Video of bobcat in Manchester, New Hampshire set off media fear mongering as the local media incorrectly described Bobcat as a Puma.............Regardless of whether Bobcat or Puma, what Helen McGinnis of COUGAR REWILDING reveals is that no matter what Game Officials told the media, the Press went ahead and "cried wolf", causing unwarranted fear of wildlife amongst homeowners.............Crazy we are in the Rocky Mtns, Midwest and East Coast.................so much more education needed whether directed at rural or urban folks harboring so much hate, fear and distrust of our wild cousins

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Helen McGinnis <HelenMcGinnis@frontiernet.net>
Date: Tue, May 22, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: Video of bobcat in Manchester, New Hampshire sets off media fear mongering
To: Rick Meril <Rick.Meril@gmail.com>

Rick

I notified Mark Ellingwood of the NH Fish & Game Department.  He said:

We notified the source of the sighting that is was a bobcat when we first received the video last week.  Unfortunately, a municipal source identified it as a lion, and the rest is history.  We also contacted all media sources that reported it as a lion, including the Boston media, this past weekend; and continue to communicate with the media as reports filter out and/or in response to inquiries.

Puma(top)/bobcat(below)---hardly the same animal

                                      

http://boston.cbslocal.com/video/7302174-mountain-lion-spotted-in-manchester/

CLICK ABOVE LINK TO SEE THE FEARMONGERING MEDIA REPORT 

The very first clip from the video shows beyond doubt that the animal is a bobcat, wagging its short tail.  Bobcats in the East often do not have visible spots on their backs. 

What is disturbing is the fear and hype.  Everyone is afraid.  Cougars are NOT extremely dangerous.  Only three people have been killed in the US and Canada since 1998.

Helen