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. 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. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. Periodically, via Google searches, I receive reports from people who believe they had seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania, or in other mid-Atlantic states. 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. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! 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. About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. Let me explain this. 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. Did they migrate south from Canada? And yes, there are people in Pennsylvania who say they exist here. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. Sadly, the hunting guidelines for cougars in Idaho are lax, with 400-600 cats being killed each year. If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. "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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. By the mid-1900s pumas were eliminated from almost all of the eastern states, and by mid-century were officially extinct east of the Mississippi, except for a remnant population in southern Florida. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. Others would like to see some scientific proof. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! The last documented sighting of an eastern cougar was one killed in Maine in 1938. A tiny population of Florida cougars persists in the southeastern corner of the United States. 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. I am hoping that more and more people will learn of my own interest in this, and will pass on this information and that I'll receive more reports and, hopefully, sometime, a game camera photo that is definitive. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. The other two clans were the Turtle and Turkey. 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. Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! Still, these resilient animals reside in secluded areas across the United States, with current data suggesting they may even be returning to their historical regions! ? No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. Luxury Cabin Rentals: Pocono Mountain Getaways | Glamping Hub Archived Questions of the Month And this genetic mix has been recognized, and the Florida puma is still protected. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. 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. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. 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. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, and more) are among the top predators that live in the United States. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. And book one of these Poconos cabins rentals for the best outdoor access to these activities. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Their are two web sites I know of that dealt with eastern pumas, with the one, the Eastern Puma Research Network, concentrating on sightings in the east. The sightings were great bear views, but too fast or fleeting to allow me to grab a camera. Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains - National Park Service Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. Where they always here as a relic population? Any Truth 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.). The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. I wanted to know if they're here, so I called some people I trust and asked them one simple question: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. 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. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. While the chances that I'll ever see a puma in Pennsylvania myself are virtually zero, I'm always on the alert -- for the bobcat I've never seen in Pa., for a fisher, bear, deer, red salamander, toad, or snake, and yes, I'm always hoping that I too will become one of those who saw something that officially cannot exist within the state, a puma I know I saw but, of course, could not have! So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? Biologists traced it. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. 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. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Heres What the Data Says. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. Oregon has a large, stable breeding population of mountain lions. Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. Hunting is legal in the state, but it is heavily controlled and restricted. 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 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. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. "I thought I had a sighting in the late '90s," Delaware Water Gap National Recreation park ranger Chris Kross said. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? 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. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. I've spoken to PGC personnel, two being friends, and neither believe there are pumas in Pa. One cited how a bobcat's tail can be much longer than you expect, although I've never seen a bobcat tail longer than, at most, twice the size of the tails illustrated above of the bobcat. Nevertheless, I put up a MOULTRIE game camera -- a brand that I've had tremendous satisfaction with -- at the carcass, hoping that scavengers would visit. Who knows? No one needs to panic.". There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! In January, the U.S. There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! 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. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. In the area around the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia there are mountains and deep caves that contain some of the coal mines that were a major part of the state's industry in the early part of the 19 th century. 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. That may be true, or was once true, but even a declawed puma, if it can survive off rabbits and squirrels, and breeds, its offspring would be fully equipted to survive. It was definitely a mountain lion, and it had a big buck, white-tailed deer in its jaws. The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. The coat can be spotted or solid. That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). 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. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. However, many of my reports were at distances that people knew, and as you look at the images of the puma there really is a big difference in color and shape between a puma and a house cat. They mostly live in the far western Trans-Pecos region of the state, with about 50,000 to 80,000 acres of suitable land currently being used by the cat. But many others believe wild mountain lions are traveling from Western states, where as many as 30,000 could exist, and across the Midwest to Pennsylvania seeking new territory. 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). Where they always here as a relic population? 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. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park in Lake Ariel has two. 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. Continuing with that thought, if that were so, then it'd be possible, if not very likely, that the Eastern puma would be an Endangered Species. 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. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. John Leap of East Stroudsburg's Lakeside Peat Humus Co. and an employee, Paul Strauser, found the bones in a peat bog off Route 209. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. I have not spoken with a Game Commission officer personally, so I don't know whether anyone killing a puma in Pennsylvania could do so without legal repercussions. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. 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'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. 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 . 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. It also mentioned that someone raising a mountain lion without a license may either have let it go when it became too large to handle, or that the animal had escaped. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. As you can see from the above images it is very difficult to confuse the two if you have a good view. The story behind our new web site. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. 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. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . They ponder rare fossil evidence unearthed and seek to make sense of stratified geology, both fleeting in the face of what we call progress. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? 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. 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. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Mountain lions are well-established in 14 western states and have also recently been confirmed in 10 Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Flying over the area, I've looked down and commented upon the amount of habitat that would be available for a puma, if only they existed. Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. 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. 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. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. That summer, a team from the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg excavated the nearly complete skeleton of the ancient elephant, the first of its kind found in the Commonwealth. Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. 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. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. 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. The 'look' is from my Me? Things to Do in the Poconos | Attractions & Outdoors - Pocono Mountains 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. Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? Although in captivity, they can live much longer. "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 last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. The bobcat wouldn't survive. There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but we're probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "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. 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. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' 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.). Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. I'm thinking of the solution often suggested for pesky endangered species out west, namely wolves and grizzly bears. DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled, 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. Perhaps one or more of these Pocono sightings represent early pioneers reclaiming their former territories. 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 one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Mountain lions, Goodrich wrote, were more dreaded than wolves as the cat could climb over any fence that could be built. Provided by Touchpoints The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. 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. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. The rounded ears, Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. Mountain Lion Reports Who knows? There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). Murray also has a cross-eyed white tiger named Keisha, who crushed chicken bones with ease but delicately stepped into a metal pool to cool off. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. You be the judge. Let me know if you have seen one! The question is just like in the story of the boy who cried wolf) if that day ever arrives, how will we believe those first, true sightings after so many hoaxes have been perpetrated on the public? PHILADELPHIA (AP) An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. 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? Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. 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.
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are there mountain lions in the poconos