Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? 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. Provided by Touchpoints The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? More conclusive evidence is needed: Keep your cameras handy. 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. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. ? They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. One might argue that the eastern puma is extinct, but that does not mean that there are not pumas (mountain lions, cougars) in the east. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. 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. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? Would a puma then qualify as a native species? 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. He also published a follow-up on Oct. 15 with the same mountain lion-deer hoax photo, as well as personal stories from several local residents who claim they've seen mountain lions in the Poconos. 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. A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. In the map above, I collected data from the state and on the federal level to find state parks . I'll be anxious to learn of your report. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. They're seeing an animal they don't know or recognize, and while some may be watching a smaller bobcat about 35 pounds), some believe they've actually spotted a cougar. The coat can be spotted or solid. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. 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. "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. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania - Hoot Hollow Me? Fish and Wildlife Service. Again, I've been told that some Game Commission personnel have admitted that pumas may exist in Pennsylvania, but they rationalize this by saying that the pumas are not breeding and they are not from original wild stock. 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. I'll offer my own little anecdote. Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. "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. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Mountain lions are well-established in 14 western states and have also recently been confirmed in 10 Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. 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. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. Is it the New Best Pack? Perhaps my Fed Ex driver was simply recalling a rural legend, but he said it was an employee that he knew, and it was a story he heard first-hand. Things to Do in the Poconos | Attractions & Outdoors - Pocono Mountains A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. Wyoming has a historically stable population of mountain lions, but recent drops in numbers have caused some to worry. 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. This animal was undoubtedly a bobcat. These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. These creatures lurking in Pa.'s woods can hurt or kill you The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. Among those who have investigated the primeval times of the Pocono Plateau and Delaware River valleys and tributaries was the late Vernon Leslie, Ph.D., a Wayne County historian and archaeologist. Features Writer Micaela Hood is signing off with the Pocono Record after five years of covering arts, culture, entertainment and sports in northeastern . 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. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Let me explain this. 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. Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. These cubs are born blind and helpless. Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. 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. A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Archived Questions of the Month Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. "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. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? - pennlive.com An assessment list for Lower Smithfield Township in 1761 when it was part of Northampton County (Monroe having not yet been created) taxed "three pence per pound and shillings per head" laid on the land and inhabitants. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. Transient males have been sighted as far east as New York! 2023 www.poconorecord.com. 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. I'd love to hear of any reports you have. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. ", (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence, including in a reported Berks County sighting on January 8. 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. Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. The sightings were great bear views, but too fast or fleeting to allow me to grab a camera. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. There had been 17 other mastodon finds in Pennsylvania up to 1968, but all were fragmentary. Wishful thinking? 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.". Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. 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. Have some feedback for us? The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. No one needs to panic.". I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. Over 1,100 people follow her page. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. At the end of the last Ice Age, many animals in Pennsylvania died out. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). 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. ? 2023 www.poconorecord.com. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. Where they always here as a relic population? It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a 600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? The next day, the photo disappeared from the site. Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos / p o k n o z /, are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania.They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, Wyoming Valley and the Coal Region to the west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. 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. Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". Everyone else, when reporting, were frustrated as they were told they had seen a bobcat. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. If youve done any research on your own, you may have noticed that we didnt include a lot of states that have had cougar sightings, especially in the last few years. . Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs. Interesting, too, are the reports I've heard from people who were told that they would be in big trouble if they shot a puma. Woolly mammoth bones were discovered in Bradford County in 1983. But more and more people in Pennsylvania, from the Alleghenies to the Poconos to rolling farmlands in York County, claim they are seeing the big cats here, even though the state's "last" native lion, also known as a cougar or puma, was shot and killed in Berks County in 1871 and the feds have declared the Eastern subspecies extinct. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. 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. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. The Pocono Mountains are . The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. Imagination? This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more . You be the judge. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? Can so many people be wrong? There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. 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. I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. 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. "I know they're native to this area. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. Two different people told me that they, or a close relative, had seen pumas on more than one occasion. He wrote that not being a roving animal, the mountain lion was much sooner destroyed than the wolf, and he said that if there were any left, it would have to be in the most desolate places in the county. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. More common critters co-existed with early Native Americans in the Poconos, including two species long since removed: the wolf and mountain lion (also known colloquially as panthers and cougars). Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. "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. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? 25 Best Things to Do in The Pocono Mountains Area (for 2023) Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. For example, one man I interviewed said he saw a 'black' puma, and this should disqualify his sighting as a black puma has never been recorded. 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 northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. Additionally, California banned the hunting of cougars back in 1972, encouraging population growth. He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. In his 1973 book "Faces in Clay" Leslie lays open the archaeological treasures of stone arrow or spear points and tools lost long ago by a succession of native peoples. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! This is not a Pennsylvania puma! In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. 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. Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. In January, the U.S. DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion (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. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Mountain lions thrive there due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. He saw a big cat. 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. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. Here in central Pennsylvania we live on the outskirts of what one puma-tracking website has as almost the high point of sightings, extending from north-central Pennsylvania in a southwestern diagonal that extends into the mountains of West Virginia. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. Sadly, the hunting guidelines for cougars in Idaho are lax, with 400-600 cats being killed each year. Others would like to see some scientific proof. Mountain lions, Goodrich wrote, were more dreaded than wolves as the cat could climb over any fence that could be built. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not The name Pocono is derived from the . Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled, Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. Note the size of the tail, the pointed ears, the speckled coat, the basic lack of white underneath. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. No An official form of the United States government. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. The skeleton was reassembled at the State Museum, where it has been on display ever since. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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 . Among other uses, the tax was levied "for destroying wolves, foxes, heads and crows." "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". The state of Texas is home to many mountain lion populations, but the numbers are incredibly hard to find. With that hope in mind, I have, for years, asked outdoors people if they ever heard of a mountain lion, or puma, in their area -- with my questioning limited to people in my home state of Pennsylvania. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". 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. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. The rounded ears, I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! I wanted to know if they're here, so I called some people I trust and asked them one simple question: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. John Leap of East Stroudsburg's Lakeside Peat Humus Co. and an employee, Paul Strauser, found the bones in a peat bog off Route 209. But Dave "Gadget" Jones, a retired wildlife conservation officer from Lackawanna County, claims he's seen a white bigfoot and a UFO in Pennsylvania, so who knows? She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. 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. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their owners. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. 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. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. 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. Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. 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?

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