Inasmuchas he didn't see it himself - he could not (would not) confirm what we had seen. 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. And so does the state. All other reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts have turned out to be other animals. On the return paved portion of my ride, l stopped to share my story with my friends at Mick's Canoes. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. I live in Holland Township NJ. In Maryland, what inquiring minds want to know is whether big cats are prowling suburbia. They are definitely here. 13507065_10205364039255335_8657515368052999240_n.jpg. This map shows the various zones where mountain lions are hunted statewide, as determined by the Arizona Fish and Game Department. Confirmed reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. POCATELLOMountain lions are being sighted throughout Pocatello, according to official reports and social media posts from local residents. Mountain lions dont usually travel more than 100 miles from where they are born. Some page levels are currently hidden. Advertisement Rauch said the bobcat probably traveled down the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. "She was hesitant to report it because she thought people wouldn't believe her," Lefleche told the paper. Nowadays, many reports include photographic evidence, thanks to camera phones and trail cameras. On Tuesday, September 28, the Choconut Inn in Friendsville, Pennsylvania jumped in on the conversation with a Facebook post that read, "Hi everyone there's been numerous mountain lion sightings by Quaker Lake. Pigeons? Although they're not often seen walking. Brigantino Park notice. All these photos were taken in a state other than Massachusetts. From HR:I saw a MountainLion in the fall of 2017 in Bedminster/Far Hills NJ while driving south on Rt 206/Lamington Rd. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. In March 2011, DCR forester Steve Ward photographed a track trail in the snow near the Gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir. However, Fish and Game is asking area residents to be vigilant and to report any mountain lion sightings in the area by calling the Southwest Region Office at 208-465-8465, Monday through Friday . Me and my friend are trying to put together a list/map of sightings in MD. The mountain lion is rare in Missouri, having been extirpated since the 1920s; occasional individuals wander here from other states. AZGFD sold 11,851 tags in 2021; 260 mountain lions were killed, 17 of those as the result of livestock depredations. It had a small animal hanging from its mouth. I thought I was nuts for thinking it was a mountain lion, but now not so much. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. That story prompted a number of folks to write about their encounters. var year = today.getFullYear() It was ENORMOUS! If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Pitch-black out and all I could hear was a long slow deep growling that sounded like nothing Id ever heard except once before 3 years ago. I saw it too while jogging at lunchtime. At least someone else believed me. Also, Bobcats are spreading into areas in which they have not been seen before. ), I have no agenda in this. I only saw the back half of the animal which was muscular, tan colored with a long tail that curled at the end. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. They can weigh between 50-300 lbs. Because you will never go out of your house at night. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. Over the past 25 years, dozens of Maryland residents have reported cougar encounters, even though wildlife officials insist that mountain lions haven't roamed the state for at least a century. Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. ; track sets or photos of track sets; other tangible physical evidence verified by qualified professionals. From ER:Many years ago - back in late 2012 I was preparing a yard sale with my youngest daughter (she was 12 at the time) on our driveway in Ringwood, NJ. 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. Please use caution. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35-40 pounds. I was sitting on my front porch and I saw a very large animal at first I thought big fox. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. I was on my deck at around 10 in the morning. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. Mountain lions in NJ? There are two records of mountain lions in Massachusetts thatmeet the evidence requirements. Click here to login. Your email address will not be published. It came out of the woods and stopped in the middle of the road right in front of me in the headlights. Follow @WJZ on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook, First published on July 31, 2018 / 4:17 PM. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. They all agree it looks like a mountain lion. She was driving home from a shopping trip last spring when she spotted a large animal crossing Cuba Road in Northern Baltimore County. Straw says. I guess they werent willing to admit it but my son and I knew what we saw. This still from a local video clip of a mountain lion taken Tuesday morning shows a big cat crossing a ditch before he disappears into the cotton field. The Missouri Dept of Conservation release information regarding a vehicle striking a mountain lion (cougar) not far from Six Flags. a graphic depiction of America's mountain lion history. To visit any of the states for which we have already compiled information, click on the states listed below. 12 Reply catvideomaniac 4 yr. ago That is just some newly divorced woman in her back yard. Some of these photos have taken on urban legend status. Then in late August, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion on her drive between Millville and Avalon. From RV:In the summer of 2002, I was biking south on the D&R canal path near Millstone NJ. From AM:Yes, we DO have them in NJ, regardless of whether the state denies it or not. CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A possible big cat sighting is being investigated on the Big Island. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. The USDA's Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory found that the animal came from South Dakota. And was almost as long as its body! "As always, you should be diligent and cautious with your pets.". Mike Jacobsen found a dead mountain lion in his Denton-area field on Dec. 19. They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. Tracking experts Paul Rezendes, Charles Worsham, George Leoniak, and Dr. Mark Elbroch examined the photos. Unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions and panthers do persist in Maryland, according to the state Department of Natural Resources website. adroll_current_page = "other"; document.write(year) // February 12, 2021. For more information see Terms and Conditions. That story prompted others to reach out to me about their sightings. Or so they think!. I dont doubt that womans experience in South Jersey one little bit! The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt. Further, it is already illegal to kill a mountain lion in Massachusetts. I had my head tilted to the side sitting in the backseat with my daughter and I saw a very large cat jump clear across Route 23. It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. The animal just stood there for a few minutes and then walked off towards the lake. Wick Communications. In 1966, an animal believed to be a cougar clawed a pony, two sheep and a calf to death in western Harford County. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . There is also a small population in southern Florida. Demographic train wreck: Will Japan throw its old people on the tracks? Case 2 I went home to look it up to ensure I was correct - Mountain Lion. Though the government states the species is extinct, hundreds of sightings are still reported on a daily basis, particularly after the 2011 sighting of an Eastern mountain lion in Greenwich, Conn. We contacted the Somerset County Park department who assured us that there are no mountain lions in their parks. There was a problem saving your notification. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. MassWildlife receives dozens of reportsa year, most are simplyreportsor sightings with no evidence. I know bobcats and it definitely wasnt one especially having a 3+ foot tail that was quite thick. February 12. There are, after all, wild mountain lions not zoo specimens in Florida. It was about 6 or 7 years ago. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Please do not include personal or contact information. adroll_currency = "USD"; Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. What drew me to it was the seeming paws. This is the longest documented travel distance of a mountain lion. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The government says they don't exist here. There have been no reports of injuries associated with this creature. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . In the '70s, Jungle Habitat was located here in West Milford. Yes, they have been here for years. Rt 206/Lamington Rd. It was an event I can remember like it was yesterday. Glenn Therres, a biologist and wildlife specialist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says, We receive a dozen or two dozen reports a year from citizens who see, hear or find signs of cougars. It definitely wasn't a bobcat or a coyote, as I do know what they look like. I was excited for my husband to see it too, so I kept calling him and going to the dining room so he could hear me, as he was downstairs, but unfortunately by then, the mountain lion was no longer in my sight. Copyright 1998- 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. Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. (WJZ) -- A reported mountain lion sighting in a Prince George's County park turned out to be a coyote. It was when the reservoir was really low. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. The bobcat is the only resident "big cat" with. (#08) We just wanted to inform you all that during our trip to the Snowshoe ski resort in West Virginia we sighted a mountain lion at a nearby field. Hunters must also possess a valid hunting license, which is $37 for residents. 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. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. Case 1 With all the deer, geese, and other prey everywhere, why wouldnt they be here!!!! An adult male mountain lion can have a home range greater than 100 square miles. 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. From DS:I also spotted a mountain lion on Almonesson Rd Deptford NJ about 1 am. MassWildlife uses evidence-based criteria for confirming reports of mountain lions. Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. May 2015: Laclede 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It was at the edge of the woods and it looked like it was just after a kill. #1 The tail. There is no indication of population decline, the department said. The same year, The Sun ran a story headlined "A Mysterious Big Cat Roams Maryland," which focused on a flurry of cougar reports in Western Maryland. The youngest was less than 1-year-old. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. A work colleague of mine lives in Layton, a town next to Walpack in Sussex County. JustBe Farm is the passion project of both Kate and Ray, two South Jersey locals who wanted a place where they could reconnect busy children, teens, and adults with nature. In April 1997, experienced tracker John McCarter found scat near a beaver carcass at the Quabbin Reservation. "Where'd you take the picture? California: 4,000 - 6,000. Genetic analyses confirmed the hair was from a male mountain lion and the propbable population of origin was Colorado. l thought "oh shit" and figured l could try to use my bicycle for protection and dismounted. 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? After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. They used to roam the entire continent, but have become extinct in most US states. Males, also called bucks, are about 20 percent larger than females, which are called does. 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. Mountain Lions are the largest predators currently in Rocky Mountain National Park. Maryland - There have been many sightings of mountain lions and a lot of debate about the existence of mountain lions in Maryland. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. "These animals have usually been misidentified because they were seen under poor conditions or by someone not familiar with the species," the post goes on to say. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. From PD:Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. At the time I think my daughter was about five. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and over, $2 for kids 6 to 15 years old, and free for . var today = new Date() Then, a gentleman who worked in our IT department said, I believe you. I have seen a lion twice in Sussex County. Photo courtesy of Mountain Lion Foundation. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. 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. Cougars (Puma concolor) are a large cat that goes by many names: panther, catamount, puma, and mountain lion, just to name a few of their over forty common English names.They were once a common predator in Pennsylvania until a combination of range-wide habitat loss, prey loss (mainly white-tailed deer and elk), and predator eradication programs in the 1800s drove them to extinction in the . I had people bash us for telling our story - but we've never wavered. -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. I do have footprint pics in snow from Califon definitely not your usual coyote. From ED:Im a believer. MLRT confirmed using the photos and other sign. It also looked to be at least 4-5 feet in length, not counting its long, thick tail. August, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion on her drive between Millville and Avalon. The network doesnt believe phone callers, such as the ones the Maryland DNR hears of a large cat the size of a German shepherd or larger dog walking down the trail.Youve got to do better than that, says the Cougar Networks professional big-cat specialists. There was no question as to what it was, with its coloring and long tail. It was light brown with a long tail. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. 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.. Standing in profile on top of the mound was a mountain lion. Just a matter of time until fish and game acknowledge it. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. My 11-year-old son was in front of me about 50 feet. -Mountain lions are classified as big game. 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. After reading your article I'm not so sure, maybe she really did see them. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. If you need assistance, please contact the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. None of the rumors are true. l then got to thinking about a description, the color is rather unique. ". Another cougar buff, zoologist Donald Linzey, has collected 250 reports of mountain lions in Virginia over 11 years and believes 85 are credible. They vary in size and weight, with males reaching up to 200 pounds and eight feet in length (one-third of their length is the tail). From D:My wife came home a couple of years ago and told me she saw two cougars crossing Range Road, a joint jurisdiction road between Fort Dix and Browns Mills, NJ, I told her they must have been something else. Quite unnerving. Possible Mountain Lion Sighting in D.C. Wildlife officers searching for the creature By Michelle Tetu Published October 28, 2011 Updated on October 31, 2011 at 6:09 am 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. Today, mountain lions are found in the mountainous regions of the West. Shirley Ford took photos of the svelte creature she saw lurking by her home on Ash Street Sunday, The Telegram and Gazette reports. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. in Montague, Sussex County, east from the swampy area of High Point Golf Club west down behind the Vet's office on Millville Rd. A lock icon ( It was late October and leaves were mostly down on our 500+ acre site. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. State law protects all species unless otherwise noted. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. - 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. It looked so powerful! Nov. 11, 2021 - A California Mountain Lion was seen at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Nov. 11 near the University Glen water tanks and on the main part of the campus near Santa Barbara Street and Camarillo Street. From TR:l just dug out my NJ Rare Wildlife Report Form of September 14, 2013. l was taking a favorite off and on-road bike ride that l call the Harrisville/Oswego Loop, which starts on Rt 679. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. 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. The friend showed the photograph to a Baltimore County animal control officer and asked him to identify the animal. 60-108 inches. Last year he recorded 11 cougar sightings in Maryland, 38 in Pennsylvania and six in Virginia. Animal control officers say they are taking the reports seriously. "It was sitting there looking at the smoke coming out of our chimney.". Both off of Carrs Mill Rd before the cement bridge (for those of you that may be familiar) They are here. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. From EG:About 10 years ago I used to frequent west Milford NJ. For the smooth consistently colored short hair l came up with a greyish tint to a deers summer color. (DS says her sighting was from earlier this summer.). The feedback will only be used for improving the website. See Alex Hunter's Sigma Delta Chi award-winning editorial cartoons. Wisconsin - Mountain lion sightings in Wisconsin are rare but there have been confirmed sightings within this state. It was early morning so it was pretty quiet. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Another sighting was on Storms Ave in Haskell NJ. It was tan and the most amazing part of this animal was its tail. I mentioned it to several coworkers and nobody believed me! It was a rumor that State Fish and game stocked mountain lions to take care of it, to this day they deny it but I dont doubt they did. As of Sept. 7, 12 animals have been tagged statewide thus far. There have been only two caseswhere evidence supports the presence of a mountain lion in Massachusetts. AZGFD sold 11,851 tags in 2021; 260 mountain. 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. My house, which is located in Hewitt, NJ (West Milford township), faces the woods, which is actually the edge of Wawayanda State Park. On we go with just some of the reports I've received in the last few days: From RB:I've been reading your stories about mountain lion sightings, I too have seen a mountain lion; this was during the early spring or late winter of 2021. All rights reserved. Jeff Mulhollem. MassWildlife cannot investigate or confirm mountain lion reports without any evidence. 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. Over the years I have heard stories of other encounters. Offer valid thru 3/31/23. Hunters do not stumble across the remains of dead mountain lions in the woods, he says. Cougars must be identified by having been captured, found dead, or the investigators must have seen definite tracks or other evidence. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt Park, WUSA9 confirmed Tuesday. These areas are heavily wooded reserves owned by Morris County and the State of New Jersey. I was going to attempt to somehow categorize these sightings, but I find that task overwhelming. Mountain lions ( Puma concolor) are one of the six native species of wild cats in North America. 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. 01, 2016, . 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? I feel vindicated. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Laugh all you want, but Agnes Muhl has no doubts about what she, her husband and her mother saw in the front yard of their Thurmont vacation home eight years ago. 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. 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. 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. My girlfriend remarked, Wow, that was a lion. The 2020 wildfires that ravaged California also affected mountain lion populations, killing an estimated 300 to 600 of them. How can a diminutive pigeon ever look like a majestic bald eagle? 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. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. 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. l went around a tight right bend and, 100 feet up, walking the same way was a cougar. Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. It doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't be in those areas considering anything prevents them from crossing state lines especially since they can swim and the Delaware river is often shallow enough to walk across in a lot of spots. Both labs confirmed the sample came from a mountain lion. Habitat. I wish I had turned around and taken photos but, where it was located, it would have taken me too long. I called it in and was told there are no mountain lions in NJ. A couple of sightings involved captive mountain lions that escaped from licensed facilities in New York State. I was amazed I told everyone I knew and it was like I was crazy or a liar. 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. 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. For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month! May 2015: Shannon: Citizen reported mountain lion tracks near the Current River, an investigation confirmed the track photos and other sign at the site. People even report House Cats as mountain lions in a surprising number of cases. It walked into the tree line and disappeared. An Ohio Division of Wildlife officer said he watched the . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. I have seen a lion twice in Sussex County. Park rangers alerted the historical society to inform members that these big cats have been spotted in the area. Then he realized from the length of its tail and the shape of its body that it was a mountain lion. . 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. var today = new Date()