Louisiana Trail Camera Captures Cougar Image

by Ben O'Brien • August 30, 2011 • 11 comments

Gone are the days of thinking mountain lions/cougars/pumas are big cats that stick to the mountain ranges of the great wide west of our country. From Connecticut to Missouri to Kansas to even Chicago, cougar sightings are popping up more and more frequently.

Please click the image to enlarge

Louisiana is not thought of as a place that’s rife with cougars, but a trail camera image from Vernon Parish (southeast part of the state) recently captured an image that Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has confirmed is a big cat.

LDWF has documented several occurrences since 2002. The first cougar sighting was in 2002 by an employee at Lake Fausse Point State Park. That sighting was later confirmed with DNA analysis from scat found at the site.  Three trail camera photos were taken of a cougar in Winn, Vernon and Allen parishes in 2008. Subsequently on Nov. 30, 2008, a cougar was shot and killed in a neighborhood by Bossier City Police Department.

LDWF does not believe there’s a breeding population of cougars in Louisiana. Ranges for toms can be massive. Through the use of tracking collars, there have been several cougars tracked in the Dakotas and in Texas that have covered up to 300 square miles. An expanding population in Texas could be where this cougar roamed in from, though officials aren’t certain if this cougar is a wild, free-ranging predator or an escaped “pet.”

If you saw a cougar image on one of your trail cameras, would it have an impact on your trips to the deer woods?

In Big Game, Trail Camera, Uncategorized • Tagged ,
  • jack heatherdale

    No it wouldnt, I feel we are invading there territory and I would encourage them to live there. The same with the wolf also.

    • Eddie Matthews

      Hogwash. On my property the long tailed cat, and the wolves, would be uninvited guests (tresspassers), subject to being removed, dead or alive.

  • John F. Kellmer

    I wouldn't go there with my grandchildren unless I was armed. As for invading "their" territory, that's just so much green hokum, ditto for the wolves. Man is a natural predator, and we have been since time. It's all our territory, as much as it is any other animal's. No more and/but no less.

  • Jeff Barry

    It would not affect me any more than knowing there is black bear in the area. The same thing about poisonous snakes. You don't stop going in the woods because they are there. I am always "loaded for bear" when I am on our property. We have a couple 300+ pound bears on the property. I agree with John. Our piece of property has been in the family for 50+ years and we have animals like bear and coyotes moving in and out of the property. This does not mean that I am invading that animals territory. It means that animal is look for food and coming onto our property. We have bears and coyotes constantly showing up on trail cameras that were never there in years past. I am not going to hunt my property any different – other than hoping that one shows up during season!

  • Eddie Matthews

    Actually confirming a sighting of a long tail cat on our property in west-central Alabama would make me, and my sons, more cautious about entering and leaving our deer hunting property before dawn and after dark. Those large cats have to eat, and they are known man-killers. I do not wish for me or my sons to become their food. Unlike wolves, big cats have been known to silently stalk humane prey and kill quickly with a bite to the skull. My long walks of a mile or more to my deer stand, deep in the dark wood, may become less frequent. I do not know for sure whether I, or the cat were here first, but I do know I intend to be here last. I do know we undisputably own the land now and are not invading anyone or critters land; not the wolves or the cats. It is my family's land NOW.

    • frankie

      "It is my family's land NOW"

      I hope you have put up signage to let the wildlife know!

  • Keith Bogle

    On my hunting trips out west, the thought of possibly seeing a cat is never far away. On one trip to Colorado, one of the guides did have a disconcerting experience when he realized he was being stalked by one. Then again, on my hunting trips I am armed so it would not be me in harm's way.

  • Grant Corley

    I have seen them on our land while farming. I know they are there, but they are probably only passing thru while hunting for food. I am usually armed when I go into the timbered areas especially in early mornings & evenings, but they are so secretive that they probably are long gone 99% of the time before we get where we can see them. As far as whose territory it is, I think it is mine. I at least make the payments & pay the taxes & they are the visitors. They leave me alone, I probably will leave them alone, but if they challenge me, then I shoot to end the challenge.!! It is that simple.!!!!

  • Tom

    Walking deep into or out of the woods in the dark with just my bow…i wouldn't like that

  • http://www.snakeproofgear.com Aritfact

    That is quite the trail camera picture. I just had an encounter with a mountain lion that charged to within a few yards of me. Read the whole story here: a href="http://www.bestforhunting.com/2011/09/mountain-lion-encounter/">Mountain Lion Encounter

    • http://www.snakeproofgear.com Aritfact

      Sorry about the link in my last comment. Here is the link to my story: Mountain Lion Encounter