Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. When the deer in those days were shot into near oblivion by market hunters, the cougar apparently looked for greener pastures elsewhere. adroll_version = "2.0"; 13507065_10205364039255335_8657515368052999240_n.jpg. People even report House Cats as mountain lions in a surprising number of cases. Thank you for your website feedback! Then he realized from the length of its tail and the shape of its body that it was a mountain lion. Alaska Cars do not kill or injure cougars crossing roads. These areas are heavily wooded reserves owned by Morris County and the State of New Jersey. l then got to thinking about a description, the color is rather unique. In 1966, an animal believed to be a cougar clawed a pony, two sheep and a calf to death in western Harford County. Another woman said she was walking her dog in McLean Gardens at the edge of Glover Park when she spotted the large cat last week. I'm completely convinced fish and game are well aware they are still here and said they are extinct to calm the public outcries. Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. People from all parts of the city are posting accounts. (A valid mountain lion pursuit-only permit or a valid, unused mountain lion non-permit tag is required.). I dont doubt that womans experience in South Jersey one little bit! 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. There is also a small population in southern Florida. Reported Mountain Lion In Maryland Park Actually A Coyote , Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) Wildlife , Whiting Ranch remains closed with near-daily mountain lion , Video Evidence of a Cougar or Mountain Lion in Fallston , Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports | Missouri Department of , Mountain lions in little old Maryland? Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. adroll_adv_id = "T6XR4YM2C5FGXNZIDZPFXI"; The most beautiful tragedy I've ever seen. Eastern Arizona Courier, Co-existing with nature: Wildlife specialists help both sides get along, Update credit card information AZGFD for 2023 spring hunts. My house, which is located in Hewitt, NJ (West Milford township), faces the woods, which is actually the edge of Wawayanda State Park. It was bloody and the hair was a mess around its head. As of Sept. 7, 12 animals have been tagged statewide thus far. McCarter sent a sample to Dr. George Amato of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York and Dr. Melanie Culver of the University of Maryland. State law protects all species unless otherwise noted. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. Around 3 p.m., a. The animals, which weight between 90 and 160 pounds and range over a large territory for food, have not left tracks that could be verified by wildlife experts. Tracking experts Paul Rezendes, Charles Worsham, George Leoniak, and Dr. Mark Elbroch examined the photos. It doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't be in those areas considering anything prevents them from crossing state lines especially since they can swim and the Delaware river is often shallow enough to walk across in a lot of spots. number of folks to write about their encounters. 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. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. "It's a mountain lion," the officer said. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. "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 . From a distance, it had the walk of a cat - and the coloring of a mountain lion. This is the longest documented travel distance of a mountain lion. 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. Despite this fact, Massachusetts residents continue to report mountain lion sightings. Mountain lions in NJ? In comparison to our GSD, I estimated it to be around 70lbs. From TM:Hey Joe. Officers will patrol the neighborhood Friday. Lefleche told the Telegram and Gazette that Ford's sighting seems credible. This program continued in Arizona until roughly fifty years ago. "We do not have a population of mountain lions." Fishers had been in decline due to development and loss of habitat, but DNR is reporting that their numbers are now increasing and are prevalent. Roughly 100 of the pumas are not doing very well in the Sunshine state, where automobile and truck traffic or disease claim a few of the animals every year, but theyre hanging on and we wish them well.Then there are occasional reports of mountain lion sightings in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, but no one to our knowledge has ever totally proved that what they saw actually was North Americas biggest cat that can weigh 150 pounds or more and from nose to the tip of the tail can measure nearly 8 feet in length. 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 buzzards returned in late February, and Steve Pollick says you can mark your calendar by these scavengers exploits. With all the deer, geese, and other prey everywhere, why wouldnt they be here!!!! More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Laura Newberry | laura.newberry@masslive.com, Are there Mountain Lions in Massachusetts? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. My girlfriend remarked, Wow, that was a lion. It looked so powerful! 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. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. Saw one in my backyard in Mercer County in 2018. The Pa. Game Commission investigated this picture. None of the rumors are true. I live in Holland Township NJ. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. Males grow antlers which fall off each winter and grow back in the summer. We see dead deer all of the time, but deer do not have big paws as this thing did. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. There are always rumors about what state fish and wildlife agencies in the eastern United States know about mountain lions. For more information on mountain lions, visit the . A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Residents should also report any mountain lion sightings to by calling Fish and Game's Southwest. MassWildlife uses evidence-based criteria for confirming reports of mountain lions. The MLRT has confirmed fewer than 100 cases. Meanwhile, if mountain lion sightings are on your wish list, go to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, even California, to mention some of the western states where the American panther is in good supply. adroll_current_page = "other"; 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The friend showed the photograph to a Baltimore County animal control officer and asked him to identify the animal. MONTEREY There are no photos. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. There have been no reports of injuries associated with this creature. The same year, The Sun ran a story headlined "A Mysterious Big Cat Roams Maryland," which focused on a flurry of cougar reports in Western Maryland. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. We had a tree that was partially blown over in a Noreaster creating a lifted-up mound of earth. In the spray field which is leased to a local farmer, I was driving the roadway down to another building on our site and saw slinking quite quickly a large deer-colored cat with a body close to 4 ft long and a tail about the same length. 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. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. Turkey vultures return to Ohio a sure harbinger of the coming spring? 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. Many mountain lion sightings in our state turn out to be cases of mistaken identity, but photos, tracks, hair, scat, and videos are some types of physical evidence used to confirm the presence of a mountain lion. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. From EG:About 10 years ago I used to frequent west Milford NJ. It was about 6 or 7 years ago. "They never left," Mr. Lutz argues. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. 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. From AM:Yes, we DO have them in NJ, regardless of whether the state denies it or not. Trump plans to abolish U.S. Education Department if elected, Trump won't commit to the Republican National Committee's loyalty pledge, New Jersey woman blows up house, killing herself and her cats, rather than comply with eviction, Nancy Pelosi criticizes Joe Biden admin over handling of D.C. crime bill, Trump promises GOP will never again be led by 'freaks, neocons, globalists, open borders zealots', Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC From RE:Hi Joe, no one believed me but back in about 1986 I was. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "Where'd you take the picture? Brigantino Park, on San Juan Road in Hollister, closed July 19 following the sighting of an adult mountain lion with a cub and will remain off limits until further notice, according to the park . It walked into the tree line and disappeared. From TR:l just dug out my NJ Rare Wildlife Report Form of September 14, 2013. l was taking a favorite off and on-road bike ride that l call the Harrisville/Oswego Loop, which starts on Rt 679. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. What drew me to it was the seeming paws. riding my dirt bike up a trail right off Rt. Another sighting involved a wild cougar that traveled through New York as it trekked nearly 1,800 miles east from its native population in South Dakota. (DS says her sighting was from earlier this summer.). Mrs. Muhl isn't alone. The first one in recent history was in 2008 . Photo courtesy of Mountain Lion Foundation. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. Since 1890 in the U.S. and Canada, there have been 100 attacks on humans at all, according to the research organization The Cougar Network. 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. Demographic train wreck: Will Japan throw its old people on the tracks? a woman who swears she and her dog were approached by a cougar in Galloway Township. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. Use anything at your disposal: a stick, rock, or better yet, bear spray. These tracks were fresh and well photographed. There is no evidence of a reproducing mountain lion population in Massachusetts. Lioneither a young one or a female I figured..went home, called NJF&G at the time, and reported it.. asked if they were interested in setting a culvert-type trap to capture it.they seemed pretty disinterested at the time, said it wasn't feasible as we were in a residential type area.. the day after with fresh snow on the ground we returned to find where it had stalked and killed a wild turkey.it was obvious to us with the winged slash marks still in the snow and where it walked downhill with the turkey in its mouth pushing the snow to the sides of it making a smooth pathway..it was something my son and I will never forget. 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. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. It was looking away from us attempting to catch a number of small deer that [were] on the riverbank. I mentioned it to several coworkers and nobody believed me! I guess they werent willing to admit it but my son and I knew what we saw. We will use this information to improve this page. Please limit your input to 500 characters. ", With its long tail and sleek, cat-like body, the animal was unquestionably a mountain lion, Mrs. Vanosnabrugge says. California: 4,000 - 6,000. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But I know what I saw. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but l have since never taken that ride. A resident called police about 8:30 p.m. to report what they believed was a mountain lion seen by multiple people along the Gedern Trail, which runs through the Gedern Estates subdivision and connects to the GM&O Heritage Trail along the former railroad right-of-way in Columbia. The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. Please give us a call at 928-428-2560, Copyright From PD:Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Crews were seen from a D.C. chopper searching the park with long guns. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. My husband also sighted one while driving to go hunting many years ago in Wawayanda State Park. At first, I wasn't sure what I was seeing since I never expected to see a mountain lion, as we mostly see turkeys and other birds behind our house, or an occasional bear, deer, or fox. It was tan and the most amazing part of this animal was its tail. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Mountain Lion Weight: 80-160 pounds Length: About 7-8 feet long Tail: 2-3 feet long (up to half of the total length) Identification The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. 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. Mistaken reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts are most commonly bobcats, the state said. A pretty severe thunderstorm had just ended so for the afternoon it was quite dark. Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. 01, 2016, . All rights reserved, Officers Shoot, Kill Man With Knife: Frederick City Police, DC Health COVID Centers Are Closing March 31, Driver Dies in Frederick, Maryland Tanker Fire; Northbound US Route 15 Lanes Closed, Family Explores Legal Action After Student Forced to Pick Cotton in Class, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chaos': Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Were on Harrowing Lufthansa Flight Diverted by Turbulence. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Mountain lions dont usually travel more than 100 miles from where they are born. Hunters do not stumble across the remains of dead mountain lions in the woods, he says. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays. Someone else reported seeing the cat last February. There has only been 1 confirmed mountain lion sighting on the coastal side of I5 since around the 1970's or 80's, that info can be confirmed with any local park ranger. She shared the pictures with Animal Control Officer Michelle Lefleche, who posted two on Facebook. They are here. I had to slam on the brakes so as not to hit it. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . No indication of a captive animal. It had a small animal hanging from its mouth. Night-time trail camera photos indicate one or possibly two mountain lions are still using neighborhoods near the river corridor in McCall. By LAURA JEAN SCHNEIDER The MLRT has investigates hundreds of mountain lion reports, but most reported sightings and tracks turn out to be bobcats or large dogs. From SS:Some years ago we were on our way home from my sister-in-laws house burning. The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt Park, WUSA9 confirmed Tuesday. 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). In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species.For more information please check out our in depth write up on the subject http://www.susquehannockwildlife.org/2018/06/10/fallstoncougar/#cougar #mountainlion #housecat #harfordcounty #maryland Further, it is already illegal to kill a mountain lion in Massachusetts. Over the past 25 years, dozens of Maryland residents have reported cougar encounters, even though wildlife officials insist that mountain lions haven't roamed the state for at least a century. A debate ensued over whether the animal was a rare and incredible sighting of a cougar (either an extinct eastern cougar or western cougar that traveled a great distance outside of their known range) or just a large domestic house cat that appeared larger than it was due to the weather conditions and perspective. Last year he recorded 11 cougar sightings in Maryland, 38 in Pennsylvania and six in Virginia. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Then in late August, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion on her drive between Millville and Avalon. Turned its head and looked right at me for several seconds. "If there is a wild population, it is very tiny, and they are able to live and die without any evidence of them being here," Mr. Laugh all you want, but Agnes Muhl has no doubts about what she, her husband and her mother saw in the front yard of their Thurmont vacation home eight years ago. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35-40 pounds. 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!