Wild Animals In Metro America
Wild Animals In Metro America.
Every once in a while in cities across America we here about wild animals being discovered in our concrete jungles we call our home. Often when this happens, people are left scratching their heads asking 'how did it get here?'.
Here in Wisconsin, over ten or fifteen years ago a black bear was spotted in a business district in Fond Du Lac. Authorities had to take measures to control the situation and avoid the possibility of people getting hurt. This wasn't the only occurrence involving a black bear on the streets of a Wisconsin city.
Between 2005 and 2009 in West Allis Wisconsin, another black bear was discovered up a tree in a industrial area. With the help of a large police and fire response, and animal workers that were called in from the Milwaukee County Zoo, ' the bear was safely tranquilized and taken to a facility for examination before it was eventually taken way up north and set free in the wild. In this situation, people were asking 'did this one escape from the zoo?'. This was the first thing officials checked. It wasn't a bear from the zoo.
How did this wild bear get to a industrial area of West Allis Wisconsin? There is a thirty mile radius of solid human population from where this bear was discovered. Prior to it being discovered in West Allis, ' there were no sightings in any of the surrounding cities, towns and villages. None, zero, ' not one. It's like 'POOF', all of a sudden there's a bear in West Allis.
Nobody in surrounding area's complained about incidents with pets that were chained up in their yards, or any other similar complaints that would result from a great beast like this looking for food. Just 'POOF', it shows up in one area.
I have a theory on this, and I'm getting to it.
Wisconsin has also had sightings of large cats in cities. Some are confirmed by law enforcement, and others aren't.
One confirmed sighting involved a large cat known as a cougar. Sightings of large cats in Wisconsin cities are rare but not unusual. Officials need to act quickly to try and confirm sightings, but it doesn't always happen as easily as it's said.
A few important factors are involved here. The response time of authorities versus the ability of such a cat to leave a area quite quickly. Authorities arrive in vehicles that use roadways, ' while some big cats like these can cut through yards, fields and streams reaching speeds of at least 20 miles per hour. Face it, ' by the time authorities arrive at the scene of a sighting, the cat can be up to a mile away. Especially a cougar. That's why a car was named after this animal, ' they're fast.
Here's my theory. I think it's a good one. I've thought about events like this quite a bit, trying to explain the unexplained.
As strange as this is going to sound, I feel the railroads may be playing a roll in some of these events.
Think about this for a minute.
Most of us have been in a vehicle at a railroad crossing as a train goes by. We know that not all railroad cars always have there doors closed when the cars are empty. When they do haul things, some of the things they haul are cattle and other livestock.
When a train is parked during the night in a area known for the presence of large cats, a snooping cat can pick up the scent of the cattle or livestock that had been on that train earlier. The animals instincts will be to investigate the scent. This could cause a large cat or any other animal to climb around the equipment while the train is stationary. Believe me, for a cougar ' a leap from the ground to the deck of a train car is no problem at all.
If the train would start to move while the beast is still aboard, the animal my be confused as its neighborhood is starting to zip by at increasing speeds while it's standing still in the train car. This could cause a wild animal to be confused enough not to try and jump, but rather sit tight until the train stops moving again. This next stop could be the next county, the next city or another state entirely. Practically anywhere.
Now think about the black bear in West Allis again. Where was it discovered? It was discovered in a industrial area. What can you find in industrial area's? You can find trucks, trailers and 'railroads'.
If this is what's happening, it would explain why it just showed up without any sightings from surrounding area's (or leaving a trail of its dining habits).
I'll admit it, this is a explanation not everyone is willing to accept. I can tell you I shared this conversation with a park ranger back in June of 2009, ' he agreed it's possible, and that it's a explanation that fills some big blanks.
I guess this would have to be seen by human eyes, to see if this could be a factual explanation. But, as we said 'it's not impossible'.
As for the wild animals in the county I live in, ' I'll stick with the deer, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, cranes, turkeys, possums, and the three different color squirrels that are out there. I'll pass on the idea of greeting a large cat or bear. So far the only place I've seen big cats and bears, is in the zoo. I think I'll keep it that way.
Reporter Joseph Toth
Washington Micro Bank BBS
About the Author:
I was raised in Wisconsin as a hard working individual. As a teenager I worked on a farm until I became a adult. I have never worked less than two jobs at a time until I turned 44. I don't, ' (and never have) smoke, drink, drug or gamble. In 2005 I successfully gave up caffeine entirely and haven't had any since. My hobbies are automobiles, electronics, driving and photography. I have many friends, and I am well known in the tri-village area I live in. My adult careers that stayed with me long term are 'commercial driver' and 'loss prevention agent'. My dislikes in life include bullies, the civilian ownership of 'exotic' firearms, organized crime, pornography and people who beat females and children.