Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. I'd love to hear of any reports you have. Transient males have been sighted as far east as New York! This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. Puma vs Mountain Lion: Is There a Difference? Only when I reviewed the images on my laptop did I discover that I had a mountain lion! Local outlets carried reports of cougar encounters at least into the 1910s. I believe them. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . 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. 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. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. The cat was far enough away that I couldn't get a size reference, and I believed the cat was further away than it actually was. What would account for the long tails? Suppose, instead of declaring the puma, or Eastern mountain lion, extinct, the USFWS actually recognized the existence of the cat as a wild, breeding species. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. years are available through this link. 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. 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 rounded ears, Hunters I've spoken with said they've been told you can't kill a puma, which they felt was ironic since the same official told them pumas don't exist in Pa. Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? 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. There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". 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. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. "From three really reliable sources who are always around the woods from Monroe County to Bradford, there is no doubt that there are mountain lions in Pennsylvania," East Stroudsburg University football team offensive coordinator and avid hunter Mike Terwilliger said. The hunting policy of the state may be the cause of the dropping population, and pressure on the Fish and Game Commission has increased. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. While the chances that I'll ever see a puma in Pennsylvania myself are virtually zero, I'm always on the alert -- for the bobcat I've never seen in Pa., for a fisher, bear, deer, red salamander, toad, or snake, and yes, I'm always hoping that I too will become one of those who saw something that officially cannot exist within the state, a puma I know I saw but, of course, could not have! In some areas, entire populations of a species exhibit this trait, for unlike albinism, which results in a conspicuous white color and light-sensitive pink eyes, there are no ill effects with melanism. There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. 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. 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. (National Park Service). A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. ? 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.). One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). 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. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Do elk live in Pennsylvania? If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. 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. According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Sadly, the hunting guidelines for cougars in Idaho are lax, with 400-600 cats being killed each year. A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. Flying over the area, I've looked down and commented upon the amount of habitat that would be available for a puma, if only they existed. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 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. Are the various States guilty of essentially the same thing? "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Scientists debate whether the large prehistoric mammals became extinct at the end of the Ice Age due to over-hunting, or rapid climate warming. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native to the East. 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. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? 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. The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? Let me explain this. And yes, there are people in Pennsylvania who say they exist here. All rights reserved. Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. 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. 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. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Instead, the person usually pauses, sometimes with a sheepish or embarrassed expression on his face, and seems reluctant to continue. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? 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. "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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." I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. . The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. 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. 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. 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. Although a large proportion of the Lenape Nation was dispersed far from their ancestral homelands in the 18th century, colonial settlers and their descendants struggled to live in this region with wolves and cougars inhabiting the forests. Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. I haven't seen any reports like that.". The story behind our new web site. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? 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. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. When he told me this, he commented on how an experience like the one he and his friends had just is not forgotten. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. 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? Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! Find cabins in the Poconos, PA near places like Bushkill Falls, Camelback Mountain Resort, and more. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. 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 . But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. 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? "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. September 21st, 2008, 08:14 PM #74. I've seen so many examples of these distortions, exaggerations and lies over the last couple of years that I've grown very dubious about anything I see on a computer. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. Have some feedback for us? A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. 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. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. Who knows? 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. 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. But even without that second look there was no question that we'd seen a coyote. An escapee is also possible. "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. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. Here's a glimpse at what long-gone Pocono beasts the region's very first wave of residents may have seen, and the wild things that followed up to as late as the early 20th century. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? 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. One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. "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. But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! Thank you for reading! a high priority. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. The 'look' is from my Where they always here as a relic population? A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. 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. No An official form of the United States government. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. "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. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Most of my original Questions of the Month for the last several Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. 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. All rights reserved. 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. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? They ponder rare fossil evidence unearthed and seek to make sense of stratified geology, both fleeting in the face of what we call progress. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months.
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