Thursday, August 21, 2008
Mountain lion watch quietly continues
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: I just wanted to say thinks for mentioning our article on the attitude and response by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries officials to mountain lion spottings (last week’s Cochran Field Reports).
We have heard from 14 people claiming to have found tracks or seen a cougar and called DGIF officials. Not one ever got a return call, even though they left phone numbers, nor did an officer respond to their location.
The past two years, I’ve called the Richmond DGIF officer once and the Charlottesville office twice, leaving messages including my phone number and e-mail address and asking that the “cougar specialist” return my call. I’m still waiting. So are 14 other people who made calls.
I’ve been told that when DGIF officers get together for regional meetings, there is a discussion on the cougar subject, but since the agency policy is to inform citizens of no confirming evidence in the form of pictures, scat or tracks, they cannot discuss the issue further.
The claim by Bob Ellis and Rick Reynolds that there is no evidence is not true. We are aware and have pictures of a cougar entering a cornfield near Craigsville. DGIF claims it is a bobcat, yet two animal identification specialists have stated it is a cougar. A track from Franklin County has been identified as a cougar also, but DGIF says it is canine. Ellis was correct when he said Reynolds had never heard from me. I’ve never heard of him, either.
JOHN LUTZ
Eastern Puma Research Network
Maysville, W.Va.
BILL: I’m not in total denial on the mountain lion issue, but how do you explain the fact that no trail cameras have ever captured images of the big cats here in Virginia? There are hundreds of thousands of these units quietly keeping watch. Food for thought.
MILLER WILLIAMS
BILL: I was pretty antsy myself about safety aspects of the apprentice hunting license (Last week’s Cochran Column) until I read the direct supervision clause. That should do it. Between going with my wife and sons, I've been through the hunter safety course three times. It's a good thing and should continue.
PENN RIGGS
Norfolk
