Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? 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. Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? 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. The bobcat wouldn't survive. Everyone else, when reporting, were frustrated as they were told they had seen a bobcat. In captivity mountain, lions can live to be about 20 years old. After all, how many people have pumas? 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. Are there pumas, or mountain lions, in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic States? 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. Bushkill Falls Trail. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania So how or why could there be a conspiracy? The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? 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. The story behind our new web site. On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. 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. Both were a threat to the farmer and family who carved a home in the ancient wilderness of the Poconos. We hope you enjoy this foray into the most weird and wonderful our beloved Pocono Mountains have to offer. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. Now consider: If it was confirmed that there was a breeding population of endangered pumas on the mountain ridge behind my house, if the USFWS recognized the existence of this endangered species, what might happen? Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. ? A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. About half of the state of Montana is ideal for mountain lions, primarily in her western and central regions. (National Park Service). 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. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. 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. After a small population was reintroduced into their historic land, their population has grown to a stable and breeding group of between 200-300 individuals. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. Archived Questions of the Month . Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. ", (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. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. That may be true, or was once true, but even a declawed puma, if it can survive off rabbits and squirrels, and breeds, its offspring would be fully equipted to survive. 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. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? 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. I haven't seen any reports like that.". 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." "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. Bigfoot, mountain lions and other cryptids in PA There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. 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. What would account for the long tails? 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. There are, from time to time, eyewitness accounts from hunters or hikers who claim to have seen the cat. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. 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. "They are very strong animals," she said. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The question is just like in the story of the boy who cried wolf) if that day ever arrives, how will we believe those first, true sightings after so many hoaxes have been perpetrated on the public? Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. 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. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. 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? They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. 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. "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. Is it the New Best Pack? Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. 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 northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. 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. But this one was black, and he knows mountain lions are some variant of brown. Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks Let me know if you have seen one! 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? Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. Hoax photo doesn't help believability of mountain lions in Poconos 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. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Features Writer Micaela Hood is signing off with the Pocono Record after five years of covering arts, culture, entertainment and sports in northeastern . Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. 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. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, and more) are among the top predators that live in the United States. I don't know if a Game Commission authority has actually said this or not, but people I've spoken to have reported this. 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. Pocono Record's Micaela Hood moves on to Lehigh Valley Public Media In August, Amy Walters said her 12-year-old son was spooked by a mountain lion in Forest County in northwest Pennsylvania while riding his dirt bike. Provided by Touchpoints According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. 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. 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. Thank you for reading! Florida is the only state on the east coast with a breeding population of mountain lions. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. Mountain Lion Habitat in Tennessee - ArcGIS StoryMaps Additionally, California banned the hunting of cougars back in 1972, encouraging population growth. Now, forty years ago coyotes were rare or almost nonexistent in Pennsylvania, and had had that same sighting back then, when coyotes were thought not to exist within the state we would have had the 'facts' to doubt what we saw. I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' He saw a big cat. 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. Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. In many regions, the population within the state is actually increasing! During this time, male mountain lions will travel in search of females. 10 Stunning Mountains In Pennsylvania - AZ Animals This happens usually around the 18-month mark. If pumas do exist in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, could they all be released cats or escapees? Me? The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. 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. 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! 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. If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Over 1,100 people follow her page. I believe Kross fully, but I wanted to hear more. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. You be the judge. Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. 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. "We should be getting more pictures. 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. Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains - National Park Service 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. Pocono Mountains - Travel guide at Wikivoyage 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. They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? 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. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. So what? Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region Check out our online field guide to read more in this series. And book one of these Poconos cabins rentals for the best outdoor access to these activities. The Asa Packer Mansion, built in the year 1861, is a historic house museum. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. 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. 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. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? That's true. A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. These creatures lurking in Pa.'s woods can hurt or kill you There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. 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. Among other uses, the tax was levied "for destroying wolves, foxes, heads and crows." 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. 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. 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. 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. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? See also: 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. Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. An escapee is also possible. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. 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. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. Although unconfirmed, mountain lions continue to be reported in many spots across Pennsylvania, including several reports in the past couple months. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. Only when I reviewed the images on my laptop did I discover that I had a mountain lion! Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. 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. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. 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. Pocono Mountains: Best Things To See And Do - TravelAwaits No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. For example, leopards and jaguars, normally spotted cats, have a melanistic color morph, the 'black panther,' the black leopard or black jaguar. The 2,400-square-mile area has long been a popular outdoor recreation area boasting hunting, fishing, skiing, and more. The Pocono Mountains are . Wishful thinking? Others would like to see some scientific proof. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. 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. Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. "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. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens . 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. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). I asked our Game officials about evidence, and they cite no road kills. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. 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. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) - Texas Can so many people be wrong? 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. Did they migrate south from Canada? Here's 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. Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. The coat can be spotted or solid and varies in color from light browns, reddish and silvery grey. But an image captured by one family's. 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. years are available through this link. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. I had three cameras positioned, so had a cat visited, I'd have had it. Pa Mountain lion, cougar, or big cat in bucks county Pennsylvania They mostly live in the far western Trans-Pecos region of the state, where they can freely roam 50,000 to 80,000 acres of land. 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. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! Heres What the Data Says. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. Can so many people be so wrong? 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.