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!