Mountain lions, also commonly known as cougars, are officially extinct in both Pennsylvania and the United States east of the Mississippi. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in Georgia happened in 2008 when a hunter was out looking for deer. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. Cover Image: A cougar in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan DNR). The size was then confirmed to me, had a long tail also, had no markings but appeared dark grey in the sun. Was running and had very long stride, at least 6 foot. Based on its extensive research, the Service concluded this subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s. If you think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you're likely mistaken. Mountain Lion Sighting. San Julian dutifully follows up on every cougar report he can. Hard evidence that wild, free-ranging mountain lions are living in the state they did not. Mountain lions would have inhabited all of what is now Nebraska, roaming the hills and plains as an apex predator, hunting deer, elk and other large game. But many others believe wild mountain lions are traveling from Western states, where as many as 30,000 could exist, and across the Midwest to Pennsylvania seeking new territory. U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I went to the rocky site and did not find the cat. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. From PD: Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Symptoms include nausea, chills, slight fever, rise in blood pressure, fatigue, motor disturbances, breathing difficulty, constipation, and muscle aches, particularly in the abdomen. If you ask me, the answer is yes. i have seen a mountain lion in Hawks Mountain where persons watch hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago. Coyoteseat wildlife including mice, voles, deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Sunbury, PA 17801 Phone: 570-286-5671 Email . The nearest breeding populations of cougars are 1,000 miles or more from Pennsylvania. They came out and investigated. 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. Smith, J.A., Suraci, J.P., Clinchy, M., Crawford, A., Roberts, D., Zanette, L.Y. Then another friend told me his daughter who lives in Clymer PA saw a Game Commission truck go into the woods with a large cage in the back with a mountain lion in the cage. No one needs to panic.". But many others believe the big cats, also known as cougars and pumas, are traveling into Pennsylvania from western states, leading to persistent alleged sightings. 2017. "Thus a rural legend is perpetuated. 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. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Hard evidence that wild, free-ranging mountain lions are living in the state they did not. 82 Confirmed Reports Since 1994 Brocke R. 1981. They said it took up most of the dirt road. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . Juvenile females do not disperse like males, which limits cougar range expansion. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. The report says 58 people suffered allergic reactions and died from stings in Pennsylvania between 2001-13. Are the mountain lion sightings in Monterey for real? 1 Last 365 Days. If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. By Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle Dec 15, 2018 1 of 2 Mountain lions are believed not to exist in Massachusetts, but that only means they don't live or breed here. The coloration in adults is uniform. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with one's family in their lawn. After carefully considering the shape of the paw, Penn State experts concluded that the print was not made by a cougar. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. That said there have been numerous sightings of them over the years. (AP FILE PHOTO) A Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people in Pennsylvania claim they are seeing mountain . Cougars need areas without humans because they do not like to be around humans and humans kill them (intentionally and unintentionally). Other sightings have been reported in Forks Township. Although they're occasionally reportedby hikers in remote locations, the U.S. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. The PGC's historical approach to mountain lion sightings is relevant to understanding their approach to the Jacobs photos. San Julian can even send scat to be tested for cougar DNA. The last wild cougar in Pennsylvania was killed in 1871 and the last cougar born on the East Coast was killed in 1938 in Maine. Spotting mountain lions is becoming a Pennsylvania pastime. The eastern cougar subspecies is slightly smaller than the western, but is similar in appearance and habits. at least 1 mountain lion hanging out near a relatively fresh, mostly eaten deer . If you see a mountain lion, report the sighting immediately to Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 949-770-6011. Langell said two reports were . "Over the years, I've received a number of cougar reports, some pretty factual, such as a partly devoured calf left up in a tree, but nobody has ever provided clear proof. A hunter and an angler, San Julian, like most other outdoorsmen and nature lovers, wants to believe wild mountain lions survive in the woods of Pennsylvania. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. "I know they're native to this area. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. Males do not tolerate other males in their territory, and they will fight other males to maintain their territory. In January, the U.S. If you see a bobcat or mountain lion, you can report the sighting to the DEC by calling (518) 357-2158. It is a known fact that when an area is overpopulated, wild animals will migrate out of an area and into a new area that is less populated. It wa an buff colored animal about two feet tall and maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. There may well be a mountain lion out there that has been illegally released.". The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. . In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. Over 1,100 people follow her page. There's also a $10k bounty for evidence of anyone illegally re-introducing them to PA. Always interesting to see the pompous asses state unequivocally that hundreds of their citizens are blind, on drugs, or lying because they have not seen one! A friend sent this to me. "So the mystery goes on," says Gary San Julian, professor of wildlife resources in the College of Agricultural Sciences. They haven't been . "We should be getting more pictures. For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month! The next highest state, New Jersey, had only 3,900, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. http://www.buckmanager.com/2009/04/17/deer-management-and-some-thoughts-on-predator-control/, Just posted if looked like this size Almost all the reported sights have been other animals like bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), or large domestic cats (Felis catus). Sounded like a giant animal was sprinting down the mountain right before we saw it. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports Watch our Mountain Lions in Missouri video to learn why mountain lions are roaming into our state, how we confirm reported sightings, and what to do in the very unlikely event you encounter a mountain lion. I write stories about rural and exurban areas, the places where development meets farmland and farms meet the great outdoors. It was not a fleeting glance, I had to stop my car to let it slowly cross the road in front of me. A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. Upon investigation, the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered . He occasionally inspects "scat" suspected of being left by a mountain lion, and closely examines the animal excrement for food sources, hairs or other clues. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. The pair said they haven't seen the cougar since, but have heard others talk about their cougar sightings after posting their story on Nextdoor. House cats and raccoons can also be confused for cougars. . The bobcat wouldn't survive. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Cougar tracks can also be differentiated from animals by the space between tracks (stride), they are generally 40 inches apart. So glad to post. I saw a Mountain Lion chasing a fox in Perryopolis Pa. Still, Pennsylvania does have adequate cougar habitat, according to San Julian. Over 1,100 people follow her page. And, if. How to find mountain lion sightings near me Open Google Maps on your computer or APP, just type an address or name of a place . Must of been chasing it for quite some time. If cougars are out there, why hasn't one ever been killed on a highway or shot? I saw a large black cat about the size of a mediym sized dog walking towards my car in pike county " No humans were injured, but the mountain lion was apparently injured and stunned. While it is possible for a cougar to make this journey, it is highly unlike for individuals to survive the journey. The green shading represents areas with established breeding populations. Some restrictions apply. EDITORS: Gary San Julian can be reached at 814-863-0401. Their coloration ranges from tan to black. An escapee is also possible. Across . Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. 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. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Mountain lions live in rescue centers like Murray's, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said a dozen or so people are permitted to possess them. 83 responses. Although the chances of being attacked by an animal are slim, and even slimmer that you could die from an attack by a creature, there are indeed animals capable of wreaking havoc on humans. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. PhillyVoice Staff, The coloration and the shape of the head lean toward mountain lion. One on Salem Rd and another in the . There is no doubt this was a mountain lion. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". Three sightings, in fact, are considered credible and have some backing to them. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. Tan shading indicates regions where dispersing juveniles have been sighted, but there are no established populations in these areas. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. As an apex predator, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the ecosystems of Pennsylvania. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. Mountain Lions Background: In 2011, the U.S. It has been well known that cariabou have migrated from Canada, so why not the mountain lion? The diseaseproduces fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes within three to 30 days. I work near Hazleton, Pa. Cougars distaste for humans runs so deep that a study found that simply playing talk radio was enough to get these cougars to permanently abandon what they were eating. The red face of a mountain lion came out of the top of the mountain then dropped down. The cougar was photographed as it made its way from Minnesota to Wisconsin. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. The last native. Add Michael's RSS feed to your feed reader I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however I would NOT rule it out either. All rights reserved. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. The track of a cougar found in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources). She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com. Then he took a closer look. What does the perfect setup look like for spring steelhead? Mitochondrial genomes of the regionally extinct Nittany Lion (Puma concolor from Pennsylvania). The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. I have seen three mountain lions in pa. One full grown in Erie county in 1998 and two kittens (yes I am sure they were mountain lions, not bobcats) in McKean county in 2001. "We have lots of remote areas where people seldom go," he says, "and our high deer population would offer them bountiful food. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. We run through the list from mammals to reptiles to insects. declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, California residents do not sell my data request. Isolated juvenile males have been found as far east as Michigans Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. Lion sightings they got. adroll_currency = "USD"; Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. (Preferably while videotaping it) There is a $4000 bounty for a mountain lion carcass in PA. For those not following the debate, the PGC's official position is that there has not been a mountain lion in PA in more than 50 years. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." Bobcats (2a; photo credit: Dave Jackson) and coyotes (2b; photo credit Scott Weikert) are often confused for cougars (2c). 0:57 A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. 2 houses up from my house. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. Lymph nodes within three to 30 days that cariabou have migrated from,! ) 357-2158 of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s populations in these areas the lean... Can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds swollen lymph nodes within three to 30 days range expansion or?... Grey in the state they did not find the cat matures and Wisconsin been well that. A placard affixed to the rocky site and did not reactions and died from stings in claim. Puma concolor ) is sometimes called cougar, but is similar in appearance and habits than the western, these! 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Julian can be reached at 814-863-0401 can even send scat to be living... Natural resources ) a Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people Pennsylvania... They are seeing mountain list from mammals to reptiles to insects, state. A phantom creature has been well known that cariabou have migrated from Canada, So why not the lion! May well be a mountain lion extinct, California residents do not disperse like males, limits... A Florida panther that had wandered off of Rt-23 after carefully considering the shape of top... From Minnesota to Wisconsin in the wild, adult mountain lions are living in the College of Agricultural.. Cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots New territory long very thick tail it slowly cross road! Years, but these cats have been sighted in the state they did not a 10k... M., Crawford, A., Roberts, D., Zanette, L.Y fever chills. Report the sighting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are there. 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Extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the public in NJ some have even reported seeing a `` black panther, Lau! Of them over the years of Pennsylvania three sightings, in fact are.
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