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There has been a significant issue with hogs tearing up people's landscaping,

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My sis lives there too and says the same. That is what they make bows for. Not that I know anything about that....

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_13416860?source=most_viewed

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LAS CRUCES - Usually, all Gina Esparza worries about when her son Zack takes to their desert backyard is snakes.

The Picacho Hills family - all avid photographers and wildlife lovers - had seen wild cats before with their babies in the desert arroyo, which is also home to quail coveys and a popular walking area for residents with dogs. But late Thursday morning, Esparza, 37, spotted a full-grown bobcat prowling around a neighbor's low rock wall just feet from their property.

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Even though I get called weekly about bobcats, I am constantly amazed how panicked people can get about bobcats (and coyotes). I literally had a woman start hyperventilating after describing her encounter with a bobcat. It didn't actually do anything. Her dog (a lab) startled the cat awake at about 30 feet. The cat hissed and growled, then ran off in the bushes. End of incident. She was still panicked about it a week later. According to her, she had to start taking a sleeping pill after the incident, and refuses to go back to that park. The kicker, the park, and trail in question, is a "nature area" one COE property. Go figure, there are bobcats there.

ursus ... two words .... "city folk"

That is very true, granted the lady in question grew up in Lindale. But your point is still valid. Especially true when dealing with those moving out into the "country".

What really drives me bonkers is some of my worst offenders for freaking out are hunters.

ursusguy, I'm curious. Do you have hunters who 'freak out' or hunters who take things into their own hands? I can imagine my dad, if he lived in my neighborhood, 'bowhunting' for a bobcat he came across. Do you encounter hunters who are of the 'cityslicker type' or of the 'I'll take care of this' type?

It's about a 50/50 mix. The main thing I usually run into is they tend to be the biggest kettle stirrers/trouble makers.

If I'm doing a public meeting I always like to get a handle on the audience. I'll usually spend about 5 minutes assessing the audience. I will usually ask who grew up in a town with less than 5,000 people? And work my way up to 100,000+. I'll get a show of hands on who has moved here from another state, then take a random selection of them for specifics on state/cities. After getting a feel on preferences on pets, I'll ask who are hunters, who are against hunting, and who is indifferent on the matter? The purpose of the questioning it twofold. One is to get a feel for the audience, and two, to feel out my "troublemakers" in the crowd. Usually, as the meeting progresses, the hunters will often let that fact out anyway.

If I am doing a site specific investigation, there is an really high probability that it is a hunter calling. Most "city folk" don't think to call TPWD right off the bat, a hunter will have a better idea who to call. My interaction with a person during a site investigation is similar to that listed above. I'll walk away knowing a good chunk of your life story. If it is a real doosy, there's a decent chance an edited version of the account will end up here
My thing is usually if it is legal, I don't really worry about things too much. If it is not legal, or you don't think you can do it in the broad light of day, it's probably not the best idea in the world. SSS, it a terrible idea in my opinion. If you can't stand by your actions, you probably shouldn't do it.

----On one of my first bobcat issues I worked on, I had a hunter give "us" (other hunters) a pretty black eye. There was a fairly small bobcat that was being periodically seen, but hadn't actually remotely done anything. Some folks were concerned, so I met with the HOA, folks were happy except for two guys that kept trying to stir the pot. About a week after the meeting, one of the guys decided to take matters into his own hands "before one of the kids got hurt" (He grew up on a ranch outside of Stephenville). He shot it with his bow. Unfortunately, he bounced the arrow off the ground and hit it in the stomach. The following morning, it was still stumbling around in a field about 50 yards from the school bus stop, with 12 kids at it. The school bus driver is the one that called it in. How do you think this reflects on hunters, specifically bow hunters? All I ever ask is to think before you act.

I am an oddball for a wildlife biologist, I love public speaking, and enjoy walking into public meetings that may get heated.

[This message has been edited by ursusguy (edited 9/27/2009 10:33p).]

jimscott85, I also live in Highland Village. I saw a big coyote run across Highland Village Road where the train tracks cross it yesterday morning at about 7:30 a.m..

I leave for work at 6 a.m.. I see coyotes at least once a month either on my street or along Highland Village Road.

I saw a fox in front of my house about a year ago just after dark.

I live very close to City Hall

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ursusguy
posted 11:42p, 09/25/09



Hoss, I can pretty well tell you they weren't confirmed.

In fact that is where my story of the Colorado bowhunter mistaking his neighbors yellow lab for a mountain lion took place. Earlier this year, there was a supposed sighting on the a golf course associated with a certain football team, no such luck.

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ursus- I do believe you're referring to the t.u. golf course in Steiner Ranch. I've got some friends who live out there and one dude in particular swore he saw a mountain lion on that course.

I just rolled my eyes and said, "OK dude." I didn't have the heart to tell him it was probably a yellow lab.

My office is right on the Corinth and Denton city limit on Teasley. And we have two bobcats that live on the property that I know of. The other day as I was pulling out of the driveway I saw one dead on the road right out in front! I hope it wasn't one of the ones that lives here they keep the rats and mice away!

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ursus- I do believe you're referring to the t.u. golf course in Steiner Ranch. I've got some friends who live out there and one dude in particular swore he saw a mountain lion on that course

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No, I think he is referring to Cowboys golf course in grapevine on the other side of the dam. Lots of tree cover down in that flood plain that goes on for several hundred acres.

So after taking a nice 300+ mile little drive, I had to stop at my office for a couple minutes. I decide to check my answering machine, wouldn't you know it, someone was panicking about bobcats. It was so redneck sounding, I honestly thought it was someone playing a joke from here.--So I call the guy back

RN--"Man you gotta help me"
Me--"Ok"
RN--"I've got like 6 what I think are bobcats, but they might be mountain lions"----is this a OB poster?, but no
Me--"Pretty certain you are talking about bobcats"
RN--"Ok, but I spend a lot of time in the yard and I'm afraid it will attack me or my neighbors kids, OH God, I hadn't thought about the kids until now. You have to do something. Do you have traps or anything"
Me--"Not really, why are you worried"
RN--"I've seen them like twice in the last month, when I was leaving early this morning, it crossed the road in front of me. I'm just afraid it will attack me or the kids"
Me--"You really don't need to worry about that"
RN--"Oh, maybe it has rabies. Can you come catch one and test it, and let it go if it is ok"
Me--"The cat is dead to test it"
RN--"Noooo, that is not acceptable"---surely someone is pulling my leg
Me--"Have you live in ------- very long?'
RN--"I've only been here for 2 years, I grew up in San Angelo"---for the love of God this had to be a joke
RN--"Ok, another question. Is a bow considered a firearm?"
Me--"No"
RN--"Great, can a convicted felon hunt with a bow"
Me--"I'd prefer that you talk to a Game Warden for that one"
RN--"I don't talk to those f----" click

What a great way to end the day