WildLife

According to Tim Ernst, there was a recent cougar sighting at the Richland Creek Campground (still closed). What types of animals have you witnessed in the wild? I caught a glimpse of a running black bear (cinnamon color) and a huge deer. Anyone seen a cougar?

Around mid-December 2009, I was hiking the BRT between Ponca and Pruitt. We had just passed the Erbie campground and had taken a wrong turn, following a horse trail up and to the south instead of following the river. We figured out the mistake once we hit this wide field about mid-way between Erbie and Adair Cemetery and decided rather than backtrack, we'd just go ahead and make camp. It was getting late and we were at the end of our second day of hiking. So, just past the field (which shows up real nice on Google Map, btw), we made camp once the trail wandered back into the woods. It was real cold - I think it got down to about 28 or so that night and dusted us with snow in the morning. Anyway, I was snug in my hammock dead asleep when I heard a cougar let loose about 2:00 a.m. I woke up with an adrenaline spike but didn't know why until she screamed again. Of course it sounded like she was close enough to kiss, but we were on top of a hill so the sound likely carried from a ways away. Still, it took me a while to settle down and go back to sleep.

That doesn't count as seeing one, I know, but it was good enough for me. (The other two guys I was with didn't wake up and won't back me on this.)

I forgot to post the link to his journal... scroll all the way down to the very bottom:

http://www.timernst.com/currentjournal.html