O/T - Liger on the Loose

motoyoyo · 02-21-2005, 06:05 PM

"It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic." - Napoleon Dynamite

Yep, that's the big scoop around my neck of the woods. About three weeks ago there were 7" wide paw tracks found just about five miles from where I live. One eye witness report says a very large, light colored cat with stripes was seen in the area. Estimates are 400-600 pounds and could be a Liger that escaped from a nearby residence that housed exotic cats. Yesterday they spent 14 hours searching with a helicopter equiped with infrared detectors and didn't turn up a thing. Cool...I think I'm going to go take the dog for a walk.

shannonnunley · 02-21-2005, 06:21 PM

cool...

Moybin · 02-21-2005, 06:30 PM

Just remember, if the dog can out run you (as I presume it can) you are kitty-chow!!! Only Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Blue Tics are dumb enough or dog enough to go after a big cat.

But that certainly trumps our midWest cougars!

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

He'll eat you and your doggie for a snack!

http://www.sierrasafarizoo.com/animals/liger.htm

Jeff Williams · 02-21-2005, 06:41 PM

Scott,
you can borrow my ridgeback.
Shes 6 and has only latched onto two people.

jeff

motoyoyo · 02-21-2005, 07:09 PM

Thanks for the link ckcarr. I didn't realize those cats got twice that big. Krapozilla !!

Hehe my dog scares most people because she's an Akita/Chow mix but she hasn't bit anyone yet. I guess that goes over better than "she only bit two people so far", lol.

Still, a 600 lb cat is something I only want to see with a big cage around it or me. My dog would protect me from any human threat but I'm sure I would have to outrun her if I hoped to survive a biger animal than her.

motoyoyo · 02-21-2005, 07:36 PM

Last I heard it was headed for stage1scott and John Lyon's neighborhood.

Whew, that's a big relief.

Jeff Williams · 02-21-2005, 09:02 PM

Scott,
maybe it needs some body work.

jeff

KevinG · KevinG's Garage

Motoyoyo -

My wife is the one who actually saw the cat a little more than two weeks ago. We were returning home from a visit with friends in seperate cars, and she was leading me by about 150 yards on our winding driveway. She came around a corner and surprised the cat walking down the road. It turned around and split back up the road, while she followed it for about 50 yards until it went up the hill and looked back at her from behind a bush.

All I saw was a flash of fur as it took off when I drove up behind her.

Last tuesday we found it's tracks around our house. I got some pictures, but none as good as the ones you posted. One of the tracks just off our back patio measured 7" across.

Moneyguy1 · 02-22-2005, 11:15 AM

Ahh...Rhodesian Ridgebacks...One next door I would gladly shoot if the circumstances asise (like coming in my yard). Noisy, nervous and stupid.

motoyoyo · 02-22-2005, 12:19 PM

Wow, what a coincidence Kevin. Glad to hear it was just passing through. I got a report this morning that more tracks were found at Baron's Nursery on Santa Rosa Road. Now that's getting close to me, only about 1/4 mile away. Hard to believe it hasn't been found yet. If it has headed for the Hill Canyon area it could stay hidden for quite a while.

SteveStromberg · 02-22-2005, 12:34 PM

Walk softly and carry a big stick.

KevinG · KevinG's Garage

Scott -

Breathe easier - the Nursery tracks were from February 8th. Doesn't really matter, tho - The cat appears to be roaming pretty freely. We haven't seen any new tracks on our property since the 15th, and my wife saw it on Feb. 2nd.

Lets see -
Sighting on our driveway on 2/2
Pictures of tracks at Baron's nursery on 2/8
Tracks found at our house on 2/14 & 2/15
Tracks found on Read Road west of the 23 on 2/18

We have helicopters with infrared scanners, Fish & Game, USDA trackers, news media and lots of looky loos running around, and the cat seems to be able to move around pretty much as he/she pleases. Gotta cut the searchers some slack, though - it's been rotten trying to find this animal in all the rain and muck.

motoyoyo · 02-22-2005, 05:23 PM

Thanks for the update Kevin. Funny how what little info there is gets turned around from one person to the next. So, it looks like it's already been by my house and headed the other way. I hope the big guy is having fun out there before he has to go back to sitting in a box somewhere. Hopefully when they do catch him they can manage to do it without doing anything stupid too.

89911 · 02-22-2005, 06:18 PM

Awesome!!

M.D. Holloway · 02-22-2005, 06:24 PM

saw these on the Animal Planet - didn't check out the website but the show said that these cross breeds get huge becuase they lack the growth inhibitor gene - but they are supposed to be more docile? Still, the darn things get huge, docile or not, they eat flesh and your bloods red.

pwd72s · 02-22-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveStromberg

Walk softly and carry a big stick.

Even with 00 buck, Steve, too small for a 600 lb. animal. A 250 pound human is easier to put down than a 125 lb. deer. Don't ask me how I know...Frankly, I believe this "liger" post to be BS. But a 600 pound animal? Rifle calibers...'30-'06 and up...no need to take chances. A chow dog? Hoot! Chow for a 600 lb. cat...if such a thing exists. Biggest Cougar I ever saw may have gone 125...

M.D. Holloway · 02-22-2005, 06:59 PM

These beasts are the real deal but as rare as they get. If this is running lose, the owner is out huge bucks.

Jeff Higgins · 02-22-2005, 07:03 PM

Steve, that's plenty of gun. Some of the guides I have hunted/fished with in big bear country prefer a 12 gauge to anything else when they are not hunting. Hunting and self defense are two different requirememts. Load one slug up the spout, fill the magazine almost full with 00 buck, and top it off with another slug. That way you have two slugs ready as he closes the gap, and three or four 00's if he gets through those. For God's sake, though, put a real stock on it and lose the silly handle on the pump. That thing could hurt some one.

pwd72s · 02-22-2005, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Steve, that's plenty of gun. Some of the guides I have hunted/fished with in big bear country prefer a 12 gauge to anything else when they are not hunting. Hunting and self defense are two different requirememts. Load one slug up the spout, fill the magazine almost full with 00 buck, and top it off with another slug. That way you have two slugs ready as he closes the gap, and three or four 00's if he gets through those. For God's sake, though, put a real stock on it and lose the silly handle on the pump. That thing could hurt some one.

Right, Jeff...or not, maybe? Let's start talking ft. lbs. of muzzle energy...at the very least, 30-06 energy for me when animal weight exceeds 500 pounds. But then, I've always subscribed to the big club theory...00 alternated with slug for self defense? Sounds real cute. Why is it the guides I know seem to prefer .338 Win. Mag as a carry gun caliber, and I've never seen any carrying a scattergun? And yes, bear country...