"The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. Interesting, too, are the reports I've heard from people who were told that they would be in big trouble if they shot a puma. He notes how over the millennia, the region was inhabited by humans, only to be depopulated by migration brought on by the search of food due to a fickle climate, war or epidemic. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." 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. In his 1973 book "Faces in Clay" Leslie lays open the archaeological treasures of stone arrow or spear points and tools lost long ago by a succession of native peoples. 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? I've read a lot about this, and the usual explanation is the very human desire to see something, to see what someone wants to see, and thus these people are seeing bobcats or brown cats or dogs or foxes and, because they 'want' to see a puma, they do. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. Imagination? ? Michelle LaRue, executive director of the Cougar Network and a research ecologist at the University of Minnesota, will discuss the eastern expansion of cougars from their core range in the western U.S. at 7 p.m. in Moravian College's Haupert Union Building, Bethlehem. "They are very strong animals," she said. Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. 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. There had been 17 other mastodon finds in Pennsylvania up to 1968, but all were fragmentary. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. "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. Did they migrate south from Canada? Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. Fish and Wildlife Service. But even without that second look there was no question that we'd seen a coyote. All rights reserved (About Us). These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. Who knows? 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? 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. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? I haven't seen any reports like that.". 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. One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). 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 owners. It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. Scientists debate whether the large prehistoric mammals became extinct at the end of the Ice Age due to over-hunting, or rapid climate warming. We hope you enjoy this foray into the most weird and wonderful our beloved Pocono Mountains have to offer. "I thought I had a sighting in the late '90s," Delaware Water Gap National Recreation park ranger Chris Kross said. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a mountain lion migrated about 1,500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut where it was killed by a. I've looked in the PGC game laws booklet and saw nothing on this, which I guess you could conclude means a puma would not be legal to shoot. Any Truth 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. The life cycle then repeats itself. "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. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! 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!' The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). I had three cameras positioned, so had a cat visited, I'd have had it. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. 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. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. Who knows? Is there a Puma conspiracy? You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. 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. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. 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. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. September 21st, 2008, 08:14 PM #74. That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. 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. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? In some areas, entire populations of a species exhibit this trait, for unlike albinism, which results in a conspicuous white color and light-sensitive pink eyes, there are no ill effects with melanism. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Transient males have been sighted as far east as New York! In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? These cubs are born blind and helpless. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. The story behind our new web site. 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. Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. Most of my original Questions of the Month for the last several The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. In 2011, a confirmed mountain lion was killed by a vehicle in Connecticut and which had been determined that it had wandered east from the Mid-West. The cat was far enough away that I couldn't get a size reference, and I believed the cat was further away than it actually was. I have three observations here: 1. Did they migrate south from Canada? Recently, on a back road in Pennsylvania, a friend and I had our first sighting of a coyote in Pennsylvania. Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Note the size of the tail, the pointed ears, the speckled coat, the basic lack of white underneath. That's true. 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. All rights reserved. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? "We should be getting more pictures. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. 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. Thank you for reading! Looking for things to do in the Poconos? Recently, on our Arizona Hummingbird and Bat Photo Shoot, I found a deer that had been hit by a car and had moved off to die beside a stream just 200 yards upstream from our lodge. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Puma vs Mountain Lion: Is There a Difference? At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. Recently, a man I spoke with told me that he was reminded of a sighting he and two friends had 20 years earlier, and after recalling the incident he was motivated to call his college buddies and reflect on their observation. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. 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. 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. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? 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). Mountain lions were once widespread across North America, but their range shrunk dramatically as they were pursued through unregulated hunting and by farmers aiming to protect their livestock, and moved off the landscape by habitat fragmentation. 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 claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. 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. Conversely, an outdoor writer I know told me that when Pa. enacted a menagerie permit law years ago, 'a lot of mountain lions suddenly died,' as the owners of these cats, rather than going through the paperwork, simply released their pumas and claimed that they had died. I've know of reports since 1973, in Cooke Forest, the heart of a lot of Pa. wilderness. See also: In books I've read critical or skeptical or down-right dismissive of the idea of pumas in the East, the argument has been advanced that the hopefull puma-dreamer/spotters arguing that the State needs to prove pumas don't exist does not mean that in the State not proving this means that pumas indeed do exist in this state. 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. 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. 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. If it were, it would be listed. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. The state of Texas is home to many mountain lion populations, but the numbers are incredibly hard to find. A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. 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. If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. Here in central Pennsylvania we live on the outskirts of what one puma-tracking website has as almost the high point of sightings, extending from north-central Pennsylvania in a southwestern diagonal that extends into the mountains of West Virginia. "I know they're native to this area. 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. 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. In January, the U.S. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. Interestingly, the US Fish and Wildllife Service has declared the Eastern Puma extinct, except for the Florida population known as the Florida panther. Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. The bounty for adult wolves and cougars was raised on March 16, 1819 to $12. In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. 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. Let me explain this. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. 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. After a small population was reintroduced into their historic land, their population has grown to a stable and breeding group of between 200-300 individuals. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! If mountain lions are discovered in PA anytime soon they'll either be big foot's pets or genetically engineered and released by the DCNR to cull the orangu-bear population. No An official form of the United States government. "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're seeing an animal they don't know or recognize, and while some may be watching a smaller bobcat about 35 pounds), some believe they've actually spotted a cougar. What do I think of the Canon 1D Mark IV? Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? 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! Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. 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. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. 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 . Would a puma then qualify as a native species? "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). "It's one of those things where I'll believe it when I see it," said Jason Farmer of Pocono Summit, my hunting partner for the last eight years. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? 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. It will happen eventually. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Me? Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. 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 . I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. The other two clans were the Turtle and Turkey. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. This happens usually around the 18-month mark. 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. No one needs to panic.". One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I've seen about 10 black bears in Pennsylvania, and all within ten miles of my home. The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . 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. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. Suppose, instead of declaring the puma, or Eastern mountain lion, extinct, the USFWS actually recognized the existence of the cat as a wild, breeding species. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. Still, people say they know what they saw out there.
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