The MN DNR says NOT!

[stetto]

For well over a decade we've heard "accounts" by hunters and farmers of sightings here in the woods all over the state. The bean counters that the state DNR has become have almost violently denied their existance at all, and only recently said "Well if there ARE any in the state, they're loners and not establishing here..."

http://news.yahoo.com/study-cougars-again-spreading-across-midwest-073228950.html

I have friends who have sighted breeding pairs not 50 miles from me. Two winters ago I found cat tracks in the snow out in the grove that were too big for bobcat, but I assumed lynx (because they're bigger than bobcats), now I'm not sure...

Some nature idiot introduced wild turkeys into the area about 30 years ago, and they've reached a saturation point already, competing with the deer for forage and causing damage to the food chain that is bringing all manner of predators here that couldn't have sustained themselves before. That would be your benevolent tree-hugging clueless boobs in action.

They recently took the Timber Wolves off the endangered list here, and are actually allowing a hunt this year. Cougars are next...

[balsum fractus]

..that was one of George's pet peeves too......quit meddlin' with nature - it will find its own balance!

[Onepoint]

Yeah, speaking of which many times he would rant about the environmentalists stopping logging and what would happen.  No doubt you guys have heard about the High park fire in CO, which is west of Ft Collins, its uncontrollable because of all the timber fall and lack of logging and fire roads to areas it was in.  I hope these neo hippies like their charred hills now.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2904/