Image by digitalART2 via Flickr

Grizzlies, Black Bears, Wolves, Alligators all occupy a place in most people’s minds when it comes to fear of being eaten by something in the wild. The cougar however is absolutely the one to fear the most. Having said that I would move to Squamish in a heartbeat if I could.

A cougar living in a provincial park in Squamish has killed a dog and attacked another after conservation officers issued warnings of aggressive cougar behaviour last week.

The attacks happened on Friday night and Saturday morning on a hiking trail in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, said conservation officer Chris Doyle.

“There had been reports earlier in the day of a cougar approaching people in the park,” he said. “Friday night a hiker was going up the trail, about two-thirds of the way up. She had her dog on her leash, the cougar came out of a tree, grabbed the dog from her, took it up a tree and killed it and ate it.” The victim was a Miniature Pinscher.

A Minature Pinscher? Jeez that thing wouldn’t be safe from my dogs.

And while we are on the subject of animal attacks. What’s with you people who jog/trail run/mountain bike/ hike in bear and cougar areas while wearing your IPOD? Aside from the fact that if you need to blot out nature by cranking the tunes you might as well just run in the city you are really increasing the risk that you will not hear a predator. Bears in particular will make warning noises before attacks. So leave the earbuds at home. Seriously.

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Related: (Via) Bears and other predators invade U.S. neighborhoods.

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The perfect business card for this blog.

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I would probably eat these before I handed them all out.

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The Biggest Barbecue Cook-Off in the West

Hat tip: Kathy Shaidle

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Some new teams this year which is kinda cool considering last year was a little mediocre. Readers are welcome to submit their comments/reviews in the comments section should you attend this weekend.

The lineup this year includes:

Cowboy’s BBQ - Texas (NEW)
Camp 31 - Alabama(an all time favorite)
Bone Daddy’s - Fort Erie (will their ribs win my “toughest of the year” award again?)
Jack on the Bone - Ohio
Bibb’s BBQ - Florida
Kentucky Smokehouse - London (overrated)
Hogs Gone Wild - Daytona, Florida (new)
Boss Hogs - London (new)
Gator BBQ - Florida (interesting molasses heavy sauce)
Billy Bones - Fort Erie
Blazin’ BBQ - Pain Court, Ontario
Uncle Sam’s - New Mexico (some day these guys will step up and deliver)
Silver Bullet - Fort Erie
Carolina Rib King - South Carolina (Kick Ass!!)
Howling Coyote - Chicago, Illinois
Turtle Jacks - Burlington (you’re out of your league - go back to your village)

More info here

For last years commentary plus links to my three previous years of reviews click here

Some tips for those who are new:

1. Bring money.
2. Wear loose pants
3. Long lines don’t always mean good ribs - yes Kentucky Smokehouse I am looking at you.
4 To save time go directly to Carolina Rib Kings. Order ribs. Drive home . Eat.

Members of the religions whose God won’t allow them to eat pork: I feel for you. But hey more ribs for me!!! WIN-WIN!!

UPDATE: It was such a busy weekend that I only managed to squeeze in a quick trip down on Monday afternoon where I met with Kathy and her newly minted husband. Despite the altogether agreeable company and weather the ribs were a disappointment. Cowboy’s BBQ ribs tasted like they had been boiled in a pot and then dipped in sauce. No texture and no hint of smoke flavour. Ditto Howling Coyote. Cowboy’s BBQ did have decent brisket although their sauce was a little heavy on the molasses for me. I tried Howling Coyotes pulled pork and it was tasteless and needed a major dollop of sauce (their sauce is good) to make it edible.

The only savior was Carolina Rib Kings whose ribs didn’t disappoint and who had some awesome sausage as well. I would have tried more but the line ups were huge and I was tired from a major social function which involved eating a lot of bbq beef the night before.

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Damn straight!!

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Makes cod tongues sound downright boring.

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Texmex Ground Meat

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