Deer Legs and Cougar Tracks
Cougar' tracks belonged to a dog; MNR scientist dismisses latest claim
that big cat is in city's north end
Dog, yes. Cougar, no. That's the verdict on the latest set of animal
tracks causing excitement among those who would like to believe a
large wild cat is frequenting the countryside near the city's
northeast edge.
"They were all dog tracks," said Rick Rosatte, a senior research
scientist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, who drove to
Brantford from Peterborough on Saturday to investigate the latest claim.
Rosatte said he combed a wide area on foot looking for evidence and he
measured and examined the tracks in question.
Previously taken photographs had also been sent to tracking experts in
the U.S., all of whom were of the opinion the tracks were canine.
Still, Rosatte said it is important "to go into the field," follow
trails and examine impressions because photographs of animal tracks in
and of themselves can leave doubts.
Many things can affect or alter the appearance of animal tracks,
including the type of soil in which they appear, as well as rain or
snow, he said.
"The bottom line is that the tracks are definitely dog," Rosatte said,
in a telephone interview. "There is no question."
He also investigated the discovery of the skeletal forelegs of a deer
lodged up a tree, also near the city's north end.
The complete lack of any cougar scratch marks on the particular tree
ruled out the involvement of a big cat, he said.
The deer forelegs are very lightweight, he said. A raccoon could have
dragged them to their position or they could even have been picked up
and then dropped by a very large bird, such as a vulture. The most
likely culprit, though, would be human, he said. Someone may simply
have picked up the legs and tossed them into the tree.
All in all, there was "no evidence" to indicate the presence of a
cougar, Rosatte said.
Brantford Expositor 29/4/08