Help Identifying My Pet Cougars

[dan11011]

So I try to always have some trail cameras set up around my home in GMU 124. We often get deer and turkey on the cameras and occasionally elk. We had a cougar show up on the camera that was killing sheep last July that I ended up shooting. It was a 118 lb. male. We then had another cat come back in October that killed 5 sheep and a llama in one night. Never got that one. The cameras haven't been set up now for a little while.

Over the last two nights I got some photos of what appears to be 5 different cats. Maybe some are the same.  I know it's tough to tell but would love some help speculating the photos if for nothing else than just some fun. Looks like we are done trying to raise sheep for a while..

The first 3 photos appear to be 3 cats and I'm guessing a small mother on the left with two juveniles, one in the distance and one kind of white washed up close on the right. They all look relatively small. They are hanging over a deer salt lick which makes sense because we get a lot of whitetails around there. This is all almost exactly 65 yards from the front porch.

The other 4 photos are of what looks to be 2 adult cats. I am guessing a tom on the left and a female on the right. Looks like they are more playing than actually fighting and might be a breeding pair.  All just speculation. Hard to know. Or do any of you think either are the same cats as the first photos? They look a lot bigger to me. These 4 photos are taken over a gobbler carcass that I set out for coyotes in some denser woods about 120 yards from my house.

I know the times and dates are off. Annoying I know. But I'm pretty sure the first three photos were from two nights ago, Friday the 25th. And the last 4 photos were from last night Saturday the 26th.

Thanks for looking.
Daniel

[Timberstalker]

We know one thing; you have at least 3 cats, possibly 5.

You have a cat problem.

[nwwanderer]

Busy spot full of people and livestock.  Be careful out there

[Woodhunter]

How far are you from Hardesty Road?  I have friends near Chatteroy that have a herd of Dairy Goats.  We all know that goats are a cougar's favorite food.

[dan11011]

How far are you from Hardesty Road?  I have friends near Chatteroy that have a herd of Dairy Goats.  We all know that goats are a cougar's favorite food.

I think about 4 or 5 miles from that road. Yea lots of livestock gets picked off around here.

[bowhunterforever]

We know one thing; you have at least 3 cats, possibly 5.

You have a cat problem.

 

[dan11011]

Two more photos from the carcass cam.

[jackelope]

Can you put that camera closer to the carcass? It would probably allow for more detail which would help possibly ID cats.

[KFhunter]

This can't be right, WDFW biologist Gary Koehler say's "Cougars regulate their own population size, as one male cougar protects a home range of 150 square miles"


Ya right 

[pd]

As stated earlier:  You, Sir, have a cat problem.

[jasnt]

Season opens up in 3 months.

[Woodhunter]

How far are you from Hardesty Road?  I have friends near Chatteroy that have a herd of Dairy Goats.  We all know that goats are a cougar's favorite food.

I think about 4 or 5 miles from that road. Yea lots of livestock gets picked off around here.

Thanks I will tell my friend Bob to stock up on ammo.   Might send him a trail cam.

Last time I visited him I saw over 20 deer around his place and the surrounding hills, I was viewing them from his deck.  I think the only thing keeping his goats safe are the livestock guardian dogs he has.  The cats do not hang around the big dogs. 

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Get yourself a Mule........No more problem. 
Doug

[Southpole]

That's ridiculous that you have to quit raising sheep because of the state's predator infestation  . That's a crazy amount of cats you got there.

[W_Ellison2011]

Season opens up in 3 months.

I was going to say... you are talking to the right group of guys for taking out as many of those cats as possible! Might be time to invite some of the members to come hunt those cats on your land. I would drive all the way out there for a chance at a cat and to help you out lol!

[jasnt]

Season opens up in 3 months.

I was going to say... you are talking to the right group of guys for taking out as many of those cats as possible! Might be time to invite some of the members to come hunt those cats on your land. I would drive all the way out there for a chance at a cat and to help you out lol!

i got some heavie cat areas if you want to drive to the ne corner

[W_Ellison2011]

Season opens up in 3 months.

I was going to say... you are talking to the right group of guys for taking out as many of those cats as possible! Might be time to invite some of the members to come hunt those cats on your land. I would drive all the way out there for a chance at a cat and to help you out lol!

i got some heavie cat areas if you want to drive to the be corner

I've got a decent sized cat in the Kapowsin unit I want to scope out before season opens and set up cams to see its frequency. If I can't find it or somewhat pattern it then I will probably take you up on that offer. Spotted it last year while checking out an area with a buddy. Hit a y in the road and we took a left and I looked over to the right and BAM theres a big cat in the road. Jumped out and a jeep came up and went to the right. Cat was gone into some thick stuff in 2 seconds flat. Buddy wanted to chase it in the thick.. I said HELL NO! Call me a sissy all you want but I'm not dealing with 100lbs or more of angry cougar in stuff you can barely see 5 feet into lol. Cams will be setup around the thick in the older growth. Funny side note. Pretty sure the cat was following an elk herd we bumped into about 200 yards further down the clear cut.

[elkchaser54]

Cougar Depredation: Wildlife Conflict Specialist Jacobsen worked with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer Nelson to handle a cougar attack on an alpaca in Klickitat County. Jacobsen and Officer Nelson were preparing to head to the site early the next morning to investigate and track down the cougar, but the cougar returned late that night and was shot and killed by the landowner. Officer Nelson visited the site and took possession of the cougar

Reading the weekly activity report from the wdfw and found this, nice shootin!

[dan11011]

I shot that problem cougar at 30 yards while standing on my porch last summer. Might just throw a call out in the front field/yard and call from my porch. Seems as good a place as any..