Puma sighted in San Pedro Town
Thursday, December 19th, 2013 There is much concern amongst local residents on Ambergris Caye following reports that a puma was sighted on the morning of Thursday December 19th. So far, the Belize Forestry Department has been combing the area and is also warning residents to be extra vigilant.
According to an eye witness report, sometime around 7:30 AM he sighted the tawny cat also referred to as a cougar (Puma concolor) near the San Telmo Area around Caribbean Villas. The wild cat was seen walking across the street in a dense area on Coconut Drive in San Pedro Town. He immediately reported the incident to local police, who contacted the Belize Forestry Department. According to Pantera Expert Bart Harmsen, pumas are usually "extremely slippery" and are known to move around very quickly and unnoticed. "What we know is that people have seen the wild cat and there are reports of rabbits and chickens gone missing," said Harmsen as he explained to authorities what has been established so far. Residents in the area are also reporting that they have been noticing less raccoons in the area recently. "The only way to catch this puma is if we know where it is," he added. So far, only tracks were noticed in the early part of the day, but due to the heavy downpour of rain, those tracks were washed away, making it difficult to further investigate the sighting.
Click Here to read the rest of the article and see photos in the San Pedro Sun_____________________________________________________________________
Hunt Continues for Wild Puma in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
December 20, 2013 - 18:10In our little town word about something exciting spreads faster than wildfire and that's exactly what happened on Thursday, December 19, 2013, as the news that a wildcat was seen crossing the street and running into the bushes in the south side of town quickly got residents panicking. Tonight, the Belize Forestry Department urges residents to be vigilant of such a wild animal.
Mountain lions are also called cougars, panthers, catamounts, and in Belize pumas and that is what a resident spotted crossing the street on Coconut Drive early this morning. Residents in the area claim that their live stock such as chickens and rabbits have become prey for the mighty cougar. Local authorities including the San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Police Department were informed about the situation and personnel from the Belize Forestry Department and Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic came to the island to assist in capturing the wildcat.
Click Here to read the rest of the article and see photos in Ambergris Today