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. Let me explain this. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. I'll offer my own little anecdote. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Why is bat photography so difficult? The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). 2023 www.poconorecord.com. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. A Mountain Lion Cover Up So what? 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. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. Over 1,100 people follow her page. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? More about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The story behind our new web site. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? The 'look' is from my The coat can be spotted or solid. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. . original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might Mountain lions thrive there due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but we're probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. 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. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). 25 Best Things to Do in The Pocono Mountains Area (for 2023) The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. "We've been here 45 years and I've probably been told by people at least 100 times that they've seen a cougar or mountain lion," said owner Vince Hall. Woolly mammoth bones were discovered in Bradford County in 1983. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! More conclusive evidence is needed: Keep your cameras handy. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer 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. Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. 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. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. It has long been popular with honeymooners, but today the Poconos are a popular destination for families, skiers, adventure seekers, NASCAR fans, and those from urban areas around New England, New York City, Philadelphia . Florida is the only state on the east coast with a breeding population of mountain lions. 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. I've spoken to PGC personnel, two being friends, and neither believe there are pumas in Pa. One cited how a bobcat's tail can be much longer than you expect, although I've never seen a bobcat tail longer than, at most, twice the size of the tails illustrated above of the bobcat. Most of the people I've spoken with live in this belt, but biologists friends I've spoken with have told me of their own reports, first-hand, from hunters in the Poconos who saw pumas, too. 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. "Hunters are always saying they see mountain lions, and the Game Commission always says there aren't any," said Robert Hale, owner of Buffalo Gap Outfitters in Dillsburg. 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. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) NPS.gov Park Home Learn About the Park Nature Animals Mammals Mountain Lion Mountain Lion Last updated: May 4, 2018 Was this page helpful? She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. If pumas do exist in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, could they all be released cats or escapees? One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Controlled hunting of mountain lions is allowed within the state. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? 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. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". Well, right behind our property lies a mountain ridge, one of several that makes a continuous forest that extends, with little interruption, for scores of miles in three directions. Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. Features Writer Micaela Hood is signing off with the Pocono Record after five years of covering arts, culture, entertainment and sports in northeastern . 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. PHILADELPHIA (AP) An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. 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. 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 . Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. How do I deal with shaving weight for carrying my gear? Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. 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. "They're getting a lot of that out west. But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. That summer, a team from the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg excavated the nearly complete skeleton of the ancient elephant, the first of its kind found in the Commonwealth. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. 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. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. Sadly, the hunting guidelines for cougars in Idaho are lax, with 400-600 cats being killed each year. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. Instead, the person usually pauses, sometimes with a sheepish or embarrassed expression on his face, and seems reluctant to continue. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. 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. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. This happens usually around the 18-month mark. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. One sighting I give complete belief in was from a friend who told me a puma crossed right in front of their vehicle, and paused on the berm for a few seconds, at a distant of ten yards or less. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. 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. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. Imagination? 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. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. 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. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . The hunting policy of the state may be the cause of the dropping population, and pressure on the Fish and Game Commission has increased. Local outlets carried reports of cougar encounters at least into the 1910s. Thank you for reading! 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. Two different people told me that they, or a close relative, had seen pumas on more than one occasion. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. Conversely, an outdoor writer I know told me that when Pa. enacted a menagerie permit law years ago, 'a lot of mountain lions suddenly died,' as the owners of these cats, rather than going through the paperwork, simply released their pumas and claimed that they had died. 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 one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. September 21st, 2008, 08:14 PM #74. 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. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. 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. One of these days, though, I'll get one that won't be, and I hope that will be soon. 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. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. 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. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. I hope no one ever shoots a puma to prove their existence here, but I hope someone gets a great photo, of the cat, of a road-kill, of tracks, and that I see it. Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where they always here as a relic population? 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. Puma vs Mountain Lion: Is There a Difference? Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. Here's an example: A man is holding a dead eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which was found in North Carolina and measured more than 9 feet long and weighed 95 pounds. 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. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. The 2,400-square-mile area has long been a popular outdoor recreation area boasting hunting, fishing, skiing, and more. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. Pa Mountain lion, cougar, or big cat in bucks county Pennsylvania Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? The other site, The Cougar Network, is still active, and is reporting the cats expanding range from the West, but offers little about the phenomenon of Pennsylvania cats. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some.

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