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Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. Pa Mountain lion, cougar, or big cat in bucks county Pennsylvania If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? 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. It wasn't, and I assumed it was a road-kill. September 21st, 2008, 08:14 PM #74. There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. But this one was black, and he knows mountain lions are some variant of brown. If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. But more and more people in Pennsylvania, from the Alleghenies to the Poconos to rolling farmlands in York County, claim they are seeing the big cats here, even though the state's "last" native lion, also known as a cougar or puma, was shot and killed in Berks County in 1871 and the feds have declared the Eastern subspecies extinct. 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. Big cats in Pennsylvania: mountain lions or bobcats? - Pocono Record 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. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." Among those who have investigated the primeval times of the Pocono Plateau and Delaware River valleys and tributaries was the late Vernon Leslie, Ph.D., a Wayne County historian and archaeologist. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. I Googled "Pocono mountain lion" and there it was the same photo, except the caption claimed that it was taken in Oklahoma, not Pennsylvania, and various posted comments asserted that the photo was manipulated. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. Bushkill Falls Trail. Note the long, usually thick tail. Because the neck bothered me, I decided to do some Photoshop on the puma in the lower left, moving his head higher up and changing the image to a contrasty black and white - to give a silhouette for comparision. Armand Martinelli isn't only the mayor of East Stroudsburg, he's also a hunter who is connected with plenty of people in the area. I'll be anxious to learn of your report. There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. 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. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. Of interestRamapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park in Lake Ariel has two. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. The mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on average between 75-120 pounds, has long whiskers and a distinctive swooping tail. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. 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. 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. DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion 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. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) - Texas "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. The coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. 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. 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. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. He wrote that not being a roving animal, the mountain lion was much sooner destroyed than the wolf, and he said that if there were any left, it would have to be in the most desolate places in the county. That's true. Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? Oregon has a large, stable breeding population of mountain lions. What equipment do we take in the field? Pocono Mountains: Best Things To See And Do - TravelAwaits 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. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. I've seen so many examples of these distortions, exaggerations and lies over the last couple of years that I've grown very dubious about anything I see on a computer. What do I think of the Canon 1D Mark IV? People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. 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. 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. 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!' 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. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. Biologists traced it. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. 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. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. See also: These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. No An official form of the United States government. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. I believe them. 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. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. 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. If it were, it would be listed. Ramapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization, Bigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a great litter of boulders, rocks, clay and lakes covering today's landscape. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. 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 mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on average between 75-120 pounds, has long whiskers and a distinctive swooping tail. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? I had three cameras positioned, so had a cat visited, I'd have had it. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. I've know of reports since 1973, in Cooke Forest, the heart of a lot of Pa. wilderness. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. The state of Idaho is large, expansive, and full of rocky wilderness. 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. Good luck, and let me know! The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. Additionally, California banned the hunting of cougars back in 1972, encouraging population growth. 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. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. The story behind our new web site. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' 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 . Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. How, Who, and Why? 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 Game Commission concluded they were coyotes. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. In January, the U.S. Does the mountain lion roam Pa? - Pocono Record 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? Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. Is there a Puma conspiracy? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow 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. "They preyed upon the caribou, and probably the mastodon," Leslie wrote of these large animals flourishing on the grasses and cold-climate flora that sprouted following the glacier's retreat. The next day, the photo disappeared from the site. And, some may be escaped or illegally released pets. The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. If youve done any research on your own, you may have noticed that we didnt include a lot of states that have had cougar sightings, especially in the last few years. They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. years are available through this link. 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. Let me explain this. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. 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. The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. 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. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. Instead, the person usually pauses, sometimes with a sheepish or embarrassed expression on his face, and seems reluctant to continue. Although a large proportion of the Lenape Nation was dispersed far from their ancestral homelands in the 18th century, colonial settlers and their descendants struggled to live in this region with wolves and cougars inhabiting the forests. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. 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. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. 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). with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. 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. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. 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. 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. Bo Ottman is a landscaper in Connecticut who founded an . 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. There are, from time to time, eyewitness accounts from hunters or hikers who claim to have seen the cat.