I'd still take the bears over the cats.
Here in Alberta we have grizzly bears moving back onto the prairie as well. Additionally we have cougars on the prairie, the Cypress Hills in SE Alberta has seen a re-population of the cats in the last few years. In fact it has been noted that the Hills have the highest density of cougars in North America. Last count I saw was 35-40 cats. We have them roaming through the various river valleys that lead from the foothills out onto the prairie with the Oldman/Bow River watersheds giving them a near direct conduit from the mountains to the Cypress Hills area.
Additionally, in the late 1800's, the Medicine Hat area had one of the highest densities of grizzly bears in North America. Cougars and griz both are just returning to their original stomping grounds.
