Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? Who knows? "They preyed upon the caribou, and probably the mastodon," Leslie wrote of these large animals flourishing on the grasses and cold-climate flora that sprouted following the glacier's retreat. Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. Mountain Lion Reports Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? Is there a Puma conspiracy? I am bothered by the constricted neck of the cat on the game camera; 2. the tail is curved down, rather than up, but it may have been in mid-swing; 3. the goldenrod-appearing flower, and the background of cars, gives a sense of scale and location. The other site, The Cougar Network, is still active, and is reporting the cats expanding range from the West, but offers little about the phenomenon of Pennsylvania cats. He wrote that not being a roving animal, the mountain lion was much sooner destroyed than the wolf, and he said that if there were any left, it would have to be in the most desolate places in the county. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. He also published a follow-up on Oct. 15 with the same mountain lion-deer hoax photo, as well as personal stories from several local residents who claim they've seen mountain lions in the Poconos. Let me explain this. Features Writer Micaela Hood is signing off with the Pocono Record after five years of covering arts, culture, entertainment and sports in northeastern . Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? With healthy populations and strong conservation programs, however, they seem to be pushing back east. Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. They are there to help us. . Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! Bushkill Falls Trail. I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. Eastern mountain lion officially declared extinct - pennlive.com In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. Bigfoot, mountain lions and other cryptids in PA On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. Wishful thinking? Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. Noted Wayne County historian Phineas Goodrich recorded in his 1880 book on local history that the common gray wolf was much more common in this area than the cougar. "We should be getting more pictures. In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. A law was passed March 10, 1806, requiring the county to pay the person producing the scalp of a full-grown wolf or cougar, $8, and for the scalp of a young whelp or cub, $4. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? He said he'd never forget the sighting, but it was only when he saw another, a few months ago, in daylight, from his cabin, that he decided it was time to tell someone. Provided by Touchpoints This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park in Lake Ariel has two. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). For example, one man I interviewed said he saw a 'black' puma, and this should disqualify his sighting as a black puma has never been recorded. All rights reserved. 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. Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. 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 . RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. He's a hunter, a woodsman, and he's seen a lot of game, so I can believe he saw a back-lighted puma. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. 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.). A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? 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. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native to the East. 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. However, my friend and I discussed this, and agreed, we saw what we saw, and had it been 40 years ago or four months ago, we knew we saw a coyote. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. 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. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. Some may be animals that dispersed into the region from western populations. About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. The Game Commission concluded they were coyotes. 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. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. ARE THERE MOUNTAIN LIONS IN PA? - Page 8 - Pennsylvania Firearm Owners About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. Does the mountain lion roam Pa? - Pocono Record Confirmed cougar sightings have increased in the Midwest and Great Lakes states in recent years.". Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks "They're getting a lot of that out west. Mountain lions, which continue to be reported across Pennsylvania throughout the year, are officially extinct east of the Mississippi River and north of Florida, according to the U.S. 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. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? 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. They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a 600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in. 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. An escapee is also possible. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. Woolly mammoth bones were discovered in Bradford County in 1983. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens of sincere reports of sightings and tracks and even more hoaxed reports emerge across the state each year. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. Here's 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. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. The mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on average between 75-120 pounds, has long whiskers and a distinctive swooping tail. The Asa Packer Mansion, built in the year 1861, is a historic house museum. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? 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). ", (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. Over 1,100 people follow her page. 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. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. 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. I'm wondering, then, if the complete dismissal of sightings of Eastern pumas (other than the acknowledgement of released or escaped pets) isn't motivated by economics. A tiny population of Florida cougars persists in the southeastern corner of the United States. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! 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. I believe Kross fully, but I wanted to hear more. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? There's a saying that "things aren't always what they appear to be." In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. It will happen eventually. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. One sighting I give complete belief in was from a friend who told me a puma crossed right in front of their vehicle, and paused on the berm for a few seconds, at a distant of ten yards or less. 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). It has long been popular with honeymooners, but today the Poconos are a popular destination for families, skiers, adventure seekers, NASCAR fans, and those from urban areas around New England, New York City, Philadelphia . In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. Note the long, usually thick tail. What the Lenape Indians never did, the European colonists and their descendants did swiftly eradicate the wolf and cougars viewed as a menace to their families and livestock. And, some may be escaped or illegally released pets. Controlled hunting of mountain lions is allowed within the state. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. "They are very strong animals," she said. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. Pocono Record's Micaela Hood moves on to Lehigh Valley Public Media I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. The Poconos is a mountain area in northeastern Pennsylvania.It is 2,400 square miles of wooded mountains and valleys full of beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and wildlife. Best hike for seeing waterfalls. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? (National Park Service). The skeleton was reassembled at the State Museum, where it has been on display ever since. After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs.