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NS Buck · Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 12 Location: Nova Scotia Canada

Hello all, Quick question. Is there Cougars in Nova Scotia. I was hunting the other day walking down a narrow dirt road and in front of me out jumped a large cat. It was alot bigger than a bobcat, I have seen these before, It also looked bigger than a linx, It walked about 50 yds up the road in front of me and than darted into the woods again, I had the scope on it a couldnt really tell if it had a tail or not due to the way the sun was shining right on me. 2 yrs ago the same thing happened to my Buddy around same spot and he swore it was a cougar he had seen, I never believed him .. I really dont know what to believe now. Is this possible?? And if it is possible should I be cautious around this thing?

[ This Message was edited by: NS Buck on 2002-11-04 04:13 ]

[ This Message was edited by: NS Buck on 2002-11-04 04:14 ]

[ This Message was edited by: NS Buck on 2002-11-04 04:15 ]

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1609 Location: Nova Scotia

There has been reports of sightings in NS but to date the DNR says there is no cougars in NS. We used to have cougars and they are on the rise so you may have seen one. I have neighbors who swear they have one living in the woods where we live and I have seen what appears to be very large cat tracks that they have pointed out. Who knows for sure but it would be nice to think they are making a come back.

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6546

Citizens usually seem to learn about returning predators before DNRs do, so it certainly is possible, especially given what ChesterGolf noted.

Is there snow on the ground up there yet? If so, a photo of a tracks (with close ups) could be pretty convincing evidence, and would be easy evidence to collect.

Cougar attacks are relatively rare; however do be more attentive to surroundings than you normally would be if you think a big cat is in the area.

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1609 Location: Nova Scotia

We don't have any snow yet but when hunting season is over I will be checking the area out a bit more. Who knows, I may even get to meet the "little" puty tat.

NS Buck · Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 12 Location: Nova Scotia Canada

Hey ChesterGolf, looks like we may be able to take pictures pretty early of tracks if we see them. 10 to 15 cm snowfall in the forecast for inland areas of NS.

Have a great day...

NS Buck · Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 12 Location: Nova Scotia Canada

Here is a good link on Cougars in NS I got from the Government website.

http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wild.....6-02-5.htm

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1609 Location: Nova Scotia

Good article NS Buck. It looks like we are going to get some of the white stuff but the South Shore is calling mostly for rain. (25mm... 1 in.) Hopefully this weather pattern will get the deer moving. They are all but extinct around here. They have been sticking to the thick forests and are hard to get a crosshair on.

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2619 Location: Colorado

That is an interesting article on the cougars. Sounds like there definitely is a possibility of the big cats being in the area. I would be amazed if they were that far north and east, but like the article says, they go where the deer are at.

I have lived in known cougar territory for many years, and have only heard stories of people seeing them. Acutally had a family friend once that had left their garage door open one morning when they left to take a day trip, when they came home later in the evening, they drove into the garage and there was a cougar in it! The cat split quick.

They are extremely allusive, your best bet is looking for tracks.

NS Buck · Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 12 Location: Nova Scotia Canada

well we got 25cm snow the other day. But it is going to be short lived supposed to warm up to the mid teens for a few days,On vacation all next week, taking the camper and going after Mr Buck, hopefully I will at leats get a chance to see a deer with horns anyway. I was speaking to an old fella yesturday which used to be an avid hunter and he told me to use Amonia (hope I spelled it right) said that he used to soak a white cloth with it and hang it from a tree about 3 ft in the air and he said he has seen bucks come out and lick the rag. Said that it also brings out alot of the other wildlife also cats, bears...etc so be prepared he said. Has anyone ever tried this??

[ This Message was edited by: NS Buck on 2002-11-08 03:53 ]

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1609 Location: Nova Scotia

I have not used ammonia for deer nor have I ever heard of it being used but you never know. Deer are very curious and nothing surprises me anymore.

saskie · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2002 12:08 pm Post subject:

My girlfriends father claims to have sighted a cougar while scouting near Upper Musquodobit. Same old story - quick glimpse of a big tan cat jumping into the bush in an over-grown clear cut.

saskie · Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2003 3:32 pm Post subject:

Heard on the news this morning that another cougar was aparently spotted in NB. I guess that's enough sightings to finally get the govt to investigate. They sent a team in to look for them - didn't find any but they found some hair samples that might be cougar. They're sending off to the lab for analysis.

muskrat · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 46 Location: Arizona

We went/are going through the same thing in NB. Not sure if DNR has made it official yet - I haven't been home in over 5 years. Lots of sightings. Last I heard, and old trapper aquaintance of mine - dyed in the wool, expert outdoorsman - had found some cougar scat, and had taken the wildlife biologists out to show them that, and some tracks. Not sure what ever came of it.