There is a facebook group called the Murphy Mouth (Link to the Murphy Mounth) that often has amusing and useful comments on it. This morn there was another report of a screaming women sound coming from around the Glen Stalcup/Martins Creek area. That just over the hill from us. This not the first time there has been a report of a sound like this in our area. To add to that, a couple weeks ago, we had a footprint on our deck that looked exactly like a bobcats. Naturally that video camera was not on at the time  so I cant prove what the critter was. :/  We always seem to have something running around on our deck such as raccoons, opossums, or an occasional human leaving incredible tasting gingersnap donuts. 

 

Now, many have said they seen mountain lions in the area. That may still be possible but much less likely. From some research I did both the bobcat and mountain lion can make that screaming women noise. The bobcat is still a sizable animal so it could be mistaken as it runs away. So now I am watching the trail camera a little closer to see if we can get lucky and spot this one.

 

Here is some information to help you decide if one has visited you.

Here is what the local variety looks like..

 

The foot print I saw looked just like this and had the right size.

Now the sound they are hearing probably is like this... 

 

When you listen to a mountain lion scream it is very similar.

 

The other odd thing is that we have had a bunch of cats visiting our carport and I do see them on the video. They always sniff the one wall so I know they have been decorating our place as they stop by : One was a large tabby with no tail. Another a black and white cat. The one we see the most is a large Maine Coon and he could easily look like a bobcat but still way smaller. 

 

So watch your pets when they are outside. I understand the bobcats have attitude unlike our bear buddies who simply want to each our bird feeders and wander off.

 

Lee mentioned in a discussion this weekend that some of the dead deer in the area have shown the “blue” tongue disease. This is worth paying attention to because this particular disease can wipe out our deer population. 

Its called EHD or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD. There are two variant of it and as you can read further in the article below midges are the carriers of the virus. Anyone working in the yard these past weeks have been covered with these midges. Now no panic for us humans.  It does not infect us and you can eat harvested deer who have contracted this disease.

 

Here is an explanation from Cornel University from recent reports from Ny down to NC as they have confirmed the outbreak this year.

”EHD is a viral disease of white-tailed deer that is transmitted by the biting midge in the family Culicoides. EHD outbreaks are most common in the late summer and early fall when the midges are abundant. In deer, the symptoms of EHD include fever; small hemorrhages or bruises in the mouth and nose; and swelling of the head, neck, tongue, and lips. A deer infected with EHD may appear lame or dehydrated. An infected deer may die within 1-3 days after being bitten by the midge or the disease may progress more slowly over weeks or months. Frequently, infected deer will seek out water sources and carcasses are often found near water. Often, a large number of dead or sick deer are found in a limited area. There is no treatment and no means of prevention for EHD. The dead deer do not serve as a source of infection for other animals because the virus is not long lived in dead animals.