Females tend to go an average of 18-30 miles, while males travel much farther (45-170 miles). 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. "I hear rumors all the time about mountain lion sightings," said Brian Anderson, deputy game protector for Northumberland County. An estimated 20,000 of them were roaming across the Commonwealth in 2015. 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. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. I live in Harrisburg, in the 70s and by Central Dauphin high school there was a creek called Beaver Creek so one day ask someone what are they called Beaver Creek and said there used to be a beaver there till about seven or eight years ago and the last one was killed by some person they named and he was actually bragging up that he killed the last beaver in Beaver Creek. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Offer valid thru 3/31/23. Without major changes in both cougar biology, cougar behavior, and public opinion, it is unlikely that cougars can return to the wilds of Pennsylvania. 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. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. The last native. Rudy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. They denied there was a mountain lion in their truck. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. 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. Cougars are kept in captivity by a few people, but these cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity. The eastern cougar subspecies is slightly smaller than the western, but is similar in appearance and habits. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. Mountain Lion. Ok, so they may have been extinct for some time, but if people are sighting them, has anyone considered migration? Find Easton area news on Facebook. Fish and Wildlife Service recently declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies of mountain lions native to North America, but reports of black panthers generally are. They shared the unusual sight with WHNT-News. Required fields are marked *. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. Orange and tan house cats are also confused for cougars. Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. 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. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. I told her I knew what a Maine Coon cat looked like and this was BIG, had short hair and LONG tail. . My neighbor had one (maybe the same one) in her backyard. It will happen eventually. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. They can be easily differentiated by the size of their size (large house cats only weigh 30lb and raccoons 20lbs) and their tails (cougar tails are much longer and wiry). Then it disappeared for some time, until scat was found again in New York, and it was finally killed in Connecticut. The easiest way toavoid Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether. 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. Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Fear of the human super predator reduces feeding time in large carnivores. No one needs to panic.". "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". I had a mountain lion in the field across from my house a couple years ago. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. 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 Game Commission occasionally hears about cougar sightings too, but agency officials are skeptical about their origins. Most spiders have fangs to deliver venom, but only two in Pennsylvania have bites withserious medical implications for humans: the black widow (pictured) and the brown recluse. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. If you're bitten by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. 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. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. Sunbury, PA 17801 Phone: 570-286-5671 Email . Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. "A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet." "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. In the cover photo, a cougar is walking by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter. 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. "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. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Michael Tanenbaum 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. I saw a mountain lion crossing a state highway,the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm. So, if a. On another occasion my sons best friend saw a fawn colored mt. I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however I would NOT rule it out either. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(1) 135-158. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. The nearest breeding populations of cougars are 1,000 miles or more from Pennsylvania. "We should be getting more pictures. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. That's not to say that there is not a mountain lion in the wild," he explains. Their conclusion: Sir, you dont have a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. More than half of California is mountain lion habitat and mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. 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. Bears feed for 20 hours a day during late summer and early fall as they fatten up to hibernate. Copyright 2023Outdoor News. So it's possible that cougars survive. They said it was the size of their German Shepard and theres nothing else it couldve possibly been. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. "Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. It occurred after 8 p.m. Monday night, January 23, 2023, at Highway T and Old Highway 100 just north of Villa Ridge in Franklin County. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over. "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 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. 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. Upon investigation, the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered . Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. We run through the list from mammals to reptiles to insects. San Julian dutifully follows up on every cougar report he can. 1 Last 365 Days. They have adapted to live in the suburbs in woods, fields or evenbackyards without being seen by people. "They are very strong animals," she said. Of course, the New Jersey Wildlife people will flat out tell you there are no mountain lions anywhere in New Jersey. A report in 1981 found that it would be impossible to restore cougars to Adirondack Park in New York because there were too many humans. The reports, though, continue. With industrial expansion into the heart of Pennsylvania in the 1700s, mountain lion sightings and attacks became more common as habitat destruction pit settlers against native predators. When it came back without the lion, she stopped them and asked why they had let a mountain lion out in the woods. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Langell said two reports were . The team has investigated hundreds of reports, but most turned out to be bobcats. They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in Forks Township and Easton's College Hill section called authorities. You read it here first: Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania: Just prior to the start of Pennsylvania's two-week firearms deer season, the volunteers at the Eastern Puma Research Network put out a call to hunters. Factors governing risk of cougar attacks on humans. 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. Bears tend to be shy and want to avoid contact with people, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 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 . This cat was in extremely poor condition when it was killed. Pennsylvania would be incredibly difficult for cougars to reach. Residents should report any possible mountain lion sightings immediately to law enforcement or to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. 2019 mountain lion in Pennsylvania / definitive proof Joe and Angelika Kelley 12 subscribers Subscribe 91 16K views 3 years ago When something digs up your yard and you film it. If you see any of these four wild animals in Pennsylvania, definitely keep a safe distance. Skip to content. The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. 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. Big Cat, long tail, Mountain Lion past directly in front of my car. 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. They are not a threat to humans, and they are a protected species. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". Most are about three feet long. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Tan shading indicates regions where dispersing juveniles have been sighted, but there are no established populations in these areas. Coyoteseat wildlife including mice, voles, deer, rabbits and woodchucks. Follow Michael & PhillyVoice on Twitter @mtanen88| @thePhillyVoice 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. Reintroduction of the cougar (Felis concolor) in Adirondack Park: A problem analysis and recommendations. I also saw a mountain lion recently crossing road next to creek in Canadensis PA. US Fish and Wildlife Service. My horse was spooked twice & I heard a guttural growling but never seen any animal. The report in Greene County is the only one confirmed to be a mountain lion. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. The cougar was photographed as it made its way from Minnesota to Wisconsin. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Based on its extensive research, the Service concluded this subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s. near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". You read it here first: Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania: Just prior to the start of Pennsylvanias two-week firearms deer season, the volunteers at the Eastern Puma Research Network put out a call to hunters. While juvenile males do make long journeys when they are young, they rarely make it to the Lake States (Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin). A 2011 study examined cougar attacks across the US and Canada and found that since 1890, there have been only 29 confirmed fatalities.) This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. 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. Crews help rescue bulldog from Hellertown underground tank, Pa. among 13 states hit by illness linked to pet turtles. The mountain lionalso known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamountis a large cat species native to the Americas. That the ultimate proof would come from Penn State seemed ironic -- the university's well-known mascot is a "Nittany" lion, and a mounted cougar killed in Susquehanna County in 1856 stands guard in the campus library. Symptoms usually disappear after four days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Brocke R. 1981. Seriously, no mountain lions in Pa? If you think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you're likely mistaken. 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. Bobcat and coyote tracks have been misidentified as cougar tracks. I just wanted to post that not only have we been hearing what we thought was a mountain lion, we spotted it the night before last. Make sure you remove or cover up any bear food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home. This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. 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. 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. It will happen eventually. 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. I write stories about rural and exurban areas, the places where development meets farmland and farms meet the great outdoors. 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. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. Other sightings have been reported in Forks Township. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. Provided by Touchpoints A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. If you ask me, the answer is yes. I called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions reported in PA. The mountain lion was killed east of Altoona and south of State College , Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. 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. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. They came out and investigated. Mountain lions, also commonly known as cougars, are officially extinct in both Pennsylvania and the United States east of the Mississippi. 82 Confirmed Reports Since 1994 Dan Taylor, a San Diego-based wildlife biologist who grew up in the Philadelphia area, told PhillyVoice he was initially thrown for a loop by the photo. 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 . I work near Hazleton, Pa. 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. An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". Symptoms include nausea, chills, slight fever, rise in blood pressure, fatigue, motor disturbances, breathing difficulty, constipation, and muscle aches, particularly in the abdomen. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. Female cougar territories (25-150 square miles) tend to be smaller and can overlap with other females territories. But a mix of bounty hunting and heavy foresting killed or pushed out the population. Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? 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