Cougars

Should I write of confidant woman who are judged by society while men are able to do as they please, or cats...? 💃

I think I should stick to cats this morning. 😾🙀

This gives me a segue of sorts to talk about our recent move.

I have been wanting to post about this exciting development, but wasn't sure how to start.

As usual the free write has shown me the way.

We did it! We made our tree change.

Just before Christmas @azurejasper and I moved our family from the city to a village just outside of Sydney.

In the mountains.

Yes Australia does have some mountains.

Most of our mountains form one particularly long ridge. It runs up along the East Coast and is called The great dividing range.

Well... I am home on the range now!

What has that got to do with big cats girl?

Well let me tell you...
I am going to write about our Mountain Lions.

Seriously, I am.

Australia doesn't actually have big cats girl!

No. We don't.
Despite our reputation as a dangerous country we are a land of cute marsupials.

But...

The area where I live is also said to be home to some (or at least 1) huge feral cat.

There have been many sightings. It has become something of a legend, like the yeti or yowi.

Some say it's an over sized feral domestic cat, some say a panther, or Mountain Lion, or Jaguar or perhaps it's a cougar.

There is even speculation of a marsupial cat...
I think we'll put that one in the category with drop bears, but you never know...

As birds of prey and snakes are really the only predators, that leaves an abundance of unexpecting marsupial and birds for it to feed on, so we definitely have the environment for such creatures to thrive.

Feral cats and dogs are a reality here unfortunately, so the idea of a giant cougar roaming the mountain ranges is a feasible notion.

The big cats in question are believed to have been released from a circus.

We used to have many animal circuses.

I'd like to say they are a thing of the past but sadly, they are not. In Australia some local councils have banned them, but only one state has completely banned the use of wild animals in shows. They set up their tent in the neighbouring town just across the boarder.

We had many travelling circuses, I went to quite a few as a kid, I thought nothing of it. Attitudes have changed thankfully, but behaviour and business takes time to catch up, so some of these still exist and still attract a crowd, but the popular trend is towards human performances such as Cirque du Soleil.

The old circuses would train big cats and elephants and ponies and tour with them, along with the usual carnival folk. I even saw dancing bears once. There are still a few with lion's and elephants but they are relicd and although they still attract a crowd, there is growing objection to travelling elephants, big cats and primates.
...I digress...

Back to my back yard.

This morning the fog on the gully behind our property hangs low. We have one neighbour behind our place then usually as far as the eye can see we have dense national park. Yes we call it bush. I hesitate to write bush (I'm looking at you America, giggling at the back of the classroom)

BUSH!

You are going to have to get used to the term. I can't call it woods or forest, Australia has bush land. This girl has gone bush.

Some where in this wild untamed bush there are enormous predatory cats.

Yes I am talking untamed bush and cougars on the loose.

The trees that are usually visible from my back door are shrouded in cloud cover this morning, there are some lovely walking tracks through this land. Stumbling upon a brown snake or being swooped by a feisty bird is more likely, but I can't help wondering if there is a giant cat stalking just outside, hidden in the bushes.

All of the white area is low fog, mountain clouds concealing the trees, and perhaps big cats too.

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I am looking forward to telling you more about our land and lives. We have moved to improve our health and lifestyle and to be nearer to my mother who has been helping me care for my family, as I have been sick.

I have been inspired by many of you to take charge of my health and regain my life.

Please continue to follow and support me as I begin to restore hope and health.

Photo source.
theherald.com.au/story/4578820/the-big-black-cats-that-roam-our-bush-poll-photos

PS. I am aware that my cat is black and a Cougar is not. Let's call it artistic licence shall we? Thank you.