Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 18, 2005 Cougar is suspect in 4-H ram’s demise By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — Matthew Boren was chopping wood Saturday afternoon when a neighbor called to tell his family that vultures were circling above their sheep pasture. When Boren, 48, reached the 20-acre pasture at the corner of Bigham Brown and Alta Vista roads, he found a familiar sight. One of his daughter’s prize 4-H sheep was lying dead — almost completely devoured. All that remained was its head and backbone, Boren said. "It appears that a more powerful animal than a coyote killed the animal," Boren said. Suspecting a cougar kill, he called the Eagle Point police and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, who sent a wildlife control officer to the scene to investigate. This was the second sheep Boren says he’s lost to a predator in the past three days. On Thursday he found a 90-pound ram dead alongside the open-air barn that houses his sheep. The ram had not been eaten. Boren believes the presence of a male llama in the pasture may have scared the cougar away. Advertisement Boren, who teaches at Eagle Point High School and has been raising sheep for 40 years, said that he lost two sheep 10 years ago, but never thought a cougar to be responsible. Saturday’s incident was particularly hard for his family to bear. Boren’s daughter, Janna, had raised the 140- pound ram with an intent to sell him. Boren estimates the ram would’ve commanded at least $450. "It was pretty discouraging for us," he said. "He was an awesome piece of livestock." Boren says he fears that Eagle Point may have a cougar problem. He said a neighbor in the 1000 block of Reese Creek Road told him that one of his calves was shredded by a cougar earlier this summer. The calf barely survived the attack, which left it with deep claw marks down its side, Boren said. It’s been an active summer for cougar sightings in the Rogue Valley. In July, a cougar was credited for the deaths of dogs and livestock in Gold Hill. Cougars also were reported within the Ashland and Medford city limits in August. Boren is concerned that he will lose more livestock if the problem isn’t addressed. "In an open-air barn," he said. "They’re sitting ducks." Boren planned to leave the carcass out Saturday night, in case the cougar returns. He will be waiting for it with a rifle and a search light, he said. "I told the police don’t be surprised if you hear a shot tonight," Boren said. "They told me to do whatever I had to do." Reach reporting intern Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail Cougar is suspect in 4-H ram�s demise ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s