U.S. FOREST SERVICE PHOTO The nearest breeding populations of cougars are 1,000 miles or more from Pennsylvania. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Stay Alert! There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. But an image captured by one family's security camera last weekend certainly shows what looks to be a mountain lion. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. It had recently killed a buck and was dragging it across the road. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. bioRxiv. 2017. If you see a mountain lion. "Recently there was an emu captured in Houtzdale, Clearfield County," says Feaser. Juvenile females do not disperse like males, which limits cougar range expansion. 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. Your email address will not be published. Then he took a closer look. If you encounter a bear that hasn't had time to leave, the game commission advises you to make a noise to alert the bear of your presence. Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax, http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/august01/lion.tif. Days to months after the tick bite, victims can suffer severe headaches, heart palpitations, shooting pains, numbness, dizziness and trouble with short-term memory. 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. Cougars are recolonizing the Midwest: Analysis of cougar confirmations during 19902008. Cougars are seven to eight feet in length (head to tail) and stand two to three feet at the shoulder. "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. I stopped while i was driving, and as i approached it SLOWLY as not to scare it, it glared at my truck walked towards it,then sat. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. adroll_version = "2.0"; 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. Its so hard to pin anything down, said John Lutz, the West Virginia man who heads the network, a non-scientific affiliation of mountain lion seekers across the eastern United States. Cover Image: A cougar in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan DNR). DNA tests have offered conclusive proof of cougars in other eastern states. The bite usually results in a blister-like sore that can take six to eight weeks to heal. Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser notes that his agency agrees with San Julian. 2019 mountain lion in Pennsylvania / definitive proof Joe and Angelika Kelley 12 subscribers Subscribe 91 16K views 3 years ago When something digs up your yard and you film it. If you need to confirm this info, just take a look at National Geographics wild life section on animals thought to be extinct altogether, or extinct from an area. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. The other was seen roaming in Arlee on. The state has an estimated1.5 milliondeer, about 30 per square mile. "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. This was yesterday around 5pm 11/6/19. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. "I hear rumors all the time about mountain lion sightings," said Brian Anderson, deputy game protector for Northumberland County. Saw some huge cat prints on the mountain in NEPA near white haven. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Coyotes are also confused for cougars (Figure 2). All rights reserved (About Us). Bears feed for 20 hours a day during late summer and early fall as they fatten up to hibernate. Bobcats are much smaller, only two to three feet long (head to tail) and one to two feet high at the shoulder. Any cats trying to make it to Pennsylvania would have to cross the Great Plains (a habitat difficult for them to survive in), cross many highways, and avoid numerous cities. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. 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. They came out and investigated. But they're probably bobcats. Union and Huntingdon , Pa. .. One doesn't think about big cats being in this eastern part of the . Reintroduction of the cougar (Felis concolor) in Adirondack Park: A problem analysis and recommendations. Three sightings, in fact, are considered credible and have some backing to them. Cougars were extirpated from Pennsylvania before the 1900s and exterminated from the entire East Coast by the 1930s (aside from the Florida panther). Figure 3. This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. They will not find a female in these areas, so they eventually make their way back to the western range or die in the attempt. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. If you're hiking, stay on the path and don't venture into the woods. There's also a $10k bounty for evidence of anyone illegally re-introducing them to PA. In many places, the habitat hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. They usually go after rabbits and small game but can kill animals as large as deer, according to pennlive.com. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. Sadly, the last period when mountain lions roamed freely throughout Pennsylvania is the end of the 19th century. Pennlive.com reports trappers kill more than 40,000 of them in Pennsylvania every year. Skip to content. Fish and Wildlife Service recently declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies of mountain lions native to North America, but reports of black panthers generally are. No one needs to panic.". Then there is Rocky. Based on its extensive research, the Service concluded this subspecies of big cats had disappeared from the east by the 1930s. From 2015 through 2017, at least 100 pumas were spotted in the county, according to Tribune data gathered in 2018. Find Easton area news on Facebook. 1 Last 365 Days. The eastern cougar subspecies is slightly smaller than the western, but is similar in appearance and habits. "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. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(1) 135-158. They have adapted to live in the suburbs in woods, fields or evenbackyards without being seen by people. Juvenile males are the individuals that are seen outside of traditional" cougar range in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county. Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Cars and car tires are also good scales; a cougar will be half the length of a sedan and taller than its tires. 1. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania, http://cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/?p=938. I also seen deer in my yard, a coyote, a mink, a wood turtle and a bear earlier this year as well. Coyotes are much smaller, and they have shorter fluffier tails, a pointed face, and large triangular ears. If you think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you're likely mistaken. In the snow, the tracks of all mammals appear to be larger this is because the heat from individual animals feet melts the snow they step on. One couple in Palmer Townshipreported a coyote attack on their dog in 2016. Furthermore, a juvenile female has not been recorded in the Midwest, much less in Pennsylvania, without a change in this trend no breeding populations can be established. More than half of California is mountain lion habitat and mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. The mystery of whether wild eastern cougars, also commonly known as mountain lions, pumas, or panthers, really survive in the Keystone State might finally unravel. This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. The dispatch center received calls about the mountain lion at approximately 4:30 a.m. near the Copeland Creek Trail between Country Club and Snyder Lane located in the area of Sunrise Park. These indentations on their cheeks help them sense heat and find prey. declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, California residents do not sell my data request. "Hunters tell me, 'Oh yeah, we've seen them, but we love them, and we are not going to shoot them,'" he says. A coyote or bobcat is a little shorter than a tire and roughly one and half the length of tire. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". 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. Evanitsky, M.N., George, R.J., Johnson, S., Dowell, S., and Perry, G.H. Pennsylvania would be incredibly difficult for cougars to reach. A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet.. Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. This cat was in extremely poor condition when it was killed. All rights reserved. 83 responses. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. 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. They helped to keep prey populations in balance, which created a more diverse and better functioning ecosystem that could respond to disturbances. On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with one's family in their lawn. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. These tiny critters may not look that threatening but they are carriers of Lyme disease, which can result in long-term health complications and even death. This article written in 2020 has a good wrap up of the current mountain lion status in North Dakota. 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. 4 . They said it took up most of the dirt road. Cougars distaste for humans runs so deep that a study found that simply playing talk radio was enough to get these cougars to permanently abandon what they were eating. "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. Mountain Lion Sighting Nov. 11, 2021 A California Mountain Lion was seen at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Nov. 11 near the University Glen water tanks and later on the main part of the campus near Santa Barbara Street and Camarillo Street. House cats on average are 11lbs and only a foot tall, which is much smaller than a cougar. In January, the U.S. Contact a location near you for products or services. No An official form of the United States government. Where a house cat would be along as a car tire and half the height of a tire. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the Keystone state? Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. "They are very strong animals," she said. Brocke R. 1981. Mountain Lions Background: In 2011, the U.S. 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? The diseaseproduces fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes within three to 30 days. San Julian dutifully follows up on every cougar report he can. Claws are a great way to tell bear tracks apart from cougar tracks: cougar claws can retract their claws and their claws tend to only be extended when on slippery surfaces, on the other paw, bears cannot control their claws and they can be found on every track. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. An adult male mountain lion in California. Please enter your email address below to create account. Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? Thousands of deer. For more information on mountain lions, visit the . Females tend to go an average of 18-30 miles, while males travel much farther (45-170 miles). 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. The timber rattlesnake and northern copperhead are close to threatened, according to pennlive.com. A bobcat or coyote would fit within two or three red pines. The farther a male must travel the more likely they are to die. 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. 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. (Preferably while videotaping it) There is a $4000 bounty for a mountain lion carcass in PA. For those not following the debate, the PGC's official position is that there has not been a mountain lion in PA in more than 50 years. Males territories are generally twice the size of a females territory (50-350 square miles), and they overlap the territory of several females. She tried to tell me it was a Maine Coon Cat. None of these sightings has been authenticated, and many of them, including a recent, alleged mountain lion picked up on a surveillance camera in Lackawanna County, turned out to be bobcats. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. A friend sent this to me. Then it disappeared for some time, until scat was found again in New York, and it was finally killed in Connecticut. That doesnt stop some from believing mountain lions do exist in the East. But many others believe the big cats, also known as cougars and pumas, are traveling into Pennsylvania from western states, leading to persistent alleged sightings. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. In one case out of Reading, a sighting of an apparent cheetah turned out to be an African serval that was likely bred and domesticated illegally. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. I told her I knew what a Maine Coon cat looked like and this was BIG, had short hair and LONG tail. "Thus a rural legend is perpetuated. EDITORS: Gary San Julian can be reached at 814-863-0401. The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). Repellant can protect exposed skin from ticks. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. My neighbor had one (maybe the same one) in her backyard. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. All three are pit vipers, which means you can identify them by "facial pits." My horse was spooked twice & I heard a guttural growling but never seen any animal. If a cougar were to make it to Pennsylvania, it is illegal to harm. One solution [to the loss of ginseng] that [this complete nut ] believes will ensure the herbs survival is to reintroduce mountain lions, wolves or other natural predators to the Appalachians. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. San Julian can even send scat to be tested for cougar DNA. Their conclusion: Sir, you dont have a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". It was not a fleeting glance, I had to stop my car to let it slowly cross the road in front of me. But the reported road-kill apparently never happened. This is roughly three times the length of a bobcat or coyotes stride (~16 inches). Mountain lions inhabited the state of Texas before European settlers arrived and the Native Americans in the area hunted them for clothing, shelter and blankets. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The green shading represents areas with established breeding populations. Page 3 Pa Mountain Lion. It's only found in thewestern part of the state. Pennsylvania's venomous snakes are hard to find. You should bathe soon after coming indoors, preferably within two hours. I called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions reported in PA. 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