Felid madness

The North Side cougar was all over the local and national news yesterday. Officials are uncertain as to whether the big cat was the same one that was seen in Wilmette and North Chicago (I, for one, think it is the same one). The mayor and police superintendent defended the police officers' shooting of the cornered cat. It was indeed a sad end, but I ultimately have to agree on this one. They had no choice. Having a cougar running around a crowded city is terrifying--the cougar was easily leaping 6-foot fences according to reports. And a police officer who thinks the cougar is charging or about to charge has to take action. This is an animal that can chase down a Leporid after all. Whether a tranquilizer was available is another question.