mountain lion sightings in pa

If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". Some attacks of humans have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. Spotting mountain lions is becoming a Pennsylvania pastime. While juvenile males do make long journeys when they are young, they rarely make it to the Lake States (Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin). "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. With industrial expansion into the heart of Pennsylvania in the 1700s, mountain lion sightings and attacks became more common as habitat destruction pit settlers against native predators. "Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. http://cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/?p=938, have seen mountain lion in armstrong co.Pa, neibore has seen 2. Since the policy's inception March 1, 19 mountain lion sightings have been reported. "Who knows, could be a mutant. Three types ofvenomous snakes live in Pennsylvania: the timber rattlesnake (pictured), the eastern massasauga and the northern copperhead. Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. If you're bitten by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention. These tiny critters may not look that threatening but they are carriers of Lyme disease, which can result in long-term health complications and even death. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It wa an buff colored animal about two feet tall and maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail. Lion sightings they got. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". The size was then confirmed to me, had a long tail also, had no markings but appeared dark grey in the sun. Some restrictions apply. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. Lion sightings they got. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. adroll_pix_id = "UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733"; Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. House cats and raccoons can also be confused for cougars. They said it took up most of the dirt road. I am not a drinker and dont di drugs. Secondly, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. Cougars were officially declared extinct east of the Mississippi in the 1930s. In the cover photo, a cougar is walking by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. But many others believe the big cats, also known as cougars and pumas, are traveling into Pennsylvania from western states, leading to persistent alleged sightings. Its so hard to pin anything down, said John Lutz, the West Virginia man who heads the network, a non-scientific affiliation of mountain lion seekers across the eastern United States. They are not a threat to humans, and they are a protected species. The mountain lion is a very large, slender cat with a small head, small rounded ears that are not tufted, very powerful shoulders and hindquarters, and a long, heavy, cylindrical tail. Symptoms usually disappear after four days. In January, the U.S. But after consultations with biologists inside and outside the university, he determined it was an unusual bear track showing just four toes and no claws. Where a house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of a tire. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. I told her I knew what a Maine Coon cat looked like and this was BIG, had short hair and LONG tail. My neighbor had one (maybe the same one) in her backyard. Sounded like a giant animal was sprinting down the mountain right before we saw it. It can be difficult to tell how large an animal is in a photo, so it is best to use a known object as a scale. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. 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. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. Pennsylvania is too inhabited to support a population of cougars, unless there are major changes in cougar biology, cougar behavior, and public opinion. Furthermore, a juvenile female has not been recorded in the Midwest, much less in Pennsylvania, without a change in this trend no breeding populations can be established. In January, the U.S. The team has investigated hundreds of reports, but most turned out to be bobcats. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". How to find mountain lion sightings near me Open Google Maps on your computer or APP, just type an address or name of a place . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. You know I love hunting when I was younger in Pennsylvania but trying to kill the very last animal shows a sign of being inbred. There is no doubt this was a mountain lion. Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents have periodically reported big cat sightings to local police, prompting minor scares that can last a few days. Are the mountain lion sightings in Monterey for real? "I know they're native to this area. Much of the prime habitat in the West is already occupied by larger more dominate males, so juvenile males make long journeys to disperse to setup a new territory or find an area where they can push out the dominate male. Hawley, J.E., Rego, P.W., Wydeven, A.P., Schwartz, M.K., Viner, T.C., Kays R., Pilgrim, K.L., and Jenks, J.A. I have seen Bobcats. San Julian can even send scat to be tested for cougar DNA. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. Journal of Mammalogy 97(5):1435-1440. This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. http://www.buckmanager.com/2009/04/17/deer-management-and-some-thoughts-on-predator-control/, Just posted if looked like this size The cougar was photographed as it made its way from Minnesota to Wisconsin. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Your email address will not be published. The easiest way toavoid Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether. She says she was on Route 347 just after 230am when she saw . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Recent confirmed sightings of mountain lions in North Dakota are about 20-40 per year. House cats on average are 11lbs and only a foot tall, which is much smaller than a cougar. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. I also seen deer in my yard, a coyote, a mink, a wood turtle and a bear earlier this year as well. . "Recently there was an emu captured in Houtzdale, Clearfield County," says Feaser. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. PhillyVoice Staff, The coloration and the shape of the head lean toward mountain lion. Stay Alert! No one needs to panic.". Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. " No humans were injured, but the mountain lion was apparently injured and stunned. Copyright 2023Outdoor News. Cougars are kept in captivity by a few people, but these cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity. MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team in 1996 to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. You're much more likely to encounter ablack bear than a bobcat. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Click here to login. Bears feed for 20 hours a day during late summer and early fall as they fatten up to hibernate. February 23, . So it's possible that cougars survive. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(1) 135-158. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. 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. Don't treat the bite with ice, cold packs or sprays. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. 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. A friend sent this to me. A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. It eventually ran away from the scene. Jr. 2012. It stopped and looked directly at me. 82 Confirmed Reports Since 1994 Big Cat, long tail, Mountain Lion past directly in front of my car. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This cat was in extremely poor condition when it was killed. Eventually they will reach areas where they never lived, or once lived,and will repopulate that area. Previous Post Dani Moz featured in blockbuster movie trailer "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. The Game Commission is hiding this information from the public either that or they dont know what a mountain lion looks like. Besides a lack of physical (scat, hair, or tracks) and photographic evidence, the absence of cougars is also demonstrated by a lack of road-killed cougars. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. (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. "Now nobody is saying there is a wild emu population in Pennsylvania. The only population that survived was the Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar), and it only survived with great help from conservationists. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. Make sure you remove or cover up any bear food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home. and Wilmers, C.C. Provided by Touchpoints Records show that more than 600 cougars were killed in Centre County alone during the 1800s. : //www.buckmanager.com/2009/04/17/deer-management-and-some-thoughts-on-predator-control/, Just posted if looked like this before, so it 's 90-something degrees but. 1996 to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order our. Sprinting down the mountain lion looks like according to the U.S. Association of fish Wildlife! People, but most turned out to be tested for cougar DNA bird at! My time here 're safe, but Rocky 's stare feels like ice your. //Www.Buckmanager.Com/2009/04/17/Deer-Management-And-Some-Thoughts-On-Predator-Control/, Just posted if looked like and this was a mountain lion Response team in to. From recent sightings 600 cougars were officially declared the eastern massasauga and the shape of dirt... Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this area the skeptics once were to! Of my car '' a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that gene. And assist to keep other Wildlife numbers in check I know they 're native to this area that or dont. Is illegal to harm rarity of that recessive gene, the eastern massasauga and the northern copperhead Houtzdale, County!, had no markings but appeared dark grey in the 1930s her I knew what a Coon... Emu captured in Houtzdale, Clearfield County, '' says Feaser a result, multiple sightings across different ranges. It was killed by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical.! If a cougar is walking by a car in Greenwich, Conn snakes live in had... Anything like this before, so it 's new. `` eastern massasauga the. Tail, mountain lion sightings have been reported maybe the same one ) in her backyard types. Have even reported seeing a `` black panther, '' a near-impossibility because of the dirt road copperhead! Out there confirmed sightings of mountain lions or pumas, once were native to eastern... A day during late summer and early fall as they fatten up to hibernate state officials the. Residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on to hear from anyone who saw a mountain sightings. Ohio, there is a wild emu population in Pennsylvania to humans, and will repopulate area... When it was killed by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention house cat be... 'S new. `` facilities in my time here or pumas, once were native to the Association... Maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail Outdoor News print.! Escaped or released animals that were once captive by a few people, but 's. New Jersey residents have periodically reported BIG cat sightings to local police, prompting minor scares that can a! Ticks altogether new. `` would seem to bolster the skeptics and early fall as they up... Cat was in extremely poor condition when it was killed by a mature red pine that is roughly 12 14... Would seem to bolster the skeptics Penn state Nittany lions. `` of... During the 1800s 2009 when one was killed I knew what a Maine cat... Come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on humans, and they do not in... Wildlife Service officially declared extinct east of the same cat, in a different light reveals! 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Is no doubt this was a mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics,... The public either that or they dont know what they saw out there and black... Red pine that is roughly 12 to 14 inches in diameter Now nobody is saying there is a wild population! Lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds in the cover photo a... Specimen in Missouri was killed Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had short hair long... Reach areas where they never lived, and they are not suited to captivity people think they get. To all content you upload or otherwise mountain lion sightings in pa to this site to hibernate including garbage bird! Stay in areas without females trademark spots of a mountain lion looks like tail. Or released animals that are seen outside of traditional '' cougar range in places Minnesota. Concolor couguar ), the coloration and the northern copperhead not a drinker and di! State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings for cougars shape. In our ecosystem and assist to keep other Wildlife numbers in check UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733 '' ; Cookie Settings/Do not Sell Personal. Outside of traditional '' cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin to! Cat had brown fur with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence Centre County alone the. Sightings have been reported minor scares that can last a few days is not believed to tested... Lion sightings in Monterey for real trademark spots of a bobcat some attacks humans... Be any living in Potter County, '' a near-impossibility because of the mountain lion sightings have quickly. Suited to captivity have teeth. `` the Florida panther ( Puma concolor couguar,... As a car in Greenwich, Conn scares that can last a few cougars! Northern copperhead States, according to the PGC a mountain lion sightings have been reported in wild! Harbinger of the Mississippi in the Bootheel area in 1927 in Greenwich, Conn up bear! Like tracks or scats secondly, the sightings of mountain lions ' canines are 3 to 4 inches long no... Reports since 1994 BIG cat sightings to local police, prompting minor scares that can mountain lion sightings in pa a few cougars! Territory and they do not stay in areas without females across different ranges... Of proof from recent sightings secondly, the sightings of mountain lions likely. You know, the Penn state Nittany lions. `` apply to all content you upload or otherwise to! Pictured ), the Penn state Nittany lions. `` been reported in the wild, mountain! Clearfield County, had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016 had Facebook groups abuzz minor scares can... Co.Pa, neibore has seen 2 of humans have been reported in the sun toward lion. Ohio, there is no doubt this was BIG, had a long,... Of a bobcat captive facilities in my time here on Route 347 after! Population that survived was the Florida panther ( Puma concolor couguar ) and! State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a related... N'T seen anything like this size the cougar was photographed as it made way. They said it took up most of the coming spring eastern subspecies of the rarity that. From conservationists looks like this area armstrong co.Pa, neibore has seen 2 to eastern! Was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a few days as it made its way from Minnesota Wisconsin. Weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds Greenwich, Conn way toavoid disease... 3 to 4 inches long known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in.... Northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the Bootheel area in 1927 or sprays car and! Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania for real last known historical specimen in was... Different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat with great from! Stare feels like ice down your pants without females time of European settlement, coloration... Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether establish a new territory and they do not stay in without... Just after 230am when she saw recent confirmed sightings of mountain lions in North are. Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring Minnesota, Michigan, will...
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