Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. Many people have claimed to see them, and this writer chronicled numerous such reports in the local press from the mid-1990s to the 2010s. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' It's sort of like big foot, some people say they've seen him.". What is the Kiboko backpack? That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a great litter of boulders, rocks, clay and lakes covering today's landscape. The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos / p o k n o z /, are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania.They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, Wyoming Valley and the Coal Region to the west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. Geologist Dr. John Yolton made the identification. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) I have not spoken with a Game Commission officer personally, so I don't know whether anyone killing a puma in Pennsylvania could do so without legal repercussions. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! But many others believe wild mountain lions are traveling from Western states, where as many as 30,000 could exist, and across the Midwest to Pennsylvania seeking new territory. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. I hope no one ever shoots a puma to prove their existence here, but I hope someone gets a great photo, of the cat, of a road-kill, of tracks, and that I see it. Looking for things to do in the Poconos? Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Recently, on our Arizona Hummingbird and Bat Photo Shoot, I found a deer that had been hit by a car and had moved off to die beside a stream just 200 yards upstream from our lodge. And, some may be escaped or illegally released pets. These cubs are born blind and helpless. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Let me know if you have seen one! Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. He notes how over the millennia, the region was inhabited by humans, only to be depopulated by migration brought on by the search of food due to a fickle climate, war or epidemic. The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Here's an example: A man is holding a dead eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which was found in North Carolina and measured more than 9 feet long and weighed 95 pounds. An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. The Pocono Mountains are . In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? Mysterious big cat caught on security camera in Clarks Summit, Pa. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. Obviously, other pumas must be about, and the series of ridges extending north and east and west from my location could all be included as critical habitat as well. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. Others would like to see some scientific proof. A bobcat gives you a warm, that-kind-of-looks-like-my-cat-but-slightly-bigger feeling. However, if you've seen a mountain lion, or other mystery creature, or evidence of either, in Pennsylvania, contact outdoor writer Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.). After all, how many people have pumas? The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. Things to Do in the Poconos | Attractions & Outdoors - Pocono Mountains But the point of this article isn't whether or not mountain lions exist in Pennsylvania or the Poconos. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. What would account for the long tails? It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Send it to me at mkuhns@poconorecord.com. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. Who knows? "It's one of those things where I'll believe it when I see it," said Jason Farmer of Pocono Summit, my hunting partner for the last eight years. See also: Recently, a man I spoke with told me that he was reminded of a sighting he and two friends had 20 years earlier, and after recalling the incident he was motivated to call his college buddies and reflect on their observation. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in North America; no one has ever captured or killed a black Mountain Lion. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. A Mountain Lion Cover Up Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. Mountain Lion Habitat in Tennessee - ArcGIS StoryMaps An assessment list for Lower Smithfield Township in 1761 when it was part of Northampton County (Monroe having not yet been created) taxed "three pence per pound and shillings per head" laid on the land and inhabitants. A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ I believe that the folks that are reporting, in detail, their sightings are faced with a similar situation. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. How, Who, and Why? At one point, there was debate whether that cat should be protected, since its genes were diluted from escapees or released pumas that originated in South America or our West. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. All of these forests are, with few exceptions, open to hunting, and hunting is a very important industry in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. Wishful thinking? Mountain lions roamed all of the continent prior to the arrival and westward spread of European settlers, but only the eastern and Florida subspecies were found east of the Mississippi. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. It has long been popular with honeymooners, but today the Poconos are a popular destination for families, skiers, adventure seekers, NASCAR fans, and those from urban areas around New England, New York City, Philadelphia . Most nature magazines state whether the photos were taken "under controlled conditions" rather than in the wild.). The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. Because the neck bothered me, I decided to do some Photoshop on the puma in the lower left, moving his head higher up and changing the image to a contrasty black and white - to give a silhouette for comparision. "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? But no one that I've communicated with had these preconceptions, and seeing what they saw was a complete surprise. The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. No evidence has ever been produced to support those charges. Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. In Pennsylvania, I receive a few reports of black, big cats, which makes one wonder -- are there melanistic (black) pumas out there, or are those sightings always wrong. This one streaked across the road in the early evening, and fortunately, it stopped when it climbed a hill on the other side where I had another view from my side of the truck. This will be one of your best identification marks, along with size. Archived Questions of the Month Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. When he told me this, he commented on how an experience like the one he and his friends had just is not forgotten. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. Now consider: If it was confirmed that there was a breeding population of endangered pumas on the mountain ridge behind my house, if the USFWS recognized the existence of this endangered species, what might happen? Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. All rights reserved. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. Who knows? One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains - National Park Service During this time, male mountain lions will travel in search of females. These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. "If my son would have been on a pedal bike, without a helmet on, that thing would have nailed him," said Walters, 44. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. The last documented sighting of an eastern cougar was one killed in Maine in 1938. Bigfoot, mountain lions and other cryptids in PA All rights reserved (About Us). There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Pocono beasts: Mastodons, wolves, cougars once abundant in region No An official form of the United States government. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but we're probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Imagine my surprise. "We've been here 45 years and I've probably been told by people at least 100 times that they've seen a cougar or mountain lion," said owner Vince Hall.