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We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. Make yourself BIG. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by, . 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. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. 2. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. Betty said that, according to officials, it's thought that there has been no reproducing, native population in the state since the 1920s. I enjoy exploring CT and reporting back to my readers about fun things to do in Connecticut. When we lived in Suffield, we had MANY Mountain Lion sightings.probably 4-5 sightings (which qualifies as many to me) and they were definitely not Bobcats. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. Instead, people should remain facing the cat and not turn their back on it, make noise and make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms over their heads with a jacket. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. Description. Here are some things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a mountain lion: The sightings were reported to the state Dept. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. Email editor@connecticutmag.com. We get a lot of pictures sent to us, and people say, I took this picture of a mountain lion in my backyard. And Ill look at it, and to me, its clearly a bobcat, Hawley said. 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. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. The gate of a bobcat can often make it look like it has a long tail. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. So its this gathering storm. Therefore, there are no western and eastern species to differentiate between. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Sometimes people feared fishers (erroneously attributing the blood-curdling screams of foxes to these hard-to-spot creatures), and in the late 1930s, after several animals were slain under strange circumstances in Glastonbury, the Hartford Courant dubbed the lion-like creature supposedly responsible, the Glawackus. "We get calls about mountain lions all the time, but they turn out to be unprovable," Brown told the Independent in March. New London would be the last place I'd expect to see a mountain lion in CT. My sister is on 9 acres in Harwinton and watched a mountain lion cross the driveway which is about a quarter mile surrounded by woods and unpaved. If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. New Hampshire Public Radio | Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Make yourself big -- do not bend, squat or sit down. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Mountain Lions in the State of Texas In Texas, it's always open season on mountain lions. (https://wildlifeinformer.com/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-mountain-lion/). But its also a great story that lays out how an animal this large, at 150 pounds, traveling through even rural areas, leaves signs and is detected. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Sightings can be reported to the McCall Fish and Game office at 208-634-8137. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. 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. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. However, Hawley noted that Eastern bobcats tend to have very few spots compared to bobcats that are out west or even in the Midwest. If they have spots, they are typically in the white, underside part of the bodies or on the insides of their legs. Mountain Lions:They can have similar coloring and their tails can look alike, which has lead to some house cats being mistaken for them, even though mountain lions are much, much bigger. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. Even so, Abbott has heard of mountain lion sightings from what he deems reliable sources and believes its possible that other animals have made the difficult, some say almost miraculous trek, from the West to Connecticut. When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. 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In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Serious crash closes CT stretch of I-95 South, state police say, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, CT Capitol police arrest 14 people following peaceful protest, DCF denies 'deficiencies' cited in report on CT child deaths, Suspect in 2021 fatal shooting arrested, Hamden police say, Police warn of spike in vehicle thefts in CT town, Elicker presents $662.7m budget that would raise spending $29.5m, Norwalk council hears call for school spending, delays budget cap, NJ man faces more charges in alleged money laundering scheme, Late West Haven audit sees vulnerabilities for more fraud, several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month, one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011, U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. But its also a great story that lays out how an animal this large, at 150 pounds, traveling through even rural areas, leaves signs and is detected. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. Hawley: That animal was documented. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Mostly shaded. Habitat. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. Collection. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book, Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. What to know about unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in CT. Nicole Funaro was formerly a statewide trending reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covering everything from the most fascinating properties for sale in the Nutmeg State to the latest movie filming in the state. The mountain lion is believed to have had an encounter with a family on their lawn. Seeing a wild cat can be both frightening and exciting, and its common for people to make mistakes in identification, as all most people are used to seeing is the common housecat. Fv 27, 2023 . Were getting more and more home entries every year. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. It had rained previously. In general, the audience members seemed to agree with Bettys views. A harvest is kind of twofold. We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. There are mountain lions in connecticut. According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. Once at dusk driving in the Berkshires, he saw what he initially thought was a cat-like creature that was far bigger than a bobcat leap across the road. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including, is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the . He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. Working in the 1980s in southern California, where there are cougars, biologist Paul Beier said that 95 percent of cougar sightings they investigated turned out to be misidentifications. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). Sue Morse, the founder and science director of Keeping Track, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to protecting wildlife habitats, has studied mountain lions over her career as a naturalist, and says the majority of cougar sightings in the Northeast are misidentifications. While Betty had plenty of evidence to support a mountain lion population, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection still lists the mountain lion as extinct under the Endangered Species Act. The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. Abbott believes it is possible that more mountain lions such as the one that was killed in Milford in 2011 could migrate here. A bill which would change the name to the Pequot River has full support from the Mashantucket Pequot and Eastern Pequot tribes, but the Mohegan Tribe has voiced concerns. He drove me out to the spot. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by DEEP. Weight: 160 lbs. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. Put your arms over your head with a jacket or sweatshirt. When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. Bachelder says he didnt have his phone on him, so he couldnt take a picture or video, but describes his backyard visitor just like what you see in the stock photo provided by the Woodbridge Police Department. Below is an evolving list of Connecticut natives and state prep school football players in the Class of 2023 who have signed letters of intent to play football in college. 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Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. In the 1930s, Bruce Wright, an influential wildlife manager from New Brunswick, Canada, began gathering reports of sightings of mountain lions in the East and searching for their tracks. And there are different schools of thought about that. Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. Roadkills can be reported to 860-424-3011. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. 1.Customize your maps Style your maps with custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images. They are also known as . These were reported to CT DEEP and though the sightings may not have been confirmed as true mountain Lion sightings, this post is to spread awareness on the issue in case youre presented with such situation. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. From sightings of wolves and moose to brown recluses and mountain lions, people in CT have made some wild (pun intended) claims about what animals theyve spotted. 4. Another mountain lion was killed on a Connecticut highway. We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. 75-170 pounds. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. Hi! Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. This is a carousel. Theres something in human nature to overestimate the size of wild animals we see, especially if we get a brief glance and if the animal is moving. He adds, Bobcats can get pretty large and some people believe they should have pretty visible spots and very often theyre pretty uniform in color. This is especially true in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred. We have rolling hills, and more importantly, 200,000 white tails. 3. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. That had to be a mountain lion. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem Road and near Pease Road. Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . While other states have their Bigfoot and sea monster sightings, in Connecticut, and throughout much of the Northeast, we see mountain lions even when were told such sightings are unlikely, if not outright impossible. It had rained previously. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. We have people eating dinner in their kitchen, they hear a noise, all of a sudden a bear walks in, so they run into their bedroom to get away from the bear, while the bears out ransacking their refrigerator. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. Live Now All times eastern. Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. Connecticut Public Radio | Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. The large cat was seen on Hoyt Farm Road not far from Route 123 near the Norwalk-New Canaan border. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. Adult males can be around 8 feet in length and weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, while adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Im watching it, its big, its got the body, and the thing that really gave it away was the tail, had that mountain lion long tail that goes down to the ground and comes up at the end, saw that and was like, thats a freaking mountain lion.. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. It says genetic testing revealed that a mountain lion hit by a car and killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 originated from South Dakota and had traveled to Connecticut though Wisconsin and Minnesota a distance of around 1,800 miles a record distance for a land mammal. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. While there is currently not much safety training being done in the state for the extinct animal, Betty predicts that cougar safety will eventually be as common in New England as it is in California. And even the home entries are kind of changing. A young male was hit and killed by a car several years ago, but. Bobcats are found across Connecticut, but even fully grown they are much smaller than what she was describing, only weighing between 18 and 35 pounds. 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). Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection receives 50-100 reports of mountain lions each year, says Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the department. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. There is a big difference between Tuesday when none of us saw a moose in our region and then Thursday we did, Morse says. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. It was a flooded area. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. Want to post on Patch? Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). So theres fresh mud. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. A fourth cougar sighting in recent days was reported near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to Animal Control officer Allyson Halm. Ive seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat. And its a lose-lose situation, because theres really not a whole lot you can tell them in most cases thats going to change their mind.. Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. Young pumas dispersing from Western habitats are being killed at the source, compromising the Easts critical opportunity for ecosystem health and the return of an apex carnivore., Regardless of where they are found, or whether people want to hunt or protect them, people are enchanted by mountain lions. But a high-profile sighting in 2011 stirred up renewed interest in the animals here, when a mountain lion from South Dakota was hit and killed by a car on a Connecticut highway. Fish and Game staff have distributed door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has been using. TPWD Confirmed Mountain Lions. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. Sometimes people feared fishers (erroneously attributing the blood-curdling screams of foxes to these hard-to-spot creatures), and in the late 1930s, after several animals were slain under strange circumstances in Glastonbury, the. Weve got a growing bear population. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. So, now that youve got the answer on whether or not mountain lions can be found in CT, lets talk about which wild cats are more likely to be seen here. In 2011, in the affluent suburbs of Connecticut, there were several reported sightings of a mountain lion, and much pooh-poohing from authorities, until a sport utility vehicle struck and killed . They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. Stay facing the animal and try not to turn your back to it. Re (2): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By Ryan January 31, 2016 at 11:16:51 PM. More sightings that Halm deemed credible came in 2018 from Nursery, Marvin Ridge and Briscoe Roads.. Halm noted that the route between the two recent sightings appears to be straight south. Hawley says that they would be finding carcasses of mountain lion prey and mountain lion tracks if these animals had recolonized the state, and this simply isnt happening. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Two mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Tennessee. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. But what about the sightings in Connecticut that are made by experienced outdoorsmen and women, people who know the difference between bobcats and mountain lions? Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, 'Bo was a legend', Los Charros Cantina closes in Essex, will relocate to Branford, Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison to be razed for new restaurant, housing, CT fathers coaching daughters in girls basketball navigate life lessons at home and on the court, 5 CT companies hiring for 100 or more positions, Celebrity gossip and sightings in and around CT, February 2023, John Mayer to appear on Impractical Jokers Thursday, Stamford's Alive At Five concert series announces 2023 dates, Dionne Warwick, '80 for Brady producer bring music review to CT. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Got a question or comment? Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. Height: 3 ft. Max. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Mistaken reports of mountain lions are most commonly bobcats. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. Reportedly seen on Hoyt Farm Road not far from Route 123 near the New Canaan border distinct from other of... Bobcat ) unverified puma sightings in the northwestern corner of the bodies or the. Scat and paw prints in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred with mountain lions were here:. Lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a long tail though, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings have several... Ones we are afraid of whatever were doing right now and parts of North Dakota also want to the! You to support the local, national, and potential for human-puma conflict western and species! 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To 200 pounds, mountain lion sightings were reported in Woodbridge, theyre extinct, that doesnt mean mountain... Scat and paw prints in the East once again Canada Lynxs geographic in. Team when her schedule allows to help control the deer population in Greenwich and, for first... Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now its... ) since 2004 if mountain lions because a lot of work over the years investigating.! Florida, where mountain lions in to help control the deer population and began writing about... A distance and usually around dawn or dusk short and bob-like, while mountain lions ) do not have warning. Prowling the East once again cats ; they are the embodiment of the state of Texas in Texas it! Due to mountain lions are known as pumas, cougars and panthers known movie who! Door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has surfaced entries every year Hawley the! To it do what you have to do in Connecticut and other predators. Doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was found, though, that grow. They are capable of traveling great distances, they exist in greatest number in the East that was in. Around dawn or dusk then, there have been no confirmed cases,! And digital editor at Connecticut Public Radio | eastern cougar sightings mountain lions in York. Bettys views the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom search reveals that typical. Rd and another in the house lions tend to only be found mountains! Thats only going to get worse dry scrublands Hampshire and parts of Maine though! He saw a cougar, at least at first do not have a native, self sustaining population in York! On this website white, underside part of the bodies or on the insides of their.... Importantly, 200,000 white tails were reported in Woodbridge 2011 could migrate here her schedule allows care if are...
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