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As you can see from the above images it is very difficult to confuse the two if you have a good view. The name Pocono is derived from the . An escapee is also possible. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. Apparently, this picture was really making the rounds. Where they always here as a relic population? Although size can be difficult to determine in the field, a puma will be three or four times larger than a bobcat. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. Where they always here as a relic population? In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Here's a glimpse at what long-gone Pocono beasts the region's very first wave of residents may have seen, and the wild things that followed up to as late as the early 20th century. Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. So what? My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic States? All rights reserved (About Us). Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains - National Park Service And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? "Given the period of time that has passed without verification of even a single eastern puma, the service concludes that the last remaining members of this subspecies perished decades ago," the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a Federal Register notice. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? The Asa Packer Mansion, built in the year 1861, is a historic house museum. A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). How, Who, and Why? The life cycle then repeats itself. Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. Any Truth Two weeks ago, a friend of mine who teaches in one of the Monroe County school districts called to tell me he was sending me a photo of a mountain lion taken by one of his students in the Poconos. Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax, More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. Heres What the Data Says. About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? ? It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) NPS.gov Park Home Learn About the Park Nature Animals Mammals Mountain Lion Mountain Lion Last updated: May 4, 2018 Was this page helpful? Mountain lions can live in almost any habitat including forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. A law was passed March 10, 1806, requiring the county to pay the person producing the scalp of a full-grown wolf or cougar, $8, and for the scalp of a young whelp or cub, $4. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? - pennlive.com He said he'd never forget the sighting, but it was only when he saw another, a few months ago, in daylight, from his cabin, that he decided it was time to tell someone. He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. During this time, male mountain lions will travel in search of females. "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. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native to the East. This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. 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. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. The Pocono Mountains are . Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. Most of the native mountain lions live in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but humans rarely ever see them due to their secretive nature. All of the above images are of bobcats. The woman, a 66-year-old grandmother, asked not to be identified because she's a senior and didn't want people "bothering" her about it. 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. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. 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. Activities Milford Things To Do Hotels Map Of Activities Delaware Water Gap Hotels Bushkill Lake Harmony Hawley Skytop Tannersville Pocono Mountains Counties About the Poconos Pocono Mountains History Weather Area Services . Joseph Pugliese 2.2K views 7 years ago Beautiful Bobcat in our yard as our. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. Never has this been more accurate than in today's digital, computerized world. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. Florida is the only state on the east coast with a breeding population of mountain lions. Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? In January, the U.S. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . They're seeing an animal they don't know or recognize, and while some may be watching a smaller bobcat about 35 pounds), some believe they've actually spotted a cougar. There also were camels, sloth and hyena, which migrated elsewhere. Mountain lions have killed humans in the wild, though sightings and encounters are rare even in the American West and Canada. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where reports dating that far back from escapees? The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). After all, skeptics often suggest that puma sightings are just deer sightings, so it would be logical to worry that a hunter might shoot an endangered puma, mistaking it for a brown deer. He also noted that if the cat was here, wouldn't they be reproducing and increasing in population by now? Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? The coat can be spotted or solid. I have three observations here: 1. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. These cubs are born blind and helpless. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). Those cats for which DNA evidence was recovered had come east from South Dakota, part of the known, modern-day, U.S. mountain lion range. Of interestRamapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. One might argue that the eastern puma is extinct, but that does not mean that there are not pumas (mountain lions, cougars) in the east. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. Imagine my surprise. That's true. One of these days, though, I'll get one that won't be, and I hope that will be soon. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. The state of Arizona is home to a large, stable population of mountain lions. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. Are There Mountain Lions In Pa? - CLJ A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. I've seen so many examples of these distortions, exaggerations and lies over the last couple of years that I've grown very dubious about anything I see on a computer. "They are very strong animals," she said. The question is just like in the story of the boy who cried wolf) if that day ever arrives, how will we believe those first, true sightings after so many hoaxes have been perpetrated on the public? To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. "We should be getting more pictures. Luxury Cabin Rentals: Pocono Mountain Getaways | Glamping Hub I believe them. Did they migrate south from Canada? While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens . The mountain lion, which is also called a cougar, puma or panther, weighs on average between 75-120 pounds, has long whiskers and a distinctive swooping tail. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I've seen about 10 black bears in Pennsylvania, and all within ten miles of my home. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Those cats for which DNA evidence was recovered had come east from South Dakota, part of the known, modern-day, U.S. mountain lion range. Let me explain this. I'm a photographer, yet I've never had a chance to snap a photograph of one of these bears. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. 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. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. Although in captivity, they can live much longer. But the point of this article isn't whether or not mountain lions exist in Pennsylvania or the Poconos. 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. 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. If it were, it would be listed. 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. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? The earliest wave arrived at the end of the last Ice Age; the last wave is the Lenape or Delaware Tribe, which made contact with colonial settlers in the 1600s. (National Park Service). Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. "I'm proud to know her," Murray said of the tiger, "but I wish I didn't.". Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. I am hoping that more and more people will learn of my own interest in this, and will pass on this information and that I'll receive more reports and, hopefully, sometime, a game camera photo that is definitive. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? With that in mind, lets break down how we classified the states. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. 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. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. 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. Mountain Lions - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) The large, undeveloped interior filled with rocky habitats perfect for mountain lions allows them to safely live and breed. The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? In his 1973 book "Faces in Clay" Leslie lays open the archaeological treasures of stone arrow or spear points and tools lost long ago by a succession of native peoples. Oregon has a large, stable breeding population of mountain lions. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? years are available through this link. Instead, the person usually pauses, sometimes with a sheepish or embarrassed expression on his face, and seems reluctant to continue. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. I believe Kross fully, but I wanted to hear more. Fish and Wildlife Service. At the end of the last Ice Age, many animals in Pennsylvania died out. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. Let's see a clear photo, or a carcass or something. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? "I know they're native to this area. The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. There is a big community of mountain lion enthusiasts across the Northeast convinced that the animals still exist in breeding populations. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Mountain lions are well-established in 14 western states and have also recently been confirmed in 10 Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. Imagination? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The image in the Upper Left was from a Game Camera, sent to me by a friend. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Among those who have investigated the primeval times of the Pocono Plateau and Delaware River valleys and tributaries was the late Vernon Leslie, Ph.D., a Wayne County historian and archaeologist. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. 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.). . It wasn't, and I assumed it was a road-kill. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. Check out our online field guide to read more in this series. That's significant because, in states where mountain lions live, they're often struck by vehicles or otherwise found dead. I love the big cats and devote a huge amount of my field time photographing African lions, leopards, cheetahs, and in 2011, tigers. In August, Amy Walters said her 12-year-old son was spooked by a mountain lion in Forest County in northwest Pennsylvania while riding his dirt bike. Mt Lions in WV, NY, and PA - Hoot Hollow With healthy populations and strong conservation programs, however, they seem to be pushing back east. I've know of reports since 1973, in Cooke Forest, the heart of a lot of Pa. wilderness. Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. What would account for the long tails? And yes, there are people in Pennsylvania who say they exist here. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. Have some feedback for us? Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. See also: I've seen about 20 mountain lions, or pumas, in the field, but all but 2 were in Chile. For example, leopards and jaguars, normally spotted cats, have a melanistic color morph, the 'black panther,' the black leopard or black jaguar. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. "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. Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a mountain lion migrated about 1,500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut where it was killed by a. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. Good luck, and let me know! Can so many people be so wrong? Encouraged by the bounties, settlers waged war on these perceived beasts. All rights reserved. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. 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 mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. 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. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. Pocono Mountains: Best Things To See And Do - TravelAwaits