Yes, We have discussed Cougars before on this Board. My cousin has interacted with them on his place in East Texas. He found Tracks while on his Quad returning to his house. The cat had tracked him out to his deer feeders probably about a mile.Close call . El Puma is no joke so be alert as you go through
the woods.
Go Coogs beat the Birds !
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I am strongly in favor of bringing Shasta back to campus. The cage housing when I was on campus was unacceptable, but even if an environment was built to bring Shasta on campus during football season, and the zoo the rest, that would be cool. An appearance on the sideline would be awesome as well. To the animal lovers, and animal born in captivity, even if it is born to run hundreds of yards at a time, is not harmed, probably the opposite. It would be the most loved and cared for Cougar of all Cougars.
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It would seem that we may have quite a few posting here on Coogfans as well. Squirrels R Us… (?)
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I’m all for this as long as we let it run loose on campus on Saturday’s and the only safe haven is TDECU.
Also, if we extend Shasta’s freedom to weekdays, this might remove complaints of student loan forgiveness when you are navigating survival between classes.
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This a terrible idea… and I’m all for it. Food shouldn’t be a big expense, there’s like 2 million wild hogs to choose from in Texas
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I’m anti-zoo as well. But, this is different.
But, if UH can build a suitable environment, like LSU has for Mike the Tiger, and if they can properly staff it with professionals to care for it, and if they can find a suitable spot for it on campus where it’s not off in some forgotten corner, then I’m all for bringing Shasta to campus.
And, if they can’t do all of those things to the highest degree, then don’t bother.
I remember when Shasta last lived on campus and it was the saddest, most pathetic thing I’d ever seen. I remember feeling embarrassed when I saw it. So, do it right, do it big, and commit the resources to maintain it, or forget about it.
Go Coogs
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You know, you had me until you mentioned this. There are tons of articles detailing how the enclosures for those white tigers in particular are far from adequate.
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Enclosure with holographic cougar
Put in on top of the stadium so it can watch the games.
By the by we have a wild Cougar wandering through our neighborhood right now.
In addition to the pair of Bobcats who have lived here for many years.
So far no problems. But it has curtailed early evening walks, especially with one’s dog. Just not a good idea.
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The cage will be like the zoo or better and the Coog will be one that needs help and can’t go into the wild anyway as a rescue. It won’t be the old cage of the 70 and 80s at UH so that theory is irrelevant here about a depressing cage. They will do it right or not do it. No one Is crying over mike the tiger at Lsu. We always seem to be negative and if Arkansas wanted a live pig, yeah ok fine no negativity. It’s time we go back to a live Coog and it would be no diff than the zoo so if your against it then let’s shut down all zoos and rescue places.
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The original tiger gage at LSU back when I was there was just a building and cage about the same size as standard zoo cages of that time. Since then, they’ve improved his environment tremendously. If I recall correctly, the first Mike the Tiger died at 20 years old when I was in the 3rd grade which was 1955-56.
The only thing about the zoo is that there were 2 cougars when I was there, and I didn’t know which one was Shasta.
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Why not just build a wall around the entire campus. He/she can’t be any more aggressive than the squirrels.
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OK David, just stay off my lawn. 
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waste of money and space
this is what zoos are for (plus it’s good PR being at the zoo)
stick to your core competence
no one is selecting a school based on a LIVE mascot, no one is making donation decisions based on LIVE mascot, no one is making research decisions based on LIVE mascot
You give the human race way too much credit in their decision making.
if they are going to spend all this money on facilities, putting a few mil aside for a Habitat is a no brainer for more school spirit.
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