not supported a wild population of mountain lions for more than a century. Barbour and Wayne H. Davis noted there were no valid records of a mountain lion in the state after 1899. Currently, the nearest wild population of mountain lions resides in Nebraska, more than 900 miles from Kentucky. A small population of panthers — fewer than 200 animals — also lives in southwestern Florida. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources receive reports each year of mountain lions roaming the state. However, there have been only two confirmations: a female kitten struck by a car in Floyd County in June 1997, and an adult male mountain lion dispatched by a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conservation officer in Bourbon County on December 15, 2014. DNA testing revealed the kitten had South American ancestry, leading to the conclusion that it was of captive origin. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists rely on physical, verifiable evidence to assess mountain lion sightings in the state. Bobcats, which were considered rare as late as 1974, have increased in range and abundance throughout Kentucky. They are now found in every county in the state. Bobcats may have solid brown coats, which can cause people to misidentify them when glimpsed in low light. In addition, it is no coincidence that reports of mountain lions have increased with the popularity of the internet- which enables the unintentional and intentional sharing of inaccurate information. Mountain lion captured on a remote camera in Lincoln County, MO Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation A good indicator of the presence of mountain lions is the number of animals killed on the road. In Florida, with its small population of panthers, about two dozen of the big cats are killed on the road each year. Several years ago, a hunter shot what he said was a mountain lion with his bow. DNA tests on the recovered arrow revealed that he had actually shot a bobcat. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists are monitoring the expansion of cougar populations from the western U. To help protect the public from escaped captive animals, the department has banned the possession of mountain lions as pets since 2005. Radiocollared mountain lion captured on a remote camera in North Dakota. Photo courtesy of Rich Beausoleil, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Few large mammals generate more intrigue, folklore and misinformation than the mountain lion. While this predator once roamed much of the U. Mountain lions now occupy only a fraction of their former range in the western United States and Florida. However, the number of mountain lions in the west is increasing. As a result, dispersing males wandering from their home territories occasionally show up further east. Currently, the nearest breeding range of mountain lions is located in northwestern Nebraska, approximately 900 miles from Kentucky. Classification: Mountain lions are carnivores classified within the Family Felidae. Its closest cousins are the jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi and cheetah Acinonyx jubatas. Biologists continue to debate the taxonomy of mountain lions, particularly the question of whether North American mountain lions comprise a single or multiple subspecies. General Description: Mountain lions are easy to distinguish from other large cats in North America by their large body and long tail. The short, tawny brown fur that covers most of their body easily blends with most surroundings. Short black fur covers the backs of the ears, the tip of the tail and the sides of the muzzle. Mountain lions have sharp, curved claws to help them climb and bring down prey. Mountain lions usually retract their claws when walking. Body length: 5 — 8 ½ feet Ear length: 3 — 4 inches Tail length: 21 — 35 inches Weight: 90 — 160 pounds Behavior: Mountain lions are solitary animals except during the breeding season or when females are raising kittens. The young typically remain with their mother for 2 years. During this time, the young animals learn from their mother how to hunt and survive. Once the family breaks up, subadult males may travel disperse hundreds of miles in search of a new home range. Diet: Mountain lions are strict carnivores; their primary prey is deer. If no deer are available, they will eat small to medium-sized mammals and sometimes livestock. Breeding Cycle: Females can breed when they are 3 years old. The mother typically produces a litter of two to three kittens every other year. Lions give birth in a den; sites may include rocky outcrops or crevices, caves and brushy areas. Newborn kittens are blind at birth. Kittens have buff-colored fur spotted with black. Young animals begin accompanying their mother on hunting trips once they reach two months old. Movements and Dispersal: Mountain lions are wide-ranging animals. Males have home ranges territories that cover 50 — 150 square miles. Female home ranges are roughly half that of males. Young males may travel hundreds of miles in search of a permanent home range. Evidence: Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that Kentucky is home to wild mountain lions. Any mountain lion appearing in the state would likely be an escaped or released captive animal. Kentucky has banned the possession of mountain lions as pets since 2005. While western mountain lion populations continue to grow and their occurrence has been confirmed in the Midwest, young wandering males from those areas have not been documented in Kentucky to date. Biologists at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources are interested in documenting any credible evidence of mountain lions in the state. The following information will help avoid misidentification of an animal. Use plants in the photo to help gauge the actual size of an animal. Note: tracks may be preserved for inspection by securely covering with a 5-gallon bucket. Most reports of mountain lions can be confirmed or disproved by providing this information. If the physical evidence supports the possibility of a mountain lion, a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologist may wish to visit the site for an evaluation. Eastern time , or 1-800-25-ALERT 1-800-252-5378 after regular business hours. Any mountain lion killed or found dead in Kentucky must be surrendered to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours for genetic testing and physical examination. Hoaxes: Over the last 10 years, the Internet has made it exceptionally easy for people to generate mountain lion hoaxes. A hoaxster typically uses a legitimate mountain lion photograph taken in another state then claims the image was taken in Kentucky. Following are photos used in the most widespread mountain lion Internet hoaxes in Kentucky. Hoax: This is one of the most widely circulated mountain lion hoax photographs circulating on the Internet today. The hoaxster claims this image was taken in Kentucky or a number of other states in the eastern U. The Truth: This is a real photo - - but it was actually taken in south Texas on Feb. The Hoax: Several people contacted the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center after a hoaxster claimed this mountain lion was killed around Cadiz in western Kentucky. The Truth: This is a real photo of a mountain lion struck and killed by a vehicle in northern Arizona in the winter of 2007. The Hoax: The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center received many emails of the above image in 2011. Most people believed this trail camera image was taken in eastern Kentucky. Some claimed it was taken on Black Mountain near Cumberland, while others gave the location as Knox County. The Truth: This is a real photo of a mountain lion in western Montana. It was taken by a remote camera in the summer of 2010. Internet Hoax: The KDFWR has received many emails of the above image with repeated claims that the image was captured by a remote trail camera in Pendleton County, KY in December 2013 and Whitley County, KY in February 2015. The Truth: This image is that of a melanistic black phase leopard that was photographed on a remote camera within a captive facility located in South Africa.

I sing along with the music all the time. Apparently some kind of predator had torn into and ate most of one glad quarter of the deer in only 30 minutes. You can also romance that older lady over unique cocktails made from scratch and warm desserts. Several years ago, a hunter shot what he said was a mountain lion with his bow. I live in elliott county kentucky on carterford rd, it is met on top of a cliff line back in the summer in august i was riding my horse down on the creek under the cliffs and a cougar ran across the trail about 80ft in front of me it looked to be around 60pd or so that makes the second time for me seing it. If you love good music and sexy single older women, this is the dive bar for you. I claim a sighting in 1998. She added the presence of mountain lions in an ecosystem adds to biological diversity, which she said helps the environment recover from natural disaster and diseases that solo the fauna in a region. A cougar is a member of the cat family and is cougars in kentucky a cheetah, but is the colour of a lion. I am a very down-to-earth person when you really get a chance to know me. Mountain lion captured on a remote del in Lincoln County, MO Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation A good indicator of the presence of mountain lions is the number of animals killed on the road. Most people believed this trail camera image was taken in eastern Kentucky.