Traveling Route 248 in Northampton County just 1 mile east of Pennsville. Are dangerous creatures lurking outside your tent flap or in the woods beyond your backyard if you live in Pennsylvania? This population is greatly threatened by human develop on all sides. None of these sightings has been authenticated, and many of them, including a recent, alleged mountain lion picked up on a surveillance camera in Lackawanna County, turned out to be bobcats. Officials with the Pennsylvania Game Commission told WHNT the cat in Clarks Summit could be a bobcat, though they tend to be more active at night. Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern cougar extinct. House cats on average are 11lbs and only a foot tall, which is much smaller than a cougar. Claws are a great way to tell bear tracks apart from cougar tracks: cougar claws can retract their claws and their claws tend to only be extended when on slippery surfaces, on the other paw, bears cannot control their claws and they can be found on every track. LaRue, M.A., Nielsen, C.K., Dowling, M., Miller, K., Wilson, B., Shaw, H., Anderson, C.R. Haven't seen anything like this before, so it's new.". Its so hard to pin anything down, said John Lutz, the West Virginia man who heads the network, a non-scientific affiliation of mountain lion seekers across the eastern United States. Wasps are important because they kill off other pest insects such as caterpillars, flies and crickets. Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. "When I started telling people, most of them didn't believe me, but I will never forget that huge face staring right at me," said a Montgomery County woman who says she saw a lion last summer in Limerick Township while walking her dog. Of course, bees are crucial to our existence. State wildlife authorities have no record of the incident and the promised cougar carcass never arrived. One solution [to the loss of ginseng] that [this complete nut ] believes will ensure the herbs survival is to reintroduce mountain lions, wolves or other natural predators to the Appalachians. And, if. "When I started telling people, most of them didn't believe me, but I will never forget that huge face staring right at me," said a Montgomery County woman who says she saw a lion last summer in Limerick Township while walking her dog. It has been well known that cariabou have migrated from Canada, so why not the mountain lion? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This was hit by a truck on Mill Creek Road . You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. adroll_currency = "USD"; Figure 2. The bobcat wouldn't survive. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. (The fear of cougars is unfounded. You should stay calm and back away from the bear. Three sightings, in fact, are considered credible and have some backing to them. "I kind of doubt they saw a cougar, but I'm not God.". "While it seems unlikely, it's not impossible that these animals are showing up in PA," said David Foster, a biology professor at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. "Absolutely bobcat," Taylor said. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. Fear of the human super predator reduces feeding time in large carnivores. Juvenile females do not disperse like males, which limits cougar range expansion. They denied there was a mountain lion in their truck. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. The bobcat is native to most of North America and is the only feline predator, aside from feral domestic cats, found in Pennsylvania. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Crews help rescue bulldog from Hellertown underground tank, Pa. among 13 states hit by illness linked to pet turtles. 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. All rights reserved. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Ok, so they may have been extinct for some time, but if people are sighting them, has anyone considered migration? Bobcats (2a; photo credit: Dave Jackson) and coyotes (2b; photo credit Scott Weikert) are often confused for cougars (2c). The reports, though, continue. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. The pair said they haven't seen the cougar since, but have heard others talk about their cougar sightings after posting their story on Nextdoor. All rights reserved. But a mix of bounty hunting and heavy foresting killed or pushed out the population. Denise Kunzig, who lives in Orchard Valley on. As a last resort, you can fight back and try to scare the bear away. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. The Fort Worth Star-Telegraph reports on a mountain lion sighting in April 2022. Contact a location near you for products or services. This is a BIG cat! If you see a mountain lion, report the sighting immediately to Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 949-770-6011. FAIRFIELD, Pa. An instinct coiled way down in the human brain knows the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. Cougars need areas without humans because they do not like to be around humans and humans kill them (intentionally and unintentionally). Most are about three feet long. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. The nearest breed population of cougars is in Nebraskas Niobrara River Valleynearly 1,000 miles from Pennsylvanias eastern border (Figure 1). This development promised to resolve a decades-old controversy. Heres how to pull big bluegills from Iowas West Lake Okoboji, A look at some other ways to call in a spring gobbler, How to catch and cook whitefish and tullibees, Nows the time to savor the fruits of the hunting experience. adroll_adv_id = "T6XR4YM2C5FGXNZIDZPFXI"; UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. House cats and raccoons can also be confused for cougars. "We should be getting more pictures. The tail of the cat is an excellent identification tool: cougars have two- to three-foot-long wiry tails with a black tip, and bobcats have a short bobbed tail that is only three to eight inches long. but they have a tail thats almost as long as their body, and this animal clearly is lacking a tail," Taylor said. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. And when our officers go out to investigate reports of mountain lions, or when our staff reviews photos that are sent to us, often we're able to verify some other animal mistakenly was reported as a mountain lion.". They include a reported attack on horses at a farm near Dillsburg, York County, that Foster thinks may be legitimate. A report in 1981 found that it would be impossible to restore cougars to Adirondack Park in New York because there were too many humans. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. A reproducing population of endangered cougars lives in the Everglades, known as the "Florida panthers," and the big cats are so numerous in a number of western states that hunting seasons are allowed. The mountain lion sightings locations can help with all your needs. 'Nothing to see here folks, move along'". Michael Tanenbaum Coyoteseat wildlife including mice, voles, deer, rabbits and woodchucks. So glad to post. You should bathe soon after coming indoors, preferably within two hours. Besides a lack of physical (scat, hair, or tracks) and photographic evidence, the absence of cougars is also demonstrated by a lack of road-killed cougars. Foster, the Messiah College professor, said he has investigated about 15 reported mountain lion sightings since late May, and believed "three or four are pretty likely a mountain lion." A second photo of the cat, though shaded, appears to show more of a splotchy coloration on the animal's front limb. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. 3 Last 10 Years. Murray also has a cross-eyed white tiger named Keisha, who crushed chicken bones with ease but delicately stepped into a metal pool to cool off. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. Some restrictions apply. The diseaseproduces fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes within three to 30 days. Was the craziest thing I have ever heard or seen in the woods of pa. The only cats still hunting in Pennsylvania are bobcats, according to the state game commission. Then there is Rocky. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. We run through the list from mammals to reptiles to insects. February 23, . An estimated 20,000 of them were roaming across the Commonwealth in 2015. This is roughly three times the length of a bobcat or coyotes stride (~16 inches). Breeding cougars are almost entirely west of the Mississippi in states like South Dakota, Texas, and California (Figure 1). Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. If you see any of these four wild animals in Pennsylvania, definitely keep a safe distance. The farther a male must travel the more likely they are to die. 'Nothing to see here folks, move along'", Peregrine falcon expert checks on adorable chicks hatched in Philly City Hall nest, Jersey Shore fisherman gets rare sting from cownose ray, Central Pa. man fights, kills rabid beaver while kayaking with his daughter, Man corrals humongous fish from Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, reported big cat sightings to local police, Figure skating program in Kensington aims to make the sport accessible for local athletes, Philadelphia Zoo's new exhibit includes life-sized dinosaurs and lots of bugs, Ex-football player from Bucks County among new 'Survivor' competitors, Eagles will host Browns for joint practices in preseason, Six Flags to enhance Hurricane Harbor with more water slides, tree house for young kids, Watch every 'Rocky' movie in order and for free on Pluto TV. Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax, http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/august01/lion.tif. In one case out of Reading, a sighting of an apparent cheetah turned out to be an African serval that was likely bred and domesticated illegally. Northeast . adroll_pix_id = "UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733"; Make sure you remove or cover up any bear food source, including garbage or bird feeders at your home. 1. Theyre not predators, but if one runs out in front of your moving car it can certainly pose a threat to your safety. Smith, J.A., Suraci, J.P., Clinchy, M., Crawford, A., Roberts, D., Zanette, L.Y. Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. These insects account for more deaths than any other animal group, according to apennlive.com report. The Dodge family in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, captured an image of a big cat strolling behind the fence enclosing their yard and pool. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. These young males are looking to establish a new territory and they do not stay in areas without females. Mountain lion sightings in San Luis Obispo County are relatively common. No wild cougars have been found in Pennsylvania since their extirpation in 1871. Cougar range based on sightings and physical evidence (Image credit: LaRue et al, 2008). This cat had brown fur with a white underbelly, and a black, brown and white face. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. 1 Last 365 Days. The mountain lion was killed east of Altoona and south of State College , Pa. northeast of Raystown Lake between Mt. I have seen Bobcats. The distance traveled varies based on habitat, time of year, and study methods. . On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. I went to the rocky site and did not find the cat. 4 . Sounded like a giant animal was sprinting down the mountain right before we saw it. Big cats still roam parts of Pennsylvania. Lion sightings they got. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The cats journey was well documentedboth photographs and genetic samples (fecal matter and hair) were collected along its journey. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Cougars are recolonizing the Midwest: Analysis of cougar confirmations during 19902008. This was yesterday around 5pm 11/6/19. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. Isolated juvenile males have been found as far east as Michigans Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, FISH: Pennsylvania Frog and Toad Breeding Phenology, Questions and Answers about Centipedes, Ladybirds and Butterflies, The Effect of Coyotes on Pennsylvanias Deer Herd, Protected Species in Pennsylvania: The Bog Turtle, Protected Species in Pennsylvania: Northern Flying Squirrel. It is a known fact that when an area is overpopulated, wild animals will migrate out of an area and into a new area that is less populated. UPDATE: An alert reader took this photo late September, 2008, from his trail camera near Plummer, PA. UPDATE: An alert reader sent this photo of a mountain lion taken about three weeks ago (September 2009) near Farmington, Pa, in Fayette County. But they're probably bobcats. Bears have been fought off with rocks, sticks, binoculars or even bare hands, the game commission says. 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. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. Follow Michael & PhillyVoice on Twitter @mtanen88| @thePhillyVoice Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. I live in Harrisburg, in the 70s and by Central Dauphin high school there was a creek called Beaver Creek so one day ask someone what are they called Beaver Creek and said there used to be a beaver there till about seven or eight years ago and the last one was killed by some person they named and he was actually bragging up that he killed the last beaver in Beaver Creek. Records show that more than 600 cougars were killed in Centre County alone during the 1800s. That's the third-highest rate of any state in the U.S. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". It's cable reimagined No DVR space. These tiny critters may not look that threatening but they are carriers of Lyme disease, which can result in long-term health complications and even death. Florida panther population estimate updated. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. 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Phillyvoice on Twitter @ mtanen88| @ thePhillyVoice Cookie Settings/Do not Sell My Personal Information mountain lion sightings in pa! Are dangerous creatures lurking outside your tent flap or in the wild, though, there 's a general of... Is the best documented wild mountain lion sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook abuzz.