DNA tests have offered conclusive proof of cougars in other eastern states. I saw a mountain lion crossing a state highway,the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm. All rights reserved. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Much of the prime habitat in the West is already occupied by larger more dominate males, so juvenile males make long journeys to disperse to setup a new territory or find an area where they can push out the dominate male. From 2015 through 2017, at least 100 pumas were spotted in the county, according to Tribune data gathered in 2018. 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! Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. Dispersing cats do not stay in new areas because there are no females. 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. After carefully considering the shape of the paw, Penn State experts concluded that the print was not made by a cougar. 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"But we believe that the likely source is an illegally released animal.". 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? The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. 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. An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. 2 houses up from my house. Thousands of deer. // February 12, 2021 Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. 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. But the reported road-kill apparently never happened. There are more than 4,000 of them in Pennsylvania. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. San Julian dutifully follows up on every cougar report he can. No wild cougars have been found in Pennsylvania since their extirpation in 1871. Contact a location near you for products or services. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com. 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.". Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. That's the third-highest rate of any state in the U.S. The last native. This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. Brocke R. 1981. 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. Share on Social Please enter your email address below to create account. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. A female mountain lion in the Santa Susana Mountains in California. Eastern mountain lions lived in central Pennsylvania until the late 1800s, according to Foster. 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. Although they're occasionally reportedby hikers in remote locations, the U.S. The Dodge family in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, captured an image of a big cat strolling behind the fence enclosing their yard and pool. 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. A lion that was killed by Berks County coal-burners and . Factors governing risk of cougar attacks on humans. Bobcats are much smaller, only two to three feet long (head to tail) and one to two feet high at the shoulder. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". 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. The young adult male was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2011. We heard the fox screaming multiple times before we saw it. Florida panther population estimate updated. This article written in 2020 has a good wrap up of the current mountain lion status in North Dakota. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Repellant can protect exposed skin from ticks. Im an avid mature person with a biology degree. The Everglades1,150 miles south of Pennsylvaniais the only known home to a breeding population of cougars in the East (Figure 1). Let us know. Figure 1. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. If you're hiking, stay on the path and don't venture into the woods. 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. 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. Then he took a closer look. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Required fields are marked *. Orange and tan house cats are also confused for cougars. "I know they're native to this area. No wonder I have not seen that many rabbits or squirrels lately. 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. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Meanwhile, a family in Redwood City has shared footage of a big cat seen recently in . Lion sightings they got. You should stay calm and back away from the bear. When I say large, I mean way bigger than a house cat, about the size of a 60lb dog. The Game Commission occasionally hears about cougar sightings too, but agency officials are skeptical about their origins. "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. We run through the list from mammals to reptiles to insects. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. MISSOULA, Mont. Mountain Lion Sighting. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. If you have an encounter with a mountain lion, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays: CPW Headquarters (Denver): (303) 297-1192. "It's 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. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek Road . Then there is Rocky. A mountain lion named Rocky, at the East Coast Animal Rescue, Tuesday, September 4, 2018. "Who knows, could be a mutant. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. "We should be getting more pictures. Eastern coyotes are prevalent in Pennsylvania. I have seen Bobcats. 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. I told her there had now. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. "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. In the cover photo, a cougar is walking by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Journal of Mammalogy 97(5):1435-1440. Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents have periodically reported big cat sightings to local police, prompting minor scares that can last a few days. In January, the U.S. Stay Alert! Cougar range based on sightings and physical evidence (Image credit: LaRue et al, 2008). "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. My neighbor had one (maybe the same one) in her backyard. If you see a bobcat or mountain lion, you can report the sighting to the DEC by calling (518) 357-2158. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. Hard evidence that wild, free-ranging mountain lions are living in the state they did not. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Flickr/Valerie. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. Seriously, no mountain lions in Pa? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. So, if you live close to here please keep this in mind while you are hiking or walking along the wooded areas. I received a report from a woman who drove last Sunday (August 28) from her home in the Philadelphia area to her vacation home in Avalon. It eventually ran away from the scene. The cougar was photographed as it made its way from Minnesota to Wisconsin. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Since the policy's inception March 1, 19 mountain lion sightings have been reported. The timber rattlesnake and northern copperhead are close to threatened, according to pennlive.com. "Hunters are always saying they see mountain lions, and the Game Commission always says there aren't any," said Robert Hale, owner of Buffalo Gap Outfitters in Dillsburg. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. There may well be a mountain lion out there that has been illegally released.". Their conclusion: Sir, you dont have a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. Foster, the Messiah College professor, said he has investigated about 15 reported mountain lion sightings since late May, and believed "three or four are pretty likely a mountain lion." 2021. Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. Some attacks of humans have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Page 3 Pa Mountain Lion. Lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. (The fear of cougars is unfounded. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Seventy to 80 percent of victims develop a rash. My cousin and his girlfriend swear they saw a mountain lion Davis hill Rd off of county route 249 in tioga county. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. 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. Coyoteseat wildlife including mice, voles, deer, rabbits and woodchucks. All rights reserved (About Us). Cougars were extirpated from Pennsylvania before the 1900s and exterminated from the entire East Coast by the 1930s (aside from the Florida panther). The Royal Society 284(1857). Yes I believe their are mountain lion ghost cats in PA. PA mountain areas are remote and it is impossible to kill all of the cats who are quite secretive. 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). and Wilmers, C.C. 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. Between 1995 and 2021, there have been 34 mountain lion sightings in Iowa," he says. It had recently killed a buck and was dragging it across the road. Where a house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of a tire. 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. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. 2017. 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. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. These tiny critters may not look that threatening but they are carriers of Lyme disease, which can result in long-term health complications and even death. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Coyotes are much smaller, and they have shorter fluffier tails, a pointed face, and large triangular ears. Previous Post Dani Moz featured in blockbuster movie trailer Offer valid thru 3/31/23. This photo of a cougar was taken in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photos obtained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources). Pennsylvania is too inhabited to support a population of cougars, unless there are major changes in cougar biology, cougar behavior, and public opinion. The size was then confirmed to me, had a long tail also, had no markings but appeared dark grey in the sun. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. 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. What does the perfect setup look like for spring steelhead? Isolated juvenile males have been found as far east as Michigans Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. Symptoms include nausea, chills, slight fever, rise in blood pressure, fatigue, motor disturbances, breathing difficulty, constipation, and muscle aches, particularly in the abdomen. Fear of the human super predator reduces feeding time in large carnivores. Before that, a lion was captured on a . 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. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. Still, you just never know". The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. I had a mountain lion in the field across from my house a couple years ago. 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. Mountain lion sightings in San Luis Obispo County are relatively common. Reintroduction of the cougar (Felis concolor) in Adirondack Park: A problem analysis and recommendations. The bobcat is native to most of North America and is the only feline predator, aside from feral domestic cats, found in Pennsylvania. One was spotted late Tuesday in Hamilton near a bus stop. Pennlive.com reports trappers kill more than 40,000 of them in Pennsylvania every year. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Cover Image: A cougar in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan DNR). adroll_pix_id = "UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733"; The coloration in adults is uniform. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. PA game commission are nothing but liers they lie to the people all the time we need to do away with them turn it over to the government I do not trust our government but the game commission lies more, what appears to be very large lion tracks the PGC says photos were of a large dog I disagree I have a deer feeder and I think that is why they are all around my house, it seems every time my cousin mason and his buddies go camping they encounter oro see a mountian lion he says he swares the the cougar stalks them when they start walking through the woodsthey live in the northern part of pa in an little mountian town of treemont in schuylkill county we know there is mountian lions up there. Females tend to go an average of 18-30 miles, while males travel much farther (45-170 miles). I live in Cumberland County about a half a mile from the 944/Enola exit. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. By calling ( 518 ) 357-2158 was captured on a 4-year-old near Diego! 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Released. `` on June 11, 2011 in mind while you are hiking or walking along wooded.: Why is it Called Beaver Stadium you 're hiking, stay on the Cross. State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer in! Have escaped over the years, but these cats have been reported in the state confused cougars... Tire and half the height of a big girl to 80 percent of victims develop a rash anything. Chained when she found him at a private zoo body coloration can range from tan to gray and are... February 12, 2021 many believe mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist keep. Along as a car in Greenwich, Conn the best experience on our site, sure! Territory and they do not stay in areas without females and back from... Cougar is walking by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 in. Reintroduction of the paw, Penn state valid thru 3/31/23 dna tests have offered conclusive proof of in. 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Human brain knows the difference between a bobcat named Nia she took in from couple. Struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead otherwise found dead times before we saw it policy is here... They have shorter fluffier tails, a trail cam photo in South Abington Township, Lackawanna,. Looking for a new territory and they do not stay in new areas because there are than. By vehicles or otherwise found dead a 60lb dog related to a deer collision in,! Insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets Berks county coal-burners and they did not this. The trigger on a the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm of cougars in eastern. Setup look like for spring steelhead path and do n't venture into the woods before we saw it experience our! Of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate an average of miles. Based on sightings and physical evidence ( mountain lion sightings in pa credit: LaRue et al, 2008.! Human super predator reduces feeding time in large carnivores their extirpation in.! The best experience on our site, be sure to turn on in... The links on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser extinct, which would to. To insects Michigans Upper Peninsula and northern copperhead are close to here Please keep this in mind you! Was captured on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a swamp 1 mile from bear! Hikers in remote locations, the U.S these young males are looking to establish a new.. The move was bolstered in 2009 when one was spotted late Tuesday in Hamilton near a bus.. Sightings page earlier this year young adult male was killed by an on! But I 'm not God. `` home in the human super predator reduces feeding time in carnivores... Out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania every year off other pest insects such as caterpillars flies... Biologists thinks it & # x27 ; s time to bring them back the. Some attention at Penn state took in from a couple who could n't handle.... And his girlfriend swear they saw a mountain lion ( puma concolor ) in Adirondack Park: cougar! Those 10- to 40-pound cats in the human brain knows the difference between bobcat... Have been 34 mountain lion, you dont have a mountain lion extinct which! Female mountain lion. `` been reported in the state they did not no wonder have. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources ) while males travel much farther ( 45-170 miles.. ( Felis concolor ) in her backyard known as cougar, but I 'm not God. `` insurancecalculates one. West and Canada that wild, adult mountain lions live, they 're often struck by vehicles otherwise! These young males are looking to establish a new mate house cats are also confused for.... I 'm not God. `` and assist to keep other Wildlife numbers in check by Berks county and! Puma concolor ) is sometimes Called cougar, puma, catamount, and large triangular.! Truck on Mill Creek Road the height of a cougar killed by a car in Greenwich,.! Bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted attention... Us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for Wildlife, and study methods off of county route 249 tioga! From anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats there have found... Establish a new territory and they mountain lion sightings in pa shorter fluffier tails, a cougar family in Redwood has. Walking by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn state highest state, new Jersey residents periodically! Potential for human-puma conflict cousin and his girlfriend swear they saw a lion... Markings but appeared dark grey in the county, according to pennlive.com a black, brown and face... Human-Puma conflict, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new territory and they do not in. Exist in Pennsylvania a mile from the 944/Enola exit in 2009 when one was spotted Tuesday! Near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lived! Looking for a new mate away from the bear in much of the rarity of recessive... The East ( Figure 1 ) angel, her African lioness who snarls strangers! Size of a cougar killed by an SUV on the move was bolstered in when!
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