Jaguarundi?!

[Chasey_Lane]

I said Coatimundi because I heard someone local had a pair.

Appy used to have a pair, not sure if she still does. I remember her saying they were mean.

 

[ArkRescue]

Many mountain lions have been reported in the Brandywine area actually. But what about the one I heard was recently seen in Benedict?

Pumas love to hide in thickets.

 

[ArkRescue]

I'm going to ask the puma researcher guy about those. He mostly gets calls/emails about sighting of mountain lions, but I would assume some people are seeing those also? I agree they do look different but maybe not to the average person? To someone seeing a fleeting image, it could be a mountain lion they think they saw?

As do jaguarundis.

I realize the easy answer would be to assume it's something that would be more commonly associated with this area, but we already explored all the obvious answers and none of them match up with what they saw. Remember, when they each saw it, they both said it was like nothing they'd ever seen before. I wasn't there and didn't see it with my own eyes, but my husband spent over an hour on the computer looking up every possible animal it could be, and audibly exclaimed when he hit on the jaguarundi.

We are not pretending to be wildlife experts, but he knows what he saw and it was 100% not a cougar, puma, or bobcat. Google jaguarundi and look at the pictures, and compare them to the other things you've suggested. There is a noticeable difference.

 

[ArkRescue]

The puma researcher said he doubts that a Jaguarundi would wander this far North on its own and said maybe someone released it (was a pet?).

DNR will tell you there are NO breeding populations of mountain lions here (untrue), let alone a Jaguarundi ...... so they would likey support the concept of an escaped pet regarding the Jaguarundi.

 

[ArkRescue]

PS - for anyone who sees a mountain lion in this region, PLEASE contact:

John A. Lutz, Director 24 HR Hotline 304-749-7778

* NEW E-Mail: epuma@hardynet.com

HC 30 Box 2233 Maysville WV 26833

eastern puma research - Home:

SaveTheCougar.Org - The Michigan Cougar Conservation Effort *please scroll down*

 

[desertrat]

The puma researcher said he doubts that a Jaguarundi would wander this far North on its own and said maybe someone released it (was a pet?).

DNR will tell you there are NO breeding populations of mountain lions here (untrue), let alone a Jaguarundi ...... so they would likey support the concept of an escaped pet regarding the Jaguarundi.

Probably followed some illegal immigrants across the border and up here.

 

[havoc]

UPDATE -

Hubby called DNR last week...they didn't seem too concerned and told him it was probably an "escaped pet" and to contact Animal Control. He called Animal Control, who said they'd "keep an eye out."

So basically, nobody seems to think this is anything worth worrying about. Just watch out that the dingo doesn't eat your baby!

 

[hooknline]

Havoc, there was one on the Solomons rec center base in the late 70s and was spotted by a USN Chief petty officer who reported his description of reddish with long tail and very small head much larger than a cat running where the Helo pad area is(then wooded). at that time it was thought to be a bobcat although was discounted and the County said they believed it was from the Puma family although not a bobcat. The word went out that it was a lynx although that was also in question. I remember because the lower Calvert/Solomons area was on edge over this cat for quite a while. It was never found (to my knowledge). There could be a variation of the species here in very small numbers who knows.

 

[Zguy28]

Just watch out that the dingo doesn't eat your baby!

Or your Yorkie. I'd better go bring him in, he's barking at something in the woods.

 

[Zguy28]

Havoc, there was one on the Solomons rec center base in the late 70s and was spotted by a USN Chief petty officer who reported his description of reddish with long tail and very small head much larger than a cat running where the Helo pad area is(then wooded). at that time it was thought to be a bobcat although was discounted and the County said they believed it was from the Puma family although not a bobcat. The word went out that it was a lynx although that was also in question. I remember because the lower Calvert/Solomons area was on edge over this cat for quite a while. It was never found (to my knowledge). There could be a variation of the species here in very small numbers who knows.

I remember there used to be a guy who lived on Mechanicsville Rd who had a black panther for a pet. Don't know what happened to it...

 

[glitch]

For those of you actually in the county, there has been repeated sitings of a small pack of, very healthy looking, coyotes. Please be aware that they are in the area and are perfectly capable of snacking on household pets.

 

[desertrat]

For those of you actually in the county, there has been repeated sitings of a small pack of, very healthy looking, coyotes. Please be aware that they are in the area and are perfectly capable of snacking on household pets.

What county?