Lynx Thriving In Maine Forest

[jimbot]

The Canada lynx population in a Maine research forest grew by 21 kittens this year, according to wildlife biologists studying the rare species.

...

Maine is believed to be the only northeastern state that still has lynx, considered by the federal government to be a threatened species. Lynx are at the southern edge of their range here. No one knows exactly how large the state's population is, but biologists say an educated guess puts it in the hundreds.

[DemoTex]

1. I spotted a panther here in the NC mountains last November.

A neighbor saw a panther last week. I live adjacent to the Gorges State Park (wilderness). A park ranger told me that the panther population here is slowly rebuilding. The robber barons who clear-cut these magnificent forests in the early 1900s hired bounty hunters to kill panthers, bears, and other dangerous animals.

[blindpig]

5. funny how they won't admit they're there

Have a friend who saw a panther in the Smokies about 15 years ago. Another friend, who worked for Interior, all but called him a liar. The political implications of enforcing the Endangered Species Act with a species that requires such a large range are great. The extractive industries would shit. A lot of the locals wouldn't be happy either, fearing for their livestock and game, forgetting who was there first. To the best of my knowledge the eastern subspecies of the panther is officially extinct.

[happyslug]

9. In The Spring a Cougar was seen in Western Pennsylvania

No one knows where it went but here is the article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04050/274935.stm

Another Article on Cougars in Pennsylvania:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04151/324253.stm

[SEpatriot]

2. That's really interesting

I have recently read Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's The Tribe of Tiger and was very interested in her narrative on the return of pumas to New England (of course the book is 10 years old now). Maine is truly an amazing place, hope no one ruins it.

[jimbot]

3. Sorry about the link

Won't let me edit (expired).
Anyhow, here is the link

Thought we could use some good news for a change.

--JT

[benburch]

4. Indeed!

GREAT news.

Grandpa Burch used to have a "pet" bobcat. It showed up one cold winter's day, while still a kitten, huddled up to the front door for warmth, and he let it in and fed it. It spent its life sleeping on his bed all day, and at night it was let out and it roamed the Elgin Fen doing what bobcats do. We figure that it arrived in town on a freight train from out west, as the trains all slowed to a crawl not far from the Burch shack (it was a shack, really, in which he and my grandmother raised 8 boys and one girl) where the Milwaukee Road went from double tracks to single track to cross the Fox River bridge.

[MaineDem]

6. Cool!

We see lots of animals around here but I've never seen a lynx, I don't think. Lately it's been coyotes.

[Dover]

7. I wonder if they've figured out just WHAT this animal IS in Baltimore

This mystery beast is lurking in the Baltimore area and no one can identify it. Looks a little like a hyena or some bio-experiment gone wrong:

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3545312/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=1946268&dppid=68757

[Lorien]

12. Red fox with a parasite

The raccoons in my neighborhood are showing up with their coats covered with what looks like tiny white flies. These insects are nibbling the fur right off of them! The poor animals have extremely sparse fur on their hind ends, and their eyes and muzzles look swollen. I suspect the "mystery creature" is just an unfortunate red fox with the same affliction.

[IA_Seth]

14. wow

What the hell IS that?

My purely speculative non-scientific guess is that it appears to be related to the hyena for sure. The elongated neck with the fur tuft along the ridge seems real similar.

[rocktivity]

8. Good news

But I didn't know the Lynx was an off-road vehicle.



:headbang:
rocknation

[alfredo]

11. Only when drunk

Actually, I like links better than lynx. Links formats the page, making it easier to read.

[alfredo]

10. We are seeing more bear here. That means

they are thriving in the eastern forests and are heading west looking for more room. Or more likely, their habitat is being destroyed by the bush, "destroy the forest to save the forest" philosophy.

[MaineSheAck]

13. That's OK as long as no hunting or travel restrictions are added

We don't want our hunting, snowmobiling or ATVing in the Maine forest messed with. Other than that the kitties can stay and hopefully develop a taste for blood sucking insects.