Check out our online field guide to read more in this series. Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. However, if you've seen a mountain lion, or other mystery creature, or evidence of either, in Pennsylvania, contact outdoor writer Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.). In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. . He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. "They're getting a lot of that out west. Mountain lions have an interesting life cycle that consists of a few different characteristics. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. In the area around the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia there are mountains and deep caves that contain some of the coal mines that were a major part of the state's industry in the early part of the 19 th century. There had been 17 other mastodon finds in Pennsylvania up to 1968, but all were fragmentary. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! That summer, a team from the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg excavated the nearly complete skeleton of the ancient elephant, the first of its kind found in the Commonwealth. What is the Kiboko backpack? Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. A few could, perhaps, be mistaken idenity. One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. Hunting is legal in the state, but it is heavily controlled and restricted. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. 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. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Everyone is familiar with albinism, the absence of pigmentation that results in a white, essentially pigment free animal, defined by pink skin and pink eyes. 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. 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 to the East. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? 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? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. And yes, there are people in Pennsylvania who say they exist here. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? In Tennessee, the most likely places you would find them would be in the forest. 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. Others would like to see some scientific proof. a high priority. Fish and Wildlife Service. And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. Conversely, an outdoor writer I know told me that when Pa. enacted a menagerie permit law years ago, 'a lot of mountain lions suddenly died,' as the owners of these cats, rather than going through the paperwork, simply released their pumas and claimed that they had died. The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. "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. Ramapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization, Bigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. 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. People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. Because the neck bothered me, I decided to do some Photoshop on the puma in the lower left, moving his head higher up and changing the image to a contrasty black and white - to give a silhouette for comparision. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. 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? (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". All rights reserved. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not He's sitting in a plastic doghouse, paws crossed, amber eyes locked on the two men ticking him off by their mere presence out beyond the fence. It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Most of the native mountain lions live in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but humans rarely ever see them due to their secretive nature. Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? The Poconos is a mountain area in northeastern Pennsylvania.It is 2,400 square miles of wooded mountains and valleys full of beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and wildlife. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). 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. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. The Pocono Mountains are . Let me explain this. years are available through this link. 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. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. ? Have some feedback for us? These cubs are born blind and helpless. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? In August, Amy Walters said her 12-year-old son was spooked by a mountain lion in Forest County in northwest Pennsylvania while riding his dirt bike. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. The name Pocono is derived from the . An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. I wanted to know if they're here, so I called some people I trust and asked them one simple question: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? Bo Ottman is a landscaper in Connecticut who founded an . More common critters co-existed with early Native Americans in the Poconos, including two species long since removed: the wolf and mountain lion (also known colloquially as panthers and cougars). Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. However, many of my reports were at distances that people knew, and as you look at the images of the puma there really is a big difference in color and shape between a puma and a house cat. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. 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. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. I hope no one ever shoots a puma to prove their existence here, but I hope someone gets a great photo, of the cat, of a road-kill, of tracks, and that I see it. There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but we're probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. Bushkill Falls Trail. The next day, another friend, who works for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, called me to ask if I had seen the photo of a Pocono mountain lion with a deer in its jaws. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. The State Museum of Pennsylvania, in Harrisburg, displays a taxidermy mount of a mountain lion in glass case, with the notation, "This lion, found near Hawk Mountain in Berks County around 1871, is the last native mountain lion known to have been shot in Pennsylvania.". With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? I believe them. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. 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. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? Can so many people be wrong? It's sort of like big foot, some people say they've seen him.". Imagination? "While confirmed cougar sightings have occurred recently in the wild in the East, there is currently no scientific or physical evidence documenting the continued existence of a population of wild eastern cougars," according to the U.S. For example, one man I interviewed said he saw a 'black' puma, and this should disqualify his sighting as a black puma has never been recorded. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? The question is just like in the story of the boy who cried wolf) if that day ever arrives, how will we believe those first, true sightings after so many hoaxes have been perpetrated on the public? Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. He said he'd never forget the sighting, but it was only when he saw another, a few months ago, in daylight, from his cabin, that he decided it was time to tell someone. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. "We've been here 45 years and I've probably been told by people at least 100 times that they've seen a cougar or mountain lion," said owner Vince Hall. 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 lions were once widespread across North America, but their range shrunk dramatically as they were pursued through unregulated hunting and by farmers aiming to protect their livestock, and moved off the landscape by habitat fragmentation. What equipment do we take in the field? You be the judge. It has long been popular with honeymooners, but today the Poconos are a popular destination for families, skiers, adventure seekers, NASCAR fans, and those from urban areas around New England, New York City, Philadelphia . Still, these resilient animals reside in secluded areas across the United States, with current data suggesting they may even be returning to their historical regions! The earliest wave arrived at the end of the last Ice Age; the last wave is the Lenape or Delaware Tribe, which made contact with colonial settlers in the 1600s. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. 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 that cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. 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 . "They preyed upon the caribou, and probably the mastodon," Leslie wrote of these large animals flourishing on the grasses and cold-climate flora that sprouted following the glacier's retreat. It will happen eventually. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. This one streaked across the road in the early evening, and fortunately, it stopped when it climbed a hill on the other side where I had another view from my side of the truck. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a great litter of boulders, rocks, clay and lakes covering today's landscape. It was definitely a mountain lion, and it had a big buck, white-tailed deer in its jaws. At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! Obviously, other pumas must be about, and the series of ridges extending north and east and west from my location could all be included as critical habitat as well. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. A tiny population of Florida cougars persists in the southeastern corner of the United States. Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might Imagine my surprise. Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled, 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. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. Best hike for seeing waterfalls. The bobcat wouldn't survive. Additionally, California banned the hunting of cougars back in 1972, encouraging population growth. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. It wasn't, and I assumed it was a road-kill. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? 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. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Ironically, I almost deleted the image, as on the small camera LCD monitor the cat was small and I thought that it was just another deer that moved along the stream. Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. More conclusive evidence is needed: Keep your cameras handy. In captivity mountain, lions can live to be about 20 years old. That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. In Pennsylvania, I receive a few reports of black, big cats, which makes one wonder -- are there melanistic (black) pumas out there, or are those sightings always wrong. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. 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. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. And, some may be escaped or illegally released pets. Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. All of the above images are of bobcats. But this one was black, and he knows mountain lions are some variant of brown. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. The woman, a 66-year-old grandmother, asked not to be identified because she's a senior and didn't want people "bothering" her about it. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. Among other uses, the tax was levied "for destroying wolves, foxes, heads and crows." Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. 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. On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. See also: The sightings were great bear views, but too fast or fleeting to allow me to grab a camera. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. I've spoken to PGC personnel, two being friends, and neither believe there are pumas in Pa. One cited how a bobcat's tail can be much longer than you expect, although I've never seen a bobcat tail longer than, at most, twice the size of the tails illustrated above of the bobcat. In January, the U.S. But an image captured by one family's. The coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". In Pennsylvania, I receive a few reports of black, big cats, which makes one wonder -- are there melanistic (black) pumas out there, or are those sightings always wrong. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. All rights reserved (About Us). Is it the New Best Pack? We hope you enjoy this foray into the most weird and wonderful our beloved Pocono Mountains have to offer. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. The story behind our new web site. "I thought I had a sighting in the late '90s," Delaware Water Gap National Recreation park ranger Chris Kross said. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. 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. I haven't seen any reports like that.". This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. Florida is the only state on the east coast with a breeding population of mountain lions. Many of those claiming to have encountered a cougar in Pennsylvania take that non-confirmation by the commission as an attack on their veracity and character. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. 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. Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. The other three images are from my file, selected to most closely approximate the pose of the cat from the game camera. I asked our Game officials about evidence, and they cite no road kills. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation.

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