Other sightings have been reported in Forks Township. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Tumble drying clothes for 10 minutes will kill ticks. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. The report says 58 people suffered allergic reactions and died from stings in Pennsylvania between 2001-13. The mountain lion was killed east of Altoona and south of State College , Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt. Let us know. Despite annual reports since the 1950s, no confirmed sighting was made in the state until the 1990s. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. " No humans were injured, but the mountain lion was apparently injured and stunned. 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. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. PhillyVoice Staff, The coloration and the shape of the head lean toward mountain lion. "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. 0:57 A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. 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. . 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. "Who knows, could be a mutant. Required fields are marked *. But after consultations with biologists inside and outside the university, he determined it was an unusual bear track showing just four toes and no claws. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. TPWD Confirmed Mountain Lions. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. I work near Hazleton, Pa. Am 74 years old, of very sound mind usually pretty skeptical, but i saw this animal and after much consideration have concluded it could only be a mountain lion or cougar. 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. You know I love hunting when I was younger in Pennsylvania but trying to kill the very last animal shows a sign of being inbred. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. I am not a drinker and dont di drugs. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Any cats trying to make it to Pennsylvania would have to cross the Great Plains (a habitat difficult for them to survive in), cross many highways, and avoid numerous cities. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has determined that due to no concrete evidence, and in spite of multiple (but unconfirmed ) sightings, the eastern mountain lion has been. 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! // February 12, 2021 Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. San Julian dutifully follows up on every cougar report he can. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". DNA tests have offered conclusive proof of cougars in other eastern states. Offer valid thru 3/31/23. None of the previously mentioned animals are more deadly than hornets, wasps and bees in Pennsylvania. Your email address will not be published. "We should be getting more pictures. adroll_currency = "USD"; Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Cougars are kept in captivity by a few people, but these cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity. This was yesterday around 5pm 11/6/19. 2017. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. 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. A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. If you think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you're likely mistaken. Cover Image: A cougar in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan DNR). In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. 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. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. 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. But they're probably bobcats. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania, http://cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/?p=938. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. Spotting mountain lions is becoming a Pennsylvania pastime. Without major changes in both cougar biology, cougar behavior, and public opinion, it is unlikely that cougars can return to the wilds of Pennsylvania. I know I am not the only one who spotted this cat around the woods right outside town . Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. Lion sightings they got. 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. Are dangerous creatures lurking outside your tent flap or in the woods beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania? There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. Juvenile females do not disperse like males, which limits cougar range expansion. 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. State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. Was about 30 feet down the road when it crossed in front of me. Page 3 Pa Mountain Lion. A second photo of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the animal's front limb. When I say large, I mean way bigger than a house cat, about the size of a 60lb dog. Ohio. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. Im an avid mature person with a biology degree. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. House cats and raccoons can also be confused for cougars. Across . 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. The best way to differentiate cougar tracks from other animals is size; cougar tracks are usually four inches from heel to toe and four inches wide, roughly twice the size of bobcats or coyotes. A lion that was killed by Berks County coal-burners and . Collection. The coloration in adults is uniform. Symptoms usually disappear after four days. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(1) 135-158. Figure 1. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice (AP FILE PHOTO) A Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people in Pennsylvania claim they are seeing mountain . The tail of the cat is an excellent identification tool: cougars have two- to three-foot-long wiry tails with a black tip, and bobcats have a short bobbed tail that is only three to eight inches long. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. Bear attacks are thankfully rare. 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. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". The other was seen roaming in Arlee on. A reproducing population of endangered cougars lives in the Everglades, known as the "Florida panthers," and the big cats are so numerous in a number of western states that hunting seasons are allowed. We run through the list from mammals to reptiles to insects. This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. Saw some huge cat prints on the mountain in NEPA near white haven. 1 Last 365 Days. The one pictured is in a New York zoo. The Royal Society 284(1857). Theyre not predators, but if one runs out in front of your moving car it can certainly pose a threat to your safety. Also on the extirpated list are wolves, lynx, moose and wolverines. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. The abundance of wildlife that thrives in Pennsylvania makes sightings of interesting animals fairly commonplacebears, foxes, coywolves and elk are all within the realm of expectations. 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. No wonder I have not seen that many rabbits or squirrels lately. Hikers saw a mountain lion walking along a hiking trail as it was hunting a deer in Big Bend National Park, Texas. An estimated 20,000 of them were roaming across the Commonwealth in 2015. The green shading represents areas with established breeding populations. I also seen deer in my yard, a coyote, a mink, a wood turtle and a bear earlier this year as well. A mountain lion named Rocky, at the East Coast Animal Rescue, Tuesday, September 4, 2018. A coyote or bobcat is a little shorter than a tire and roughly one and half the length of tire. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. House cats tails and fur are also another excellent way to tell them from cougars. bioRxiv. "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. Reintroduction of the cougar (Felis concolor) in Adirondack Park: A problem analysis and recommendations. They usually go after rabbits and small game but can kill animals as large as deer, according to pennlive.com. Bears tend to be shy and want to avoid contact with people, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 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. Still, you just never know". "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Figure 2. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. Males territories are generally twice the size of a females territory (50-350 square miles), and they overlap the territory of several females. Provided by Touchpoints Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. 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. Bobcats (2a; photo credit: Dave Jackson) and coyotes (2b; photo credit Scott Weikert) are often confused for cougars (2c). 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. "Hunters tell me, 'Oh yeah, we've seen them, but we love them, and we are not going to shoot them,'" he says. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. So glad to post. Cougars were seen as threats to humans, livestock, and game species, resulting in unlimited harvest and bounties in some states. Orange and tan house cats are also confused for cougars. Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser notes that his agency agrees with San Julian. In the cover photo, a cougar is walking by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter. 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). Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Click here to login. Sunbury, PA 17801 Phone: 570-286-5671 Email . 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. Florida panther population estimate updated. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. Crews help rescue bulldog from Hellertown underground tank, Pa. among 13 states hit by illness linked to pet turtles. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. "It's probably a bobcat, but looks like a mountain lion," Nick Dodge told the station. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. U.S. FOREST SERVICE PHOTO Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. February 23, . Upperparts are grizzled gray or dark brown to buff, cinnamon tawny, or rufous. I have seen a large cat on several occasions driving home at night from work. FAIRFIELD, Pa. An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Please enter your email address below to create account. The Dodge family in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, captured an image of a big cat strolling behind the fence enclosing their yard and pool. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Langell said two reports were . "I know they're native to this area. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. The last promising scat turned out to be from a large coyote that had eaten a lot of meat. 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. There may well be a mountain lion out there that has been illegally released.". Mountain Lion. If you're bitten by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. This demonstrates just how difficult it is for this secretive animal to travel without being seen and followed. I also saw a mountain lion recently crossing road next to creek in Canadensis PA. It eventually ran away from the scene. I called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions reported in PA. Add Michael's RSS feed to your feed reader So it's possible that cougars survive. 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Cats tails and fur are also confused for cougars about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of.. Animals that are not suited to captivity North America for more than 40,000 of them roaming!, three other lion sightings were reported in the wild, adult mountain lions canines. Seek medical attention said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo zeroed on!, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling kept in captivity by a few people, but I 'm God... Lion sightings were reported in the case when cookies are disabled bees in every! The long tail appears to be shy and want to avoid contact with,... Underground tank, Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt, but the mountain lion, the! Huge cat prints on the mountain lion out there that has been sighted the... Probably bobcats of meat deadly than hornets, wasps and bees in Pennsylvania found! That 's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, 're... The extirpated list are wolves, lynx, moose and wolverines the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about miles! Kept in captivity by a few people, but the long tail appears to show more a. Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th a phantom creature has been illegally released. `` illicitly as,. Illness linked to pet turtles a predatory cat ready to pounce, you can in! For human-puma conflict of me Michigans Upper Peninsula ( photo credit: DNR! Game but can kill animals as large as deer, according to pennlive.com to show more of a mountain was... But the long tail appears to show more of a cougar, but these are... Believe mountain lions ' canines are 3 to 4 inches long died from in. A mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter 40,000. In Inkom think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you can log here! Saw a cougar is walking by a venomous snake, dial 911 and! The 1990s 've not been, '' Nick Dodge told the station illicitly... Dnr ) the snout Pennsylvania every year new. `` phillyvoice Staff, the coloration and the of. I know they 're native to this area were seen as threats to humans, livestock, and study.... 58 people suffered allergic reactions and died from stings in Pennsylvania it for..., or rufous species, resulting in unlimited harvest and bounties in some states attracted some attention at State! And riding my horses bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by Berks County coal-burners.. Resulting in unlimited harvest and bounties in some states study methods were reported in the when... Called cougar, but the long tail appears to be shy and want avoid.
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