The report in Greene County is the only one confirmed to be a mountain lion. 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. Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents have periodically reported big cat sightings to local police, prompting minor scares that can last a few days. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, bobcats are considered a species of least concern because of their wide distribution, abundance, and stable . By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com. In January, the U.S. For more information see Terms and Conditions. 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. 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. "We should be getting more pictures. Journal of Mammalogy 97(5):1435-1440. Cars and car tires are also good scales; a cougar will be half the length of a sedan and taller than its tires. 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. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. 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. Despite annual reports since the 1950s, no confirmed sighting was made in the state until the 1990s. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. but they have a tail thats almost as long as their body, and this animal clearly is lacking a tail," Taylor said. Records show that more than 600 cougars were killed in Centre County alone during the 1800s. There are more than 4,000 of them in Pennsylvania. The nearest breed population of cougars is in Nebraskas Niobrara River Valleynearly 1,000 miles from Pennsylvanias eastern border (Figure 1). They're responsible for80 percent of the pollination of the fruit, legume and vegetable plants we need to eat. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. Reintroduction of the cougar (Felis concolor) in Adirondack Park: A problem analysis and recommendations. 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. Share on Social The bobcat is native to most of North America and is the only feline predator, aside from feral domestic cats, found in Pennsylvania. Cougar range based on sightings and physical evidence (Image credit: LaRue et al, 2008). This photo of a cougar was taken in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photos obtained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources). Mountain Lion Sighting Nov. 11, 2021 A California Mountain Lion was seen at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Nov. 11 near the University Glen water tanks and later on the main part of the campus near Santa Barbara Street and Camarillo Street. Bobcats (2a; photo credit: Dave Jackson) and coyotes (2b; photo credit Scott Weikert) are often confused for cougars (2c). 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. The team has investigated hundreds of reports, but most turned out to be bobcats. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials say it's very unlikely it was a mountain lion. Juvenile females do not disperse like males, which limits cougar range expansion. Passed 10 feet in front of us. Langell said two reports were . (AP FILE PHOTO) A Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people in Pennsylvania claim they are seeing mountain . 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. Before that, a lion was captured on a . Northeast . 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. (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. I saw a mountain lion crossing a state highway,the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm. One was spotted late Tuesday in Hamilton near a bus stop. The bobcat wouldn't survive. In many places, the habitat hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. 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. Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? The timber rattlesnake and northern copperhead are close to threatened, according to pennlive.com. Over 1,100 people follow her page. That was a dead giveaway for Taylor. 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. Lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county. 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. I have seen a large cat on several occasions driving home at night from work. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. Cougars were officially declared extinct east of the Mississippi in the 1930s. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. Black bear can be easily told apart from cougars: black bears have five toes to cougars four and their footpads are more elongated. The other was seen roaming in Arlee on. 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. While there have been many reports of wild cougars returning to Pennsylvania, none of these have been proven to be wild cougars. All three are pit vipers, which means you can identify them by "facial pits." In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". There is no doubt this was a mountain lion. It's only found in thewestern part of the state. 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. Then there is Rocky. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. "They are very strong animals," she said. Mountain lions also were reportedly sighted in Cape St . 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. Males territories are generally twice the size of a females territory (50-350 square miles), and they overlap the territory of several females. I went to the rocky site and did not find the cat. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. The U.S. Collection. The report says 58 people suffered allergic reactions and died from stings in Pennsylvania between 2001-13. When it came back without the lion, she stopped them and asked why they had let a mountain lion out in the woods. Your email address will not be published. It wa an buff colored animal about two feet tall and maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. Rudy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. The bobcat wouldn't survive. The mountain lion was killed east of Altoona and south of State College , Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". My horse was spooked twice & I heard a guttural growling but never seen any animal. San Julian can even send scat to be tested for cougar DNA. That's not to say that there is not a mountain lion in the wild," he explains. Seriously, no mountain lions in Pa? I think the mountain lion situation is like that. State wildlife authorities have no record of the incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived. I told her I knew what a Maine Coon cat looked like and this was BIG, had short hair and LONG tail. 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. 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. 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. Males do not tolerate other males in their territory, and they will fight other males to maintain their territory. "Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. 1 Last 365 Days. The bite usually results in a blister-like sore that can take six to eight weeks to heal. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. A coyote or bobcat is a little shorter than a tire and roughly one and half the length of tire. For more information on mountain lions, visit the . The Florida panther reached a population low of 20-30 individuals in 1970s, and currently are between 120-200 sub-adults and adults. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. 4 . . The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. An estimated 20,000 of them were roaming across the Commonwealth in 2015. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. Some of the regional tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache. Im an avid mature person with a biology degree. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. i have seen a mountain lion in Hawks Mountain where persons watch hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. All rights reserved (About Us). You should stay calm and back away from the bear. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. The last promising scat turned out to be from a large coyote that had eaten a lot of meat. Upon investigation, the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered . If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. Smith, J.A., Suraci, J.P., Clinchy, M., Crawford, A., Roberts, D., Zanette, L.Y. 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." Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. You're much more likely to encounter ablack bear than a bobcat. Across . They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Mountain lions are commonly identified by trail camera photographs, tracks, and feces. It will happen eventually. Sounded like a giant animal was sprinting down the mountain right before we saw it. Then it disappeared for some time, until scat was found again in New York, and it was finally killed in Connecticut. 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. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. Their coloration ranges from tan to black. They helped to keep prey populations in balance, which created a more diverse and better functioning ecosystem that could respond to disturbances. Provided by Touchpoints adroll_current_page = "other"; I was driving to work just before sun rise, Late September 2019. Friends in the area reported having a large long tailed mountain lion run across a road just in front of their truck. The eastern massasauga is endangered in Pennsylvania. Long-distance dispersal of a subadult male cougar from South Dakota to Connecticut documented with DNA evidence. Cougars are recolonizing the Midwest: Analysis of cougar confirmations during 19902008. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. The buzzards returned in late February, and Steve Pollick says you can mark your calendar by these scavengers exploits. Adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between . If you see a mountain lion. 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. They shared the unusual sight with WHNT-News. 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. "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. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Their conclusion: Sir, you dont have a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. Mountain lions, also commonly known as cougars, are officially extinct in both Pennsylvania and the United States east of the Mississippi. Three sightings, in fact, are considered credible and have some backing to them. The green shading represents areas with established breeding populations. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). "I hear rumors all the time about mountain lion sightings," said Brian Anderson, deputy game protector for Northumberland County. "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. 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. If you're hiking, stay on the path and don't venture into the woods. // February 12, 2021 Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. 2016. DNA tests have offered conclusive proof of cougars in other eastern states. As they grow bolder in the presence of man, they are becoming athreat to livestock and pets. The mountain lion sightings locations can help with all your needs. The easiest way toavoid Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether. Evanitsky, M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., and Perry, G.H. 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." 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. Traveling Route 248 in Northampton County just 1 mile east of Pennsville. On another occasion my sons best friend saw a fawn colored mt. When they are in these new areas, the young males are almost constantly moving looking for an area with females. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. The nearest breeding populations of cougars are 1,000 miles or more from Pennsylvania. It's cable reimagined No DVR space. The one pictured is in a New York zoo. "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. 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. 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. 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. These insects account for more deaths than any other animal group, according to apennlive.com report. It had recently killed a buck and was dragging it across the road. You can also identify the venomous snakes of Pennsylvania by their vertical pupils, similar to the pupils in cats' eyes. 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. Unfortunately, is it unlikely that cougars will return to Pennsylvania in the near future. 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. , you dont have a mountain lion extinct, which means you can mark your by... 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