This should be a matter of concern to some people visiting these rural areas. This applies to cyclists too. For further information, please go to NTO.pl
mmsilesia.pl/5093/2009/4/17/puma-z-opolskiego-wreszcie-sfilmowana-wideo?category=depesze judge for yourself if this is real. I'd say so.
Many deers have been slaughtered and sightings reported. They are crossing a broad area and are believed to be near the city of Raciborz now. Official reports say that 5 pumas were put into circulation as a result of Czech breeders who, for unknown reasons, released them.
They come pretty close to the forests that I cycled in and could easily be there now. It has made me think twice about venturing out alone although the probability of meeting one is significantly reduced if you avoid the forests where they can leap out.
Although the incidence of attacks on people is quite low, it tends to be around May time that they start attacking more and meat is meat.
Enjoy the video from the comfort of your sofa or armchair :)
The worrying thing is that they can hit a top speed of 35mph. I could maybe get up to that on my bike but not for so long. Still, people live out in rural areas and they must have it worse, esp when they walk their dogs in those forests.
Do Catholics believe in divine intervention? ;) ;)
Ha , don,t scare me , my Tiger would see off any puny puma....Tiger , by the way is my very big tomcat , he is hard as nails , well when he is not having a cuddle...
They were planted here according to the official story. Tiger is Dariusz Michalczewski and even he'd be KO'd by a blow from a puma. I can wrestle big humans at 103kgs but these cats are sharper and unrelenting. Unlike a bear, you have to confront a puma unless you have an obvious means of escape. With a bear, you back away slowly but don't run (hard to resist that temptation tho). Ask SeanBM, I think he came close to a bear in the mountains here. I guess he mistyped it and meant beer ;) ;)
I'm gonna venture out on Monday and have a look around. Some report panther sightings too. That kinda moves me to the idea that it's a hoax. Some say black, some say beige. There are areas where you just feel that sth is lurking. I felt uneasy before I became aware of the puma stories. I was out once but wasn't wearing my glasses as it was just a quick jaunt out. Still, I saw something big in the distance but couldn't make it out. I wish I had had my glasses then.
The fields and forests around here are perfect hunting grounds for them, wildrover. Without a concrete home, they will roam more freely and pick up meat along the way. They are likely to attack cyclists as moving prey will trigger their hunting instincts.
They are likely to attack cyclists as moving prey will trigger their hunting instincts.
Flippin eck..! As if aggressive dogs were not bad enough when you are on a bycycle...? If the puma,s come round my way i shall stick to riding the Harley , hopefully they can,t run at 100 mph..?
I'd feel much more comfortable with a big Rhodesian Ridgeback on my side :) The big cats soon back down then. Remind me where Ostrowice is, which part of Poland? You may have them there but I doubt it.
Well, I'd love to see you try ;) ;) The point is that you can't bargain with them and you can only hope to scare them off by making yourself bigger. Some even suggest running at the puma. Great armchair advice. Remind me to ignore it when I encounter one.
Whatever way you look at it, they outstrip you. Try climbing a tree, LOL. Run at it and feel like a fool as it stands its ground and you dig your own grave. Wave your hands like a loony and wait for it to smack you for a KO. They even suggest you should look at its paws :) Me o my, the bravery of being out of range appears again.
Pawian, where is the best place to get local information on this? For example, I just wanna know if there have been any warnings. I've tried the official gmina sites but they don't help.
I usually cycle out to places like Sierakowice and Rachowice and I'd like to know if locals have reported any sightings. Any help would be appreciated.
one of them was sighted from very short distant by a hunter but they don't mean to shoot it dead (shoot it asleep instead) - the animal rushed to escape - pumas are not really aggressive toward humans (at least grown-up individuals) except in some circumstances - which are not the case here ( with young, older and weak, in dire state - they would chance anything carrying meat then). Well they are gonna attack also when cornered so the hunter's association does not give many hints about sightings to the media to avoid people following the animals)
