Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. Pocono Mountains - Travel guide at Wikivoyage Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' Looking for things to do in the Poconos? (570) 325-3229. The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? Many people have claimed to see them, and this writer chronicled numerous such reports in the local press from the mid-1990s to the 2010s. There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. He saw a big cat. Well, right behind our property lies a mountain ridge, one of several that makes a continuous forest that extends, with little interruption, for scores of miles in three directions. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer Interestingly, almost all of the people I've spoken to who claim to have seen a puma have not seen a bobcat, an animal that is common enough in Pennsylvania to support a legal trapping season! The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. I'm thinking of the solution often suggested for pesky endangered species out west, namely wolves and grizzly bears. Many of those claiming to have encountered a cougar in Pennsylvania take that non-confirmation by the commission as an attack on their veracity and character. Here's an example: A man is holding a dead eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which was found in North Carolina and measured more than 9 feet long and weighed 95 pounds. "Given the period of time that has passed without verification of even a single eastern puma, the service concludes that the last remaining members of this subspecies perished decades ago," the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a Federal Register notice. The next day, another friend, who works for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, called me to ask if I had seen the photo of a Pocono mountain lion with a deer in its jaws. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. I had three cameras positioned, so had a cat visited, I'd have had it. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. And a bit of an unpleasant one at that, as they now faced ridicule or doubt whenever they discussed their sightings. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. Puma vs Mountain Lion: Is There a Difference? Yet, except for Florida, which has about 100 of them "Florida panthers"), no eastern state has a verifiable population of these large 100- to 200-pound cats that were extirpated 100 years ago. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. To be fair, I've also spoken with people who, at first, thought they'd seen a puma only to find, to their embarassment, that they were looking at a house cat! However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. Mountain lions roamed all of the continent prior to the arrival and westward spread of European settlers, but only the eastern and Florida subspecies were found east of the Mississippi. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Mysterious big cat caught on security camera in Clarks Summit, Pa. So many of these sightings have been proven wrong misidentified bobcats, coyotes or even house cats) that it would be irresponsible for a biologist to accept any of them as fact without absolute physical evidence hair, droppings, tracks or a road-killed animal. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. Most of the native mountain lions live in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but humans rarely ever see them due to their secretive nature. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? Those cats for which DNA evidence was recovered had come east from South Dakota, part of the known, modern-day, U.S. mountain lion range. These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. In Yellowstone, definite puma country (perhaps not ideal habitat, but pumas are found in every section of Yellowstone), I've spoken to guys on road crews and with rangers, each with 20 years of field or road experience in Yellowstone, and the ranger had only seen 2 (both road kills and together) and the road crew guys two or three in all their years. Interestingly, the US Fish and Wildllife Service has declared the Eastern Puma extinct, except for the Florida population known as the Florida panther. Here's a glimpse at what long-gone Pocono beasts the region's very first wave of residents may have seen, and the wild things that followed up to as late as the early 20th century. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. 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. More about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Heres What the Data Says. ? According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". The other two clans were the Turtle and Turkey. Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. With that hope in mind, I have, for years, asked outdoors people if they ever heard of a mountain lion, or puma, in their area -- with my questioning limited to people in my home state of Pennsylvania. More common critters co-existed with early Native Americans in the Poconos, including two species long since removed: the wolf and mountain lion (also known colloquially as panthers and cougars). The bobcat wouldn't survive. Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions - AZ Animals Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. Bo Ottman is a landscaper in Connecticut who founded an . What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. When he told me this, he commented on how an experience like the one he and his friends had just is not forgotten. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. Editor's note: The Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent have collaborated for a series of stories called Mountain Beasts: Pocono cryptids, legends and lore. However, if you've seen a mountain lion, or other mystery creature, or evidence of either, in Pennsylvania, contact outdoor writer Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.). . Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. On the second night, a mountain lion passed by, apparently drawn by the smell but put off by the stench, as the cat did not visit the kill. Although in captivity, they can live much longer. Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Now, forty years ago coyotes were rare or almost nonexistent in Pennsylvania, and had had that same sighting back then, when coyotes were thought not to exist within the state we would have had the 'facts' to doubt what we saw. He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. (National Park Service). As you can see from the above images it is very difficult to confuse the two if you have a good view. Two weeks ago, a friend of mine who teaches in one of the Monroe County school districts called to tell me he was sending me a photo of a mountain lion taken by one of his students in the Poconos. Activities Milford Things To Do Hotels Map Of Activities Delaware Water Gap Hotels Bushkill Lake Harmony Hawley Skytop Tannersville Pocono Mountains Counties About the Poconos Pocono Mountains History Weather Area Services . Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. Check out the tails of the two! Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania - Hoot Hollow Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. "I know they're native to this area. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. Encouraged by the bounties, settlers waged war on these perceived beasts. Big cats in Pennsylvania: mountain lions or bobcats? - Pocono Record 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. The life cycle then repeats itself. It was decided that this shouldn't influence the decision and, in fact, an infusion of new genes produces a hybrid vigor, lessening the chance of in-breeding. These creatures lurking in Pa.'s woods can hurt or kill you The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. And yes, there are people in Pennsylvania who say they exist here. Let me know if you have seen one! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Note the long, usually thick tail. 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." Hunters I've spoken with said they've been told you can't kill a puma, which they felt was ironic since the same official told them pumas don't exist in Pa. Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. They regularly join the camp of those angrily claiming the commission has introduced the big cats back into Pennsylvania as a control measure against the state's huge deer population. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "We should be getting more pictures. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. An assessment list for Lower Smithfield Township in 1761 when it was part of Northampton County (Monroe having not yet been created) taxed "three pence per pound and shillings per head" laid on the land and inhabitants. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? I'll offer my own little anecdote. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. In prior interviews with the Game Commission, the suggestion was made to this writer that what many people may actually be seeing is a bobcat, perhaps in less than ideal circumstances. The sightings were great bear views, but too fast or fleeting to allow me to grab a camera. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might "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. An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. . And this genetic mix has been recognized, and the Florida puma is still protected. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. With healthy populations and strong conservation programs, however, they seem to be pushing back east. Things to Do in the Poconos | Attractions & Outdoors - Pocono Mountains The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. I haven't seen any reports like that.". There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? "While confirmed cougar sightings have occurred recently in the wild in the East, there is currently no scientific or physical evidence documenting the continued existence of a population of wild eastern cougars," according to the U.S. They mostly live in the far western Trans-Pecos region of the state, where they can freely roam 50,000 to 80,000 acres of land. All of the above images are of bobcats. Ironically, I almost deleted the image, as on the small camera LCD monitor the cat was small and I thought that it was just another deer that moved along the stream. One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Some experts predict that this wide-ranging predator, which can travel 600 miles in search of a territory, will surely reach our eastern states sometime in the next few decades. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? If pumas do exist in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, could they all be released cats or escapees? One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as that cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. DNA collected from the mountain lion killed on a roadway in Connecticut in 2011 showed the animal to have originated in South Dakota. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. Is it the New Best Pack? Fish and Wildlife Service. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. ", (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence, including in a reported Berks County sighting on January 8. Who knows? Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. So what? After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs. For information on predator tracks, check out this guide: https://www.wildliferemoval.com/animal-track-identification-guide/, Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. One might argue that the eastern puma is extinct, but that does not mean that there are not pumas (mountain lions, cougars) in the east. Mountain lions live in rescue centers like Murray's, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said a dozen or so people are permitted to possess them. Although there was no evidence that the 2011 mountain lion ever set foot in Pennsylvania, DNA evidence confirmed that it had been both west and east of the state. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. There is no known estimate of the number of mountain lions inhabiting Texas. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. 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. Check out our online field guide to read more in this series. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. What is the Kiboko backpack? Me? On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. Now consider: If it was confirmed that there was a breeding population of endangered pumas on the mountain ridge behind my house, if the USFWS recognized the existence of this endangered species, what might happen? Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. Accounts abound concerning interaction between these great beasts and people in northeast Pennsylvania, with wolves into the early 19th century and in the case with cougars, well into the early 20th century. Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long.