Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens of sincere reports of sightings and tracks and even more hoaxed reports emerge across the state each year. There are, from time to time, eyewitness accounts from hunters or hikers who claim to have seen the cat. 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. The bobcat wouldn't survive. What equipment do we take in the field? One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Images from a homeowner's surveillance camera show a tan cat with a long body, beyond a chain-link fence. Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? In the area around the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia there are mountains and deep caves that contain some of the coal mines that were a major part of the state's industry in the early part of the 19 th century. Luxury Cabin Rentals: Pocono Mountain Getaways | Glamping Hub Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Then there is Rocky. 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. Those special two were across a river just outside Glacier National Park in Montana, and consisted of a mother and two cubs (Mary saw both cubs, I only saw one, and we did so separately, as we were driving two vehicles). 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 last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. 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. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. "While confirmed cougar sightings have occurred recently in the wild in the East, there is currently no scientific or physical evidence documenting the continued existence of a population of wild eastern cougars," according to the U.S. 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. As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. 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. Did they migrate south from Canada? What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. If mountain lions are discovered in PA anytime soon they'll either be big foot's pets or genetically engineered and released by the DCNR to cull the orangu-bear population. Can so many people be wrong? Most of my original Questions of the Month for the last several ARE THERE MOUNTAIN LIONS IN PA? - Page 8 - Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Mountain lions roamed all of the continent prior to the arrival and westward spread of European settlers, but only the eastern and Florida subspecies were found east of the Mississippi. "I thought I had a sighting in the late '90s," Delaware Water Gap National Recreation park ranger Chris Kross said. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. 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. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. 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! And when our officers go out to investigate reports of mountain lions, or when our staff reviews photos that are sent to us, often we're able to verify some other animal mistakenly was reported as a mountain lion.". Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. 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. I believe them. Michelle LaRue, executive director of the Cougar Network and a research ecologist at the University of Minnesota, will discuss the eastern expansion of cougars from their core range in the western U.S. at 7 p.m. in Moravian College's Haupert Union Building, Bethlehem. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. Check out the tails of the two! Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. Bigfoot, mountain lions and other cryptids in PA Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. How do I deal with shaving weight for carrying my gear? What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. 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. 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. By the mid-1900s pumas were eliminated from almost all of the eastern states, and by mid-century were officially extinct east of the Mississippi, except for a remnant population in southern Florida. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, and more) are among the top predators that live in the United States. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. 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. 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. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) 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. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. 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. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. 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. Wishful thinking? 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. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? I asked our Game officials about evidence, and they cite no road kills. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? "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. years are available through this link. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. 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. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Things to Do in the Poconos | Attractions & Outdoors - Pocono Mountains It was definitely a mountain lion, and it had a big buck, white-tailed deer in its jaws. 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 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! Armand Martinelli isn't only the mayor of East Stroudsburg, he's also a hunter who is connected with plenty of people in the area. Where they always here as a relic population? I've never seen or heard of a verified black puma anywhere, whether wild or captive, so I'd be inclined to dismiss reports of truly black big cats as misidentifications, even when a group of guys all see the same thing. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. Others would like to see some scientific proof. No An official form of the United States government. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. 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. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer This happens usually around the 18-month mark. If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. 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. 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. 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. 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. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. The Asa Packer Mansion, built in the year 1861, is a historic house museum. All of the above images are of bobcats. 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. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Let me explain this. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. "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 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. "It's one of those things where I'll believe it when I see it," said Jason Farmer of Pocono Summit, my hunting partner for the last eight years. 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! This animal was undoubtedly a bobcat. Why is bat photography so difficult? At one time mountain lions, or more properly puma (Puma concolor), enjoyed the widest geographic range of any New World mammal, and were found throughout all of the contiguous United States. Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Heres What the Data Says. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? Some may be animals that dispersed into the region from western populations. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. "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. Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks 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. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? Some cats had a South American genetic profile. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. Hunting is legal in the state, but it is heavily controlled and restricted. The bones were found perfectly preserved. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. 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. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. I'm a photographer, yet I've never had a chance to snap a photograph of one of these bears. Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. No one needs to panic.". The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. 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. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. 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. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. Bushkill Falls Trail. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The record size for this species is 8 feet, and it probably weighed 15 to 20 pounds, which shows how exaggerated this claim is. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. 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. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. The mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on average between 75-120 pounds, has long whiskers and a distinctive swooping tail. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. "I know they're native to this area. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. 25 Best Things to Do in The Pocono Mountains Area (for 2023) About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. 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. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? 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. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. (National Park Service). PHILADELPHIA (AP) An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? (National Park Service). There is no known estimate of the number of mountain lions inhabiting Texas. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. 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.). original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might 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. 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). Pocono Record's Micaela Hood moves on to Lehigh Valley Public Media
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