The buzzards returned in late February, and Steve Pollick says you can mark your calendar by these scavengers exploits. adroll_pix_id = "UONCO23J7FHDDMDTKEX733"; By LAURA JEAN SCHNEIDER (Facebook / Michelle Lefleche) Mountain lions were classified as a game species by the Nebraska State Legislature in 1995, mandating the Commission to set hunting seasons only if the lion population was large enough to sustain a harvest. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Let us know what's going on! "They never left," Mr. Lutz argues. Nowadays, many reports include photographic evidence, thanks to camera phones and trail cameras. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. It was at least four feet long and had a tail just as long. #1 The tail. California: 4,000 - 6,000. The last confirmed records of the Eastern Cougar's existence were in 1938 in Maine. From AM:Yes, we DO have them in NJ, regardless of whether the state denies it or not. Over the years I have heard stories of other encounters. Forget Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. The Missouri Dept of Conservation release information regarding a vehicle striking a mountain lion (cougar) not far from Six Flags. In recent weeks, there have been several reported sightings of mountain lions in rural areas of the Twin Tiers. / CBS Baltimore. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. Mountain lion sighting in Mission Viejo | City of Mission Viejo 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Truly terrifying encounter even compared to a bear. On May 31, 2018 an interesting video of an animal walking across a field was captured in the Fallston area of Harford County, Maryland during a foggy morning by Dan Jones. In April 1997, experienced tracker John McCarter found scat near a beaver carcass at the Quabbin Reservation. The mountain lion walked right across the street in front of his car while he was driving through the park. 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. I was going to attempt to somehow categorize these sightings, but I find that task overwhelming. Standing in profile on top of the mound was a mountain lion. But John Lutz, a cougar buff who runs a Baltimore-based group called the Eastern Puma Research Network, says there are at least 100 wild mountain lions roaming Maryland. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Iowa DNR prepares for egg-collection netting season, Randy Claramunt vows to turn challenges into opportunities as Michigans new fisheries chief, WI Daily Update: The scoop on ice shanties, MN Daily Update: Permanent ice house dates, All-time great pro bass angler Kevin VanDam to retire following 23 season. Another sighting was at Berkshire Valley Road by my neighbor. 10 Reply Gov_Martin_OweMalley 4 yr. ago Eastern Arizona Courier 301 E Highway 70, Suite A, Safford, AZ 85546 | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | The EASTERN ARIZONA COURIER is owned by Wick Communications. I guess they werent willing to admit it but my son and I knew what we saw. Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. adroll_currency = "USD"; var year = today.getFullYear() PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. My husband also sighted one while driving to go hunting many years ago in Wawayanda State Park. From ED:Im a believer. 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. Night-time trail camera photos indicate one or possibly two mountain lions are still using neighborhoods near the river corridor in McCall. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. Eastern Arizona Courier, Co-existing with nature: Wildlife specialists help both sides get along, Update credit card information AZGFD for 2023 spring hunts. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35-40 pounds. ". 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. There are hundreds more throughout the East Coast, he and other naturalists believe. A mountain lion reportedly showed up last week in a section of the Fernwood State Forest in eastern Ohio not far from Steubenville. "It was sitting there looking at the smoke coming out of our chimney.". I didnt believe her until the security department showed me the security camera footage and there it was about a 30 or 40-pound mountain lion walking passed the security lights. A pretty severe thunderstorm had just ended so for the afternoon it was quite dark. All rights reserved (About Us). MassWildlife cannot investigate or confirm mountain lion reports without any evidence. I know it is not technically in maryland but I highly doubt this cat knows where the state line is located and stays on the Pa. side all the time. Texas mountain lion (2022) - PoC Mountain lions in little old Maryland? - Washington Times Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer 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. mountain lion sightings in maryland 2021 - databaseen Please use caution. It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. I was leaving Westville towards the mall. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. Reported Mountain Lion In Maryland Park Actually A Coyote Me and my friend are trying to put together a list/map of sightings in MD. So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. 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? number of folks to write about their encounters. In May 2018, a mountain lion attacked two mountain bikers 30 miles east of Seattle, Washington, killing one, but it's only the 15th fatal attack in North America since 1970. MLRT confirmed using the photos and other sign. Courtesy photo Mike Jacobsen was checking his fences near Denton after last month's windstorm when his kids pulled. Mountain lion found dead near Denton latest in string of sightings The MLRT has investigates hundreds of mountain lion reports, but most reported sightings and tracks turn out to be bobcats or large dogs. An adult male mountain lion can have a home range greater than 100 square miles. None of the rumors are true. Then, a gentleman who worked in our IT department said, I believe you. Last year he recorded 11 cougar sightings in Maryland, 38 in Pennsylvania and six in Virginia. There have been only two caseswhere evidence supports the presence of a mountain lion in Massachusetts. reads. I'm completely convinced fish and game are well aware they are still here and said they are extinct to calm the public outcries. That story prompted a number of folks to write about their encounters. 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. I told some people but Im not sure anyone believed me. Contact Laura Jean Schneider at LauraJean@eacourier.com, Mountain lions leave bloody path in Clifton, {child_flags:featured}Co-existing with nature, -The scientific name given to mountain lions is Puma concolor, meaning cat of one color.. Maryland - There have been many sightings of mountain lions and a lot of debate about the existence of mountain lions in Maryland. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. Despite this fact, Massachusetts residents continue to report mountain lion sightings. I don't walk my dog on Old Mine Rd any longer because of the large number of bears, coyotes, and concern about mountain lions. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. How can a diminutive pigeon ever look like a majestic bald eagle? Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? People even report House Cats as mountain lions in a surprising number of cases. a graphic depiction of America's mountain lion history. August, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion on her drive between Millville and Avalon. When evidence is submitted, MassWildlife carefully reviews the evidence in its entirety and attempts to verify the report. There are occasional reports of people who think they saw one, maybe they even took a blurry picture, but those are most likely bobcats. Saw one in my backyard in Mercer County in 2018. "It ran right in front of my truck a few weeks ago," said Kenneth Basler, a town official who said he saw the large cat around Stevens Pond . 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Fish and Game has to acknowledge their existence so the public is aware. I am sincerely amazed at the number of emails I continue to receive about mountain lion or cougar sightings in New Jersey. Mountain lion sighting reported at Greenbelt Park | wusa9.com Mountain Lions have a status of extirpated in Alabama, there have been no confirmed sightings in the state in over 50 years. Mistaken reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts are most commonly bobcats, the state said. Purported mountain lion sighting causes stir FALLING WATERS Fliers and a plywood sign warning of purported sightings of a mountain lion near the area where two miniature horses and a donkey were killed in recent animal attacks caused a stir for local residents Tuesday, but authorities say there's no definitive indication such an animal is in the area. But that was definitely what it was. Mistaken reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts are most commonly Bobcats. They all agree it looks like a mountain lion. People from all parts of the city are posting accounts. Alaska adroll_version = "2.0"; lt calmly looked back then almost bent its body in half, using only its front legs to face me. Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. All rights reserved. We won't share it with anyone else. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. People say that when they closed it down some of the animals were released into the woods around here. Although theyre not often seen walking about like the plentiful whitetailed deer, the top Maryland counties for bobcats are Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick in that order. POCATELLOMountain lions are being sighted throughout Pocatello, according to official reports and social media posts from local residents. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. In 2014, the mountain lion conservation program was established to coordinate scientific research and population monitoring to inform big game management, species management plans and habitat conservation and protection. The USDA's Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory found that the animal came from South Dakota. I was walking past my double kitchen windows and glanced outside. Very interesting piece. Now man is encroaching into more remote parts of the state, forcing the cougars out of their hiding places, Mr. Lutz says. They definitely are here! . "I'm really positive.". 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. There was a problem saving your notification. May 2015: Shannon: Citizen reported mountain lion tracks near the Current River, an investigation confirmed the track photos and other sign at the site. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Over the years, Md. yields abundance of sightings--but no cougars The same spot, just trying to get to my donkeys late at night. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but l have since never taken that ride. In an article in the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, Therres mentions that reports of cougar sightings come from every sector in the state as if were overrun with the big cats. "She was hesitant to report it because she thought people wouldn't believe her," Lefleche told the paper. If youre still curious, read on to brush up on your mountain lion knowledge. The MLRT has confirmed fewer than 100 cases. These areas are heavily wooded reserves owned by Morris County and the State of New Jersey. The Pa. Game Commission investigated this picture. 3600 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002. There is no evidence of a reproducing mountain lion population in Massachusetts. 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! One year just a few years ago I was driving down the road and a good half mile up the road from me after coming around the S bends on Hesstown Road. Facts and Updates on Mountain Lion Sightings in Pocatello/Chubbuck Because you will never go out of your house at night. The woman reported seeing the animal along a path around 3 p.m. She told U.S. Park Police it was tall enough to come up to her waist, but didn't seem aggressive. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. 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. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Are there mountain lions in Massachusetts?, is. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 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. We had a tree that was partially blown over in a Noreaster creating a lifted-up mound of earth. In her post, Lefleche told her friends not to panic. The screaming stopped and a few minutes later I spotted it in my backyard. For the smooth consistently colored short hair l came up with a greyish tint to a deers summer color. Some restrictions apply. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A possible big cat sighting is being investigated on the Big Island. 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. I know bobcats and it definitely wasnt one especially having a 3+ foot tail that was quite thick. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. 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. It was late October and leaves were mostly down on our 500+ acre site. I do have footprint pics in snow from Califon definitely not your usual coyote. From C:About 15 years ago we were on our motorcycles riding around Delaware NJ by the Gap we went on a gravel road came to a bridge we couldn't cross turned around driving real slow cause we all had Harleys I kept like 10 bike lengths between us because of the dust kicking up and right in front of me crossed a mountain lion no more than 10 feet away from me no way I was mistaken. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. Purported mountain lion sighting causes stir | Local News | journal Thank you for your website feedback! From TP:I was driving on the parkway in Toms River back in the late winter and I swear I saw a dead mountain lion in the median. I slowed down and when slowed down it took off really fast into the woods. Therres says the last of Marylands natural cougar populations disappeared in the late 1800s, probably due to the lack of the cats favorite food: venison. Demographic train wreck: Will Japan throw its old people on the tracks? adroll_adv_id = "T6XR4YM2C5FGXNZIDZPFXI"; Open MF, 8 a.m.4 p.m. (closed noon12:30 for lunch). It was looking away from us attempting to catch a number of small deer that [were] on the riverbank. The coloring was that of a deer but it was too strangely shaped to be a deer conclusion definitely a mountain lion. Just like New Jersey doesn't have any rattlesnakes. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Please give us a call at 928-428-2560, Copyright -Only California bans regulated harvest of mountain lions, with all other states maintaining regulated hunting seasons for this species. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . On the return paved portion of my ride, l stopped to share my story with my friends at Mick's Canoes. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. Some of these photos have taken on urban legend status. Another sighting was on Storms Ave in Haskell NJ. I knew It wasnt a bear or wolf. Bobcat spotted in D.C. along the C&O Canal, officials say - The Any cougars in Maryland -- including the one reported to be stalking the field off Liberty Road in Randallstown -- were probably being held captive and either escaped or were set free, Mr. Hunters do not stumble across the remains of dead mountain lions in the woods, he says. Do Mountain Lions Roam the Deep Woods of the Twin Tiers? - 92.9 NIN On a side note, I've been out near West Virginia and the western parts of both Maryland and Virginia enough to know that it is a commonly held belief that mountain lions still exist 'round those parts. Mountain Lion Reports | Missouri Department of Conservation This occurred in the spring of 2017. Most of Graham County is outside of designated active management areas for mountain lions. Females are typically smaller. In Maryland, what inquiring minds want to know is whether big cats are prowling suburbia. Forget Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. I have seen it more than once. From RE:Hi Joe, no one believed me but back in about 1986 I was. -Arizonas first lion management plan took the form of paying a bounty for every lion killed where the pelt was turned over to authorities. 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. Sixty-nine percent of mountain lion kills involved the use of dogs, and the majority of animals were killed in the period between January and March. "It was so unusual," she says. Definitely, a mountain lion after I googled the print.Some years ago there was a really bad coyote problem at the Wawayanda State Park. MONTEREY There are no photos. "They were nearly exterminated by the early 1900s, but they retreated into the wild.". There are always rumors about what state fish and wildlife agencies in the eastern United States know about mountain lions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. We do get photos/videos sent to us claiming to have witnessed a mountain lion but it is almost always a bobcat or sometimes even a house cat. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. Are the mountain lion sightings in Monterey for real? Video Evidence of a Cougar or Mountain Lion in Fallston, Maryland? Straw says. The government says they don't exist here. In the Washington region, sightings have been reported in rural areas of Maryland and Virginia. What drew me to it was the seeming paws. I could not believe my eyes! Are there mountain lions in Massachusetts. Photo courtesy of Mountain Lion Foundation. Some page levels are currently hidden. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. 60-108 inches. Video sent in to KITV4 from a local hotel in the Captain Cook area showed the reported sighting . Males grow antlers which fall off each winter and grow back in the summer. The first one in recent history was in 2008 . It was about 6 or 7 years ago. half a mile before you reach the Deptford Mall. Please do not include personal or contact information. Lefleche told the Telegram and Gazette that Ford's sighting seems credible. Just a matter of time until fish and game acknowledge it. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. I knew it wasn't a dog - and it wasn't a bobcat. There was no question as to what it was, with its coloring and long tail. Read more about the status of Mountain Lions in Alabama here. From BK:I am so happy to read your article I have been telling people for years my friend and I saw a cougar and Greystone Park in Morris County I believe it was 2013 it was the end of September or early October we were coming from fishing and as we were riding I saw it stalking a bunch of deer. Two years ago I was fishing the Wanaque reservoir and came across tracks I had never seen before. But I know what I saw. Possible mountain lion sighting in Maryland | LIVE: Authorities search One other gentleman and I almost 10 years ago saw a mountain lion on our worksite in Clinton NJ. l went around a tight right bend and, 100 feet up, walking the same way was a cougar. . adroll_current_page = "other"; In the '70s, Jungle Habitat was located here in West Milford. If your state is not . Someone else reported seeing the cat last February. See Alex Hunter's Sigma Delta Chi award-winning editorial cartoons. No doubt we were lookin' at a Mt. Huge tracks. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. I had made calls to many different agencies and either I was told I was wrong or no one would return my calls. However, deer in the park are normally about 100 lbs. For more information see Terms and Conditions. The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt. A work colleague of mine lives in Layton, a town next to Walpack in Sussex County. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This is especially true of western Maryland. Are Mountain Lions Back in the Blue Ridge? Both labs confirmed the sample came from a mountain lion. Return of the Eastern Mountain Lion - Environment - Blue Ridge Outdoors (Or a lot of people who are very good at creative writing and fooling me.). It was early morning so it was pretty quiet. Further, it is already illegal to kill a mountain lion in Massachusetts. r/maryland - Looking for people who have seen a mountain lion anywhere riding my dirt bike up a trail right off Rt. "Other than two confirmed cases, all reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts that include tangible evidence have turned out to be other kinds of animals," a post by the state department of Energy and Environmental Affairs called "Are there Mountain Lions in Massachusetts?" In Zone K, which includes areas 1 and 27 and covers some of Graham and Greenlee counties, 17 lions were killed in 2021. 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. "I couldn't believe my eyes. My dad also has a friend that lives in North Jersey I believe in alpha somewhere by the NY border in a more rural area and he has seen them in his yard and captured them on his trail camera. Case 2 As of Sept. 7, 12 animals have been tagged statewide thus far. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. The cat, which she believes is a mountain lion, ran off into some nearby woods. They are here! (#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. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania - Outdoor News A valid hunting license is required except in the case of depredation (killing of livestock). Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. And, if. One late afternoon on my way back home I, unfortunately, saw one dead in the middle of 287 on the southbound lane approximately around the exits near Delaware water gap (between 53 and 36) I was in the lane closest to it, was driving slow enough past it and got a clear long look at it, it was clearly a giant beige cat with a long tail. I had to slam on the brakes so as not to hit it. I went home to look it up to ensure I was correct - Mountain Lion. Use this button to show and access all levels. Or so they think!. 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. It had a small animal hanging from its mouth. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Eastern Cougar Sightings - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation