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. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. 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. "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). So how or why could there be a conspiracy? One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. 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? Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax, More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? Who knows? 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. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. I believe them. 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. "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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. 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. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. 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. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? Some cats had a South American genetic profile. 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. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. 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. Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. What equipment do we take in the field? How do I deal with shaving weight for carrying my gear? DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. 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. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. 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. Woolly mammoth bones were discovered in Bradford County in 1983. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. Mountain Lion Habitat in Tennessee - ArcGIS StoryMaps The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! So many of these sightings have been proven wrong misidentified bobcats, coyotes or even house cats) that it would be irresponsible for a biologist to accept any of them as fact without absolute physical evidence hair, droppings, tracks or a road-killed animal. 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? Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. 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. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. Everyone is familiar with albinism, the absence of pigmentation that results in a white, essentially pigment free animal, defined by pink skin and pink eyes. I'll offer my own little anecdote. 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 that cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. This one streaked across the road in the early evening, and fortunately, it stopped when it climbed a hill on the other side where I had another view from my side of the truck. 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. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. 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. 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. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. 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. Pocono Mountains: Best Things To See And Do - TravelAwaits People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. 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. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. These cubs are born blind and helpless. This animal was undoubtedly a bobcat. 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. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park in Lake Ariel has two. 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. 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? Pocono Mountains - Travel guide at Wikivoyage Hunting is legal in the state, but it is heavily controlled and restricted. "I know they're native to this area. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. . The coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. Foster, the Messiah College professor, said he has investigated about 15 reported mountain lion sightings since late May, and believed "three or four are pretty likely a mountain lion." Ironically, I almost deleted the image, as on the small camera LCD monitor the cat was small and I thought that it was just another deer that moved along the stream. 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.). Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic States? Pa Mountain lion, cougar, or big cat in bucks county Pennsylvania Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. 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. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. Puma vs Mountain Lion: Is There a Difference? Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. 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. 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. 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. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. A Mountain Lion Cover Up The life cycle then repeats itself. Imagine my surprise. (National Park Service). The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. 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. 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. About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. 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. Thank you for reading! There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! 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. 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. Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. With healthy populations and strong conservation programs, however, they seem to be pushing back east. 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. Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. It will happen eventually. All rights reserved (About Us). Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks 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. Only once has anyone later determined that they had misidentified the cat, seeing a bobcat and not a mountain lion. The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. Mountain lions, Goodrich wrote, were more dreaded than wolves as the cat could climb over any fence that could be built. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. 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. And a bit of an unpleasant one at that, as they now faced ridicule or doubt whenever they discussed their sightings. 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. The hunting policy of the state may be the cause of the dropping population, and pressure on the Fish and Game Commission has increased. The 'look' is from my 10 Stunning Mountains In Pennsylvania - AZ Animals Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. Some may be animals that dispersed into the region from western populations. The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. 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. DNA collected from the mountain lion killed on a roadway in Connecticut in 2011 showed the animal to have originated in South Dakota. Eastern mountain lion officially declared extinct - pennlive.com 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. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens . "If there was mountain lions in Pennsylvania), I think we'd be getting reports from farmers and people with pets that there were attacks on their animals," Martinelli said. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. ? He saw a big cat. 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. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania Good luck, and let me know! How, Who, and Why? 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?' He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. a high priority. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions - AZ Animals What would account for the long tails? A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. "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. I believe Kross fully, but I wanted to hear more. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. 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. It wasn't, and I assumed it was a road-kill. The state of Texas is home to many mountain lion populations, but the numbers are incredibly hard to find. 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. They are there to help us. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. We hope you enjoy this foray into the most weird and wonderful our beloved Pocono Mountains have to offer. Is it the New Best Pack? (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. (National Park Service). But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. I've know of reports since 1973, in Cooke Forest, the heart of a lot of Pa. wilderness. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! Find cabins in the Poconos, PA near places like Bushkill Falls, Camelback Mountain Resort, and more. It was definitely a mountain lion, and it had a big buck, white-tailed deer in its jaws. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). 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! 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. 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 story behind our new web site. Over 1,100 people follow her page. Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. Only when I reviewed the images on my laptop did I discover that I had a mountain lion! However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. Others would like to see some scientific proof. The next day, the photo disappeared from the site. 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. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. 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. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. 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. All of these forests are, with few exceptions, open to hunting, and hunting is a very important industry in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. 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. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. Here it is: I still couldn't get the big head/little neck, and the body is a bit stouter/shorter, but a striding cat might be stretched out a bit. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. 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. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Bushkill Falls Trail. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. Oregon has a large, stable breeding population of mountain lions. "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. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. In January, the U.S. Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. 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. 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? He said he'd never forget the sighting, but it was only when he saw another, a few months ago, in daylight, from his cabin, that he decided it was time to tell someone. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. Fish and Wildlife Service. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Most of the native mountain lions live in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but humans rarely ever see them due to their secretive nature. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. An escapee is also possible. 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. 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. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. 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. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. 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.
are there mountain lions in the poconos
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