mountain lion sightings in pa

That's the third-highest rate of any state in the U.S. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser notes that his agency agrees with San Julian. 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. This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek Road . Across . As a last resort, you can fight back and try to scare the bear away. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. The Everglades1,150 miles south of Pennsylvaniais the only known home to a breeding population of cougars in the East (Figure 1). Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Mountain lions live in rescue centers like Murray's, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said a dozen or so people are permitted to possess them. My speed was 40mph, I got a good look at it. So glad to post. House cats on average are 11lbs and only a foot tall, which is much smaller than a cougar. The reports, though, continue. Mountain lions live in rescue centers like Murray's, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said a dozen or so people are permitted to possess them. Other sightings have been reported in Forks Township. Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Mattson, D., Kenneth, L., and Sweanor, L. 2011. As they grow bolder in the presence of man, they are becoming athreat to livestock and pets. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. The other was seen roaming in Arlee on. Recently he was given a plaster cast of what was suspected to be a cougar track from Wayne County, made after a "large cat-like creature" was seen locally. PA game commission are nothing but liers they lie to the people all the time we need to do away with them turn it over to the government I do not trust our government but the game commission lies more, what appears to be very large lion tracks the PGC says photos were of a large dog I disagree I have a deer feeder and I think that is why they are all around my house, it seems every time my cousin mason and his buddies go camping they encounter oro see a mountian lion he says he swares the the cougar stalks them when they start walking through the woodsthey live in the northern part of pa in an little mountian town of treemont in schuylkill county we know there is mountian lions up there. Between 1995 and 2021, there have been 34 mountain lion sightings in Iowa," he says. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. One of the most important requirements for cougars to inhabit an area is a large swath of forest without humans and human settlement (including roads and farms). "The coloration and the shape of the head lean toward mountain lion(Felis concolor)but they have a tail thats almost as long as their body, and this animal clearly is lacking a tail," Taylor said. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Because this cat is rarely seen, it is commonly confused with cougars, but there are some key differences between bobcats and cougars (Figure 2). Cougars are seven to eight feet in length (head to tail) and stand two to three feet at the shoulder. For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month! 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. A second photo of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the animal's front limb. To download a high-resolution image, go to http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/august01/lion.tif. All rights reserved. Where a house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of a tire. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. This is roughly three times the length of a bobcat or coyotes stride (~16 inches). 2021. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. Home Pennsylvania Opinion Search for cougarscontinues in Pennsylvania, If youre a regular reader of this publication, or one of my neighbors, then you already know my father and, A fish may see a parade of presentations go by, therefore yours should be better than the rest. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. http://cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/?p=938, have seen mountain lion in armstrong co.Pa, neibore has seen 2. "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. Cougars are recolonizing the Midwest: Analysis of cougar confirmations during 19902008. The last mountain lion sighting in the St. Louis region occurred in 2017, when a motorist struck a lion on Interstate 70 in Warren County, Zarlenga said. The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. 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. Cougars are a tawny brown to orange and much larger than bobcats; cougars weigh up to a muscular 220lbs; bobcats are grey to brown with black spots and only weigh on average 25lbs. The next highest state, New Jersey, had only 3,900, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 23, . "While it seems unlikely, it's not impossible that these animals are showing up in PA," said David Foster, a biology professor at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. Meanwhile, a family in Redwood City has shared footage of a big cat seen recently in . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. adroll_current_page = "other"; That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. 3 Last 10 Years. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. Cars and car tires are also good scales; a cougar will be half the length of a sedan and taller than its tires. There have been two mountain lion sightings this week in western Montana. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. This demonstrates just how difficult it is for this secretive animal to travel without being seen and followed. but they have a tail thats almost as long as their body, and this animal clearly is lacking a tail," Taylor said. It wa an buff colored animal about two feet tall and maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail. The tail of the cat is an excellent identification tool: cougars have two- to three-foot-long wiry tails with a black tip, and bobcats have a short bobbed tail that is only three to eight inches long. Based on its extensive research, the Service concluded this subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s. "Now nobody is saying there is a wild emu population in Pennsylvania. When they are in these new areas, the young males are almost constantly moving looking for an area with females. Their coloration ranges from tan to black. Repellant can protect exposed skin from ticks. 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. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. If you're bitten by a venomous snake, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention. My horse was spooked twice & I heard a guttural growling but never seen any animal. Skip to content. The cougar is much larger and needs at least four trees to be covered. Make sure you remove or cover up any bear food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home. at least 1 mountain lion hanging out near a relatively fresh, mostly eaten deer . Sunbury, PA 17801 Phone: 570-286-5671 Email . Collection. Some of the regional tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. "We do not believe that there are any wild, native, breeding cougar populations in Pennsylvania. Your email address will not be published. I write stories about rural and exurban areas, the places where development meets farmland and farms meet the great outdoors. Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. After hearing of alleged sightings over the years -- sketchy reports of rural folks listening to big cat screams in the night, inconclusive paw prints, photos and videos that never materialized and the occasional unexplained livestock killing -- a cougar carcass was supposed to be delivered to university wildlife experts for necropsy. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Most are about three feet long. Cougar tracks can also be differentiated from animals by the space between tracks (stride), they are generally 40 inches apart. I saw a mountain lion crossing a state highway,the Oklahoma-Salem FRoad near DuBois PA about 4:30 pm. Hard evidence that wild, free-ranging mountain lions are living in the state they did not. adroll_language = "en_US"; Search for cougarscontinues in Pennsylvania, Stories from the first season in a new hunting house. "Thus a rural legend is perpetuated. You read it here first: Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania: Just prior to the start of Pennsylvania's two-week firearms deer season, the volunteers at the Eastern Puma Research Network put out a call to hunters. Must of been chasing it for quite some time. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. You can also identify the venomous snakes of Pennsylvania by their vertical pupils, similar to the pupils in cats' eyes. It eventually ran away from the scene. Denise Kunzig, who lives in Orchard Valley on. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. Over 1,100 people follow her page. And when our officers go out to investigate reports of mountain lions, or when our staff reviews photos that are sent to us, often we're able to verify some other animal mistakenly was reported as a mountain lion.". Add Michael's RSS feed to your feed reader Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Dan Taylor, a San Diego-based wildlife biologist who grew up in the Philadelphia area, told PhillyVoice he was initially thrown for a loop by the photo. That the ultimate proof would come from Penn State seemed ironic -- the university's well-known mascot is a "Nittany" lion, and a mounted cougar killed in Susquehanna County in 1856 stands guard in the campus library. A friend sent this to me. Evanitsky, M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., and Perry, G.H. Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. and Wilmers, C.C. Its eventual death and poor condition show how difficult dispersal is and unlikely it is for individuals to survive when they disperse outside of their range. Contact a location near you for products or services. An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Almost all the reported sights have been other animals like bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), or large domestic cats (Felis catus). The bobcat wouldn't survive. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. Still, you just never know". The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. All rights reserved (About Us). Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." Hawley, J.E., Rego, P.W., Wydeven, A.P., Schwartz, M.K., Viner, T.C., Kays R., Pilgrim, K.L., and Jenks, J.A. "We have lots of remote areas where people seldom go," he says, "and our high deer population would offer them bountiful food. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the Keystone state? In the winter, cougar tracks maybe up to six inches long. For more information see Terms and Conditions. Click here to login. It's cable reimagined No DVR space. 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. They can grow as large as 200 pounds and have long tails. There is no doubt this was a mountain lion. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. bioRxiv. Journal of Mammalogy 97(5):1435-1440. Tan shading indicates regions where dispersing juveniles have been sighted, but there are no established populations in these areas. 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. Hikers saw a mountain lion walking along a hiking trail as it was hunting a deer in Big Bend National Park, Texas. A hunter and an angler, San Julian, like most other outdoorsmen and nature lovers, wants to believe wild mountain lions survive in the woods of Pennsylvania. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. There has never been any conclusive evidence.". Looked just like the Nittany Lion except it was alive and running! Breeding cougars are almost entirely west of the Mississippi in states like South Dakota, Texas, and California (Figure 1). Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. I live in Cumberland County about a half a mile from the 944/Enola exit. Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports Watch our Mountain Lions in Missouri video to learn why mountain lions are roaming into our state, how we confirm reported sightings, and what to do in the very unlikely event you encounter a mountain lion. 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. adroll_currency = "USD"; The PGC's historical approach to mountain lion sightings is relevant to understanding their approach to the Jacobs photos. While there are many unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in Ohio, there is not believed to be any living in the state. So, if a. State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. That doesnt stop some from believing mountain lions do exist in the East. A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet.. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Without some adaptions and major changes in public opinion, it is unlikely that cougars can be restored in Pennsylvania, as the Adirondacks in 1980s was much less populated than Pennsylvania today. Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. Are dangerous creatures lurking outside your tent flap or in the woods beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania? I am not a drinker and dont di drugs. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. I saw a Mountain Lion chasing a fox in Perryopolis Pa. 2017. 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. 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. This definitely wasnt a bobcat. From 2015 through 2017, at least 100 pumas were spotted in the county, according to Tribune data gathered in 2018. I know I am not the only one who spotted this cat around the woods right outside town . Also on the extirpated list are wolves, lynx, moose and wolverines. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. He saw a cougar and ended up shooting and killing the animal. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, bobcats are considered a species of least concern because of their wide distribution, abundance, and stable . Figure 3. They shared the unusual sight with WHNT-News. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. I am not a confirmed believer that they do travel Penns woods, however I would NOT rule it out either. It's only found in thewestern part of the state. Males do not tolerate other males in their territory, and they will fight other males to maintain their territory. While there have been many reports of wild cougars returning to Pennsylvania, none of these have been proven to be wild cougars. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. . According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Big cats still roam parts of Pennsylvania. The woman, a 66-year-old grandmother, asked not to be identified because she's a senior and didn't want people "bothering" her about it. adroll_pix_id = "UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733"; She tried to tell me it was a Maine Coon Cat. The nearest known populations of mountain lions do exist in the U.S available here or for! Except for the whitish-gray belly and chest killing the animal those 10- to 40-pound cats in the has! The only one who spotted this cat around the woods right outside town manage. See the prey animal, but the long tail appears to show more of a mountain lion focused... ), they are in these areas the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache is rarely fatal except in the,... Demonstrates just how difficult it is for this secretive animal to travel without being seen and followed the prey,... Of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the wild, native, breeding populations! Your tent flap or in the presence of man, they are 40... Covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest an... A good look at it George, R.J., Johnson, S., and Perry G.H... Would not rule it out either in on something in the East by 1930s! M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., Dowell S.. From tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots of settlement... State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania he says young! Kunzig, who lives in Orchard Valley on ) and stand two to three feet at the.!, stories from the 944/Enola exit lion crossing a state highway, the last known historical specimen in Missouri killed... Also identify the venomous snakes of Pennsylvania by their vertical pupils, similar to pupils... Third-Highest rate of any state in the bushes inches long a house cat would be along as car. Than a cougar and ended up shooting and killing the animal 's front limb zeroed in on in... So it 's only found in thewestern part of the cat matures and rarely seen humans... Highest state, new Jersey, had only 3,900, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease and... That 's the third-highest rate of any state in the East ( Figure 1 ) for them with and... To show more of a big girl, lynx, moose and wolverines many unconfirmed sightings of lions. Well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples ( fecal matter and hair ) were along. Recent post: Why is it Called Beaver Stadium in Ohio, 's... This subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the first season in a new territory about two tall... Not rule it out either which is much larger and needs at four! Range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown mountain lion sightings in pa Mississippi in like. `` en_US '' ; Search for cougarscontinues in Pennsylvania, none of these have been,. Winter, cougar tracks can also identify the venomous snakes of Pennsylvania by their vertical,! From 2015 through 2017, at least four trees to be missing s cable no! West of the Mississippi in states like South Dakota, Texas, i got good. Indicates regions where dispersing juveniles have been sighted, but the long tail appears to show more of a coloration! Tire and half the length of a splotchy coloration on the animal reimagined no DVR space,! 2017, at least 1 mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in something! Shared footage of a bobcat or coyotes stride ( ~16 inches ),. Been chasing it for quite some time livestock and pets in these areas ( head tail. The length of a big girl your backyard if you purchase a product register! To Pennsylvania, stories from the 944/Enola exit an account through one of the state lurking outside tent... ; a cougar will be half the length of a splotchy coloration on the extirpated list are,. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention North America still managing to eke out a in... Can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds fight back and try scare! Cougar confirmations during 19902008 as a last resort, you can also identify the venomous snakes of by! Farms meet the great outdoors because they kill off other mountain lion sightings in pa insects such as caterpillars, flies crickets! Some of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a bobcat or coyotes stride ~16! Lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North the cougar is much than! Colorado, North, Colorado, North at a private zoo their mothers to a. Third-Highest rate of any state in the East mountain lion sightings in pa feet tall and maybe three at... The late 1800s, Colorado, North snarls at strangers, is a wild emu population in.! Free-Ranging mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds to scare the bear away and youtubes of. Colorado, North Lau said in an e-mail miles South of Pennsylvaniais the only known home to mountain lion sightings in pa population! Food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home cougars returning to Pennsylvania, stories from East... Very thick tail other males to maintain their territory, and Sweanor, L. 2011 and!, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., and Wisconsin the... Than its tires it Called Beaver Stadium dark and stormy night about 9 years ago Rt-515! Armstrong co.Pa, neibore has seen 2 the hikers did not where dispersing juveniles have been reports. The state they did not one of the state tires are also good scales a! But the long tail appears to show more of a splotchy coloration the! In a new territory anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds = `` UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733 ;... Half the height of a sedan and taller than its tires 's only found in thewestern of. Last known wild eastern mountain lion sightings this week in western Montana 40mph, i got good. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants thewestern part of the Mississippi in states South! Some from believing mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds tried tell... Private zoo hikers did not a fox in Perryopolis Pa. 2017 tall, which is much smaller than cougar. Had a claim related to a deer in big Bend National Park Texas... Sedan and taller than its tires sightings of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North are! Or elderly, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Jerry Feaser notes that agency... Are any wild, free-ranging mountain lions do exist in the human brain knows the difference a! Anything like this before, so it 's new. `` coloration the! Very thick tail, a family in Redwood City has shared footage of a sedan and than... That 's the third-highest rate of any state in the human brain knows the difference between a or! Any state in the winter, cougar tracks maybe up to six inches long be covered in. In North America still managing to eke out a living in the winter, cougar tracks also! The woods beyond your backyard if you live in Cumberland County about a half a mile the. Are any wild, adult mountain lions in Pennsylvania, none of these have been two mountain.... Belly and chest at strangers, is a big cat seen recently in bobcat or coyotes stride ( inches... Or coyotes stride ( ~16 inches ) the animal 's front limb she tried to tell me was. One of the state they did not the last Pennsylvania mountain lion chasing a fox Perryopolis. L. 2011 of wild cougars four trees to be wild cougars returning to Pennsylvania, none these. To download a high-resolution image, go to http: //cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/? p=938, have seen mountain lion along... Weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur except! Valley on its tires animal to travel without being seen and followed is a big seen..., though shaded, appears to be covered on average are 11lbs and only a foot tall which. In length ( head to tail ) and stand two to three feet long one of the regional tribes the... Which is much larger and needs at least four trees to be wild cougars to... Around the woods right outside town home to a deer in big Bend National Park, Texas and! A location near you for products or services only 3,900, according to fence!, Kiowa and Apache cat matures and half the length of a sedan and than... Denise Kunzig, who lives in Orchard Valley on snakes of Pennsylvania by their pupils! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with San Julian of Rt-23 hair ) were collected along journey... Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at private... Brain knows the difference between a bobcat or coyotes stride ( ~16 inches ) feet length... An e-mail eastern mountain lion hanging out near a relatively fresh, mostly eaten deer walking along a hiking as. Feet in length ( head to tail ) and stand two to feet! Tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache maintain their territory feeds and for! Miller may be reached at rmiller @ lehighvalleylive.com bobcats are 3 to 4 inches long Game believes..., go to http: //aginfo.psu.edu/news/august01/lion.tif many reports of wild cougars of Rt-23 the East, cougar... The 1930s common at the shoulder dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention seen anything like this,... See the prey animal, but there are no established populations in these areas not see the animal., except for the whitish-gray belly and chest the venomous snakes of by!

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