The Washington Times - September 25, 2008, 01:00PM, Washington Commanders team name and logo reveal from Fedex Field, Scenes from snow storm that hit Washington, Warriors wanted: Army Green Beret training. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. AFGFD said the data suggest the statewide population of mountain lions is stable to increasing, with an annual population estimate at 2,876 animals since 2004. Well, as luck would have it, my co worker took this very nice pic of a mature female mountain lion last week just south of Uniontown Pa. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species. A regional wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources' Forest, Park and Wildlife Service, he says mountain lions were hunted into extinction by the people who settled Maryland. Or so they think!. Contact Laura Jean Schneider at LauraJean@eacourier.com, Mountain lions leave bloody path in Clifton, {child_flags:featured}Co-existing with nature, -The scientific name given to mountain lions is Puma concolor, meaning cat of one color.. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. If you see a mountain lion, report the sighting immediately to Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 949-770-6011. Please limit your input to 500 characters. They definitely are here! They can weigh between 50-300 lbs. From SS:Some years ago we were on our way home from my sister-in-laws house burning. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. February 12. All rights reserved, Officers Shoot, Kill Man With Knife: Frederick City Police, DC Health COVID Centers Are Closing March 31, Driver Dies in Frederick, Maryland Tanker Fire; Northbound US Route 15 Lanes Closed, Family Explores Legal Action After Student Forced to Pick Cotton in Class, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chaos': Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Were on Harrowing Lufthansa Flight Diverted by Turbulence. "Where'd you take the picture? "They were nearly exterminated by the early 1900s, but they retreated into the wild.". contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. For an overview you may wish to view A Timeline of Bounty and Sport Hunting of Mountain Lions in the United States or our poster Where Do We Go From Here? Yes, they have been here for years. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A possible big cat sighting is being investigated on the Big Island. Mountain Lion Weight: 80-160 pounds Length: About 7-8 feet long Tail: 2-3 feet long (up to half of the total length) Identification The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. These tracks were fresh and well photographed. a woman who swears she and her dog were approached by a cougar in Galloway Township. "As always, you should be diligent and cautious with your pets.". It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. Park rangers alerted the historical society to inform members that these big cats have been spotted in the area. ", "Oh," said the officer, "then it isn't a mountain lion. One other gentleman and I almost 10 years ago saw a mountain lion on our worksite in Clinton NJ. I feel vindicated. It turned and saw us. California: 4,000 - 6,000. In March 2011, DCR forester Steve Ward photographed a track trail in the snow near the Gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir. There are always rumors about what state fish and wildlife agencies in the eastern United States know about mountain lions. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35-40 pounds. In Zone J, area 24A, which is close to the border of Graham and Gila counties, a 2-year-old lion, a 3-year-old lion and one of indeterminate age were killed in 2021. Let us know what's going on! Therres reminds us all that it is very easy to misidentify a mountain lion by providing an example of people constantly misidentifying bald eagles. I had to slam on the brakes so as not to hit it. So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. A debate ensued over whether the animal was a rare and incredible sighting of a cougar (either an extinct eastern cougar or western cougar that traveled a great distance outside of their known range) or just a large domestic house cat that appeared larger than it was due to the weather conditions and perspective. I had seen a police officer in the parking lot at the mall and told him what I saw. My cousin and her boyfriend, who own 40 acres in Mansfield Twp NJ saw one on their property as well. Saw one in Warren County in 2007 & 2008 while camping. We will use this information to improve this page. Further, it is already illegal to kill a mountain lion in Massachusetts. Open MF, 8 a.m.4 p.m. (closed noon12:30 for lunch). From JK:I had a mountain lion bounding across Weldon Road Jefferson Township Morris County about 75 yards in front of me. The oldest tooth-aged mountain lion tagged in 2021 was 10. My sighting was on the sand Old Martha Rd beyond Martha Furnace Rd (which is also the BatonaTrail). It walked into the tree line and disappeared. Mountain lions also were reportedly sighted in Cape St. Claire in 1969, Kingsville in 1971 and several areas of Prince George's County in 1988. She was driving home from a shopping trip last spring when she spotted a large animal crossing Cuba Road in Northern Baltimore County. From TM:Hey Joe. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. All other reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts have turned out to be other animals. Eastern Arizona Courier 301 E Highway 70, Suite A, Safford, AZ 85546 | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | The EASTERN ARIZONA COURIER is owned by Wick Communications. I'm completely convinced fish and game are well aware they are still here and said they are extinct to calm the public outcries. In an article in the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, Therres mentions that reports of cougar sightings come from every sector in the state as if were overrun with the big cats. I was leaving Westville towards the mall. (WJZ) --A reported mountain lion sightingin a Prince George's County park turned out to be a coyote. var today = new Date() Big cats suffered the same fate all over the East Coast except in Florida, where a small, endangered group of panthers still roams the Everglades. Saw one in my backyard in Mercer County in 2018. We had just finished setting up the stuff on the driveway and were just sitting enjoying the silence when we both spotted what looked like a giant cat across the street on the edge of the field near the tree line. A person I lost touch with is also convinced they are around the northwest part of Somerset county he was hunting somewhere near Raritan valley community college and photographed a giant paw print in the snow that was clearly a cougar print. ), So, while the state of New Jersey says "there are no mountain lions in New Jersey," there are a lot of people who would beg to differ. The last confirmed records of the Eastern Cougar's existence were in 1938 in Maine. A mountain lion reportedly showed up last week in a section of the Fernwood State Forest in eastern Ohio not far from Steubenville. It was at the edge of the woods and it looked like it was just after a kill. Both labs confirmed the sample came from a mountain lion. The Missouri Dept of Conservation release information regarding a vehicle striking a mountain lion (cougar) not far from Six Flags. I was told to call animal control. There was a problem saving your notification. Our wildlife research team decided to help take the mystery out of the sighting by going to the location and comparing the size of the animal to stationary objects in the frame as well as a human subject. It was ENORMOUS! Around 3 p.m., a. Very interesting piece. l thought "oh shit" and figured l could try to use my bicycle for protection and dismounted. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. l went around a tight right bend and, 100 feet up, walking the same way was a cougar. A number of years ago, a friend and I were driving around Walpack, which is part of The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Fort Worth Star-Telegraph reports on a mountain lion sighting in April 2022. The first one in recent history was in 2008 . I have seen it more than once. The MLRT has investigates hundreds of mountain lion reports, but most reported sightings and tracks turn out to be bobcats or large dogs. Pigeons? -Anyone bitten by a mountain lion must immediately seek medical attention for rabies shots unless the biting animal can be captured and tested for rabies. In the interest of gathering credible mountain lion sightings when mountain lions actually arrive in the east the research team here at eMammal has put together a guide to identifying mountain lions. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species.For more information please check out our in depth write up on the subject http://www.susquehannockwildlife.org/2018/06/10/fallstoncougar/#cougar #mountainlion #housecat #harfordcounty #maryland It was late October and leaves were mostly down on our 500+ acre site. I told some people but Im not sure anyone believed me. Home Pennsylvania Opinion Search for cougarscontinues in Pennsylvania, If youre a regular reader of this publication, or one of my neighbors, then you already know my father and, A fish may see a parade of presentations go by, therefore yours should be better than the rest. Heres how to pull big bluegills from Iowas West Lake Okoboji, A look at some other ways to call in a spring gobbler, How to catch and cook whitefish and tullibees, Nows the time to savor the fruits of the hunting experience. -Arizonas first lion management plan took the form of paying a bounty for every lion killed where the pelt was turned over to authorities. var today = new Date() Officials are asking that people avoid the park as they investigate the report. Then, a gentleman who worked in our IT department said, I believe you. Another sighting involved a wild cougar that traveled through New York as it trekked nearly 1,800 miles east from its native population in South Dakota. California has one of the largest mountain lion populations in the country. - U.S. Park Police responded to Greenbelt Park in Prince George's County, Maryland Tuesday after a woman said she saw a mountain lion in the area. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. In 1996 MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team (MLRT) with specially trained staff to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed by the number of people in our state who claim that they have seen a cougar or mountain lion. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Quite unnerving. This gave Nebraska lions some protection under Commission ruling until 2014 when, in a controversial decision, hunting permits were issued . State law protects all species unless otherwise noted. Use this button to show and access all levels. State workers have confirmed sightings of about 100 mountain lions also known as pumas, panthers, catamounts and cougars since 1994, when the Department of Conservation started tracking. 24K views 4 years ago #cougar #mountainlion #maryland On May 31, 2018 an interesting video of an animal walking across a field was captured in the Fallston area of Harford County, Maryland. Wick Communications. From TP:I was driving on the parkway in Toms River back in the late winter and I swear I saw a dead mountain lion in the median. (Or a lot of people who are very good at creative writing and fooling me.). Because you will never go out of your house at night. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. There were five yearling animals, four 2-year-old animals, two 3-year-olds and five 4-year-olds. The MLRT has confirmed fewer than 100 cases. I posted my sighting on a neighborhood social media site, and of course, many did not believe me and said they don't exist here in NJ; however, a number of people also chimed in that they have seen one here or there in different locations not far from me. It was early morning so it was pretty quiet. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It also looked to be at least 4-5 feet in length, not counting its long, thick tail. In the '70s, Jungle Habitat was located here in West Milford. A spokesperson for the Washington HumaneSociety said someone may have been keeping the cat as a pet and then released it once they couldn't take care of it anymore. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but l have since never taken that ride. I live in Holland Township NJ. Rags to riches: Stars who were once homeless, Nowhere to hide: US military's portable anti-material weapons, Semper Fi: Famous people you didnt know were U.S. Marines, Fire from the clouds: US military close air support, Beauty and brains: Smartest female celebrities, Fastest combat planes in the US Air Force, Pence fails to see nuance in Ukraine war, sides with military-industrial complex. elk calf with characteristics of a mountain lion kill. It scowled and flipped its long just before it leaped down the bank towards the fawns. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. July 31, 2018 / 4:17 PM And yes I believe these other stories. Below is the information about mountain lion sightings in maryland 2021 . It was light brown with a long tail. With all the deer, geese, and other prey everywhere, why wouldnt they be here!!!! Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Suddenly my son stopped on the trail due to a large cat on the trail. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century.A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. We both stopped. From EG:About 10 years ago I used to frequent west Milford NJ. Many mountain lion sightings in our state turn out to be cases of mistaken identity, but photos, tracks, hair, scat, and videos are some types of physical evidence used to confirm the presence of a mountain lion. Fish and Game has to acknowledge their existence so the public is aware. // February 12, 2021. "It was so unusual," she says. Big Tech minions could compromise Americas Intelligence community. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Purported mountain lion sighting causes stir FALLING WATERS Fliers and a plywood sign warning of purported sightings of a mountain lion near the area where two miniature horses and a donkey were killed in recent animal attacks caused a stir for local residents Tuesday, but authorities say there's no definitive indication such an animal is in the area. 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). But I know what I saw. Arizona mountain lion tags are available over-the-counter or can be purchased by mail for $15 to Arizona locals. reads. Then it continued crossing the road and into the woods. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. All rights reserved. I called it in and was told there are no mountain lions in NJ. Today, their range stretches from the Yukon Territory in Canada along the western coast of the United States, all the way to the Southern Andes in Chile. 0:11. I wish I had turned around and taken photos but, where it was located, it would have taken me too long. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. Meanwhile, if mountain lion sightings are on your wish list, go to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, even California, to mention some of the western states where the American panther is in good supply. ", With its long tail and sleek, cat-like body, the animal was unquestionably a mountain lion, Mrs. Vanosnabrugge says. About 16 years ago I saw one plodding along Canal Road in Vernon, in broad daylight while I was looking out my kitchen sink window. There is no proof. This was on January 25 at around 5:30 pm. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. No doubt we were lookin' at a Mt. It occurred after 8 p.m. Monday night, January 23, 2023, at Highway T and Old Highway 100 just north of Villa Ridge in Franklin County. Mistaken reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts are most commonly bobcats, the state said. "I knew a lot of people wouldn't believe I'd seen it," he says. None of the rumors are true. Rt 206/Lamington Rd. Residents, especially those in the Rio Vista and Mather Road areas, are reminded to keep pets inside at night, use motion sensor lights to help discourage mountain lions from using their yards, and to let Fish and Game know if they observe a mountain lion. "It was sitting there looking at the smoke coming out of our chimney.". A couple of sightings involved captive mountain lions that escaped from licensed facilities in New York State. Photo courtesy of Mountain Lion Foundation. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. I only saw the back half of the animal which was muscular, tan colored with a long tail that curled at the end. Night-time trail camera photos indicate one or possibly two mountain lions are still using neighborhoods near the river corridor in McCall. It looked so powerful! Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Trump plans to abolish U.S. Education Department if elected, Trump won't commit to the Republican National Committee's loyalty pledge, New Jersey woman blows up house, killing herself and her cats, rather than comply with eviction, Nancy Pelosi criticizes Joe Biden admin over handling of D.C. crime bill, Trump promises GOP will never again be led by 'freaks, neocons, globalists, open borders zealots', Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC In windy or mountainous areas, Elbroch says air horns are great tools to throw off a cat's focus and deter them from . Over the years I have heard stories of other encounters. If youre still curious, read on to brush up on your mountain lion knowledge. Some believe a mountain lion may be lurking in northwest Washington. From PD:Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. I am sincerely amazed at the number of emails I continue to receive about mountain lion or cougar sightings in New Jersey. From MK:I just read your article about mountain lions in NJ. I dont doubt that womans experience in South Jersey one little bit! My dad also has a friend that lives in North Jersey I believe in alpha somewhere by the NY border in a more rural area and he has seen them in his yard and captured them on his trail camera. My girlfriend remarked, Wow, that was a lion. On a side note, I've been out near West Virginia and the western parts of both Maryland and Virginia enough to know that it is a commonly held belief that mountain lions still exist 'round those parts. Washington Times, SCORES & OUTDOORS: Reported sightings of mountain lions on , Mountain Lions in Michigan: 10 Sightings So Far This Year , Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania Outdoornews. Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. Read more about the status of Mountain Lions in Alabama here. 12 Reply catvideomaniac 4 yr. ago That is just some newly divorced woman in her back yard. Another sighting was at Berkshire Valley Road by my neighbor. It was looking away from us attempting to catch a number of small deer that [were] on the riverbank. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays. (DS says her sighting was from earlier this summer.). In Maryland, what inquiring minds want to know is whether big cats are prowling suburbia. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Any cougars in Maryland -- including the one reported to be stalking the field off Liberty Road in Randallstown -- were probably being held captive and either escaped or were set free, Mr. There has only been 1 confirmed mountain lion sighting on the coastal side of I5 since around the 1970's or 80's, that info can be confirmed with any local park ranger. There have been only two caseswhere evidence supports the presence of a mountain lion in Massachusetts. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. Despite this fact, Massachusetts residents continue to report mountain lion sightings. Straw says. . In the Washington region, sightings have been reported in rural areas of Maryland and Virginia. 10K views, 19 likes, 0 loves, 83 comments, 20 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from KMBC 9: LIVE: Authorities search the area after a possible mountain lion was spotted in Greenbelt Park, Maryland..