Cougars Again Spreading Across Midwest

Associated Press - Thu 10:27 AM 06/14/2012

Study showed 178 cougar confirmations in the Midwest between 1990 and 2008

Study showed 178 cougar confirmations in the Midwest between 1990 and 2008

A new study suggests cougars are again spreading across the Midwest, a century after the generally reclusive predators were hunted to near extinction in much of the region.

The findings by a University of Minnesota doctoral student, a Southern Illinois University wildlife ecologist and the Cougar Network are detailed in the latest Journal of Wildlife Management. The study showed 178 cougar confirmations in the Midwest between 1990 and 2008.

The animals were spotted as far south as Louisiana and Texas. Confirmed sightings of Midwest cougars were sporadic before 1990, when there were only a couple.

The study shows that number spiked to more than 30 by 2008. Sixty-seven confirmations were in Nebraska, 31 in North Dakota, 12 each in Oklahoma and Texas, 11 in South Dakota and 10 in Missouri. Other states, including Kansas, had single-digit tallies.

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Iamgonnagetu

Thursday 14 June 2012 12:55 Report this comment

I saw a bunch of them when I attended the city commission meeting on that terrible ordinance they passed.

1971jwmc

Thursday 14 June 2012 13:03 Report this comment

this is good news for all you 20 something guys out there ...now go out get some snapps and some chilis to go and and bait some traps...