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. It will happen eventually. In January, the U.S. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. This is roughly three times the length of a bobcat or coyotes stride (~16 inches). Without some adaptions and major changes in public opinion, it is unlikely that cougars can be restored in Pennsylvania, as the Adirondacks in 1980s was much less populated than Pennsylvania today. So, if you live close to here please keep this in mind while you are hiking or walking along the wooded areas. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. 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. Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a . A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. I saw a mountain lion crossing a state highway,the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. The Florida panther reached a population low of 20-30 individuals in 1970s, and currently are between 120-200 sub-adults and adults. (The fear of cougars is unfounded. "Thus a rural legend is perpetuated. "Recently there was an emu captured in Houtzdale, Clearfield County," says Feaser. UPDATE: Well, you cant believe everything you read on the internetturns out this was not in PA: Abrown recluse bite can yield chills, fever, bloody urine, fatigue, jaundice, pain in the joints, nausea, rash, and in extremely rare cases, convulsions and death. Sunbury, PA 17801 Phone: 570-286-5671 Email . Their conclusion: Sir, you dont have a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. Then it disappeared for some time, until scat was found again in New York, and it was finally killed in Connecticut. The only cats still hunting in Pennsylvania are bobcats, according to the state game commission. It is possible for a cougar to escape captivity and be seen in the wild, but an escaped individual likely would not survive long or be able to establish a breeding population. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". Iowa DNR prepares for egg-collection netting season, Randy Claramunt vows to turn challenges into opportunities as Michigans new fisheries chief, WI Daily Update: The scoop on ice shanties, MN Daily Update: Permanent ice house dates, All-time great pro bass angler Kevin VanDam to retire following 23 season. Don't treat the bite with ice, cold packs or sprays. From 2015 through 2017, at least 100 pumas were spotted in the county, according to Tribune data gathered in 2018. Eventually they will reach areas where they never lived, or once lived,and will repopulate that area. Fish and Wildlife Service thinks cougars wereprobably wiped out in the 1930s in the eastern United States. "The coloration and the shape of the head lean toward mountain lion(Felis concolor)but they have a tail thats almost as long as their body, and this animal clearly is lacking a tail," Taylor said. A 2011 study examined cougar attacks across the US and Canada and found that since 1890, there have been only 29 confirmed fatalities.) They usually go after rabbits and small game but can kill animals as large as deer, according to pennlive.com. "We should be getting more pictures. Brocke R. 1981. The only population that survived was the Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar), and it only survived with great help from conservationists. adroll_current_page = "other"; Flickr/Valerie. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. Are the mountain lion sightings in Monterey for real? "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Copyright 2023Outdoor News. The diseaseproduces fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes within three to 30 days. A coyote or bobcat is a little shorter than a tire and roughly one and half the length of tire. For more information see Terms and Conditions. Not valid with other promotions. Of course, the New Jersey Wildlife people will flat out tell you there are no mountain lions anywhere in New Jersey. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Pennsylvania is currently home to only one wild cat: the bobcat. 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. "So the mystery goes on," says Gary San Julian, professor of wildlife resources in the College of Agricultural Sciences. An escapee is also possible. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. Provided by Touchpoints While juvenile males do make long journeys when they are young, they rarely make it to the Lake States (Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin). They denied there was a mountain lion in their truck. Previous Post Dani Moz featured in blockbuster movie trailer In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. 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? Cougars are often by hit carsin 2020, at least one-tenth of all Florida panthers (20 out of a maximum population of 200 animals) were hit by cars. Hildreth says the animals are capable of moving long distances across the state. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. "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. Have a news tip? "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. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in Georgia happened in 2008 when a hunter was out looking for deer. The coloration in adults is uniform. No one needs to panic.". The report in Greene County is the only one confirmed to be a mountain lion. 4 . Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. LaRue, M.A., Nielsen, C.K., Dowling, M., Miller, K., Wilson, B., Shaw, H., Anderson, C.R. Besides a lack of physical (scat, hair, or tracks) and photographic evidence, the absence of cougars is also demonstrated by a lack of road-killed cougars. Bears tend to be shy and want to avoid contact with people, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Its so hard to pin anything down, said John Lutz, the West Virginia man who heads the network, a non-scientific affiliation of mountain lion seekers across the eastern United States. If you're bitten by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention. 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. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. After hearing of alleged sightings over the years -- sketchy reports of rural folks listening to big cat screams in the night, inconclusive paw prints, photos and videos that never materialized and the occasional unexplained livestock killing -- a cougar carcass was supposed to be delivered to university wildlife experts for necropsy. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. 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. Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. 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. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. If you suspect a coyote is living near you, you should call the state game commission at 610-926-3136. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. The Eastern Cougar Foundation, a clearinghouse for cougar sightings, claims it has received proof that big cats do exist in Missouri, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois and Kentucky, and in Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada. It will happen eventually. Across . Hikers saw a mountain lion walking along a hiking trail as it was hunting a deer in Big Bend National Park, Texas. All three are pit vipers, which means you can identify them by "facial pits." Saw some huge cat prints on the mountain in NEPA near white haven. and Wilmers, C.C. The report says 58 people suffered allergic reactions and died from stings in Pennsylvania between 2001-13. This cat was in extremely poor condition when it was killed. "Who knows, could be a mutant. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. Still, Pennsylvania does have adequate cougar habitat, according to San Julian. She tried to tell me it was a Maine Coon Cat. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Symptoms include nausea, chills, slight fever, rise in blood pressure, fatigue, motor disturbances, breathing difficulty, constipation, and muscle aches, particularly in the abdomen. After carefully considering the shape of the paw, Penn State experts concluded that the print was not made by a cougar. "It's probably a bobcat, but looks like a mountain lion," Nick Dodge told the station. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. 82 Confirmed Reports Since 1994 There's also a $10k bounty for evidence of anyone illegally re-introducing them to PA. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". Coyotes are also confused for cougars (Figure 2). Was running and had very long stride, at least 6 foot. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, FISH: Pennsylvania Frog and Toad Breeding Phenology, Questions and Answers about Centipedes, Ladybirds and Butterflies, The Effect of Coyotes on Pennsylvanias Deer Herd, Protected Species in Pennsylvania: The Bog Turtle, Protected Species in Pennsylvania: Northern Flying Squirrel. Coyotes are much smaller, and they have shorter fluffier tails, a pointed face, and large triangular ears. All rights reserved (About Us). "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Cars and car tires are also good scales; a cougar will be half the length of a sedan and taller than its tires. The last mountain lion sighting in the St. Louis region occurred in 2017, when a motorist struck a lion on Interstate 70 in Warren County, Zarlenga said. When they are in these new areas, the young males are almost constantly moving looking for an area with females. Furthermore, a juvenile female has not been recorded in the Midwest, much less in Pennsylvania, without a change in this trend no breeding populations can be established. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. 'Nothing to see here folks, move along'". The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. The red face of a mountain lion came out of the top of the mountain then dropped down. Get started. The easiest way toavoid Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether. The only native North American mountain lion species (Puma concolor) has long since been extirpated from the eastern United States, with the exception of a small population of Florida panthers whose genetic roots are a subject of debate. The dispatch center received calls about the mountain lion at approximately 4:30 a.m. near the Copeland Creek Trail between Country Club and Snyder Lane located in the area of Sunrise Park. If cougars are out there, why hasn't one ever been killed on a highway or shot? They will not find a female in these areas, so they eventually make their way back to the western range or die in the attempt. No wonder I have not seen that many rabbits or squirrels lately. But an image captured by one family's security camera last weekend certainly shows what looks to be a mountain lion. Eastern coyotes are prevalent in Pennsylvania. The mountain lionalso known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamountis a large cat species native to the Americas. Cougars are kept in captivity by a few people, but these cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity. . Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . The bite usually results in a blister-like sore that can take six to eight weeks to heal. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over. Although they're occasionally reportedby hikers in remote locations, the U.S. "I hear rumors all the time about mountain lion sightings," said Brian Anderson, deputy game protector for Northumberland County. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great content OutdoorNews.com has to offer, click here . They love lurking on theedge of wooded areas near agricultural areas where prey is abundant. Tan shading indicates regions where dispersing juveniles have been sighted, but there are no established populations in these areas. My speed was 40mph, I got a good look at it. Some attacks of humans have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Offer valid thru 3/31/23. 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? And when our officers go out to investigate reports of mountain lions, or when our staff reviews photos that are sent to us, often we're able to verify some other animal mistakenly was reported as a mountain lion.". (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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The eastern massasauga is endangered in Pennsylvania. "But we believe that the likely source is an illegally released animal.". Must of been chasing it for quite some time. They were once a common predator in Pennsylvania until a combination of range-wide habitat loss, prey loss (mainly white-tailed deer and elk), and predator eradication programs in the 1800s drove them to extinction in the Commonwealth and across the East Coast later that century. The Dodge family in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, captured an image of a big cat strolling behind the fence enclosing their yard and pool. Pennsylvania had more than 7,300 confirmed cases of the disease in 2015. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Make sure you remove or cover up any bear food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home. Your email address will not be published. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Stay Alert! Remember this post from February 28, 2005. By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Bobcats are much smaller, only two to three feet long (head to tail) and one to two feet high at the shoulder. The Fort Worth Star-Telegraph reports on a mountain lion sighting in April 2022. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. "While it seems unlikely, it's not impossible that these animals are showing up in PA," said David Foster, a biology professor at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. A second photo of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the animal's front limb. If you encounter a bear that hasn't had time to leave, the game commission advises you to make a noise to alert the bear of your presence. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. 2017. Their coloration ranges from tan to black. This article written in 2020 has a good wrap up of the current mountain lion status in North Dakota. DNA tests have offered conclusive proof of cougars in other eastern states. More than half of California is mountain lion habitat and mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. Mountain Lion Sighting. A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet.. If you have seen a mountain lion (also commonly called cougar, panther, or puma) in Pennsylvania or surrounding states (New York, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio), please give Kerry Gyekis a detailed description of the animal such as length of body, length of tail, approximate weight, size, thickness, coloring, etc. I have seen a lion twice in Sussex County. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. It's only found in thewestern part of the state. Officials with the Pennsylvania Game Commission told WHNT the cat in Clarks Summit could be a bobcat, though they tend to be more active at night. Share on Social Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. This definitely wasnt a bobcat. Looked just like the Nittany Lion except it was alive and running! The Game Commission is hiding this information from the public either that or they dont know what a mountain lion looks like. Mountain lions, also commonly known as cougars, are officially extinct in both Pennsylvania and the United States east of the Mississippi. "They are very strong animals," she said. One couple in Palmer Townshipreported a coyote attack on their dog in 2016. All rights reserved. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. Bobcats (2a; photo credit: Dave Jackson) and coyotes (2b; photo credit Scott Weikert) are often confused for cougars (2c). Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Repellant can protect exposed skin from ticks. In January, the U.S. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." 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 . 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. Expand. This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek Road . 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. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. Home Pennsylvania Opinion Search for cougarscontinues in Pennsylvania, If youre a regular reader of this publication, or one of my neighbors, then you already know my father and, A fish may see a parade of presentations go by, therefore yours should be better than the rest. U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "When I started telling people, most of them didn't believe me, but I will never forget that huge face staring right at me," said a Montgomery County woman who says she saw a lion last summer in Limerick Township while walking her dog. You're much more likely to encounter ablack bear than a bobcat. State wildlife authorities have no record of the incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived. 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. 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! So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the Keystone state? If you need to confirm this info, just take a look at National Geographics wild life section on animals thought to be extinct altogether, or extinct from an area. The buzzards returned in late February, and Steve Pollick says you can mark your calendar by these scavengers exploits. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. You can also identify the venomous snakes of Pennsylvania by their vertical pupils, similar to the pupils in cats' eyes. Some of the regional tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache. 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). UPDATE: An alert reader took this photo late September, 2008, from his trail camera near Plummer, PA. UPDATE: An alert reader sent this photo of a mountain lion taken about three weeks ago (September 2009) near Farmington, Pa, in Fayette County. An escapee is also possible. In the snow, the tracks of all mammals appear to be larger this is because the heat from individual animals feet melts the snow they step on. Heres how to pull big bluegills from Iowas West Lake Okoboji, A look at some other ways to call in a spring gobbler, How to catch and cook whitefish and tullibees, Nows the time to savor the fruits of the hunting experience. A walking house cat or raccoon would likely fit within the diameter of the tree. Pennsylvania would be incredibly difficult for cougars to reach. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Some restrictions apply. Mitochondrial genomes of the regionally extinct Nittany Lion (Puma concolor from Pennsylvania). Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. adroll_currency = "USD"; According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, feline predators such as the eastern cougar, which is also known as the mountain lion, are "extirpated," meaning they're all but wiped out in the northeastern United States. In one case out of Reading, a sighting of an apparent cheetah turned out to be an African serval that was likely bred and domesticated illegally. Im 62 and hunted most of my life here in PA. Dont EVER expect to get the truth from anyone with Game departments in any U.S. state. A female mountain lion in the Santa Susana Mountains in California. They said it took up most of the dirt road. adroll_adv_id = "T6XR4YM2C5FGXNZIDZPFXI"; Mike Jacobsen found a dead mountain lion in his Denton-area field on Dec. 19. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. 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. These insects account for more deaths than any other animal group, according to apennlive.com report. My horse was spooked twice & I heard a guttural growling but never seen any animal. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. Hard evidence that wild, free-ranging mountain lions are living in the state they did not. "When I started telling people, most of them didn't believe me, but I will never forget that huge face staring right at me," said a Montgomery County woman who says she saw a lion last summer in Limerick Township while walking her dog. February 23, . About the year 1967 I drove my corvair in a meadow and two red cats about a year old came across the road behind me south of Hancock PA. The state has an estimated1.5 milliondeer, about 30 per square mile. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Share Tweet Share Share. The PGC's historical approach to mountain lion sightings is relevant to understanding their approach to the Jacobs photos. Its eventual death and poor condition show how difficult dispersal is and unlikely it is for individuals to survive when they disperse outside of their range. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". 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. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Mountain lions also were reportedly sighted in Cape St . Cover Image: A cougar in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan DNR). The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. Ok, so they may have been extinct for some time, but if people are sighting them, has anyone considered migration? 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. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however I would NOT rule it out either. "We do not believe that there are any wild, native, breeding cougar populations in Pennsylvania. Lutz and several other volunteers are planning to travel to Bedford County within a few days of the next snowfall, in fact, to look for cougar sign because several sightings have been reported there in recent months. Males territories are generally twice the size of a females territory (50-350 square miles), and they overlap the territory of several females. Cougars were seen as threats to humans, livestock, and game species, resulting in unlimited harvest and bounties in some states. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team in 1996 to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. Days to months after the tick bite, victims can suffer severe headaches, heart palpitations, shooting pains, numbness, dizziness and trouble with short-term memory. "We should be getting more pictures. "A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet." Smith, J.A., Suraci, J.P., Clinchy, M., Crawford, A., Roberts, D., Zanette, L.Y.