# Mountain lion near where I live (Boston area)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-near-where-i-live-boston-area/273977 "2004-11-10T04:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-near-where-i-live-boston-area/273977/1 "2004-11-10T04:19:09Z")
There have been two reports in the last week of a mountain lion in the Boston suburbs not far from where I live: [http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105~4746~2523713,00.html](http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105~4746~2523713,00.html) (popup mad site, sorry about that) I don’t know what to make of this…it seems extremely unlikely to me but I have a young son and have to admit I am concerned. If it turns out to be true it would pretty much have to be someone’s escaped exotic pet. There isn’t a breeding population of cougars anywhere near this area. I love how the article tries to connect someone’s missing pet kitty-cat with the alleged cougar…pet cats don’t go missing every day? ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-near-where-i-live-boston-area/273977/2 "2004-11-10T04:48:34Z")
I’ve got a couple people covering it for the paper and have gotten reports from several sources and know someone who lives on the street where it was seen. They had a huge sign up today warning people about it. Fox TV was also out there. (Which we ALL know means it MUST be true…) I’ll let you know if I find anything more out tomorrow. Geez, I didn’t realize we lived so close! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-near-where-i-live-boston-area/273977/3 "2004-11-10T05:21:28Z")
Howyadoin, There’s been numerous “big cat” sightings in the Beverly area as well, going back over a year… > **[Cougar migration generates Mass. interest](http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/03/22/cougar_migration_generates_mass_interest/)** > > Reading the vivid frontline accounts of the slow and natural mountain lion invasion that began in Boulder, Colo., in the 1980s in David Baron's "The Beast in the Garden," it's easy to visualize a big tawny cougar snarling at you on your own back... -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountain-lion-near-where-i-live-boston-area/273977/4 "2004-11-11T03:27:14Z")
I hadn’t heard about the Beverly sightings until recently. There is another article about the Acton one here: [http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=82705](http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=82705) I like the way the local police chief is backing up his guys. I guess he has to believe them, or at least seem to in public. The mystery animal supposedly passed within ten feet of the officers, but then they were there at 5 am which is well before sunrise these days so the lighting can’t have been too good. **Salem** I just sent you an email.