Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). years are available through this link. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. 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. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens . At the end of the last Ice Age, many animals in Pennsylvania died out. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. Imagination? A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Is it the New Best Pack? Local outlets carried reports of cougar encounters at least into the 1910s. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. When he told me this, he commented on how an experience like the one he and his friends had just is not forgotten. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. Where they always here as a relic population? Let me know if you have seen one! On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. 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. Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! 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. Periodically, via Google searches, I receive reports from people who believe they had seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania, or in other mid-Atlantic states. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? How do I deal with shaving weight for carrying my gear? Accounts abound concerning interaction between these great beasts and people in northeast Pennsylvania, with wolves into the early 19th century and in the case with cougars, well into the early 20th century. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. The earliest wave arrived at the end of the last Ice Age; the last wave is the Lenape or Delaware Tribe, which made contact with colonial settlers in the 1600s. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? 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. September 21st, 2008, 08:14 PM #74. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Any Truth 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. 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. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. After all, skeptics often suggest that puma sightings are just deer sightings, so it would be logical to worry that a hunter might shoot an endangered puma, mistaking it for a brown deer. After all, how many people have pumas? Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? I'll offer my own little anecdote. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. 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. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. 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. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. 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. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. However, my friend and I discussed this, and agreed, we saw what we saw, and had it been 40 years ago or four months ago, we knew we saw a coyote. People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. No An official form of the United States government. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. Interestingly, the US Fish and Wildllife Service has declared the Eastern Puma extinct, except for the Florida population known as the Florida panther. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Good luck, and let me know! All of the above images are of bobcats. Some may be animals that dispersed into the region from western populations. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. "We should be getting more pictures. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. I'd love to hear of any reports you have. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! I have three observations here: 1. I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! Mountain Lion Reports "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). "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. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". The State Museum of Pennsylvania, in Harrisburg, displays a taxidermy mount of a mountain lion in glass case, with the notation, "This lion, found near Hawk Mountain in Berks County around 1871, is the last native mountain lion known to have been shot in Pennsylvania.". . Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. Hunting is legal in the state, but it is heavily controlled and restricted. Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? Recently, on a back road in Pennsylvania, a friend and I had our first sighting of a coyote in Pennsylvania. Recently, a man I spoke with told me that he was reminded of a sighting he and two friends had 20 years earlier, and after recalling the incident he was motivated to call his college buddies and reflect on their observation. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. With healthy populations and strong conservation programs, however, they seem to be pushing back east. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. Scientists debate whether the large prehistoric mammals became extinct at the end of the Ice Age due to over-hunting, or rapid climate warming. The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. 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. Over 1,100 people follow her page. Find cabins in the Poconos, PA near places like Bushkill Falls, Camelback Mountain Resort, and more. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? 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. So what? Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. 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. A few could, perhaps, be mistaken idenity. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Mountain lions, which continue to be reported across Pennsylvania throughout the year, are officially extinct east of the Mississippi River and north of Florida, according to the U.S. I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. And a bit of an unpleasant one at that, as they now faced ridicule or doubt whenever they discussed their sightings. 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. Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. Murray also has a cross-eyed white tiger named Keisha, who crushed chicken bones with ease but delicately stepped into a metal pool to cool off. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? 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. For information on predator tracks, check out this guide: https://www.wildliferemoval.com/animal-track-identification-guide/, Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. Mountain lions, Goodrich wrote, were more dreaded than wolves as the cat could climb over any fence that could be built. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. 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 . The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. 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! I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". The state of Idaho is large, expansive, and full of rocky wilderness. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. 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. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. There is no known estimate of the number of mountain lions inhabiting Texas. It was decided that this shouldn't influence the decision and, in fact, an infusion of new genes produces a hybrid vigor, lessening the chance of in-breeding. And, some may be escaped or illegally released pets. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Let me explain this. A Mountain Lion Cover Up An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. 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. Thank you for reading! Heres What the Data Says. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? Perhaps one or more of these Pocono sightings represent early pioneers reclaiming their former territories. Here's 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.

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