My sister-in-law saw a cougar last May on their farm just south of Ireton in NW IA. She saw it at 100-150 yds running through a cornfield. I will check with a brother-in-law who lives in the vicinity of the one reported shot.
Question for y’all….I found a big hairball on my deck after the thaw. I live in Eagan, and I know we have stray cats and cougars -but I have no idea what left this surprise.
It was BIG (I think) about 4″ long and about a 1″ diameter. It was hair and full of crushed bone and rodent teeth.
We have 2 indoor cats-but they dont cough up any hairballs. Was this just from a cat or something bigger?
What you found was an owl pellet. Probably from a rather large owl like a great horned owl. Anything that they cannot digest (hair, bones, teeth) forms a “pellet” and is coughed-up by the owl. Quite a find! (if you are interested in rodents and owls anyhow).