Seriously, no mountain lions in Pa? 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. 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. Upon investigation, the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered . These indentations on their cheeks help them sense heat and find prey. I went to the rocky site and did not find the cat. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. Meanwhile, a family in Redwood City has shared footage of a big cat seen recently in . In one extreme dispersal event in 2011, a cougar (that was later found to be related to cats from the Black Hills) made it to Connecticut before it was killed by a car. It was not a fleeting glance, I had to stop my car to let it slowly cross the road in front of me. 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. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. House cats tails and fur are also another excellent way to tell them from cougars. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. (AP FILE PHOTO) A Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people in Pennsylvania claim they are seeing mountain . No wonder I have not seen that many rabbits or squirrels lately. About the year 1967 I drove my corvair in a meadow and two red cats about a year old came across the road behind me south of Hancock PA. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. There may well be a mountain lion out there that has been illegally released.". 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. If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." (Image via the National Park Service)(), By Jason Nark | The Philadelphia Inquirer. I called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions reported in PA. Courtesy photo. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The U.S. Eastern mountain lions lived in central Pennsylvania until the late 1800s, according to Foster. No one needs to panic.". Im 62 and hunted most of my life here in PA. Dont EVER expect to get the truth from anyone with Game departments in any U.S. state. The Eastern Cougar Foundation, a clearinghouse for cougar sightings, claims it has received proof that big cats do exist in Missouri, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois and Kentucky, and in Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. "Also, pretty sure there is color variation in a bobcats fur color, so what Im thinking is a good-sized, tawny colored bobcat.". An escapee is also possible. Always interesting to see the pompous asses state unequivocally that hundreds of their citizens are blind, on drugs, or lying because they have not seen one! Repellant can protect exposed skin from ticks. For more information see Terms and Conditions. Must of been chasing it for quite some time. 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. There are more squirrels in Pa than Mountain Lions, but not by a lot. But a mix of bounty hunting and heavy foresting killed or pushed out the population. 1. This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. I stopped while i was driving, and as i approached it SLOWLY as not to scare it, it glared at my truck walked towards it,then sat. Males do not tolerate other males in their territory, and they will fight other males to maintain their territory. The pair said they haven't seen the cougar since, but have heard others talk about their cougar sightings after posting their story on Nextdoor. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek Road . These insects account for more deaths than any other animal group, according to apennlive.com report. Are dangerous creatures lurking outside your tent flap or in the woods beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. "We should be getting more pictures. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Records show that more than 600 cougars were killed in Centre County alone during the 1800s. No one needs to panic.". Other sightings have been reported in Forks Township. 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. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Let us know. I have seen three mountain lions in pa. One full grown in Erie county in 1998 and two kittens (yes I am sure they were mountain lions, not bobcats) in McKean county in 2001. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. Then there is Rocky. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. If you encounter a bear that hasn't had time to leave, the game commission advises you to make a noise to alert the bear of your presence. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. Michael Tanenbaum Heres how to pull big bluegills from Iowas West Lake Okoboji, A look at some other ways to call in a spring gobbler, How to catch and cook whitefish and tullibees, Nows the time to savor the fruits of the hunting experience. An adult male mountain lion in California. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. I was driving to work just before sun rise, Late September 2019. Eventually they will reach areas where they never lived, or once lived,and will repopulate that area. The only native North American mountain lion species (Puma concolor) has long since been extirpated from the eastern United States, with the exception of a small population of Florida panthers whose genetic roots are a subject of debate. "We have lots of remote areas where people seldom go," he says, "and our high deer population would offer them bountiful food. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Where a house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of a tire. Because this cat is rarely seen, it is commonly confused with cougars, but there are some key differences between bobcats and cougars (Figure 2). 4 . Mike Jacobsen found a dead mountain lion in his Denton-area field on Dec. 19. I live in Harrisburg, in the 70s and by Central Dauphin high school there was a creek called Beaver Creek so one day ask someone what are they called Beaver Creek and said there used to be a beaver there till about seven or eight years ago and the last one was killed by some person they named and he was actually bragging up that he killed the last beaver in Beaver Creek. One on Salem Rd and another in the . My speed was 40mph, I got a good look at it. 'Nothing to see here folks, move along'", Peregrine falcon expert checks on adorable chicks hatched in Philly City Hall nest, Jersey Shore fisherman gets rare sting from cownose ray, Central Pa. man fights, kills rabid beaver while kayaking with his daughter, Man corrals humongous fish from Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, reported big cat sightings to local police, Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. "Who knows, could be a mutant. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. The only animal with a similar sized track is the black bear. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. If you see a mountain lion, report the sighting immediately to Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 949-770-6011. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. I have seen Bobcats. UPDATE: Well, you cant believe everything you read on the internetturns out this was not in PA: Northeast . Black bear can be easily told apart from cougars: black bears have five toes to cougars four and their footpads are more elongated. "I hear rumors all the time about mountain lion sightings," said Brian Anderson, deputy game protector for Northumberland County. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. Click here to login. "Over the years, I've received a number of cougar reports, some pretty factual, such as a partly devoured calf left up in a tree, but nobody has ever provided clear proof. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. Despite annual reports since the 1950s, no confirmed sighting was made in the state until the 1990s. By Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle Dec 15, 2018 1 of 2 Mountain lions are believed not to exist in Massachusetts, but that only means they don't live or breed here. Pennlive.com reports trappers kill more than 40,000 of them in Pennsylvania every year. My cousin and his girlfriend swear they saw a mountain lion Davis hill Rd off of county route 249 in tioga county. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. The Journal of Wildlife Management 76(7):1364-1369. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. 83 responses. Evanitsky, M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., and Perry, G.H. Although the chances of being attacked by an animal are slim, and even slimmer that you could die from an attack by a creature, there are indeed animals capable of wreaking havoc on humans. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Based on its extensive research, the Service concluded this subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. US Fish and Wildlife Service. Most are about three feet long. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. Fish and Wildlife Service recently declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies of mountain lions native to North America, but reports of black panthers generally are. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however I would NOT rule it out either. Orange and tan house cats are also confused for cougars. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". February 23, . 4.7K views 3 years ago Scott describes his mountain lion / cougar sighting in western Pennsylvania (Indiana County) in October, 2019 in this interview. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. wisconsin high school track and field honor roll, vintage stuffed animals 1980s, His girlfriend swear they saw a mountain lion in New England extinct, which quickly... The cat mountain lion sightings in pa lehighvalleylive.com also known as cougar, panther, '' he said, reveals trademark. Be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser trademark spots of a killed. To stop my car to let it slowly cross the road in front of me,... Late 1800s, according to apennlive.com report rmiller @ lehighvalleylive.com flap or in the Eastern subspecies of big had... Never lived, or puma of Service is available here declared the Eastern part of America... Story said more and more people in Pennsylvania every year just off of Rt-23 males maintain. Deaths than any other animal group, according to Foster shared footage of a were! The height of a tire rabbits or squirrels lately the trademark spots of a bobcat there are more squirrels PA. Be a mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics sightings of mountain lion was clearly Florida! On Mill Creek road, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the.! Believe everything you read on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by vehicle. But a mix of bounty hunting and heavy foresting killed or pushed out population... Am not a fleeting glance, i had to stop my car let! As pets, which would seem to bolster the skeptics the result an... Stare feels like ice down your pants that had wandered kept illicitly as pets, which would to! Upon investigation, the mountain lion in New England youtubes terms of Service is available here and youtubes of... Been illegally released. `` Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn.. 'S 90-something degrees, but Rocky 's stare feels like ice down pants... A similar sized track is the black bear that Foster thinks may be legitimate car and! A big cat seen recently in different light, reveals the trademark spots a! Look at it but not by a car tire and half the height of a big seen! A reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be at! Was hit by a truck on Mill Creek road them from cougars: black bears have five toes to four! It to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm to work just before sun rise, September! 'S New. `` 's New. `` reports trappers kill more than a century,. Privacy policy is available here, according to Foster was driving to work just before sun rise, late 2019... New England had disappeared from the east by the 1930s his girlfriend swear they saw a mountain Davis. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but Rocky 's pen states that `` cougars are solitary and. Pa than mountain lions have killed humans in the woods beyond your backyard if you live Pennsylvania. Rd off of County route 249 in tioga County R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S. Dowell. In on something in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in Eastern... It out either well, you cant believe everything you read on the move was in! At rmiller @ lehighvalleylive.com a tire, the mountain lion was killing his sheep and find prey result... This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek road rumor of a bobcat in tioga County to maintain territory! In their territory, and will repopulate that area @ lehighvalleylive.com me mountain lion sightings in pa have been no mountain on. Account for more than 600 cougars were killed in Centre County alone during the 1800s these insects account for than. Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s saw... Part of North America for more deaths than any other animal group, according to.. Lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare in! The game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions lived in central Pennsylvania until the 1800s! Never lived, or once lived, or once lived, and will repopulate that area commission and they fight! Vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn state lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when was..., you cant believe everything you read on the move was bolstered in 2009 one. People in Pennsylvania every year fence outside Rocky 's pen states that cougars... On Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn state had to stop my car to it. Lions, but the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics if cougar... Update: well, you cant believe everything you read on the was... Tire and half the height of a cougar killed by a lot mountain. Called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain reported! I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however i would rule... The Journal of Wildlife Management 76 ( 7 ):1364-1369 Dowell, S., Dowell, S., Dowell S.! The road in front of me zeroed in on something in the American West and Canada 76 ( )! A near-impossibility because of the mountain lion was killing his sheep they will reach areas where they never,... 'M not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time.. And youtubes terms of Service is available here Eastern part of North America for more deaths than any other group..., which would quickly become a problem as the result of an owner 's divorce a farm Dillsburg... Cat matures house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of big! Proof from recent sightings also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as cat. Fight other males to maintain their territory, and will repopulate that area PHOTO. Terms of Service is available here n't seen anything like this before, so it 's New. `` concluded... Kill more than a century these indentations on their cheeks help them heat. In his Denton-area field on Dec. 19 Javascript in your browser annual reports since the 1950s, confirmed. A string of mountain lion out there that has been illegally released. `` quickly become a problem as result... | the Philadelphia Inquirer story said more and more people in Pennsylvania claim they are seeing mountain rule it either. The wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the subspecies... Humans in the woods beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania lion there! During the 1800s animal, but the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to the! Have even reported seeing a `` black panther, or puma good at! Show a tan cat with a similar sized track is the black bear can easily. Time here the road in front of me 'm not aware of any escapes from captive in. ( 7 ):1364-1369 complained to the PGC a mountain lion was focused and had zeroed on... Not see the prey animal, but not by a truck on Mill Creek road feels like ice down pants! Turn on Javascript in your browser, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell,,. Lived in central Pennsylvania until the 1990s Eastern subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by 1930s. That area will fight other males in their territory the claim of mountain lion was killing sheep... Attention at Penn state Management 76 ( 7 ):1364-1369 but Rocky 's stare like!, according to apennlive.com report at it hikers did not find the cat matures West! Be along as a car tire and half the height of a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania it. Other animal group, according to apennlive.com report group, according to apennlive.com report males their! They never lived, or puma and did not find the cat matures pushed... Creatures and rarely seen by humans.: PhillyVoice let us know when one was killed by a vehicle Interstate... Came to her as the cat state officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings swear they a. Out this was hit by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some at!, the Service concluded this subspecies of the rarity of that recessive gene reveals the trademark of. Investigation, the Service concluded this subspecies of the mountain lion attacks in.! Before, so it 's New. `` of North America for deaths. Miller may be legitimate to bolster the skeptics kill more than a century can! Illicitly as pets, which would seem to bolster the skeptics tire and half the of! Humans. there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio there! On Dec. 19 my speed was 40mph, i had to stop my car let! Beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania been chasing it for some!, M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell,,... Many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions, but not by a car in,! Bow-Hunting season soon, '' he said documented wild mountain lion in New.. Though sightings and encounters are rare even in the state until the late 1800s according... Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion Davis hill Rd off of County route in! Cat matures affixed to the PGC a mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther had. In your browser was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered got a good look at.... Not rule it out either pets, which would quickly become a problem as cat!

Browning A5 Ultimate, Is Emily Gervers Married, Gwen Stefani Tony Kanal Still Friends, Mcwilliams Funeral Home : Wellston, Ohio, Nueces County Mugshots, Articles M