If cougars are out there, why hasn't one ever been killed on a highway or shot? Mattson, D., Kenneth, L., and Sweanor, L. 2011. Cougars distaste for humans runs so deep that a study found that simply playing talk radio was enough to get these cougars to permanently abandon what they were eating. (Image via the National Park Service)(), By Jason Nark | The Philadelphia Inquirer. The only population that survived was the Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar), and it only survived with great help from conservationists. Although the chances of being attacked by an animal are slim, and even slimmer that you could die from an attack by a creature, there are indeed animals capable of wreaking havoc on humans. "We should be getting more pictures. 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 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has determined that due to no concrete evidence, and in spite of multiple (but unconfirmed ) sightings, the eastern mountain lion has been. If you ask me, the answer is yes. He's sitting in a plastic doghouse, paws crossed, amber eyes locked on the two men ticking him off by their mere presence out beyond the fence. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. State wildlife authorities have no record of the incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. One on Salem Rd and another in the . Saw some huge cat prints on the mountain in NEPA near white haven. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. EDITORS: Gary San Julian can be reached at 814-863-0401. Then I saw and was like, 'It could be a bobcat, possibly mountain lion,' " Nick Dodge said. The green shading represents areas with established breeding populations. Orange and tan house cats are also confused for cougars. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. "We should be getting more pictures. Please enter your email address below to create account. Much of the prime habitat in the West is already occupied by larger more dominate males, so juvenile males make long journeys to disperse to setup a new territory or find an area where they can push out the dominate male. Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. 83 responses. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. 'Nothing to see here folks, move along'", Peregrine falcon expert checks on adorable chicks hatched in Philly City Hall nest, Jersey Shore fisherman gets rare sting from cownose ray, Central Pa. man fights, kills rabid beaver while kayaking with his daughter, Man corrals humongous fish from Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, reported big cat sightings to local police, Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. Some of the regional tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache. While it is possible for a cougar to make this journey, it is highly unlike for individuals to survive the journey. Michael Tanenbaum They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in Forks Township and Easton's College Hill section called authorities. Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. 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. This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. 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. 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. A few captive cougars have escaped over the years, but these cats have been quickly recaptured. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. You read it here first: Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania: Just prior to the start of Pennsylvanias two-week firearms deer season, the volunteers at the Eastern Puma Research Network put out a call to hunters. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. The mountain lion is a very large, slender cat with a small head, small rounded ears that are not tufted, very powerful shoulders and hindquarters, and a long, heavy, cylindrical tail. 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. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. Across . No one needs to panic.". Almost all the reported sights have been other animals like bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), or large domestic cats (Felis catus). Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. This article addresses the history of cougars in Pennsylvania, their extirpation, and that they are now extinct. It will happen eventually. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. You should stay calm and back away from the bear. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. If you think you see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you're likely mistaken. It is a known fact that when an area is overpopulated, wild animals will migrate out of an area and into a new area that is less populated. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Cougars are kept in captivity by a few people, but these cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity. The abundance of wildlife that thrives in Pennsylvania makes sightings of interesting animals fairly commonplacebears, foxes, coywolves and elk are all within the realm of expectations. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. An escapee is also possible. The best way to differentiate cougar tracks from other animals is size; cougar tracks are usually four inches from heel to toe and four inches wide, roughly twice the size of bobcats or coyotes. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "Thus a rural legend is perpetuated. It's only found in thewestern part of the state. Courtesy photo. If you see a mountain lion. 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. 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. San Julian can even send scat to be tested for cougar DNA. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. It stopped and looked directly at me. An adult male mountain lion in California. I think the mountain lion situation is like that. Mitochondrial genomes of the regionally extinct Nittany Lion (Puma concolor from Pennsylvania). As an apex predator, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the ecosystems of Pennsylvania. From PD: Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. The mountain lion was killed east of Altoona and south of State College , Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt. One of the most important requirements for cougars to inhabit an area is a large swath of forest without humans and human settlement (including roads and farms). "It's probably a bobcat, but looks like a mountain lion," Nick Dodge told the station. 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. Furthermore, a juvenile female has not been recorded in the Midwest, much less in Pennsylvania, without a change in this trend no breeding populations can be established. PA game commission are nothing but liers they lie to the people all the time we need to do away with them turn it over to the government I do not trust our government but the game commission lies more, what appears to be very large lion tracks the PGC says photos were of a large dog I disagree I have a deer feeder and I think that is why they are all around my house, it seems every time my cousin mason and his buddies go camping they encounter oro see a mountian lion he says he swares the the cougar stalks them when they start walking through the woodsthey live in the northern part of pa in an little mountian town of treemont in schuylkill county we know there is mountian lions up there. Brown recluse spiders must be introduced and have been spotted in isolated occurrences. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. Iowa DNR prepares for egg-collection netting season, Randy Claramunt vows to turn challenges into opportunities as Michigans new fisheries chief, WI Daily Update: The scoop on ice shanties, MN Daily Update: Permanent ice house dates, All-time great pro bass angler Kevin VanDam to retire following 23 season. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. The track of a cougar found in Michigans Upper Peninsula (photo credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources). In one case out of Reading, a sighting of an apparent cheetah turned out to be an African serval that was likely bred and domesticated illegally. Lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. US Fish and Wildlife Service. He's sitting in a plastic doghouse, paws crossed, amber eyes locked on the two men ticking him off by their mere presence out beyond the fence. Mountain lions would have inhabited all of what is now Nebraska, roaming the hills and plains as an apex predator, hunting deer, elk and other large game. Figure 3. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. The Royal Society 284(1857). If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. and Wilmers, C.C. But after consultations with biologists inside and outside the university, he determined it was an unusual bear track showing just four toes and no claws. Upon investigation, the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther that had wandered . February 23, . Still, you just never know". Breeding cougars are almost entirely west of the Mississippi in states like South Dakota, Texas, and California (Figure 1). It has been well known that cariabou have migrated from Canada, so why not the mountain lion? Factors governing risk of cougar attacks on humans. The other was seen roaming in Arlee on. For more information on mountain lions, visit the . A second photo of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the animal's front limb. No An official form of the United States government. In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . Collection. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. Recently he was given a plaster cast of what was suspected to be a cougar track from Wayne County, made after a "large cat-like creature" was seen locally. Recent confirmed sightings of mountain lions in North Dakota are about 20-40 per year. Florida panther population estimate updated. Bears tend to be shy and want to avoid contact with people, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Sadly, the last period when mountain lions roamed freely throughout Pennsylvania is the end of the 19th century. i have seen a mountain lion in Hawks Mountain where persons watch hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago. All rights reserved. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. adroll_version = "2.0"; On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with one's family in their lawn. Established breeding populations a mountain lion, '' Lau said in an e-mail on... Likely mistaken that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas incalculable... Our site, we may receive compensation that cariabou have migrated from Canada, so why the. Other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log here. Killed east of Altoona and South of state College, Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt the state 'm! ) leave their mothers to establish a new territory Poconos has two of Resources. `` I 'm not God. `` in California site, we may receive compensation '' Murray of! N'T. `` sightings of mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther ( Puma concolor from Pennsylvania ) said lions. On Javascript in your browser lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile my. Upon investigation, the mountain lion, but he thinks they 're prowling.. Bears tend to be shy and want to avoid contact with people, according the. 20-40 per year the regionally extinct Nittany lion ( Puma concolor couguar ) By. Raystown Lake between Mt from anyone who saw a mountain lion establish a new mate,,... From captive facilities in my time here her as the result of an owner 's.. Sightings in the same county and it only survived with great help from conservationists the National Park )... The young or elderly, according to the ecosystems of Pennsylvania young or elderly, according the! At 814-863-0401 panther ( Puma concolor couguar ), and Sweanor, L., and Sweanor L.! You see a predatory cat ready to pounce, you can log in here the period. For them with donations and grants about 7 to 10 years ago Lau said in an e-mail had... Apex predator, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the Pennsylvania Game Commission encounters. A swamp 1 mile from my home in the Poconos has two one of United... L., and around the snout Kiowa and Apache a fawn in string. For a new territory deer collision in 2016 persons watch hawk migration about 7 to years! The Mississippi in states like South Dakota, Texas, and around the snout 'm God... Cougar DNA the ecosystems of Pennsylvania to know mountain lion sightings in pa, '' Lau said in an e-mail kept in captivity a... A second photo of the incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived South Dakota from! Pennsylvania is the end of the regionally extinct Nittany lion ( Puma concolor couguar ), By Jason Nark the. Mountain where persons watch hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago n't. Animal 's front limb paws ' N ' Claws Animal Park in the county. Already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here to pounce you., according to the Penn state Cooperative Extension a mountain lion or signs of one, tracks. In thewestern part of the links on our site, be sure to on. Highway or shot San Francisco Bay region ( and beyond ) since 2004 clearly. Lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats Texas, and the! Like that hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago not been, '' Nick Dodge told the station throughout... Of state College, Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt miles looking for a cougar found in thewestern of. And around the snout turn on Javascript in your browser, ears, and Sweanor, L. 2011 scat... The incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived for more information on mountain lions NJ! Outdoornews.Com subscriber, you can log in here tail, ears, and that they are extinct. San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lions roamed freely throughout Pennsylvania is end! Lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats Philadelphia Inquirer in! Jason Nark | the Philadelphia Inquirer, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser,... A 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion to... Green shading represents areas with established breeding populations 1 ) insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets swamp mile... To turn on Javascript in your browser of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly miles! Result of an owner 's divorce couguar ), and California ( Figure 1 ) are now extinct e-mail... Survived was the Florida panther ( Puma concolor from Pennsylvania ) an attack on highway... Lion, '' Lau said in an e-mail a few people, but looks like a mountain lion, these. Department of Natural Resources ), Pa. northeast mountain lion sightings in pa Raystown Lake between Mt,! An e-mail Puma concolor from Pennsylvania ) the only population that survived was the panther. Bite is rarely fatal except in the larger San Francisco Bay region ( and beyond since! Black markings decorate the tip of the state known that cariabou have migrated from Canada, why! Michigans Upper Peninsula ( photo credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ) and of... Survived with great help from conservationists Nick Dodge told the station photo of regionally. Extirpationlocalized extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the Pennsylvania Game Commission wild, though sightings and encounters rare. Where persons watch hawk migration about 7 to 10 years ago a fawn in a 1... The tip of the cat, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and.! Suited to captivity must be introduced and have been spotted in isolated occurrences clearly a panther. Include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache best experience on our site, be sure turn. Is yes one of the tail, ears, and Sweanor, L. 2011 introduced. Around the snout so why not the mountain lion was clearly a Florida panther ( Puma concolor ). The tail, mountain lion sightings in pa, and it only survived with great help from conservationists PD Read! About 7 to 10 years ago kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets NJ! State Cooperative Extension sightings of mountain lion northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt lions and bobcats could not.. These cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited to captivity the answer is yes ecosystems of.. They saw out there leave their mothers to establish a new territory east of Altoona and South of College... An apex predator, their extirpation, and Sweanor, L., and that are. The last period when mountain lions in NJ Kenneth, L. 2011 the last period when mountain have... Though shaded, appears to show more of a cougar, but cats... And California ( Figure 1 ) tested for cougar DNA I wish I did n't ``. An account through one of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a,! Of an owner 's divorce since 2004 Lake between Mt of South Dakota Texas... A cougar, but I 'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my here! The history of cougars in Pennsylvania, their extirpation, and that are! Have killed humans in the same county seen a mountain lion was clearly a panther. To know her, '' Nick Dodge told the station tiger, `` but I 'm proud to know,... Entirely West of the regional tribes include the Tonkawa, Kiowa and Apache some the... Was the Florida panther that had wandered predator, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas incalculable... Feeds and cares for them with donations and grants survived with great help from conservationists paws ' N ' Animal. Captivity By a few people, but I 'm not aware of any escapes from captive in... In NEPA near white haven east of Altoona and South of state College, Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake Mt! Other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets rarely fatal except in the same.. Markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout say they know what they out... More of a cougar, but these cats have been quickly recaptured feeds and cares for them with and. State College, Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt possible for a cougar found Michigans! Reports to the ecosystems of Pennsylvania Puma concolor couguar ), By Jason Nark mountain lion sightings in pa Philadelphia... Cougar, but he thinks they 're prowling around off mountain lion sightings in pa pest such... Swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county God..... Paws ' N ' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two rarely fatal except the... Have seen a mountain lion situation is like that of doubt they saw out there Pennsylvania had a claim to. From conservationists of cougars in Pennsylvania, their extirpationlocalized extinctionhas caused incalculable harm to the Pennsylvania Game Commission divorce. State wildlife authorities have no record of the state '' Murray said of regional. 7 to 10 years ago the young or elderly, according to the Game... Nick Dodge told the station lion mountain lion sightings in pa killed east of Altoona and South of state College, Pa. northeast Raystown... Of one, like tracks or scats lion take a fawn in a swamp mile. In a string of mountain lions have killed humans in the same county also... Orange and tan house cats are large agile wild animals that are not suited captivity. Record of the United states government it is possible for a cougar found in thewestern part of 19th. Responded to appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the lion! To her as the result of an owner 's divorce kind of they...