This happened 7 miles west of my farm!

Actually that's not true. There's several cases on record of Anatolian Shepherds - sometimes single handedly - killing mountain lions that were threatening their charges. They're also said to be the only breed to back down a grizzly bear. There was an Anatolian in CO a few years ago who'd killed a cougar.

Also not true that with a guardian one can't have other dogs...they'll get used to *your* dogs. It's *other* dogs that are 'in danger'.
Much is said about Pyrs - and they're good dogs. But I'd take an Anatolian any day.

When we were in CO last year, my cousin told me they have instances almost every year where hikers, who get seperated from their group, are killed by mountain lions in the mountain forests. She said children are especially susceptible because they're so small. But these are actually instances where people are in "lion" territory, not the other way around. I think we've become too urbanized as a society and just don't understand wildlife anymore.

We have people building huge, expensive neighborhoods in formerly, very rural areas and they get quite upset when their small animals are killed and carried off by coyotes and such. They've complained to city councils, who can't actually do anything if their not in actual city limits, wanting them to send dog catchers after these coyotes.
Even though I understand their anguish, at some point you just want to smack them in the forehead and say, "what did you expect, you're living in a rural wooded area?!" :no:

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Vickie

Hehe it wasn't "our dogs" I was worried about, it would be the LGD. I'm pretty sure we'd never get the "girls" to accept one.

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http://tinksquared.com

got a bear that makes a nightly visit, and many Mountain lions in the area....no problems our town has had 1 problem with them in about the last 10 years

Great Pyranees were specifically bred to protect against mountain lions, wolves and black bears

Experts say that, if you're confronted by a cougar, start chucking things at it - bricks, sticks, stones, your hat, whatever - as they don't like aggressive creatures. Make yourself look as big as possible, opening your coat or shirt and holding it wide open, while yelling and growling.

DO NOT RUN ! ! ! That says to the cat, "I'm food!"

If he charges, slug him! Fight back! He's looking for weak, sick, old or too young to survive critters for food, not a battle.

Oh, yeah, and do get a big bruiser of a dog that's got a good shaggy coat. Put a collar on the dog that has spikes or is metal reinforced to prevent a bite that can kill it.

It's nice that you're not yelling for the hunters to come in and hunt down everything in the area. It's totally different from another thread that I read. Of course, the poster there had lost a sister who ran from the cat, but I got flamed for pointing out that they had moved into the cat's area and joined the food chain.

I don't think Bare meant to sound condescending. He's just reflecting the same weariness that I feel from defending a big cat's right to live and from pointing out that we are the encroachers into the cat's world. When I started reading your thread, I thought it was going to become another rant for the destrction of the mountain lions. I'm pleased to see some folks, like you, see that there's other ways to deal with them than to haul out the big guns. The cougars are in trouble because of the spreading urban sprawl. They are fighting for their lives in smaller and smaller areas against other predators who eat the same sorts of food as the big cats. In Yellowstone National Park, they were making a comeback. Then the naturalists reintroduced the wolves and the wolves are now killing the cougars.

The biggest predator in the world is us.

TXlightningbug

So you DON'T support killing off Parie dogs because of the Monkey Pox that can be contracted by humans?

Or how about slaughtering thousands of cows because of a thing called Mad Cow Disease?

I think the problem is that the animals that are extinct from some areas are making a comeback and people including authorities aren't prepared to deal with them. They should have tranquilizer guns ready when a call comes in for an animal posing a threat. I agree the lion was lost, poor guy, but human life does come first. I live in a very wild area, have bears wolves, lynx, and yes cougars too. I haven't had too much trouble with anything. The odd bear makes a visist, but is soon run off by my little husky and her cohort wolf/pyrnese. I believe that you must do all you can to co-exist with the wild life your bound to come across, and protect your livestock. I think dogs do a fine job of this. Sheltering animals at night is also a good idea. Make sure there are no smells around to attract them ( ie slaughter remants,garbage etc.) Wind chimes may work also.
The words are preventative measures. I hate the thought of having to kill something that is just trying to survive, and I do all I can to protect my animals from them.
A hint about dogs, have more than one, especially in wolf country. DON'T have them tied up (like a worm on a hook-wolf bait). Wolves have been known to take dogs in my area, they were mostly on a chain. Wolves also like to send a lone one out to lure the dogs into the woods where the rest of the pack lie in wait.

Several large dogs would seem to be the way to keep those long tailed kittys away from your domestic animals. One or 2 dogs are probably not enough. I would say that a minium of 3 large dogs would work.

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Freedom isn't Free

Two weekends ago I was at my place in the mountains of northern AZ. I had a fire going in the firepit outside and the night was pitch black. I heard some noise out in the trees and shined a flashlight around a little but I couldn't see anything. So the fire burned down and I went in and went to bed.
The next morning a lone bull elk came wandering out of the trees, headed up my meadow and back into the trees. I found the tracks where he had come in at my driveway. There were my tire tracks, the elk tracks and a big pile of cat scat. That elk was being tracked by a mountain lion. I could have easily walked out that night armed with only a flashlight to see what the noise was about. It made me stop and think. The area is heavily wooded, very remote, very pristine and completely off grid. So it is a flashlight or a lantern on a dark night. The AZ Game & Fish hunting reports for the area say the deer population is down due to the high mountain lion population. So the cat's may be a tad hungry, competing for food.
IMO man, like any other animal should be part of the balance of nature, but not to excess. To me, that means in the normal course of doing my daily business, I should happen to run across a cat I will do my best to bring home a hide. I am usually armed when I go out walking and I did purchase a lion tag from Fish & Game so I am legal to do so. If I happen upon one of these nocturnal hunters in daylight I wouldn't hesitate. However as has been stated daylight sightings are rare and for the most part the big cats are no bother to me. I have no domestic animals there. I just need to be aware of my surroundings and who else inhabits them.

One or more LGD will do the trick for all your livestock!!!!!

We raise Anatolian Shepards and NOTHING comes on the property unchallenged. Predators will go away looking for easier prey when confronted by an agressive LGD.

My males are imposing too - 125-140 pounds of determination. I also have pups (none left for sale though) that are 7/8's anatolian / 1/8 great Pyr. Make sure the puppies have been raised and familiarized with stock - preferable since birth. That way they learn to respect as well as protect stock. LGD are not house pets.

Heh...Until you realized that they migrate down to the cities and get caught in people's backyards eating their Yorkies!

How about getting a couple of male llamas to defend the farm against cats.

-Anataq

I love the wild critters .....
I also like to believe humans are on top of the food chain

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Have a safe day, karen

---I love the idea of putting the spikes on the dogs collar. That makes a lot of sense. I am preparing to move my family to mountain country and the mountains were my biggest concern. We have seen them in the city here on the college campus (first just rumors and then they caught him on a webcam.). I saw one near a Christmas tree farm were I work. But it was darting into the trees to avoid me. I hear that they don't like to come around humans but then you hear the rare stories of attacks. Most of my research reveals that they like to sneak up on you, that is why the Great Pyres are good because they can alert that they are sneaking around and you can then be in a position to face them and protect yourself. They prefer to go for the back of the neck and if you can avoid that you are set. That is why the spikes on the collar probably help give your dog an advantage.

We have a great pyres on the ranch where my horse currently lives and she is awesome at warning and chasing off the coyotes. She tours the borders of the pasture twice a day without even being asked. She moved from one farm to another and just started her rounds when she moved without any more training or being asked. She is awesome. R4C---

Just curious GeorgeK,are there Cougars in France where those pyrs are from? LOL sorry, I just couldn't help it! LOL

Everytime some city slicker sees an article in the dumb paper about a cougar or bear or whatever there is a big to-do about it. Puh- lease can we stop this?

I moved to the country(was raised in the wilds and now I'm back to it)so I can get a glimpse of wild life once in a while. If it's too much for ya..move to the city. Good heavens..how often do you pass a car wreck..do you still allow your children in one of those dreaded automobiles?

Get real..LQ

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" Live in the Sunshine,
Swim the Sea,
Drink the Wild Air"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing." D. Duck

There's been a big scare around here lately! Somebody has been passing around a picture of a grizzly bear supposedly killed about hour from here. People are soooo scared. Heh...Funny thing is, grizzlies haven't lived in Northern California for years!

I also llive in northern Idaho and any mt.lion or coyote that I see on my property will be shot! I dont like to gamble with my animals.Mt. lions eat fresh meat and will kill a deer or two a week,I say bring on the hounds!!!

I am in an area of southern CA that has cougars, & I run a pair of Anatolian Shepherds with my sheep & poultry (150+ poultry, 2 dozen sheep), & some neighbors run a pair of Great Pyrenees with their llama herd (100+), & neither of us ever has any problems. Of course, as a long-time Anatolian owner/breeder, I like them best but you need to get the breed that's best for you, if a dog is right for your situation.
http://www.lgd.org/
FWIW, Anatolians have proven effective at reducing predation when used with flocks of sheep & goats in Africa. http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=dogs
BTW, while Akitas are good guard dogs, they have more prey drive than you want to have near your livestock; plus, they are people dogs, & want to be with their family, not with a bunch of other critters.

I make sure that all my animals come in off pasture every night and are safely enclosed in their barns at night....I just couldn't risk the heartbreak of loosing one like this.

I'm hoping to eventually get a Great Pyrnrenes (spelling?) to have with them in the daytime and then to bed down with the goats (and hopefully future sheep) but I will still bring them all in off pasture at night.

I lived in Hot Springs South Dakota briefly and I love your state!!!!