are there mountain lions in the poconos are there mountain lions in the poconos

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 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? 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. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. If you see or photograph a puma in the mid-Atlantic states, please email or call me. 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. 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. 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. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 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? Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, and more) are among the top predators that live in the United States. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. Who knows? 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. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. 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. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. 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. They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. Wishful thinking? However, many of my reports were at distances that people knew, and as you look at the images of the puma there really is a big difference in color and shape between a puma and a house cat. Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. 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. 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. If pumas do exist in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, could they all be released cats or escapees? What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. 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. Interestingly, almost all of the people I've spoken to who claim to have seen a puma have not seen a bobcat, an animal that is common enough in Pennsylvania to support a legal trapping season! She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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). 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. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. Are there pumas, or mountain lions, in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic States? 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.". The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. 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 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. Additionally, California banned the hunting of cougars back in 1972, encouraging population growth. Have some feedback for us? Mountain lions have an interesting life cycle that consists of a few different characteristics. Let me know if you have seen one! Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. 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. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. 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. Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". They ponder rare fossil evidence unearthed and seek to make sense of stratified geology, both fleeting in the face of what we call progress. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. (National Park Service). "They are very strong animals," she said. 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. 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. How do I deal with shaving weight for carrying my gear? 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. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. 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. The hunting policy of the state may be the cause of the dropping population, and pressure on the Fish and Game Commission has increased. The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. The story behind our new web site. No An official form of the United States government. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. 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. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. Yet, except for Florida, which has about 100 of them "Florida panthers"), no eastern state has a verifiable population of these large 100- to 200-pound cats that were extirpated 100 years ago. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. 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 almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. Like Arizona, New Mexico is the perfect home for mountain lions. 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. ", (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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In prior interviews with the Game Commission, the suggestion was made to this writer that what many people may actually be seeing is a bobcat, perhaps in less than ideal circumstances. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. No one needs to panic.". A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. You would think someone would have a picture on a trail camera or whatever. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. See also: "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. ? Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. 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 . The skeleton was reassembled at the State Museum, where it has been on display ever since. 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 have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. Then there is Rocky. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? It wasn't, and I assumed it was a road-kill. Check out the tails of the two! One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). Encouraged by the bounties, settlers waged war on these perceived beasts. What would account for the long tails? It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. Over the last few months several people have responded to this question with reports of their own. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? Note the size of the tail, the pointed ears, the speckled coat, the basic lack of white underneath. Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. A Mountain Lion Cover Up 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. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. If you can figure out how to travel far back in time for even a day, get lots of wildlife photos, as the rest of us might never believe your story. 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. The next day, the photo disappeared from the site. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. And this genetic mix has been recognized, and the Florida puma is still protected. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. What is the Kiboko backpack? Is it the New Best Pack? Did they migrate south from Canada? 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. Noted Wayne County historian Phineas Goodrich recorded in his 1880 book on local history that the common gray wolf was much more common in this area than the cougar. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. "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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. 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? He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? How, Who, and Why? Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. Wyoming has a historically stable population of mountain lions, but recent drops in numbers have caused some to worry. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. Travis Lau, a spokesperson for the Game Commission, said the state has a "never say never" approach when it comes to mountain lions and acknowledges that Western cats could be moving east. 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 . I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. 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.