A cougar at large, a goat man and a bear in a mall
Editor’s note: You can click on the links in this report to see a photo of the mountain lion in Wisconsin, a video of a bear on the loose at a mall, an a man wearing a goat costume on a mountain in Utah, as well as read full reports on these events.
The animal population in the Midwest continues to grow, and so do the sightings.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that a Buffalo County hunter using a remote trail camera on property he recently purchased was able to take photographs of a wild turkey, whitetail deer and a mountain lion.
The cougar was spotted on the night of July 14, and a biologist has confirmed the sighting after visiting the location and identifying tracks. According to the Wisconsin DNR, this was only the second verified sighting of a cougar in the state in 2012.
Mistaken identity:In a story that traveled around the world during the last week about someone impersonating a Rocky mountain goat in the Utah high country, wildlife officials have announced what most outdoors enthusiasts surmised all along: that the person in question was a hunter #151; precisely, a bowhunter #151; testing a goat suit and stalking technique in preparation for an upcoming goat hunt. The man was identified as a 57-year-old from Southern California.A bear in a mall:All I can say is it#146;s good thing this didn#146;t happen at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.About two hours after Pennsylvania conservation officers tranquilized a small female bear at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall Sears on Saturday night, a second 250- to 300-pound bruin emerged near the Olive Garden parking lot, causing a 20- to 30-car backup as it crossed a busy road. Triblive.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review posted video and photos of the smaller Bear, and later posted a story about the second bear trying to make its way to the mall property.That bear was estimated to be about 300 pounds, and was not captured, according to Frazer police Officer Tim Christian. The smaller cub was tranquilized so it could be relocated, according to reports.Fishing reportFox Chain: With the arrival of rain storms, added current helped the walleye population hunt for food. Anglers are finding fish near the Route 12 and Grass Lake Road bridges. Muskie action is very slow.Fox River: One angler reported he did well on bass by using large minnows floated right off the bottom. Channel catfish angling has improved.Lake Michigan: An early-morning scenario would probably be best for the smaller boats. Chinook and silvers are being taken in 80-feet of water. Perching is still closed.Ÿ Contact Mike Jackson by email at angler88@comcast.net, and listen to Mike#146;s radio program 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC, AM-1240.