Mountain lion kills mountain biker in Washington

[Sigarms]

Perhaps some animals are more "protected" than others?*

*apologies to George Orwell.

In general, when a 4 legged animal kills another 4 legged or two legged animal (as brutal as it may be), it's generally for food and to survive. When two legged animals kills another two legged animal, it's for money or something else. One could argue that it's the two legged animal that's really the animal.

Ironically enough, we're the species that has the superior brain.

 

[dmccarty]

I don稚 know how anyone knows this, game wardens always seem to kill the animal right off the bat. Too many people in this world is the problem. We encroach endlessly into every corner of the earth. Will we ever stop?

Plenty of cases where big cats in India and Africa killed and ate dozens of people before being tracked down and killed. Course back in the day, when a cat killed a family member or live stock, one went out and killed the cat. There is an Fox Fire book that has a bunch of panther/cougar/painter stories. Some of the stories are of people being chased and killed by cats. Once upon a time, I hiked up a trail along a creek mentioned in the book where a man was chased by a cougar. I did not see a cougar but did see momma bear and her two cubs.

Later,
Dan

 

[Jstpssng]

In general, when a 4 legged animal kills another 4 legged or two legged animal (as brutal as it may be), it's generally for food and to survive. When two legged animals kills another two legged animal, it's for money or something else. One could argue that it's the two legged animal that's really the animal.

Ironically enough, we're the species that has the superior brain.

We also are the only species which agonizes over killing other animals or our own species.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

What just hit me as incredibly sad is all the sympathy for the mountain lion and the seemimg lack of sympathy for the human victim and his family.
The game warden's explanation for euthanizing the animal is reasonable, logical and biblical. Gen 9.5

 

[ArlyA]

:thumbsup:

What just hit me as incredibly sad is all the sympathy for the mountain lion and the seemimg lack of sympathy for the human victim and his family.
The game warden's explanation for euthanizing the animal is reasonable, logical and biblical. Gen 9.5

 

[rekees4300]

On the news they said the mountain lion was emaciated. In other words the lion killed the biker in order to survive. IMO most humans would do the same thing.

 

[Silvic]

What just hit me as incredibly sad is all the sympathy for the mountain lion and the seemimg lack of sympathy for the human victim and his family.
The game warden's explanation for euthanizing the animal is reasonable, logical and biblical. Gen 9.5

You think!!!!
All you have to do is read the report of what happened and how the bikers did everything correctly according to the experts and the cat still took them. Originally I thought from the early reports that it was instinct and the rapidly moving bike that triggered the response, Having seen the latest reports: that cat was not right and needed to be put down.
The other thing that folks need to know is that since the initiative was passed back 20+ years ago the exponential rise in the numbers of cats in this state and the number of big game that the cats take just to feed the increased numbers is tremendous. Yes we are pushing out into the wilderness but the cats are pushing in as their territory does not fit their growing population.

 

[goeduck]

What just hit me as incredibly sad is all the sympathy for the mountain lion and the seemimg lack of sympathy for the human victim and his family.
The game warden's explanation for euthanizing the animal is reasonable, logical and biblical. Gen 9.5

Not too be callous but it is hard for me to ignore the mountain lions plight when humans will stop at nothing, overpopulate, overdevelop, and push into their territory. When will we stop? Will it be just humans and chickens we raise to eat left on earth? Thinking men worry about the animals and the earth. Agree that the outcome is very sad for the gentleman that was killed.

 

[DieselnHooters]

Not too be callous but it is hard for me to ignore the mountain lions plight when humans will stop at nothing, overpopulate, overdevelop, and push into their territory. When will we stop? Will it be just humans and chickens we raise to eat left on earth? Thinking men worry about the animals and the earth. Agree that the outcome is very sad for the gentleman that was killed.

There are 150 000 humans for every one cougar, the numbers are even more lopsided when it comes to rhinos, tigers, gorillas and many more. That should explain the concern many showed here .

And of course wildcats hold a special place as they are the supermodels/movie stars of the animal kingdom.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Again with concern for a mountain lion. Had the cat taken a calf, a horse, house cat, dog, or a sheep and been put down then I would agree with the sympathy for the lion. But this time it took down a human being that was no threat to it at all. The hills are alive with game, rabbits, deer and fawns, elk and calves, coyotes, possums, etc. etc. but the animal chose a human being. Humans being generally slow and often defenseless it stand to reason that human beings would become this particular animals prey of choice. Putting this particular animal down is the logical and reasonable action.

You mention humans encroaching on their territory, well that has been happening since the first human beings set foot on North America 10000 years or so ago. The only solution would be for all of us to move from our rural hobby farms and ranches to a nice cozy apartment in some well controlled city. You first.