Talk in Blandford, MA IP: 50.241.112.193 Posted on March 22, 2014 at 01:44:17 AM by weatjer01089
Tonight, Bo Ottmann and myself did a presentation at the Blandford Historical Society in Blandford, MA. We set a record for people attending a talk there, 88 people came. We presented a wide variety of information on cougars, and did quite a session on tracks. Thanks to our out of state consultants for providing some excellent pictures that explain the track at Winchester, and show other tracks with the same characteristics from out west. We even had a foot photo to explain how the features are made in the track. Ill do a post on the mini book that the Blandford Historical Commission had, titled "The Big Cats of Western Massachusetts", by Ralph Pomeroy studied from 1948-1956. Ralph documented numerous encounters with cougars during that timeframe, its quite the book. Many of his encounters were repeated in the decades after, and right where we get reports today. About half reported personal sightings, and the question was asked on how many believed that cougars are around. All 88 said yes. The credibility of the statement "they don't exist" was zero, since there have been so many credible sightings over the decades in that area. Some of the local encounters were VERY interesting. All 88 now can assuredly recognize a cougar track VS a canine, and a cougar from a bobcat. We showed some of the interesting photos we have encountered, both non cougar, and possible cougar, and compared what is going on here with what is happening to our west. The cougar population is clearly spreading east with time. Replies: