Conference noted::equitation

    Wow! Has anyone actually seen it? I haven't heard this story before!
    How do they think it got there? An escaped pet perhaps?? Tell more!
    

   They showed a *very* fuzzy videotape of it last night on the news.
   The "experts" who have seen the tape (all seven minutes worth of 
   it) estimate that this animal is 100 lbs or more. Looked like a 
   regular orange tabby cat to me, complete with rings on the tail. 
   The way it moved it looked to me more like a small cat than a 
   large one too. But as I said, it was a very fuzzy tape--and I 
   only saw the 30 second's worth that they showed on tv.

    
    It had been reported as being seen, and also numerous reports
    of its footprints.  Speculation says it may have been a pet,
    or that it has wandered into Easton (wandered? From WHERE?)....
    
    Last night, someone videoed the critter while it was lying
    down, in some woods, calmly licking a paw.  They are trying
    to catch it alive, to transport it to a more natural habitat.
    
    Easton is only 2 towns away from where I live....O-8

    
>    It had been reported as being seen, and also numerous reports
>    of its footprints.  Speculation says it may have been a pet,

    How big were the footprints? 
    They think it may be a hybrid of some sort, but they also  
    said (in case anyone is thinking of "bagging" a big cat),
    that to kill or harm it is against federal law as 
    mountain lions are an endangered and protected species. 

    
    If that is true, I hope they drop him off at the
    nearest jail!

�       <<< Note 1723.4 by XLIB::PAANANEN "Another Warp Speed Weekend" >>>
�              -< I'd like to order 400 cases of Whiskas, please >-

�    They think it may be a hybrid of some sort, but they also  
�    said (in case anyone is thinking of "bagging" a big cat),
�    that to kill or harm it is against federal law as 
�    mountain lions are an endangered and protected species. 

I don't think that mountain lions are endangered.  Almost all wild animals 
(generally the only exception being those animals who are not indigenous to 
this country and were brought in (such as the starling)) are protected, 
although I don't know the extent where federal law leaves off and state 
wildlife laws begin.

In most states, all wild animals (including "varmints" (small animals,
typically rodents) and birds) have a specified season in which it is legal
to hunt them.  It is illegal to kill them outside of the specified season
(and potentially without a valid license).  The rare exception is if you
are in personal danger. 

Many towns, cities, counties, states do have regulations on discharging 
fireams which is also likely to get you in trouble.  

    I saw the video of it this moring and it had the head an body of
    a mountain lion but also had a big fluffy tail. If someone had it as a
    "pet" (and it either got away or was dropped off), then I wonder how
    that person acquired it in the first place, and how he actually
    thought he(she?) could keep it as a pet and get away with it.
    It would probaby be better than an attack dog if someone had something
    in his home which he wanted to protect (from illegal business
    associates?). Or perhaps it was just cute and cuddly as a youngster.   

               It's NOT a mountain lion.  The 'experts' say it is
    some sort of exotic cat, not even from the United States.  I
    too saw the video, and it looked nothing like a cougar, aka
    mountain lion.  I guess no one will no for sure until it is
    captured, hopefully unharmed, and released to be free again
    in an area where it will be safe from it's probable only
    natural enemy; people.
    
                      Bob

>               It's NOT a mountain lion.  The 'experts' say it is
>    some sort of exotic cat, not even from the United States.

>    captured, hopefully unharmed, and released to be free again
>    in an area where it will be safe from it's probable only
>    natural enemy; people.
    
I can't see any state or federal wildlife agency releasing a non-U.S.
animal into the wild.

I'm sure it violates alot of laws and lacks some common sense.

    
    Now the *experts* are saying it's a 20-30 lb cat (as
    in house cat/barn cat!).
    
    Yeah, with a 4 inch footprint?  I DON'T think so!!!!!!
    
    I think they are just trying to get people to stay away, at this point,
    so they can catch whatever it is.........

    I saw a report last night also.  Someone had made some guess as to the
    species (I can't remember what they guessed it was) based on the video. 
    The report guessed that it was possibly a smuggled cat -- probably
    someone got it to sell on the black market as an exotic pet and either
    lost it or else sold it, and the owners released it when it got too
    big!

    Maybe the footprint is smaller than 4 inches - afterall, the 
    cat went from 150 lbs to 30. (Like the fish that got away).
    I feel badly for it tho.

    My next cubicle neighbor remembered that it was identified as a "golden
    cat" and said it is some kind of exotic, but domesticated cat. 
    Apparently (the infamous) they are trying to trap it.

    
    I have not seen any more news on the "cat".  Anyone heard anything
    more?  Did they find it?
    

    After the last blurb about it being just a big kittycat, mum
    has been the word....