Could this possibly happen in the BW and Quetico?
Close Encounter

About 20 years ago I was waiting in line at the airport in Minneapolis and struck up a conversation with an older guy next to me. He was returning to his home from a photography trip in the Ely area - photographing wolves. He said he was attacked by a mountain lion while waiting to photo the wolves. The cat jumped him from a rocky ledge above and clawed his shoulder then sped off into the woods. He pulled his shirt and bandage up and showed me the wound. Large claw marks and black and blue arm/shoulder. They're there, just not in the numbers you'd see in the Sierra's, like the linked vid. When I lived in the front range, Colorado, there were frequent sightings and attacks every once in awhile.

Yes it could happen. There are occasionally cougars in the midwest, believed to be dispersing young males from the western Dakotas. Very unlikely though.

Ive lived in the Sierra's for over 40 years. Worked for cal. fire for 28 of those years and have never seen a Mt. lion. Even out here you are very lucky to see one. We had one calf killed by a lion. We sat on it for 3 nights but the lion never showed.

The DNR in Mn or WI will quickly tell you that they are merely males searching out new territory... apparently trail cameras are notorious liars as are hundreds of deer hunters, because actually there are only large house cats and occasional coyotes round here.

A few years ago, Eric Simula paddled an epic journey through the Arrowhead region. He had a bear and a cougar enter his campsite on the same evening. He quickly packed up and paddled the rest of the night.

I watched a cougar for I would say forty seconds at the Island River EP in May 2015. I was pulling in and noticed it at the edge of the tree line that starts again going to Isabella Lake EP. No question it was a cougar. I watched it. It wasn’t a quick glance. The distance is about 200 yards I would say. Two football fields. Nothing looks, moves or acts like a cougar. Square head, long thick tail. Unmistakeable. The way it moved most of all.

nooneuno: "The DNR in Mn or WI will quickly tell you that they are merely males searching out new territory... apparently trail cameras are notorious liars as are hundreds of deer hunters, because actually there are only large house cats and occasional coyotes round here."

The MN DNR for at least 15 years has verified cougars have been and are in Minnesota. Yes they have said always males always and yes no female with kittens have been reported either. I myself have seen cougar tracks south of Brainerd in the winter and tracked it for about a mile(why-because I do dumb things sometimes) and found hair from the cat which DNR verified as cougar. For a couple of years many sightings in the Brainerd- Crosby area were seen even by DNR personnel of a lone cougar.
Also one male cougar with collar or tracking gear from a Black Hills ended up in Minnesota. Yes in the last decade sightings are getting more common.

I do question the photogapher(sp) saying he was attacked by a cougar in the BWCA with zero reporting of that happening?

Side Note: I think it was the winter of 1987 I was winter camping in the North end of Yellowstone park. A group of Biologists from Utah University were studying maybe the first cougar in Yellowstone in decades. The point is their population expanded widely in the last couple of decades and also your getting more wandering.

Ghost cat

In 2011 a cougar walked across the road in front of my truck on North Grassy Road near the Mudro entry point. It was about 60 feet away and didn’t seem at all concerned about me.

Back in the early 70's there was a Cougar with several cubs in a den near the Highway One/Blueberry Lake Rd area (by the Ely Airport), along with several other sightings.
As scat pointed out, the long tail is unmistakable when seeing one.

Just for the heck of it I will describe what I saw at the Island River Ep in August (not May) 2015 as best I can. I pulled over the bridge and began to turn into the Island River parking lot when I saw movement on the road ahead. I stopped at a forty five so I saw this very well. The cougar was snifffing around on the left side of the road at the beginning of the trees after a clearing. The road goes to the next EP, Isabella Lake. Now keep in mind this area was charred bad and the clearing was, well, clear all the way to where some actual trees started again. So the cougar sniffed around on the left side, looked up in my direction for a sec, then sauntered over to the right side of the road pretty as you please. Looked back another time, then went down the road, on the right side, sniffing around. Not in any particular hurry. So, like I said, I watched it for I would say forty seconds, which is a long time if you count it out, and the distance was about two football fields. You can not mistake the way the animal moves for anything else. That is the main thing. It’s big enough, has the rectangle shaped head with pointy ears and the huge tail. But it is how it moves, saunters isn’t a bad description. I texted my buddy who is a guide in Ely. He said he saw one there before. Probably didn’t. But I did. It was misty. All my gear was soaked for two and a half days. The landscape was like Hiroshima with a constant fresh morning dew. Good times on the Island River.

Pinetree: " Ghost cat "

That's a good article.

"Yet compared with other dangers, the chances of getting attacked by a cougar are slim. Since 1890 roughly 20 people have been attacked and killed by cougars in North America. However, lightning kills an average of 49 people per year in the United States, according to the National Weather Service, and as many as 200 people die each year as a result of deer-vehicle collisions, according to Insurance Journal."

Doing the very remote and long Bon Homme and Sauvage portages in Quetico last September I became aware that if there was a cougar nearby he would have no trouble taking me down. I was solo and slightly unnerved. Not many people pass through there. I only saw animal tracks and poop on the trail.

Cougars, lynx and bobcats you just don't see everyday. But they are out there. Mountain lions too are around more than they lead on. Sasquatch? Haha... No.

Cougars are certainly around MN just not in high numbers. Based on sightings and the nature of the cats I think its probably accurate that most are young males. Its possible that a female or two has made it this far but given the low density of cougars I'm not sure how likely sustained breeding would be in MN. I'm sure a litter here or there is born with most of the cats dispersing in search of their own range. However, all of this is a guess and I think even the DNR has done little more than make educated guesses based on what they know of cougar behavior. I think the population in MN is too low to waste a lot of time studying. It would be interesting to know what the population is really like but their time is better spent elsewhere rather than worrying about a few random cats.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that a single cougars range in the terrain available to it in MN would need to be rather large and that the state likely wouldn't support anything more than a very sparse population given their range and apparent desire for their own territory. Once the state reached its capacity future cougars would simply move through looking for unclaimed territory. In the mountains out west their ranges can be much smaller.

I live east of Saint Cloud. 4 years ago the dnr contacted the local farmers because there was a mountain lion in the area (they were informing them they were not aloud to kill it, they do the same thing for wolfs). Later that week my friend who owns an organic farm right down the road from me, heard a big commotion at their barn around 2am. They locked their animals up tight every night because of the coyotes and because there was a lone wolf around for the last few years. Anyway her husband when to the barn and had a huge flashlight and shined it at the barn. Climbing up the side of the barn and then on the roof of it was the mountain lion. He yelled at it and it took off into the woods. We haven't seen or heard of it since. It must have went back west? Who knows.

They claim a average cougar eats 30 deer per year.

Cougar map etc.

And I recall that females do not disperse as far as males which is why there are not breeding populations in MN.

tumblehome: "And I recall that females do not disperse as far as males which is why there are not breeding populations in MN."

correct-males are the roamers which is more common in most species. Females stay at home.

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-female-mountain-lion-shannon-county

If females are finding their way to MO they are certainly capable of making it to MN. If there are males there will surely be females, perhaps in much lower numbers though.

I talked to a guy in NE WI who swears he has seen a black mountain lion as well as a litter of young. I question the veracity of those claims but the DNR has acknowledged a cougar in the area.

*Edit--my apologies, tried the Add a link button but it does nothing. What am I doing wrong?

Pinetree: "I do question the photogapher(sp) saying he was attacked by a cougar in the BWCA with zero reporting of that happening? "

He said they were using meat/bait to attract the wolves and it apparently attracted the cougar.

Here's an encounter with a mountain lion that came way too close for comfort.

Pinetree: " Cougar map etc. "

Wow, they've pretty well covered the state.

So cool. I did not know this!

Funny that in the West they’re Lions, Central they’re cougars, in FL they’re called Panthers. All the same cat, Pumas.

WIMike: "https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-female-mountain-lion-shannon-county

If females are finding their way to MO they are certainly capable of making it to MN. If there are males there will surely be females, perhaps in much lower numbers though.


I talked to a guy in NE WI who swears he has seen a black mountain lion as well as a litter of young. I question the veracity of those claims but the DNR has acknowledged a cougar in the area.

*Edit--my apologies, tried the Add a link button but it does nothing. What am I doing wrong?"

Your Link

LindenTree3: "

WIMike: "https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-female-mountain-lion-shannon-county


If females are finding their way to MO they are certainly capable of making it to MN. If there are males there will surely be females, perhaps in much lower numbers though.



I talked to a guy in NE WI who swears he has seen a black mountain lion as well as a litter of young. I question the veracity of those claims but the DNR has acknowledged a cougar in the area.


*Edit--my apologies, tried the Add a link button but it does nothing. What am I doing wrong?"

Your Link "

Thanks.

A year ago this past March 20, as I got out of my truck to go scout for turkey here in Arkansas, I say what I thought was a coyote as I just saw a flash of color as it moved through the brush. Then the animal jumped upon a log, still behind some trees and not fully able to be seen. Then it walked the full length of the log into the wide open and I was able to see that it was a mountain lion. Distance was 143 yards away. (rangefinder) I went ahead and scouted the area and saw no other sign. A gentleman who lived near the area told my wife he has seen it or others before. ( she works for an audiologist, and he was getting his hearing aids cleaned, and when she saw his address she told him what I had seen there)

I called the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and reported the encounter. I was the 8th or 9th unofficial report that year. For a report to be official you have to have hair, or a photograph of the animal. It was a very neat experience, yet somewhat unnerving. Game and Fish reported that a Female was found in Missouri and this one was a male on the move!

I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...

Bruce

Several years ago I was umping softball in Roseville, at Bdale. It's right behind the Bdale club, off, you guessed it, Co Rd B, and Dale. (For those out of MN, Roseville is in the north central part of the Twin Cities, inside the 694/494 loop).

So I'm standing behind home plate, and notice this big cat paw print behind me. I was convinced it was a cougar print. I was very excited. In my mind, nothing other than a cougar could make a print that big. Unfortunately, it was a Co-Rec game, and when I tried to share my excitement with the female catcher, I may as well have told her the sky is blue. She couldn't have cared less.

I was looking forward to sharing my find, with some of the other ball players between innings, but as luck, or lack there of, would have it, a player trying to score, and avoid the tag, ran right over the print, and wiped it clean.

I was so disappointed.

Then I started to question myself, and thought perhaps it wasn't what I thought it was... until the next day, when there was something on the radio about a Cougar siting in Roseville off Dale and County Rd B2, which is only about 6 blocks north of where I was. They said something about the Cat coming from the West and heading east... I don't remember much more about it, but it was pretty exciting.

There was also an article back then, about a Cougar on a trail camera in Lakeville (south Metro). The images were a little fuzzy, and I don't think the cameras had video back then. But that camera had a house cat, and the "cougar" on the same camera, same day, and there was no question about the size difference.

Arkansas Man:

I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...

"

Meth is bad news, but building a cook site isn't a capital offense, and private citizens aren't the law. It makes me nervous to hear about people carrying guns out in the woods for the reason that they might want to shoot other people. Please be careful (I'm sure that you are). Based on your post I would hate for you to mistake me for a meth cook.

analyzer: "Several years ago I was umping softball in Roseville, at Bdale. It's right behind the Bdale club, off, you guessed it, Co Rd B, and Dale. (For those out of MN, Roseville is in the north central part of the Twin Cities, inside the 694/494 loop).


So I'm standing behind home plate, and notice this big cat paw print behind me. I was convinced it was a cougar print. I was very excited. In my mind, nothing other than a cougar could make a print that big. Unfortunately, it was a Co-Rec game, and when I tried to share my excitement with the female catcher, I may as well have told her the sky is blue. She couldn't have cared less.


I was looking forward to sharing my find, with some of the other ball players between innings, but as luck, or lack there of, would have it, a player trying to score, and avoid the tag, ran right over the print, and wiped it clean.


I was so disappointed.


Then I started to question myself, and thought perhaps it wasn't what I thought it was... until the next day, when there was something on the radio about a Cougar siting in Roseville off Dale and County Rd B2, which is only about 6 blocks north of where I was. They said something about the Cat coming from the West and heading east... I don't remember much more about it, but it was pretty exciting.


There was also an article back then, about a Cougar on a trail camera in Lakeville (south Metro). The images were a little fuzzy, and I don't think the cameras had video back then. But that camera had a house cat, and the "cougar" on the same camera, same day, and there was no question about the size difference.


"

I've spent more than a few nights at the Bdale. I've encountered a few cougars there over the years but I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.

:) Nice one.

Many years ago, I saw one one on Rifle Lake.

nofish:


I've spent more than a few nights at the Bdale. I've encountered a few cougars there over the years but I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing."

lol.

I live in S. MN and there was one here. There was one spotted a few times in Mankato as well. Pretty cool. Would not want to come across it in the woods.

~~

dele: "

Arkansas Man:


I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...


"

Meth is bad news, but building a cook site isn't a capital offense, and private citizens aren't the law. It makes me nervous to hear about people carrying guns out in the woods for the reason that they might want to shoot other people. Please be careful (I'm sure that you are). Based on your post I would hate for you to mistake me for a meth cook."

Oh for crying out loud. If I knew some of the worst scum on the planet were cooking in the woods I would definitely be armed. If you happen to stumble upon them what do you think might happen? Naturally you try and extract yourself but they might have other ideas.

FWIW......in my world building a cook site would be a capital offense. Bye bye and good riddance.

As per mountain lions.........I frequently liked to go above my camps in WCPP and the area just looks like cougar country. I half heartedly expected to see one.

BSW: "I live in S. MN and there was one here. There was one spotted a few times in Mankato as well. Pretty cool. Would not want to come across it in the woods.


~~"

When I lived in Mankato about 18 years ago one was seen running around in the mall parking lot.

Mountain Lions never bother people, except when they do:

Today's news

Wow! The difference between wolves, bears, and cougars is pretty obvious. I kind of hope they don't populate the BW. They get you from behind so going solo would be very nerve wracking.

nooneuno: "Mountain Lions never bother people, except when they do:


Today's news


"

Wow.........trail running and mountain biking quietly would be a no-no for me in cougar country.

TomT: "Wow! The difference between wolves, bears, and cougars is pretty obvious. I kind of hope they don't populate the BW. They get you from behind so going solo would be very nerve wracking.


"

To me,I always though cats are the most unpredictale of all species and never could figure out what their thinking,even a house cat. Bears and wolves a little more predictable in my book.

This topic seems to come up every few years. I would not be shocked if cougars/mountain lions were successfully breeding in MN, but so far other than non corroborated accounts there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of that. We get them here in the MN River Valley area from Shakopee to the Mall of America (confirmed by the DNR) every once in a while. About 18 years ago one was shot by police near the Mall of America when it wouldn’t run away—I think it was under a deck but memory is cloudy.

The point being is sightings in our area are sporadic, one year there will be many sightings and trail camera photos then nothing for many years. That tends to lead more credence that these animals are just passing through.

T

dele: "

Arkansas Man:


I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...


"

Meth is bad news, but building a cook site isn't a capital offense, and private citizens aren't the law. It makes me nervous to hear about people carrying guns out in the woods for the reason that they might want to shoot other people. Please be careful (I'm sure that you are). Based on your post I would hate for you to mistake me for a meth cook."

I’d be a little more careful writing your posts. It looks like you are saying that the poster you replied too is looking “to shoot other people”. This is very presumptuous of you and comes off as ignorant. To me when I read his post it is obvious he was worried about personal safety/protection and not looking to use his gun. There is a big difference. I personally don’t even own a hand gun nor carry in the backwoods but before making more comments educate yourself—-take a conceal and carry class or a firearm education class. Have you ever met someone cooking Meth in the woods? I have, it was scary, ultimately I think my dog was enough to keep me out of trouble but it made me think about a conceal and carry—-chose not to but that was my choice.

Oh and if someone mistakes you for a Meth cooker...Dude those are some issues :)
T

timatkn: "

dele: "

Arkansas Man:



I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...



"

Meth is bad news, but building a cook site isn't a capital offense, and private citizens aren't the law. It makes me nervous to hear about people carrying guns out in the woods for the reason that they might want to shoot other people. Please be careful (I'm sure that you are). Based on your post I would hate for you to mistake me for a meth cook."

I’d be a little more careful writing your posts. It looks like you are saying that the poster you replied too is looking “to shoot other people”. This is very presumptuous of you and comes off as ignorant. To me when I read his post it is obvious he was worried about personal safety/protection and not looking to use his gun. There is a big difference. I personally don’t even own a hand gun nor carry in the backwoods but before making more comments educate yourself—-take a conceal and carry class or a firearm education class. Have you ever met someone cooking Meth in the woods? I have, it was scary, ultimately I think my dog was enough to keep me out of trouble but it made me think about a conceal and carry—-chose not to but that was my choice.


Oh and if someone mistakes you for a Meth cooker...Dude those are some issues :)
T"

I understand that Arkansas Man has only self defense in mind. I apologize to him for the tone of my post.

You don't have to worry about offending me... I am not easily offended, (I've been an assistant principal for 19 years). I am much more worried about the feral hogs that have invaded my hunting area in the last few years than the people who come into the national forest for illegal activities.

Having walked into a herd of 18 hog by surprise one day, (stepped up over the edge of a bench in the mountains and there they were) and seeing what sow's can do when their little ones are endangered is what causes me to carry a pistol.

The places I hunt rarely have easy access, although the mountains are laced with old logging roads that 4 wheelers can get down, and thus the concern about illegal activities. Also, having taught Hunter's Education for many years and I would never shoot anything I could not identify, nor anyone unless they threatened my life according to my concealed carry training.

You would not believe some of the things I have found way back where most people are not willing to walk...

Have a blessed day!
Bruce

nooneuno: "Mountain Lions never bother people, except when they do:


Today's news


"

I heard some more on this...........The bikers were on an old logging road when they seen the cougar. They dismounted and tried to scare the thing off using their bikes to shoo the cat. The cat retreated but came back and jumped one of the guys and had the guys head entirely in its mouth and was violently shaking the guy. The OTHER guy ran off into the woods and the cat dropped its intended victim and ran after and killed the guy that ran.

The guy who survived left and got within cell phone range and called for help. Upon arriving the cat was shot and killed. Apparently it was in bad shape, looked to be starving and only about 100 lbs.

I don't understand running away while your pal is getting chewed. Their best chance was to stay together. Some bear spray / mace would of been very helpful. I have had 2 big dogs "escort" me for a considerable distance out in the middle of nowhere causing me to dismount and walk along with them lest they give chase. Mace is easily secured to your frame via velcro.

mastertangler: "

nooneuno: "Mountain Lions never bother people, except when they do:



Today's news



"

I heard some more on this...........The bikers were on an old logging road when they seen the cougar. They dismounted and tried to scare the thing off using their bikes to shoo the cat. The cat retreated but came back and jumped one of the guys and had the guys head entirely in its mouth and was violently shaking the guy. The OTHER guy ran off into the woods and the cat dropped its intended victim and ran after and killed the guy that ran.


The guy who survived left and got within cell phone range and called for help. Upon arriving the cat was shot and killed. Apparently it was in bad shape, looked to be starving and only about 100 lbs.


I don't understand running away while your pal is getting chewed. Their best chance was to stay together. Some bear spray / mace would of been very helpful. I have had 2 big dogs "escort" me for a considerable distance out in the middle of nowhere causing me to dismount and walk along with them lest they give chase. Mace is easily secured to your frame via velcro. "

I may have read the same follow up article as you...Nat Geo I think. It also mentioned that people are more often than not very successful at simply fighting off an attack from a mountain lion. Which also makes me sad that the one guy simply fled.

However, it also mentioned that given the poor state of the cat, it was not behaving typically. It was probably starving, so was going to fight harder for this meal than typical. The guys may have fought in a manner that would have scared off any normal cat, but this one was apparently highly motivated.

Sad all the way around.

Not sure I read the post correctly.........Nat Geo is suggesting that most people are highly successful fighting off a Cougar attack? That doesn't have the ring of truth to it IMO and sounds like politically correct spin. While attacks are fairly rare, the big cats seem to be fairly adept at dispatching once they decide to engage a person. I have not read very many stories of people successfully fighting off cougar attacks........but I could be wrong.

The only time I have thought of cougars in the BW was during a solo on the Tuscarora portage(I think it was this one). The portage runs down a ravine with steep rocky sides. I don't know why it popped into my head but I thought this would be a great hunting ground for a cat.

mastertangler: "Not sure I read the post correctly.........Nat Geo is suggesting that most people are highly successful fighting off a Cougar attack? That doesn't have the ring of truth to it IMO and sounds like politically correct spin. While attacks are fairly rare, the big cats seem to be fairly adept at dispatching once they decide to engage a person. I have not read very many stories of people successfully fighting off cougar attacks........but I could be wrong. "

Here are the pertinent passages from that article:

"Pumas are stalk and ambush predators—meaning they prefer to sneak up on and surprise prey, rather than engage in prolonged fights or chases....

In most situations, the best way to deflect a cougar attack is to make yourself appear as large as possible, shout, slowly back away, and throw whatever is within reach. A recent study shows that if you run, the odds that you will be attacked increase—and the odds that it will be a fatal attack also go up.

Most importantly, if the cat still decides to attack, fight back.

“Most of the attacks over the last chunk of years in which people have attempted to defend themselves, they have successfully done so—they’ve scared off or even killed the puma,” Elbroch says."



So, basically, cats in a normal hunting situation are not looking for a fight. This one was behaving abnormally, probably because it was starving.

Here's the full article.

I can think of a few stories in California where people fought off mountain lions. One was a woman who stabbed it with a pen and hit it with a log. Her husband had bite wounds but lived. They were older, maybe in their 60’s.

Another was a solo biker who swung his bike at it. Not sure if he hit it.

Fight back if you are ever attacked. It works most of the time. Predators don’t want to get injured because it is bad for future hunting success.

OK.....Perhaps I stand corrected. I guess you really only hear about the fatal attacks and not so much about people who fought off a cougar.

Thats one critter I wouldn't want getting interested in me.

dele: "

Arkansas Man:


I now carry a pistol with me when ever I go into the woods here. Not just for the 4 legged Lions, Hogs, and Bears! The meth makers have moved into our national forest and building portable cook sites...


"

Meth is bad news, but building a cook site isn't a capital offense, and private citizens aren't the law. It makes me nervous to hear about people carrying guns out in the woods for the reason that they might want to shoot other people. Please be careful (I'm sure that you are). Based on your post I would hate for you to mistake me for a meth cook."

The two legged animals statistically will get you before the four. I have a CHL and carry when I go into town, usually don’t when I go into the woods.....it feels safer?