Be happy to send some wolves and mountain lions East. Betcha they'd love NYC, Cleveland and Detroit. Lions (called "panthers" or "painters" way back when) originally had the entire country as their range until Europeans arrived.

They pass through here once in awhile. They'll eat a few housecats and small yippy dogs and head on their way. They won't attack anything much bigger than a whitetail deer, so if you're confronted by one try to make yourself look bigger and fiercer. Whatever you do, don't run -- cougars chase prey, jump on its back, and bite through the spine at the base of the skull.

Of course, cougars have been see in Chicago's Loop, among other places. They're coming back, folks, and this time they mean it! But just think: they'll help control the exploding population of joggers, and that's enviromentally sound.

Coyotes are also filling in environmental niches mankind has made. They can and do mate with domestic dogs, creating a hybrid that can be quite nasty. Remember too that the in the US rabies is endemic in the wild.

And yet...there was the couple who told their 4 year old to "climb up on that bear's shoulders and we'll take your picture."



                                                 WARNING!
The critters in these woods and cities are NOT tame. Your remains will not be returned to your next of kin.