are there mountain lions in the poconos

I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. I'll offer my own little anecdote. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? 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. The 2,400-square-mile area has long been a popular outdoor recreation area boasting hunting, fishing, skiing, and more. Two different people told me that they, or a close relative, had seen pumas on more than one occasion. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. The bones were found perfectly preserved. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! 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. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. "People think they can get them declawed and that they're safe, but they still have teeth.". So how or why could there be a conspiracy? Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a mountain lion migrated about 1,500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut where it was killed by a. I've seen about 20 mountain lions, or pumas, in the field, but all but 2 were in Chile. In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park in Lake Ariel has two. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. Although in captivity, they can live much longer. Controlled hunting of mountain lions is allowed within the state. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. Obviously, other pumas must be about, and the series of ridges extending north and east and west from my location could all be included as critical habitat as well. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! 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. He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". Why is bat photography so difficult? 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. 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. A tiny population of Florida cougars persists in the southeastern corner of the United States. They ponder rare fossil evidence unearthed and seek to make sense of stratified geology, both fleeting in the face of what we call progress. All rights reserved (About Us). Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. The other two clans were the Turtle and Turkey. Recently, on our Arizona Hummingbird and Bat Photo Shoot, I found a deer that had been hit by a car and had moved off to die beside a stream just 200 yards upstream from our lodge. "I thought I had a sighting in the late '90s," Delaware Water Gap National Recreation park ranger Chris Kross said. It also mentioned that someone raising a mountain lion without a license may either have let it go when it became too large to handle, or that the animal had escaped. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. Mountain lions have an interesting life cycle that consists of a few different characteristics. Note the long, usually thick tail. Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. 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." A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. 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. Interestingly, the US Fish and Wildllife Service has declared the Eastern Puma extinct, except for the Florida population known as the Florida panther. They are there to help us. I've seen scores of leopards in the grasslands and deserts of East Africa and I've never seen, nor spoke with anyone, who has seen a black leopard there. 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. When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. 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. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. 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. It was definitely a mountain lion, and it had a big buck, white-tailed deer in its jaws. They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. Imagination? See also: Same story as 'black panthers' across the country, because of course there, scientifically, can be no such thing. 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. "They're getting a lot of that out west. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. An escapee is also possible. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The life cycle then repeats itself. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. 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. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. 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. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. 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. 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. 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. It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. The bounty for adult wolves and cougars was raised on March 16, 1819 to $12. The other three images are from my file, selected to most closely approximate the pose of the cat from the game camera. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Thank you for reading! She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. 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. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. The 'look' is from my The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. Let me know if you have seen one! In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. "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. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? For example, leopards and jaguars, normally spotted cats, have a melanistic color morph, the 'black panther,' the black leopard or black jaguar. "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. 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. In captivity mountain, lions can live to be about 20 years old. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might (National Park Service). Any Truth Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. 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. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. 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. Over 1,100 people follow her page. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. I am hoping that more and more people will learn of my own interest in this, and will pass on this information and that I'll receive more reports and, hopefully, sometime, a game camera photo that is definitive. 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 coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. 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! Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. DNA collected from the mountain lion killed on a roadway in Connecticut in 2011 showed the animal to have originated in South Dakota. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. There is no known estimate of the number of mountain lions inhabiting Texas. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. 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. 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. And a bit of an unpleasant one at that, as they now faced ridicule or doubt whenever they discussed their sightings. 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 . Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? 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. 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. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? 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. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. How, Who, and Why? These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. "If there was mountain lions in Pennsylvania), I think we'd be getting reports from farmers and people with pets that there were attacks on their animals," Martinelli said. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. So many of these sightings have been proven wrong misidentified bobcats, coyotes or even house cats) that it would be irresponsible for a biologist to accept any of them as fact without absolute physical evidence hair, droppings, tracks or a road-killed animal. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. ? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. years are available through this link. Most of my original Questions of the Month for the last several . In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. There isnt an official estimate on mountain lions in the state. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? If pumas do exist in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, could they all be released cats or escapees? 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. After all, how many people have pumas? 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. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. 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. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats.

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