I had seen a police officer in the parking lot at the mall and told him what I saw. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. My husband also sighted one while driving to go hunting many years ago in Wawayanda State Park. From AM:Yes, we DO have them in NJ, regardless of whether the state denies it or not. He tells the story of a friend who managed to snap a picture of a cougar prowling in his backyard in Phoenix. It had a small animal hanging from its mouth. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. Glenn Therres, a biologist and wildlife specialist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says, We receive a dozen or two dozen reports a year from citizens who see, hear or find signs of cougars. They told me they would investigate and let me know, but I never received a callback. In comparison to our GSD, I estimated it to be around 70lbs. Confirmed reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts Mountain Lion Population By State: 2023 Data [Statistics] I lived on a street with houses spaced widely - and a soccer field across the street which was next to a wooded space, a creek, and a pond. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. From RD:I live in Cumberland in Maurice River township. It then, whew, calmly walked into the brush towards the Oswego River. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. All rights reserved (About Us). The policeman, who didn't want to be identified, says he was on his way home from work about 3 a.m. when the cougar crossed Circle Road in an wooded area adjacent to Robert E. Lee Memorial Park. l thought "oh shit" and figured l could try to use my bicycle for protection and dismounted. She shared the pictures with Animal Control Officer Michelle Lefleche, who posted two on Facebook. What does the perfect setup look like for spring steelhead? Possible mountain lion sighting in Columbia - Republic-Times Mountain lion sighting reported in Worcester County - masslive 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. I had people bash us for telling our story - but we've never wavered. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . The report stated that a woman spotted a mountain lion in Greenbelt. Mountain Lions - Damned Connecticut If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . Mountain lions in little old Maryland? - Washington Times People even report House Cats as mountain lions in a surprising number of cases. Another sighting was on Storms Ave in Haskell NJ. So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. l went around a tight right bend and, 100 feet up, walking the same way was a cougar. From DJ:I used to live on Albrecht Lane in East Brunswick. 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. Mountain lion sightings continue in McCall | Idaho Fish and Game Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. These tracks were fresh and well photographed. The bobcat is the only resident "big cat" with. From PD:Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information. 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. Let us know what's going on! I could not believe my eyes! Our eyes locked and we were both motionless. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. From EW:Lions in NJmy son and myself were on a hunt in a ground blind on a friend's farm in Liberty Corner, NJ Somerset CoFebruary 19, 1996.roughly around 4:00 pm in the afternoon I thought a deer had entered the pine forest we were adjacent to.we were actually hunting bushy tails with flintlock smoothbores as deer season was closed. As of Sept. 7, 12 animals have been tagged statewide thus far. Return of the Eastern Mountain Lion - Environment - Blue Ridge Outdoors Mistaken reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts are most commonly Bobcats. It was tan and the most amazing part of this animal was its tail. Shes 18 now. In her post, Lefleche told her friends not to panic. Officials investigating reported sighting of mountain lion on Big $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. Mistaken reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts are most commonly bobcats, the state said. Its a one-lane road off of Riva Avenue near Farrington Lake. From RE:Hi Joe, no one believed me but back in about 1986 I was. In my moment of "fear" - I called the non-emergent police number They sent an officer out and we told him what we had seen. 75-170 pounds. 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. Me and my friend are trying to put together a list/map of sightings in MD. var today = new Date() They all agree it looks like a mountain lion. Courtesy photo Mike Jacobsen was checking his fences near Denton after last month's windstorm when his kids pulled. All rights reserved. Females are typically smaller. We contacted the Somerset County Park department who assured us that there are no mountain lions in their parks. The coloring was that of a deer but it was too strangely shaped to be a deer conclusion definitely a mountain lion. It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. I will say I've received reports from all around the state but several of the reports seem to be in the same area: West Milford in the northern part of the state. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. Your email address will not be published. They are definitely here. Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports | MDC Teacher Portal The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. But that was definitely what it was. Animal control officers say they are taking the reports seriously. In 1966, an animal believed to be a cougar clawed a pony, two sheep and a calf to death in western Harford County. Jeff Mulhollem. It was at least four feet long and had a tail just as long. It WAS a mountain lion. I feel vindicated. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania - Outdoor News I mentioned it to several coworkers and nobody believed me! #1 The tail. -Mountain lions are classified as big game. They are here! I had to slam on the brakes so as not to hit it. For the last few days, my email account has been continuously pinging from people sharing information about their sightings. Washington Times, SCORES & OUTDOORS: Reported sightings of mountain lions on , Mountain Lions in Michigan: 10 Sightings So Far This Year , Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania Outdoornews. The Missouri Dept of Conservation release information regarding a vehicle striking a mountain lion (cougar) not far from Six Flags. It scowled and flipped its long just before it leaped down the bank towards the fawns. Mountain Lion - NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service) There is no proof. In the Washington region, sightings have been reported in rural areas of Maryland and Virginia. l then got to thinking about a description, the color is rather unique. Tracking experts Paul Rezendes, Charles Worsham, George Leoniak, and Dr. Mark Elbroch examined the photos. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. They are here. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. I live in Holland Township NJ. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. . The cat, which she believes is a mountain lion, ran off into some nearby woods. 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. I was going to attempt to somehow categorize these sightings, but I find that task overwhelming. The screaming stopped and a few minutes later I spotted it in my backyard. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. I heard a lot of animal screaming and it seemed to be getting closer to my property. With land cleared for farms and factories (nearly the entire state was deforested at the turn of the 20th century), there was no place for big cats to hide and nothing for . Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. The MLRT has confirmed fewer than 100 cases. 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. Fish and Game has to acknowledge their existence so the public is aware. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. l decided to keep it quiet to avoid a frenzy of seekers, especially since there is a lot of private property further back, the Haines and Coons cranberry families. A video posted Tuesday on Facebook of a mountain lion ambling across a dirt road near Edens Red Knolls has snagged a lot of interest, according to social media views and discussion. 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. The MLRT has investigates hundreds of mountain lion reports, but most reported sightings and tracks turn out to be bobcats or large dogs. Are the mountain lion sightings in Monterey for real? 10K views, 19 likes, 0 loves, 83 comments, 20 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from KMBC 9: LIVE: Authorities search the area after a possible mountain lion was spotted in Greenbelt Park, Maryland.. Video sent in to KITV4 from a local hotel in the Captain Cook area showed the reported sighting . Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. 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. Or so they think!. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. // February 12, 2021. Mountain lions dont usually travel more than 100 miles from where they are born. 23 in West Milford NJ about 50 yards from the highway a huge cat ran across the trail in front of me maybe 25 feet from my front tire. The mountain lion walked right across the street in front of his car while he was driving through the park. In March 2011, DCR forester Steve Ward photographed a track trail in the snow near the Gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir. Today, mountain lions are found in the mountainous regions of the West. That story prompted others to reach out to me about their sightings. adroll_version = "2.0"; The young adult male was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2011. 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. Two years ago I was fishing the Wanaque reservoir and came across tracks I had never seen before. In the '70s, Jungle Habitat was located here in West Milford. Very interesting piece. I knew it wasn't a dog - and it wasn't a bobcat. We had just finished setting up the stuff on the driveway and were just sitting enjoying the silence when we both spotted what looked like a giant cat across the street on the edge of the field near the tree line. number of folks to write about their encounters. 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. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species. MassWildlife receives dozens of reportsa year, most are simplyreportsor sightings with no evidence. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 15: January 22, 2011: Macon: Subadult male mountain lion shot by coyote hunters. Mountain lion sighting in Boise - msn.com My 11-year-old son was in front of me about 50 feet. 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. While the initial video got all of the attention, Soto posted a second video, too, showing a pack of hounds looking for scent in the area when the lion was sighted. The network doesnt believe phone callers, such as the ones the Maryland DNR hears of a large cat the size of a German shepherd or larger dog walking down the trail.Youve got to do better than that, says the Cougar Networks professional big-cat specialists. 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. The first one in recent history was in 2008 . Dozens more come forward with sightings, The latest Bigfoot sighting in New Jersey photo & video, Death count rises: 5th dolphin turns up dead on a New Jersey beach, Horrible smelling chicken guts spill over NJ highway in crash, Beloved NJ diner employee dies after being hit by vehicle on walk to work, What dreams are made of: Look at this $15.7M Avalon, NJ beach house, On-the-job discipline of gunman led to NJ councilmans shooting, prosecutor says, Another Republican politician shot dead in NJ in the past week, Great New Jersey stores that we loved that are closed forever, School bus stolen in Livingston, NJ alarmed cops caution parents, Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and EEO Report. People from all parts of the city are posting accounts. From a distance, it had the walk of a cat - and the coloring of a mountain lion. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. If mountain lions returned to Massachusetts, there is no need to update current forest management practices. Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. "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. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. This map shows the various zones where mountain lions are hunted statewide, as determined by the Arizona Fish and Game Department. A valid hunting license is required except in the case of depredation (killing of livestock). In 1996 MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team (MLRT) with specially trained staff to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. Both off of Carrs Mill Rd before the cement bridge (for those of you that may be familiar) var year = today.getFullYear() The friend showed the photograph to a Baltimore County animal control officer and asked him to identify the animal. A mountain lion reportedly showed up last week in a section of the Fernwood State Forest in eastern Ohio not far from Steubenville. 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. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but I do know that there are mountain lions - or at least one lion - in the area. Park rangers alerted the historical society to inform members that these big cats have been spotted in the area. 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. Also, Bobcats are spreading into areas in which they have not been seen before. (#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. Although they're not often seen walking. They can weigh between 50-300 lbs. These areas are heavily wooded reserves owned by Morris County and the State of New Jersey. Forget Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. 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. As it was running I noticed that it was way too large and had a large tail. There was an animal that ran very quickly across the road and we both said that it looked like a mountain lion. It is difficult to know if someone saw a mountain lion without any tangible evidence. . We both stopped. Then it continued crossing the road and into the woods. Youd think that with the distinctive white head and tail of adult eagles no one could foul up on it, but Therres says, We receive reports of bald eagles that turn out to be ospreys, hawks, black-backed gulls and even pigeons.. Wick Communications. ". 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. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. 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. Well, as luck would have it, my co worker took this very nice pic of a mature female mountain lion last week just south of Uniontown Pa. Invalid password or account does not exist. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Just a matter of time until fish and game acknowledge it. It was late October and leaves were mostly down on our 500+ acre site. It was about 4 feet tall and just walked slowly crossing the highway. Just like New Jersey doesn't have any rattlesnakes. Mountain Lion | North Dakota Game and Fish There is also a small population in southern Florida. "It's a mountain lion," the officer said. Mountain lions in NJ? An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. 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. We won't share it with anyone else. None of the rumors are true. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. l never heard from the State. Citizen reported a mountain lion jumped through a fence and sent in hairs suspected to be from the lion. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. A work colleague of mine lives in Layton, a town next to Walpack in Sussex County. Today, their range stretches from the Yukon Territory in Canada along the western coast of the United States, all the way to the Southern Andes in Chile. Thank you for your website feedback! Standing in profile on top of the mound was a mountain lion. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10 Reply Gov_Martin_OweMalley 4 yr. ago Over the years, Md. yields abundance of sightings--but no cougars Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer February 12. Males, also called bucks, are about 20 percent larger than females, which are called does. Pitch-black out and all I could hear was a long slow deep growling that sounded like nothing Id ever heard except once before 3 years ago. There was a long tall cat with a long tail. White-tailed deer are the most abundant large animals in the park. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Some page levels are currently hidden. It was ENORMOUS! "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 . I saw it too while jogging at lunchtime. At least someone else believed me. The most beautiful tragedy I've ever seen. Photo of a mountain lion taken by a game camera and a kill site of an 80 lb. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. Are there mountain lions in Massachusetts? | Mass.gov -Only California bans regulated harvest of mountain lions, with all other states maintaining regulated hunting seasons for this species. I told some people but Im not sure anyone believed me. Despite this fact, Massachusetts residents continue to report mountain lion sightings. "It was a cougar," insists the 57-year-old Catonsville woman. Among them was a forestry technician who came across a female cougar nursing two cubs in remote part of the Thomas Jefferson National Forest. 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. There have been at least two other sightings in the same area. At the time I think my daughter was about five. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. . ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. In windy or mountainous areas, Elbroch says air horns are great tools to throw off a cat's focus and deter them from . I wish I had turned around and taken photos but, where it was located, it would have taken me too long. Mountain Lion Confirmed | Maryland Shooters Forum - Weapon Discussions Thina Vanosnabrugge, a 41-year-old Hunt Valley woman, thinks they are. There are occasional reports of people who think they saw one, maybe they even took a blurry picture, but those are most likely bobcats. Video Evidence of a Cougar or Mountain Lion in Fallston, Maryland? Click here to login. CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (KITV4) -- A possible big cat sighting is being investigated on the Big Island. 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. reads. 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. (Or a lot of people who are very good at creative writing and fooling me.). Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Last year he recorded 11 cougar sightings in Maryland, 38 in Pennsylvania and six in Virginia. We will use this information to improve this page. If your state is not . Are Mountain Lions Back in the Blue Ridge? Officers will patrol the neighborhood Friday. In recent weeks, there have been several reported sightings of mountain lions in rural areas of the Twin Tiers. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. The USDA's Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory found that the animal came from South Dakota. Do Mountain Lions Roam the Deep Woods of the Twin Tiers? - 92.9 NIN