There are, from time to time, eyewitness accounts from hunters or hikers who claim to have seen the cat. In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Yet, except for Florida, which has about 100 of them "Florida panthers"), no eastern state has a verifiable population of these large 100- to 200-pound cats that were extirpated 100 years ago. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. Nevertheless, I put up a MOULTRIE game camera -- a brand that I've had tremendous satisfaction with -- at the carcass, hoping that scavengers would visit. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. At one time mountain lions, or more properly puma (Puma concolor), enjoyed the widest geographic range of any New World mammal, and were found throughout all of the contiguous United States. If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. All rights reserved (About Us). Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in North America; no one has ever captured or killed a black Mountain Lion. Hunters I've spoken with said they've been told you can't kill a puma, which they felt was ironic since the same official told them pumas don't exist in Pa. Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. Travis Lau, a spokesperson for the Game Commission, said the state has a "never say never" approach when it comes to mountain lions and acknowledges that Western cats could be moving east. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Most of the people I've spoken with live in this belt, but biologists friends I've spoken with have told me of their own reports, first-hand, from hunters in the Poconos who saw pumas, too. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their. That's true. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Michelle LaRue, executive director of the Cougar Network and a research ecologist at the University of Minnesota, will discuss the eastern expansion of cougars from their core range in the western U.S. at 7 p.m. in Moravian College's Haupert Union Building, Bethlehem. Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. Me? For information on predator tracks, check out this guide: https://www.wildliferemoval.com/animal-track-identification-guide/, Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. But more and more people in Pennsylvania, from the Alleghenies to the Poconos to rolling farmlands in York County, claim they are seeing the big cats here, even though the state's "last" native lion, also known as a cougar or puma, was shot and killed in Berks County in 1871 and the feds have declared the Eastern subspecies extinct. The other site, The Cougar Network, is still active, and is reporting the cats expanding range from the West, but offers little about the phenomenon of Pennsylvania cats. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax, More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. Armand Martinelli isn't only the mayor of East Stroudsburg, he's also a hunter who is connected with plenty of people in the area. I don't know if a Game Commission authority has actually said this or not, but people I've spoken to have reported this. I Googled "Pocono mountain lion" and there it was the same photo, except the caption claimed that it was taken in Oklahoma, not Pennsylvania, and various posted comments asserted that the photo was manipulated. Same story as 'black panthers' across the country, because of course there, scientifically, can be no such thing. RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. I have three observations here: 1. Periodically, via Google searches, I receive reports from people who believe they had seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania, or in other mid-Atlantic states. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. Most of my original Questions of the Month for the last several Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. These cubs are born blind and helpless. Where they always here as a relic population? Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. One of these days, though, I'll get one that won't be, and I hope that will be soon. Although in captivity, they can live much longer. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? The state of Texas is home to many mountain lion populations, but the numbers are incredibly hard to find. I'm wondering, then, if the complete dismissal of sightings of Eastern pumas (other than the acknowledgement of released or escaped pets) isn't motivated by economics. He saw a big cat. ? Local outlets carried reports of cougar encounters at least into the 1910s. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. Find cabins in the Poconos, PA near places like Bushkill Falls, Camelback Mountain Resort, and more. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' They regularly join the camp of those angrily claiming the commission has introduced the big cats back into Pennsylvania as a control measure against the state's huge deer population. It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? Perhaps my Fed Ex driver was simply recalling a rural legend, but he said it was an employee that he knew, and it was a story he heard first-hand. What the Lenape Indians never did, the European colonists and their descendants did swiftly eradicate the wolf and cougars viewed as a menace to their families and livestock. Bo Ottman is a landscaper in Connecticut who founded an . Again, I've been told that some Game Commission personnel have admitted that pumas may exist in Pennsylvania, but they rationalize this by saying that the pumas are not breeding and they are not from original wild stock. Here's a glimpse at what long-gone Pocono beasts the region's very first wave of residents may have seen, and the wild things that followed up to as late as the early 20th century. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Mountain lions have an interesting life cycle that consists of a few different characteristics. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. Some experts predict that this wide-ranging predator, which can travel 600 miles in search of a territory, will surely reach our eastern states sometime in the next few decades. Editor's note: The Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent have collaborated for a series of stories called Mountain Beasts: Pocono cryptids, legends and lore. Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) NPS.gov Park Home Learn About the Park Nature Animals Mammals Mountain Lion Mountain Lion Last updated: May 4, 2018 Was this page helpful? There is a big community of mountain lion enthusiasts across the Northeast convinced that the animals still exist in breeding populations. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! "Given the period of time that has passed without verification of even a single eastern puma, the service concludes that the last remaining members of this subspecies perished decades ago," the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a Federal Register notice. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. I asked our Game officials about evidence, and they cite no road kills. The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. Well, right behind our property lies a mountain ridge, one of several that makes a continuous forest that extends, with little interruption, for scores of miles in three directions. Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. But Dave "Gadget" Jones, a retired wildlife conservation officer from Lackawanna County, claims he's seen a white bigfoot and a UFO in Pennsylvania, so who knows? By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. They are there to help us. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Noted Wayne County historian Phineas Goodrich recorded in his 1880 book on local history that the common gray wolf was much more common in this area than the cougar. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. I have not spoken with a Game Commission officer personally, so I don't know whether anyone killing a puma in Pennsylvania could do so without legal repercussions. Check out our online field guide to read more in this series. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. Did they migrate south from Canada? Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Only when I reviewed the images on my laptop did I discover that I had a mountain lion! This animal was undoubtedly a bobcat. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. The coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? It's sort of like big foot, some people say they've seen him.". When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned. How, Who, and Why? Those special two were across a river just outside Glacier National Park in Montana, and consisted of a mother and two cubs (Mary saw both cubs, I only saw one, and we did so separately, as we were driving two vehicles). The Pocono Mountains are . I've seen so many examples of these distortions, exaggerations and lies over the last couple of years that I've grown very dubious about anything I see on a computer. On the second night, a mountain lion passed by, apparently drawn by the smell but put off by the stench, as the cat did not visit the kill. All rights reserved. What is the Kiboko backpack? No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. He also published a follow-up on Oct. 15 with the same mountain lion-deer hoax photo, as well as personal stories from several local residents who claim they've seen mountain lions in the Poconos. Here's more about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. None of these sightings has been authenticated, and many of them, including a recent, alleged mountain lion picked up on a surveillance camera in Lackawanna County, turned out to be bobcats. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native . In 2011, a confirmed mountain lion was killed by a vehicle in Connecticut and which had been determined that it had wandered east from the Mid-West. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. As you can see from the above images it is very difficult to confuse the two if you have a good view. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. Bushkill Falls Trail. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. See also: Who knows? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Although a large proportion of the Lenape Nation was dispersed far from their ancestral homelands in the 18th century, colonial settlers and their descendants struggled to live in this region with wolves and cougars inhabiting the forests. With that hope in mind, I have, for years, asked outdoors people if they ever heard of a mountain lion, or puma, in their area -- with my questioning limited to people in my home state of Pennsylvania. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. I'm thinking of the solution often suggested for pesky endangered species out west, namely wolves and grizzly bears. ? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. The 2,400-square-mile area has long been a popular outdoor recreation area boasting hunting, fishing, skiing, and more. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. I've seen scores of leopards in the grasslands and deserts of East Africa and I've never seen, nor spoke with anyone, who has seen a black leopard there. It was decided that this shouldn't influence the decision and, in fact, an infusion of new genes produces a hybrid vigor, lessening the chance of in-breeding. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. Florida is the only state on the east coast with a breeding population of mountain lions. One sighting I give complete belief in was from a friend who told me a puma crossed right in front of their vehicle, and paused on the berm for a few seconds, at a distant of ten yards or less.
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