Hi all, I am new to SILO. Just getting into camping and fishing.

Wanted to ask a question....has anyone ever seen bobcats in W Belleville? I was headed W on Main out of Belleville and hit, what I think, was a Bobcat. I know it was not a house cat, it was the size of a Collie and very sturdy. He hit my drivers side windshield then rolled into the turn lane, so I was able to see him. He was brownish/gray with rounded ears, unsure of the tail. Very muscular and weighing at least 50 pounds. Not sure how this happened, but one of his front legs became detached and wedged in my radiator. The damge to the radiator and condensor totaled over $800. I did go look for him, but never managed to locate him. If not a bobcat, then what. And no, it was not a dog.

That happened last month, 2 days ago I hit a turkey. I was minding my own business, heading Morel hunting on Rt 3 just outside of Hartford when this turkey flew into my drivers side windshield (not sure how I still have that window) and rolled over the top onto the roof. All would have been fine had I not had my moon roof open. He became semi lodged in the thing, upside down. He was trying to fly, but obviously in the position he was in that was not going to be doable. He had his head in my car, I think he was telling me off in turkey cause he was screaming like all get out. He was able to dislodge himself when I jerked my car and he bounced to the opposite side of Rt 3 and then flew off. Amazingly, there was no damage to my car from this incident. The guy who was driving next to me when this happened pulled over in front of me and was laughing, after he knew all was fine. He said he could see the turkey kicking in the air and trying to flap its wings to fly off.

Welcome!

Funny story bout the turkey ...lucky you didn't get hurt...

Bobcats are around here( Not sure about the size of a collie though)..one was killed by a car in Fairview on 64 a few years ago... I have not seen Bobcats in person here(yet)- West Belleville ,but have seen their tracks. Seen several in neighboring counties.

flatlander has some great trail cam pics of a Bobcat Here: http://www.siloutdoors.com/showthread.php?t=10775

Can I have that leg??:confused:

I was W on Main, in front of the graveyard. I had to really pull to remove his leg from the area it got stuck. I drive a PT Cruiser and it sits lower with the ground Fx, his leg somehow flipped under the front bumper and went, paw first up into the radiator. I am guessing Collie size. He would have easily came to my knees and I am not tall. Of course, I was quite shaken and not in the most coherent state of mind, not that I ever am! Looking at Flat's pics, I don't think my cat was quite so furry. His fur seemed much shorter and I didi see the fur on the leg after I wrested it from the radiator. Maybe not a Bobbie.

Ya, I laugh about the turkey know. Had the moon roof been 1/8 of an inch or so wider, he'd have been in the front seat and I'd have jumped onto 3. I was scared he'd scratch me as his head was maybe an inch or 2 from my face and he was squirming around. My Grandmother told me it could have been worse. He could have had his butt wedged in the roof, and left me some surprises!!

The leg was left on the side of Main. Not sure why, everyone said I should have kept it.

This post is useless with out that leg.. You could say.. It does not have a "leg" to stand on..:D

I'm sorry Scooby. I was only kidding. We have a joke going on this thread about if not having a pic then the post is worthless. I hope I didn't offend you. Being new you might not have known this. Welcome to SILO.:)

Way to go FUN!

Scared off the noob

Way to go FUN!

Scared off the noob
I fear you may be correct..:o:( .. Scoob.. Scooby.. Do come back..:(:o:o

I got the sarcasm, Gus. Like I said, everyone said I should have kept the leg. But my only 'trophy' was some blood and fur near the bumper.

I don't know how much of a "trophy" it would have made but it sure would have been useful in identifying the animal you hit. Feline and canine claws are different. Though foxes do have a similar claw to a feline.

Are you sure it didn't look like this?...It is widely known in these parts that cougars do exist.LOL.......as does the great sasquatch...LOLL:D Welcome aboard

http://www.siloutdoors.com/imagehosting/51049d39e9db84e6.jpg

interesting stories there SG, welcome to SILO. You are going to love it here

Don't rule out the beast being a Chupacabra. :confused:

Welcome to SILO Scooby G.

Its gets real insteresting on around here when one states they have a Cougar Siting without any evidence. :cool:

ScoobyGirl, it sounds like you need to get an armored vehicle. Fun is right about wanting to look at that paw. He could probably tell you what it came from.

I'd also like to welcome you to SILO.

Ya, in hindsight, I should have kept the leg. I just wanted to nurse more poor car home, she was spitting radiator fluid. I know it was not a dog, its face was palstered less than a foot from mine until it rolled into the turn lane. I did not guess cougar, someone said they thought it sounded more like a cougar than a bobcat. But after seeing the pics, I am not so ceritanit was a bob, the leg was longer. In estimate to my own own, it was well past my elbow. It was definetely feline in nature, feline what is where my question lies. I am slow to say cougar, I think that dude would have done more than $800+ worth of damage. I do know I hit a turkey.

I enjoy the ribbing, it seems qute fun on here. Thank you everyone for the introductions.

If you still have the dried blood and some fur sample you can have then analyzed to find out what it was. LOL
Glad you weren't hurt.
Welcome

It's not likely to be a cougar, though possible. There have been numerous sightings of bobcats not too far from here though. I was surprised to hear of a big cat attacking your car in Belleville.:eek: I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though since there is a lot of wildlife in this area.

Life, you are correct, I need an armored vehicle, maybe a nice tank would work well. My friends laugh and joke that critters see the flames on my PT and decide they must do battle with her. I have hit, coyotes (2), a wolf, bumped back end of a cow (was near Shawnee National), 2 turkeys to date. Ran over several fish lying on the River Road last summer, ya it was closed off but my sense of finding cool things to photograph overrode my less then common sense. I have lost count of the types and numbers of birds. Once had several geese attack and beat it with the bills, I hink thye were trying to get to my pet bird who was sitting in the car on the passenger seat. I am seriously amazed I still have an intact and not cracked windshield.

As for the blood and fur still being on the PT, it has been washed (the incident happened March 2). The body shop was kind enough to do so for me.

You need to carry a cheap digital camera in your car if you don't want to mess with the remains. Southern Illinois is just starting to get armadillos and some have posted the easiest photos of them. Road Arma's.

I have seen coyote running across west main in that exact area. came from the north side of the street between the cemetery and juvie hall.

Welcome Scooby and thanks for my chuckle of the day!!

I live in the millstadt area, and on two different occassions while taking my
son to school, I have seen a bobcat run across the road on 158.

I have also seen a dead armadillo on the side of 158 as well.

Busy place that 158....