In. 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. It was at least four feet long and had a tail just as long. The most beautiful tragedy I've ever seen. Your email address will not be published. It then, whew, calmly walked into the brush towards the Oswego River. "They never left," Mr. Lutz argues. (Or a lot of people who are very good at creative writing and fooling me.). The animal just stood there for a few minutes and then walked off towards the lake. Mountain lion prints are . Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. I thought I was nuts for thinking it was a mountain lion, but now not so much. It definitely wasn't a bobcat or a coyote, as I do know what they look like. Therres says the last of Marylands natural cougar populations disappeared in the late 1800s, probably due to the lack of the cats favorite food: venison. A pretty severe thunderstorm had just ended so for the afternoon it was quite dark. I had made calls to many different agencies and either I was told I was wrong or no one would return my calls. A resident called police about 8:30 p.m. to report what they believed was a mountain lion seen by multiple people along the Gedern Trail, which runs through the Gedern Estates subdivision and connects to the GM&O Heritage Trail along the former railroad right-of-way in Columbia. For the last few days, my email account has been continuously pinging from people sharing information about their sightings. The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt Park, WUSA9 confirmed Tuesday. The mountain lion walked right across the street in front of his car while he was driving through the park. February 12. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them. Mountain lions ( Puma concolor) are one of the six native species of wild cats in North America. ), 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. (I've chosen to protect the identities of those who've shared their stories with me. We had a tree that was partially blown over in a Noreaster creating a lifted-up mound of earth. 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. Then he realized from the length of its tail and the shape of its body that it was a mountain lion. A mountain lion reportedly showed up last week in a section of the Fernwood State Forest in eastern Ohio not far from Steubenville. From C:About 15 years ago we were on our motorcycles riding around Delaware NJ by the Gap we went on a gravel road came to a bridge we couldn't cross turned around driving real slow cause we all had Harleys I kept like 10 bike lengths between us because of the dust kicking up and right in front of me crossed a mountain lion no more than 10 feet away from me no way I was mistaken. var year = today.getFullYear() If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but l have since never taken that ride. 0:11. 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. Saw one in my backyard in Mercer County in 2018. The first one in recent history was in 2008 . CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A possible big cat sighting is being investigated on the Big Island. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. Today, mountain lions are found in the mountainous regions of the West. 15: January 22, 2011: Macon: Subadult male mountain lion shot by coyote hunters. He tells the story of a friend who managed to snap a picture of a cougar prowling in his backyard in Phoenix. adroll_currency = "USD"; Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . For the smooth consistently colored short hair l came up with a greyish tint to a deers summer color. Lioneither a young one or a female I figured..went home, called NJF&G at the time, and reported it.. asked if they were interested in setting a culvert-type trap to capture it.they seemed pretty disinterested at the time, said it wasn't feasible as we were in a residential type area.. the day after with fresh snow on the ground we returned to find where it had stalked and killed a wild turkey.it was obvious to us with the winged slash marks still in the snow and where it walked downhill with the turkey in its mouth pushing the snow to the sides of it making a smooth pathway..it was something my son and I will never forget. Tracking experts Paul Rezendes, Charles Worsham, George Leoniak, and Dr. Mark Elbroch examined the photos. See Alex Hunter's Sigma Delta Chi award-winning editorial cartoons. Columbia police were notified of a possible mountain lion sighting in the city Thursday night, May 5. If you're looking for some information that's important to you (such as research for work or learning how to manage your money), then the advice here is to first write down the relevant keywords on a piece of paper to figure out exactly what you want, which will be a lot more efficient. And, if. Open MF, 8 a.m.4 p.m. (closed noon12:30 for lunch). 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. 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. And was almost as long as its body! Read more about the status of Mountain Lions in Alabama here. For more information on mountain lions, visit the . The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. We won't share it with anyone else. Truly terrifying encounter even compared to a bear. Standing in profile on top of the mound was a mountain lion. I was told to call animal control. Me and my friend are trying to put together a list/map of sightings in MD. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. I could not believe my eyes! Below is the information about mountain lion sightings in maryland 2021 . 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. "If there is a wild population, it is very tiny, and they are able to live and die without any evidence of them being here," Mr. With land cleared for farms and factories (nearly the entire state was deforested at the turn of the 20th century), there was no place for big cats to hide and nothing for . Copyright 2023Outdoor News. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Courtesy photo Mike Jacobsen was checking his fences near Denton after last month's windstorm when his kids pulled. 12 Reply catvideomaniac 4 yr. ago That is just some newly divorced woman in her back yard. He suggested I didn't see a lion etc. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. / CBS Baltimore. McCarter sent a sample to Dr. George Amato of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York and Dr. Melanie Culver of the University of Maryland. It was tan and the most amazing part of this animal was its tail. Reported Mountain Lion In Maryland Park Actually A Coyote , Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) Wildlife , Whiting Ranch remains closed with near-daily mountain lion , Video Evidence of a Cougar or Mountain Lion in Fallston , Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports | Missouri Department of , Mountain lions in little old Maryland? There is also a small population in southern Florida. Straw says. My cousin and her boyfriend, who own 40 acres in Mansfield Twp NJ saw one on their property as well. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. Most of Graham County is outside of designated active management areas for mountain lions. They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. July 31, 2018 / 4:17 PM Shes 18 now. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species. Please use caution. It had a small animal hanging from its mouth. It was killed in management Zone D, area 10, which appears to be mostly in Coconino County. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. -Arizonas first lion management plan took the form of paying a bounty for every lion killed where the pelt was turned over to authorities. 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. The next thing we see is this cat. In March 2011, DCR forester Steve Ward photographed a track trail in the snow near the Gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir. -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. "She was hesitant to report it because she thought people wouldn't believe her," Lefleche told the paper. var year = today.getFullYear() l thought "oh shit" and figured l could try to use my bicycle for protection and dismounted. I was on my deck at around 10 in the morning. 3600 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002. These areas are heavily wooded reserves owned by Morris County and the State of New Jersey. As of Sept. 7, 12 animals have been tagged statewide thus far. These tracks were fresh and well photographed. No indication of a captive animal. We contacted the Somerset County Park department who assured us that there are no mountain lions in their parks. 01, 2016, . None of the rumors are true. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. I slowed down and when slowed down it took off really fast into the woods. MLRT confirmed using the photos and other sign. That story prompted others to reach out to me about their sightings. May 2015: Laclede I wish I had turned around and taken photos but, where it was located, it would have taken me too long. I told some people but Im not sure anyone believed me. From HR:I saw a MountainLion in the fall of 2017 in Bedminster/Far Hills NJ while driving south on Rt 206/Lamington Rd. "I'm really positive.". Mountain lions were classified as a game species by the Nebraska State Legislature in 1995, mandating the Commission to set hunting seasons only if the lion population was large enough to sustain a harvest. The 2020 wildfires that ravaged California also affected mountain lion populations, killing an estimated 300 to 600 of them. In my moment of "fear" - I called the non-emergent police number They sent an officer out and we told him what we had seen. // February 12, 2021. It was an event I can remember like it was yesterday. ; track sets or photos of track sets; other tangible physical evidence verified by qualified professionals. We both stopped. Information gathered from AZFGD and the Arizona Mountain Lion Foundation, Hunters who dont want to miss getting their spring 2023 tag should take the time now to update their credit card information with the Arizona. (I don't know if it's right, but for me the two terms are interchangeable. After reading your article I'm not so sure, maybe she really did see them. It turned and saw us. People say that when they closed it down some of the animals were released into the woods around here. There was a problem saving your notification. "It was so unusual," she says. Pittstown resident scared to death last summer outside my house when I went to go feed my donkeys. 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. Again, there was no doubt as to what it was. Fish and Game has to acknowledge their existence so the public is aware. A work colleague of mine lives in Layton, a town next to Walpack in Sussex County. Demographic train wreck: Will Japan throw its old people on the tracks? ", With its long tail and sleek, cat-like body, the animal was unquestionably a mountain lion, Mrs. Vanosnabrugge says. Wisconsin - Mountain lion sightings in Wisconsin are rare but there have been confirmed sightings within this state. - 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. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. How can a diminutive pigeon ever look like a majestic bald eagle? My girlfriend remarked, Wow, that was a lion. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. From RD:I live in Cumberland in Maurice River township. From PD: Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Even though the WV DNR says there are no wild mountain lions in the state, there are some held in captivity at the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek. About 4 years ago I saw the whole mountain lion. (Facebook / Michelle Lefleche) Roughly 100 of the pumas are not doing very well in the Sunshine state, where automobile and truck traffic or disease claim a few of the animals every year, but theyre hanging on and we wish them well.Then there are occasional reports of mountain lion sightings in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, but no one to our knowledge has ever totally proved that what they saw actually was North Americas biggest cat that can weigh 150 pounds or more and from nose to the tip of the tail can measure nearly 8 feet in length. For more information see Terms and Conditions. Males grow antlers which fall off each winter and grow back in the summer. 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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. 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. Another cougar buff, zoologist Donald Linzey, has collected 250 reports of mountain lions in Virginia over 11 years and believes 85 are credible. 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. Thank you for your website feedback! The young adult male was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2011. Mike Jacobsen found a dead mountain lion in his Denton-area field on Dec. 19. Luckily it looked healthy and well-fed. In the spray field which is leased to a local farmer, I was driving the roadway down to another building on our site and saw slinking quite quickly a large deer-colored cat with a body close to 4 ft long and a tail about the same length. reads. 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. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. There are, after all, wild mountain lions not zoo specimens in Florida. I was walking past my double kitchen windows and glanced outside. They all agree it looks like a mountain lion. An Ohio Division of Wildlife officer said he watched the . The oldest tooth-aged mountain lion tagged in 2021 was 10. May 2015: Shannon: Citizen reported mountain lion tracks near the Current River, an investigation confirmed the track photos and other sign at the site. Are there mountain lions in Massachusetts. I heard a lot of animal screaming and it seemed to be getting closer to my property. "As always, if you leave wildlife alone and respect it, the wildlife will reciprocate," she wrote. An adult male mountain lion can have a home range greater than 100 square miles. In 2014, the mountain lion conservation program was established to coordinate scientific research and population monitoring to inform big game management, species management plans and habitat conservation and protection. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. From JK:I had a mountain lion bounding across Weldon Road Jefferson Township Morris County about 75 yards in front of me. My house, which is located in Hewitt, NJ (West Milford township), faces the woods, which is actually the edge of Wawayanda State Park. It was ENORMOUS! From EW:Lions in NJmy son and myself were on a hunt in a ground blind on a friend's farm in Liberty Corner, NJ Somerset CoFebruary 19, 1996.roughly around 4:00 pm in the afternoon I thought a deer had entered the pine forest we were adjacent to.we were actually hunting bushy tails with flintlock smoothbores as deer season was closed. l never heard from the State. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. MassWildlife uses evidence-based criteria for confirming reports of mountain lions. I went home to look it up to ensure I was correct - Mountain Lion. in Montague, Sussex County, east from the swampy area of High Point Golf Club west down behind the Vet's office on Millville Rd. "Where'd you take the picture? It walked into the tree line and disappeared. Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. From TM:Hey Joe. State law protects all species unless otherwise noted. Despite this fact, Massachusetts residents continue to report mountain lion sightings. Straw says. "I believe that they're there," says a Baltimore County police officer, who claims he saw a cougar in Ruxton in 1980. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. From a distance, it had the walk of a cat - and the coloring of a mountain lion. Both labs confirmed the sample came from a mountain lion. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Bobcats are found in the mountains of western Maryland, even in some counties along the Chesapeake Bay and one sighting came from the Eastern Shore. I know it is not technically in maryland but I highly doubt this cat knows where the state line is located and stays on the Pa. side all the time. Confirmed reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts There have been only two caseswhere evidence supports the presence of a mountain lion in Massachusetts. There were five yearling animals, four 2-year-old animals, two 3-year-olds and five 4-year-olds. About 10 years ago I saw one crossing a narrow, rural road in Chester Township, NJ. 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. I saw it too while jogging at lunchtime. At least someone else believed me. Please let us know how we can improve this page. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. . From MK:I just read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Mrs. Muhl isn't alone. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A video posted Tuesday on Facebook of a mountain lion ambling across a dirt road near Edens Red Knolls has snagged a lot of interest, according to social media views and discussion. There is no proof. Some of these photos have taken on urban legend status. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Since 1890 in the U.S. and Canada, there have been 100 attacks on humans at all, according to the research organization The Cougar Network. Please give us a call at 928-428-2560, Copyright If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Youd think that with the distinctive white head and tail of adult eagles no one could foul up on it, but Therres says, We receive reports of bald eagles that turn out to be ospreys, hawks, black-backed gulls and even pigeons.. It was bloody and the hair was a mess around its head. I didnt believe her until the security department showed me the security camera footage and there it was about a 30 or 40-pound mountain lion walking passed the security lights. Our eyes locked and we were both motionless. We do get photos/videos sent to us claiming to have witnessed a mountain lion but it is almost always a bobcat or sometimes even a house cat. But that was definitely what it was. Someone else reported seeing the cat last February. l decided to keep it quiet to avoid a frenzy of seekers, especially since there is a lot of private property further back, the Haines and Coons cranberry families. 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. #1 The tail. Night-time trail camera photos indicate one or possibly two mountain lions are still using neighborhoods near the river corridor in McCall. I was going to attempt to somehow categorize these sightings, but I find that task overwhelming. All other reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts have turned out to be other animals. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Further, it is already illegal to kill a mountain lion in Massachusetts. The policeman, who didn't want to be identified, says he was on his way home from work about 3 a.m. when the cougar crossed Circle Road in an wooded area adjacent to Robert E. Lee Memorial Park. Another woman said she was walking her dog in McLean Gardens at the edge of Glover Park when she spotted the large cat last week. One year just a few years ago I was driving down the road and a good half mile up the road from me after coming around the S bends on Hesstown Road. . A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. The cat, which she believes is a mountain lion, ran off into some nearby woods. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. By LAURA JEAN SCHNEIDER The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt. From RE:I live and work in Wayne, about 8 to 10 years ago a woman who started her shift at about 5 am said she saw a mountain lion walking through our property one morning. "I couldn't believe my eyes. There was no question as to what it was, with its coloring and long tail. I do have footprint pics in snow from Califon definitely not your usual coyote.