At 01:27 AM 12/13/1998 -0500, you wrote:
>are cougars even big enough to kill adult humans? i'm picturing a fifty
>pound cat.... and while i'm sure a fifty pound cat could kill some adult
>humans, i'd like my chances with a staff or some such rudimentary weapon...
>are they bigger than that?
>
>bryan

"The mountain lion or cougar is among our largest and most powerful animals,
exceeding in size only by bears. Large males have measured up to 8 feet in
total lenght and have weighed up to 272 pounds. In spite of its size, very
people have observed a cougar in its natural haunts because of its extremet
wariness." On Felix concolor Linneaus

"There are a small number of records of cougar attacks upon man, especially
children. On Vancouver Island, between 1949 and 1952, there were several
cases, including maulings and fatalities. The animals involved were usually
small, starving individuals. There was an apparent shortage of food at the
time. Another fatality in California was caused by the bite of a rabid
cougar. It would appear wise to keep such risk in mind where children walk
alone in deep woods frequented by these animals.... It was originally found
for the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Patagonia to northern British
Columbia." In "The Mammals of Canada" A.W.F. Banfield

John


>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Steven Bissell <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Saturday, December 12, 1998 11:39 AM
>Subject: Re: Is Altruism consistent with environmentalsim?
>
>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: John Michael <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 4:48 PM
>>Subject: Re: Is Altruism consistent with environmentalsim?
>>
>>
>>(snip)
>> The cougars
>>>apparently lose the natural fear of humans while feasting on domestic
>>>animals such as horses and dogs. My neighbours lost two dogs and a horse
>on
>>>two separate ocassions.
>>
>>Why do you think cougars have a "natural" fear of humans? I would judge
>that
>>to be unnatural. One of the reason big fierce animals are so wonderful is
>>because they remind us of the fact that death can come so easily in nature.
>>I wouldn't give a hoot for a cougar or bear who was "naturally" afraid of
>>me, that sounds like a zoo animal. I fully expect a hungry cougar with the
>>opportunity to try and kill me and eat me. To do otherwise may be
>>"unethical" (I forget all the signs, so I put that in "." to indicate that
>I
>>don't really mean that the cougar makes a choice between right and wrong in
>>a cognitive sense). An "ethical" cougar is one who follows
>>ecological/evolutionary rules and one of those is killing and eating
>>suitable prey. Nothing in nature says humans aren't suitable prey for big
>>fierce animals. I've been a professional wildlife biologist for about 30
>>years and I've always thought that an appropriate death, in a few more
>years
>>hopefully ;-) would be to be eaten by a bear or shark or something.
>>
>>In BC we have a good deal very good records on
>>>pepper sprays and the sprays have really been effective. However on the
>>>Alaska highway recently a bear was repeatedly sprayed as it munched on
>>>garbage at a roadside rest stop. The bear kept coming back after spraying.
>>>One variety on the market was pulled of the shelf due to ineffectiveness.
>>
>>I guess if these pepper sprays give you the feeling of safety, they are
>>alright. However, I wouldn't depend on them to save my life.
>>
>>Bissell
>>
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