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Cougar seen again in Natchez
Published Thursday, December 4, 2008
NATCHEZ — When Paul Havens and his wife Penny showed up to work on Monday morning they ran into an unexpected critter visiting their worksite.
The Havens said when they arrived at the Entergy substation, at the Johns Mansville site, they saw an animal they believe to be a cougar.
“I said ‘Look, what is that,’” Penny Havens said.
While Penny said she didn’t immediately recognize the creature, it took her husband only a moment to make an identification.
“For a second I though it was a bobcat” Paul Havens said. “Then I realized it was too big to be a bobcat.”
And while Paul calls the big cat a panther, not a cougar, he said he positive of what he saw.
Havens is from Singer, La., and said he has seen enough panthers in that area to know what he saw.
Havens said as he walked around the rear of the substation he noticed the big cat laying on the ground.
“As I got closer it got up and started to walk away,” he said.
The area where Havens saw the cat is a flat field with low grass.
Havens said as he continued to approach the cat it quickened its pace and eventually ran off into the woods.
And Havens was able to notice one detail about the cat that no other cougar spotters have mentioned before.
“It has a fat belly,” he said. “Either it just ate a big meal or it’s pregnant.”
And while it hasn’t happened yet, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is planning to send a representative to look for evidence of the creature.
The department’s exotic species program leader Richard Rummel said he hopes to travel to Natchez early next week to search the local woods for any evidence of the creature.
When he arrives, he’ll also be examining a partially eaten deer carcass, now housed in a local freezer, to see if it was attacked by a cougar.
While the area’s first alleged cougar sighting happened on Briel Avenue in the summer, in recent weeks several people claimed to have seen the animal between the first and third mile marker on the Natchez Trace.
The small area in which the previous Trace sightings had occurred prompted some to believe that the cougar was inhabiting that particular area because of it’s deer population.
And that theory could be gaining some credence because Monday’s sighting isn’t far from the Trace sightings.
Comments
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The railroad runs from Briel Ave. along a wooded corridor straight out to the Trace area and Johns Manville, so that makes all the sightings possible.
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone taken a photo of this animal?
Posted by flylo (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets hope someone doesn't get stupid and shoot her.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is getting real close to the humane society where dogs are fenced in. The high school is not that far from there. I have seen deer in the old bean field next to the school. I am not for shooting the big cat but if she is there she needs to be relocated. That is just getting too close to populated areas where children are present.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I see this cat. I sure hope I have my rifle at that moment.....
Posted by Hambone (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
generoberts,
Why?
Posted by coacht (T.BOB KIRK) on December 4, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO GET A GOAT AND TIE IT TO A TREE. GET A RABBIT AND PUT IT IN A CAGE AND GET A VIDEO CAMERA. CLIMB UP IN YO TREESTAND AND WATCH THE FUN BEGIN.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cause Puma is smart....he's sneaky....he will hunt and kill basically any domestic animal in the area. And he will not stop! I've had encounters with the old man before. He has to go!!
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think I saw Elvis in that same area. There may even be traces of peanut butter, banana, and bread lying there to prove it.
Posted by Hambone (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
so you want to kill it? Has this cougar killed anyone or any pets? I could use your logic to make sure I have my rifle when I see you...
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
probably got a rabbit in that high grass field
come on Gene, leave the panther alone, she/he hasn't shown any aggression toward humans
just grabbing easy meals around the edge of our populated areas where rabbits and deer tend to seek refuge from hunters and have better grass/grazing along roadsides and fields...........
if anyone else sees the cougar please keep it to yourself and DO NOT hype up this innocent critter's existence........
he/she has done no harm at all and deserves to live in peace same as we do, and also serves a good purpose for the environment and for us by keeping the deer down a little bit along the trace so we won't be hitting them with our cars and having deer damage to our vehicles, and also to motorcyclists that may suffer personal injury from a close encounter of the worst kind with deer while riding.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is no such thing as one couger.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
generoberts will pay a hefty fine and spend time in the brig, penitentiary, prison,lockup, big house, can, clink, cooler, coop, hoosegow, joint, jug, pokey, slammer, calaboose. Take your pick.
southernbelle there is surely more of us cougers out there. Ohhhhhh. I thought you said codger.
Merry Crimus from an old one. hahahahahahaha
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This has really gotten out of hand. This animal & it's ancestors have been around the area for years & no one has been attacked. Are people so naive that they think just out of no where a cougar appears? It scars me to think that some crazy irresponsible humans are going to go out looking to bag a "big trophy" & someone is going to really get hurt or killed. I would hate to read tomorrow's newspaper & the headlins be:
GENEROBERTS KILLED BY NATCHEZ COUGAR
So far there have been four sightings & the cat doesn't seem aggressive but if it's fighting for it's life or it's young there will be some blood shed so it's best to leave it alone.
GodsChild ...I agree people should start taking cameras & get pictures.
Posted by fantasialuck (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
coach t...get a goat and tie it to the tree???? LMAO this is not jurrasic park!!!!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gene sounds like a curmudgeon, not a codger.
Gene, If you are going to shoot it, do it with a Canon Camera and leave your rifle at home so you can shoot Bambi and its ancestor. They are doing more harm than a cougar would.
Posted by cherron (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
omg, a couger is native to this area. its like freaking out when u see a snake.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hambone, whatever you do....don't miss me.
for the rest of you....if I see the cougar, there will be no more discussion.
Posted by MSABBY (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, tell me this in the day of cell phone cameras and video's. When you can't step one big toe out of place without someone capturing it on a cell phone. Why????? has no one gotten a pic of it yet???????
Posted by linenbreeze (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MSABBY
I agree. I don't have a cell phone, but I always have my camera ready for that perfect Kodak moment. If someone could get a picture of this now famous cougar it would really be exciting.
I saw on another story that (generoberts) is claiming some has killed the cougar in Cranfield. If that were true it looks like he would be back making comments on this. Maybe they heat got a little too much for him.
Posted by 2feathers (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
...IN THE SHREVEPORT AREA THEY ARE KILLING THEM AND USING THE EXCUSE THAT THEY ARE AGRESSIVE, IT WILL HAPPEN IN NATCHEZ TO ,THE ..'' EXPERT '' WILL FIND A WAY TO JUSTIFY KILLING IT...........WATCH...........................
Posted by comminatcha (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
generoberts you are an IDIOT!! And coacht, you to are an IDIOT!! Don't be a "stupid redneck" Please!
Posted by MELLOONE (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IT REALLY BOTHERS ME THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KILL AN ANIMAL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY THINK IT WILL DO. WE ARE THE ONES ENCROACHING ON THE CAT'S NATURAL HABITAT. IF WE LEAVE IT ALONE IT WILL LEAVE US ALONE. THEY ARE SHY BY NATURE AND WILL AVOID US UNLESS THREATENED. I HAVE HUNTED IN AREAS OCCUPIED BY LARGE CATS AND EVERY ONE HAS WENT OUT OF IT'S WAY TO AVOID ME. LEAVE THE CAT ALONE TO LIVE IT'S LIFE!
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it make you all feel better, the cougar was not shot. It was hit buy a truck. So stop your crying.
Posted by hitchcock (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone other than (generoberts) heard that the cougar was killed?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We moved the pregnant mare out to a place in Cranfield, please don't tell me the cougar is there now. But I do hope she lives a long and healthy life without idiots with guns and no sense trying to get her on their wall. Hope she has lots of babies too!
Posted by dragonflyday (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WELL HELL,I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WANTED A PICTURE OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL,THEY ARE GREAT HUNTERS AND VERY SMART ANIMALS.WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DO HARM TO THIS ANIMAL,THEY HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE MIS-LOU WAY BEFORE WE WERE,SO LEAVE THE ANIMAL ALONG,AND GET A REAL LIFE. JUST TO LET SOME OF YOU KNOW,IF YOU SEE OR KNOW OF ANYONE THAT KILLS THIS ANIMAL OR A BEAR IT IS AGAINST THE LAW AND YOU CAN GET AN AWARD MONEY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR TURNING THEM IN. I'LL BE WATCHING. OH ALSO,IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE BULL DOG FIGHTS AT YOU CAN CALL THE LAW AND GET $5000,JUST FOR TURNING THEM IN. MAKE SURE THEY ARE HAVING A FIGHT FIRST,IF YOU LIKE TAKE PICTURES,SO NO ONE CAN LIE.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about cat fights?? Are they legal?
Posted by tjim97 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO COUGAR GO
Posted by dragonflyday (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
generoberts,the last time i checked they were allowed,but just watch out,the redheads have a bad temper,and the blondes will get you while your not looking,lol.
Posted by Army_Soldier_From_Roxie (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys are funny! Thanks for entertaining me while I'm in Iraq!
Posted by Hambone (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw two cougars fight in Dimples one night...
Posted by callanicole (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live here in Ms., but I am from Waterproof, LA and grew up living in the Lake St. John area. This is where my sister and I saw what we believe was black panther. When I was around 9 or 10 my sister and I would always go walking down what we called "the tun-row" to pick up pecans because they had just cut down several trees back behind the house we lived in. The area had been cleared out and there was pretty much a clear view as far as the eye could see. We would walk back there just about everyday and it was around this time of year because my uncles were home and this was the time of year that they came home for the holidays and to hunt. Anyways, we were on our normal routine of picking up pecans as we walked and my sister and I happened to look up at the same time. There was this huge black cat lying calmly on a tree trunk that had been cut down. I whispered to my sister and said "Do you see that", and she said, "Yeah, that's a big ol' cat." We both dropped our buckets and ran like hell back to the house, too afraid to look back. When we made it to the house, we were out of breath and crying hysterically. We both described the same things when we were explaining to our family what we had seen. We had never seen a panther before except for on television; but we were both convinced that the cat we saw was definitely a panther because it looked just like what we had seen on television. And to this day, we both still remember that day as if it were yesterday. So I do believe one thing for sure if nothing else, panthers are in La., and researchers don't know everything. Our planet is constantly changing which is more than likely resulting in the change in the animals as well.Take into consideration the areas with the wildfires; the areas that have been destroyed by hurricanes and so forth. What has happened to the wildlife in those areas? I'm sure not all of them were killed. So regardless to how much researchers know, there is always that bit of information that still remains unknown to them. The only way to know for sure exactly what an animal does and how they live or think is to be an animal. And none of us have the power to become an animal. So therefore, I believe in the unexplainable and I do believe that if a cougar or panther was seen in La., then Ms., is close enough to La for these large cats to migrate here as well.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 6, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What's your point?
Posted by callanicole (anonymous) on December 6, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DUHH...Maybe you should reread the ending and maybe then you will understand the point. I understand that it takes some people longer to grasp a main idea than others. The point seems clear to me. So read it again generoberts and use your high-order thinking skills.
Posted by CountryGirl14 (anonymous) on December 7, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In Bossier City last week the Louisiana Wildlife and FIsheries ordered the Bossier City police to kill the cougar that was in a tree after they had tranquilized the cougar. You can read the story on KTBS or KSLA news websites. It was disgusting. The cougar was falling out of the tree and did not appear to be "aggressive" as was reported by the police. It's illegal for landowners to kill cougars but it's alright for the police. I hope Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries Agents are better than the ones in Louisiana. Watch the video and you will see.
There have been several reports from Natchitoches and Allen Parish of cougars there as well.
Posted by Natchezindian (anonymous) on December 8, 2008 at 12:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is no doubt that if any animal poses a threat that it should be taken care of, but for any gung-ho redneck that wants to hunt the cougar hopefully the hunter will become the hunted. A real hunter has a purpose to kill and does not sit in a stand with a gun that has a 300 yard killing radius or even 100 yard range for that matter. These people are dangerous and what i call a fat lazy house cats or something that would violate my terms of agreement. However I am concerned that this animal must be pretty bold to have even been seen this many times. A rabid animal will show no fear towards humans and may even appear to be drunk doing things that are not natural such as being seen during the day. Another concern is the maze of storm drains that run from neighborhoods into that general area giving animals cover for free movement in and out of populated areas. PARENTS PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS PLAY AT THE CREEK FOR THE TIME BEING. If this cat is pregnant it will be looking for an easy meal.
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