Confirmed Cougar kills 12 sheep in Carlton

[wolfbait]

Confirmed Cougar kills 12 sheep in Carlton !
http://www.methowvalley.com/bb/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=44516


On Old Orchard lane in Carlton off of HWY 153 in a residential area, well traveled many homes. Cougar killed 12 sheep over  2 nights. Some were eating an some just left dead with big holes in their necks to be eating later. All is being investigated by fish an wildlife team an the cougar trapper with his hound dogs. They have put out game cameras and a live trap to catch this cougar. Just letting people know that cougars can be in your back yard an not even know it, So please watch out for your kids an pets an 4-H projects. The cougar has not been caught yet, so more to come. Be safe  Mitchell an Amy Houser

[pianoman9701]

That's a lot of sheep for one cougar. Me thinks there's more to the story. 

[magnumb]

My daughter lives in Carlton and called and told me about it yesterday.  These sheep were next door to where she lives and she has sheep on their property, as well.

Maybe some cat's are double teamin'.  They certainly have the propensity to maim, slaughter and then leave.

Have there ever been any verifiable wolf sightings in that particular area..........just wondering?

[JimmyHoffa]

Sounds like surplus kill.  Young toms do this.  Won't eat any of it.

[2labs]

Maybe a couple 1year olds that mom told to beat it cause she's about to pop out a couple more?

[mkcj]

I read that also Wolf, I didn't know that cougars would thrill kill. But if it's a young male you how some youth of today are.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I think its all BS...I went with a friend turkey hunting over near there and we talked with one rancher that told us that last winter he rounded up all his cattle and kept them in his sights at all times after the ( wolves ) started knocking down his herd ..just another cover up to address the real issue ..Maybe I am wrong  but I doubt it !

[cougarbart]

I have seen the slaughter of sheep by cougars a couple of times! kill em and not eat em, both times when we caught the cat they had porcupines in their mouth and they were skinny! in the rush they could kill em but when they stopped to eat the porcupine quills where to painful and they killed again! 23 sheep over 4 times once and 8 sheep in one night the other!

[wolfbait]

There has been a wolf sighted several times this spring across the river from the Carlton Store, several people in the Methow are going with wolf/wolves also.

Over the years there have been several wolf killed livestock in the Methow, but WDFW have never confirmed a wolf kill, too bad WDFW was not honest from the beginning, now they have no credibility.

In 2008 we fed over a hundred head of deer with our horses/mules, one night a big cougar came through and killed seven last year fawns in one night, never ate a one, so I know cougars do sport kill also.

[Idabooner]

 

Re: Lookout wolves: Wildlife officials say pack is up to five members
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2015, 05:29:22 PM »
   
Watched one in the lower end of Texas Creek the other day.

This wolf was within a mile of the sheep kill site.   Later in February much closer two times I seen fresh tracks and once fresh scat melting in the snow.

[magnumb]

 

Re: Lookout wolves: Wildlife officials say pack is up to five members
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2015, 05:29:22 PM »
   
Watched one in the lower end of Texas Creek the other day.

This wolf was within a mile of the sheep kill site.   Later in February much closer two times I seen fresh tracks and once fresh scat melting in the snow.

 .......which is why I initiated the wolf question in the third post.

No expert on either, but this behavior likely can't be attributed only to cougar traits.  And yes........who would have the most reason to yell 'cougar' rather than 'wolf'........ .

Either way, a tough loss for the owner and a misjustice to a cougar or two if it was, in fact, not carried out by a cat.

No matter, the fact that the wolf population will only get bigger and more widespread, will only bring more carnage like this to many more livestock species and their owners.  Of that.......there is absolutely no question, unless there's a wolf season here that I missed in the regs.

[bearpaw]

Sounds typical to me!

Cougars often kill extra sheep that they don't eat. Several years ago in Stevens County there was a farmer who had about 25-30 sheep, a cougar started picking off a few each night, the warden suggested the farmer lock them in the barn, on the next visit the cat got in the barn through a window opening and killed most all the rest of the sheep. It's just like putting a good housecat in a room full of mice, he can't stop till they are all dead. My hunting partner caught that cat for WDFW and ended it, but by then it was too late for the farmer's sheep.

[CAMPMEAT]

I believe our WDFW 100 %......

[mountainman]

Have seen single cats kill multiple deer in a nights outing growing up in the Methow, the most being 5..and sheep are much easier to catch..