Last week's snowstorm showed another visitor to my neighborhood. My neighbor (1/8 mile away as Raven flies) called to tell me there were Cat tracks in the snow, and I don't mean housecat. Lead paw to trailing paw on a four print stride was more nearly three feet. The paw prints were 3.5" to 4" across. Cougars don't leave toe-pad prints like bobcats, and, being feline, no nail prints, either.

I knew Cat and Black Bear lived up in the BLM lands (about 1/4 mile to my north), but always thought they ranged further east near the river. To see a track in passing would be "interesting," but it is a bit unnerving to see them complete a circumference of my neighbors' house. Wow. It could be a regular visitor, and they just now noticed because of the snow.

More than likely, the 10 - 12 inches of wet snow that fell in the mountains that night drove Cat down to better conditions. These neighbors have lots of cottontails living under one of their sheds; Deer and Pronghorn are frequent visitors to their yard. If I were a big cat, I'd investigate that, too.

The track sighting has been reported to the state Fish Wildlife and Parks.