Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Well, as a native North Dakotan now in California, may I throw in OUR recent lion story for your perusal. Even after a close encounter, I'm still not sure if I'm for or agi'n the lions. We live in Yucaipa, a "suberb" of San Bernardino, in the valley below the San Gorgonio Mountains. We own 81 acres of wildland/foothills but we are in the city limits. We are nature/animal lovers and find plenty here to absorb our bounteous affection. Rabbits, coyotes, and bobcats have literally been on our doorstep. About a month ago or so we went to the barn to feed our two goats and found them dead inside their 5 ft. high pen. Twisted necks,a gaping hole in Blackie's side, and a huge cat print 5 inches across shouted "Mountain Lion". Unfortunately we're also child lovers and routinely have numerous little ones from 1 yr. old and up running around the yard and barn. YIKES! Every kid became housebound until further notice. We left for church looking over our shoulders as we went. The dead goats lay inside their closed pen until we could bury them the next day. After church, company came and we pointed out the poor pets in their pen. About 4 pm someone glanced toward the barn and screamed, "There's the mountain lion!" 12 people scrambled for the windows to watch the lion leap lightly over the fence and inspect her abandoned feast. She didn't seem to know what to do next. Obviously, she could't drag the heavy bodies over the 5 ft of chainlink fence. She leaped back over the fence and slowly circled the barn and pen, snifing at every closed door, trying to find a way in. Then in again over the fence, and out, and round and round. She was in no hurry and stopped to scratch her neck on the corner of the barn like a big gentle pussycat. Then like poetry in motion, she reached up and placed her front paws on top of the fence, with her head well above. Gracefully her back feet rose to meet them. For a split second she balanced with all four feet on the fence, then slowly dropped--light as a feather--into the pen. In and out and around she went for half an hour. Meanwhile back at the windows, kids and adults alike watched in awe. My camera's battery was dead, our guest's camera was across the yard in her car and NOONE offered to go get it. I called the newspaper first--but they weren't too eager to be first on this scene... Then, when it seemed unlikely that we would get out of the house anytime soon, we called our trusty sheriff. The nice deputy came out, and although he did have one more gun than we had, was reluctant to approach the kitty. He too, chose to observe the comings and goings from a respectable distance. Then a fish and game guy showed up. He expected the usual--a bobcat or a big dog--and was ready to laugh--even at the trusty sheriff. He did bring along his big gun though. By now there were four men outside (2 of us and 2 of them and 10 at the window). The lion slipped out of sight behind the barn, but not before the F&G guy SAW HER TAIL. . . With four men hanging around, the lion took a break and retreated underneath an old truck beside the barn--from where she watched the people's comings and goings! Then after 90 minutes of futile effort to salvage dinner, she slipped into the brush and disapeared. The men stood by the barn discussing the unusual behavior of the mountain lion, deciding that with NO fear of humans, she could be quite a dangerous animal to have in town. They decided to follow her into the brush and the F &G guy started down the trail she had taken. He had a light in one hand and his shotgun in the other. Then, ten feet ahead and coming straight toward, he saw the lion coming back up the trail. I wouldn't try to second guess someone who finds himself face to face with a lion, even a strangely friendly one (or, perhaps, especially not a friendly one). A split second, one-handed hip-shot-- and Aslan lay dead. Soon the kids timidly gathered about the sagging flop of fur, anxious to see "THE LION". But it--wasn't. The glory and the grace and the grandeur that had thrilled them in the hour past--wasn't. We stood there watching them load her into the truck like a pile of bloody rags. Yes the fear was gone, but also the excitement, the admiration, the joy, of that hour. The kids and I were a somber lot as we trudged up the hill to the house. There was nothing more to say or do. (Emotions are fickle things. If the lion had been killed say--to save my child from her jaws--my joy would most certainly have been in her death!) "

" I wish that we had cougars. We have alligators and bears and rumours of cougars. People sometimes go crazy about alligators but they usually mind their own business and avoid people. Bears can be in an area for years without ever being seen. I suspect that cougars are about the same. Here in the east dogs kill more people than bears and alligators combined. "

" All the hype has led to an overkill. Some by snares and the other by an aggressive 5 lion quota each year. I will say this again....It shouldn't matter whether the lion is snared, shot or hit by a car....the 5 lion quota (or preferably less) should be all inclusive. The rate were going, we should have them extinct in ND for another 100 + years within a year or two....PATHETIC AND DISGRACEFUL! "

" so the rumors that we have heard for the last 10 years are true.. why are there snares set up.. is trapping really a sport? or is it profit driven. do trappers pay tax on pelts? can I trap ducks? can I trap fish? just a question? "

" The implication is that this female was the first of many. They also say that she was 10 years old. That being the case, then I would have to assume that the mountain lion(s) in Grand Forks county over 50 years ago were a mirage. I do believe they are blown out of the water by their own petard. Nice dramatics boys, but you can't float that boat. "

" expose of these preditor's they are a real nuisance! "

" We found "Eve' so "Adam" must be roaming out there somewhere. "