How can a diminutive pigeon ever look like a majestic bald eagle? MassWildlifecannot investigate or confirm mountain lion reports without any evidence. We had a tree that was partially blown over in a Noreaster creating a lifted-up mound of earth. It was ENORMOUS! Both labs confirmed the sample came from a mountain lion. Courtesy photo Mike Jacobsen was checking his fences near Denton after last month's windstorm when his kids pulled. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. In Maryland, what inquiring minds want to know is whether big cats are prowling suburbia. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. GREENBELT, Md. People say that when they closed it down some of the animals were released into the woods around here. 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. 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. It was heading northeast toward Peapack, NJ. Last year he recorded 11 cougar sightings in Maryland, 38 in Pennsylvania and six in Virginia. (Or a lot of people who are very good at creative writing and fooling me.). I would just like to share the information that people are sharing with me. . From DS:I also spotted a mountain lion on Almonesson Rd Deptford NJ about 1 am. They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. This gave Nebraska lions some protection under Commission ruling until 2014 when, in a controversial decision, hunting permits were issued . 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. The latest sighting happened Wednesday afternoon, according to a News4 viewer who says she spotted the animal near the Beltway exit to Connecticut Avenue. l went around a tight right bend and, 100 feet up, walking the same way was a cougar. 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. 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). 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. In windy or mountainous areas, Elbroch says air horns are great tools to throw off a cat's focus and deter them from . If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. From MK:I just read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Please limit your input to 500 characters. 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. Alaska Huge tracks. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. She shared the pictures with Animal Control Officer Michelle Lefleche, who posted two on Facebook. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Confirmed reports of mountain lions in Massachusetts There was a problem saving your notification. . From ED:Im a believer. Shirley Ford took photos of the svelte creature she saw lurking by her home on Ash Street Sunday, The Telegram and Gazette reports. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. (A valid mountain lion pursuit-only permit or a valid, unused mountain lion non-permit tag is required.). Another sighting was at Berkshire Valley Road by my neighbor. Wick Communications. l never heard from the State. Some restrictions apply. Weight. "As always, if you leave wildlife alone and respect it, the wildlife will reciprocate," she wrote. Just a matter of time until fish and game acknowledge it. All rights reserved (About Us). The MLRT has confirmed fewer than 100 cases. In the '70s, Jungle Habitat was located here in West Milford. I was sitting on my front porch and I saw a very large animal at first I thought big fox. Mountain lions also were reportedly sighted in Cape St. Claire in 1969, Kingsville in 1971 and several areas of Prince George's County in 1988. A recent rumor of a cougar killed by a vehicle on Interstate 80 attracted some attention at Penn State. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. A person I lost touch with is also convinced they are around the northwest part of Somerset county he was hunting somewhere near Raritan valley community college and photographed a giant paw print in the snow that was clearly a cougar print. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "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. A number of years ago, a friend and I were driving around Walpack, which is part of The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. "She was hesitant to report it because she thought people wouldn't believe her," Lefleche told the paper. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (#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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Create a password that only you will remember. adroll_version = "2.0"; It turned and saw us. There is no evidence of a reproducing mountain lion population in Massachusetts. There is also a small population in southern Florida. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. On we go with just some of the reports I've received in the last few days: From RB:I've been reading your stories about mountain lion sightings, I too have seen a mountain lion; this was during the early spring or late winter of 2021. number of folks to write about their encounters. 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 Mountain Lions are the largest predators currently in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. 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. Pigeons? July 31, 2018 / 4:17 PM Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining order in our ecosystem and assist to keep other wildlife numbers in check. Information gathered from AZFGD and the Arizona Mountain Lion Foundation, Hunters who dont want to miss getting their spring 2023 tag should take the time now to update their credit card information with the Arizona. a woman who swears she and her dog were approached by a cougar in Galloway Township. They told me they would investigate and let me know, but I never received a callback. Tracking experts Paul Rezendes, Charles Worsham, George Leoniak, and Dr. Mark Elbroch examined the photos. Or so they think!. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Photo of a mountain lion taken by a game camera and a kill site of an 80 lb. 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. 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. One other gentleman and I almost 10 years ago saw a mountain lion on our worksite in Clinton NJ. It is difficult to know if someone saw a mountain lion without any tangible evidence. Mountain lions in NJ? The sighting has been reported to the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, which has historically debunked such observations. It was killed in management Zone D, area 10, which appears to be mostly in Coconino County. Turned its head and looked right at me for several seconds. 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. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. I only saw the back half of the animal which was muscular, tan colored with a long tail that curled at the end. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. It scowled and flipped its long just before it leaped down the bank towards the fawns. Advertisement Rauch said the bobcat probably traveled down the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from. I was on my deck at around 10 in the morning. So, thanks to all who reached out, and to all who are as fascinated about this subject as I am. To visit any of the states for which we have already compiled information, click on the states listed below. When the deer in those days were shot into near oblivion by market hunters, the cougar apparently looked for greener pastures elsewhere. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. From RE:Hi Joe, no one believed me but back in about 1986 I was. 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. At the time I think my daughter was about five. From SS:Some years ago we were on our way home from my sister-in-laws house burning. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. It was about 6 or 7 years ago. It was a rumor that State Fish and game stocked mountain lions to take care of it, to this day they deny it but I dont doubt they did. A man named Jacob Soto said that he and a co-worker filmed the lion; they work at farms in the area. From D:My wife came home a couple of years ago and told me she saw two cougars crossing Range Road, a joint jurisdiction road between Fort Dix and Browns Mills, NJ, I told her they must have been something else. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . Webster residents say they spotted a mountain lion roaming around a residential neighborhood earlier this week, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Because you will never go out of your house at night. In Zone K, which includes areas 1 and 27 and covers some of Graham and Greenlee counties, 17 lions were killed in 2021. Straw says. Not valid with other promotions. 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. I told some people but Im not sure anyone believed me. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them. From PD: Read your article about mountain lions in NJ. Are there mountain lions in Massachusetts. 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. Other people say they have seen these beautiful cats and have also caught them, in the past, on camera in the woods. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. My girlfriend remarked, Wow, that was a lion. document.write(year) Males, also called bucks, are about 20 percent larger than females, which are called does. Lefleche told the Telegram and Gazette that Ford's sighting seems credible. 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. . He caught the animal in his headlights and, at first, thought it was a large Labrador retriever. The friend showed the photograph to a Baltimore County animal control officer and asked him to identify the animal. Nov. 11, 2021 - A California Mountain Lion was seen at approximately 4:52 p.m. on Nov. 11 near the University Glen water tanks and on the main part of the campus near Santa Barbara Street and Camarillo Street. It was about 12:30 at night. Today, mountain lions are found in the mountainous regions of the West. I was amazed I told everyone I knew and it was like I was crazy or a liar. 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. I had people bash us for telling our story - but we've never wavered. #1 The tail. Residents should also report any mountain lion sightings to by calling Fish and Game's Southwest. Shes 18 now. 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.. Genetic analyses confirmed the hair was from a male mountain lion and the propbable population of origin was Colorado. It was an event I can remember like it was yesterday. Some page levels are currently hidden. All these photos were taken in a state other than Massachusetts. Mountain lion prints are . Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. 12 Reply catvideomaniac 4 yr. ago That is just some newly divorced woman in her back yard. If youre still curious, read on to brush up on your mountain lion knowledge. Saw one in Warren County in 2007 & 2008 while camping. After reading your article I'm not so sure, maybe she really did see them. Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information. riding my dirt bike up a trail right off Rt. 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. Thank you for your website feedback! However, deer in the park are normally about 100 lbs. The screaming stopped and a few minutes later I spotted it in my backyard. ), I have no agenda in this. If mountain lions returned to Massachusetts, there is no need to update current forest management practices. 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!!!! (DS says her sighting was from earlier this summer.). This is the longest documented travel distance of a mountain lion. 3600 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002. . (I've chosen to protect the identities of those who've shared their stories with me. On the subject of large wild cats, you should know that Maryland and neighboring states like West Virginia, Virginia, or Pennsylvania, are definitely home to thriving populations of bobcats. People even report House Cats as mountain lions in a surprising number of cases. From RV:In the summer of 2002, I was biking south on the D&R canal path near Millstone NJ. All the same, Therres and his colleagues log every report into a database (so far 150 sightings have been entered) and I suppose the wildlife specialists have a good laugh now and then. Rt 206/Lamington Rd. 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. I am sincerely amazed at the number of emails I continue to receive about mountain lion or cougar sightings in New Jersey. Jeff Mulhollem. The animal just stood there for a few minutes and then walked off towards the lake. In this video we discuss why we have reached our conclusion as well as explaining some natural history about this species. And so does the state. Sightings are certainly nothing new in Maryland. It was at least four feet long and had a tail just as long. Big Tech minions could compromise Americas Intelligence community. from afar it looked like silk black fur. Mountain lion hunting season opened Aug. 13, and remains so until May 31, 2023. In her post, Lefleche told her friends not to panic. Mountain lions occur across much of the state and bring about a wide range of complex conservation and management challenges. Habitat. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. 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. Arizona mountain lion tags are available over-the-counter or can be purchased by mail for $15 to Arizona locals. Have any questions? You have permission to edit this article. 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. Now and then MassWildlife gets a report with a photo of a mountain lion. Offer valid thru 3/31/23. To me, it was not a dog and then carry itself like a dog. 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. Straw says. A mountain lion reportedly showed up last week in a section of the Fernwood State Forest in eastern Ohio not far from Steubenville. Over the years I have heard stories of other encounters. The hikers did not see the prey animal, but the mountain lion was focused and had zeroed in on something in the bushes. And was almost as long as its body! We both stopped. I live in Holland Township NJ. 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. Luckily it looked healthy and well-fed. Brigantino Park notice. l then got to thinking about a description, the color is rather unique. According to Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), a person may use dogs to pursue, but not kill or capture a mountain lion in a unique pursuit-only season that coincides with the open season. Rags to riches: Stars who were once homeless, Nowhere to hide: US military's portable anti-material weapons, Semper Fi: Famous people you didnt know were U.S. Marines, Fire from the clouds: US military close air support, Beauty and brains: Smartest female celebrities, Fastest combat planes in the US Air Force, Pence fails to see nuance in Ukraine war, sides with military-industrial complex. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. They can weigh between 50-300 lbs. Heres how to pull big bluegills from Iowas West Lake Okoboji, A look at some other ways to call in a spring gobbler, How to catch and cook whitefish and tullibees, Nows the time to savor the fruits of the hunting experience. Officers will patrol the neighborhood Friday. A couple of sightings involved captive mountain lions that escaped from licensed facilities in New York State. "These animals have usually been misidentified because they were seen under poor conditions or by someone not familiar with the species," the post goes on to say. Mrs. Muhl isn't alone. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. I guess they werent willing to admit it but my son and I knew what we saw. Mountain lions ( Puma concolor) are one of the six native species of wild cats in North America. Columbia police were notified of a possible mountain lion sighting in the city Thursday night, May 5. It was light brown with a long tail. There is no proof. 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? I have seen these magnificent creatures in Wyoming and Montana many times on different trips to friends' large and remote ranches. 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. From TM:Hey Joe. However, he did say (off the record) that he believed us - he was a hunter and had seen evidence of them in and around our area of the state. 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. 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. It was at the edge of the woods and it looked like it was just after a kill. Maryland - There have been many sightings of mountain lions and a lot of debate about the existence of mountain lions in Maryland. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Video sent in to KITV4 from a local hotel in the Captain Cook area showed the reported sighting . However, one must assume that it actually could happen. adroll_currency = "USD"; Copyright 1998- There was no question as to what it was, with its coloring and long tail. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. Nowadays, many reports include photographic evidence, thanks to camera phones and trail cameras. We are both members of the Walpack Historical Society. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. I then said to my friend, oh wow he said what did you see I said no you tell me, he then described that he saw a big brown animal with a little face and a big tail in a different color brown than the deer, I then told him I saw it as well and it was a cougar he thought I was crazy for saying that and then I showed him an article where someone had just seen it at Burnham Park in Morristown a week or so before that was only a few miles away. Please use caution. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The cat, which she believes is a mountain lion, ran off into some nearby woods. One neighbor described the creature as larger and wider than a deer, with the long tail of a cat. From JK:I had a mountain lion bounding across Weldon Road Jefferson Township Morris County about 75 yards in front of me. A mountain lion, seen above, was sighted on Ash Street in Webster Sunday. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. From HR:I saw a MountainLion in the fall of 2017 in Bedminster/Far Hills NJ while driving south on Rt 206/Lamington Rd. - U.S. Park Police responded to Greenbelt Park in Prince George's County, Maryland Tuesday after a woman said she saw a mountain lion in the area. The Connecticut mountain lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. She was driving home from a shopping trip last spring when she spotted a large animal crossing Cuba Road in Northern Baltimore County. Thina Vanosnabrugge, a 41-year-old Hunt Valley woman, thinks they are. My house, which is located in Hewitt, NJ (West Milford township), faces the woods, which is actually the edge of Wawayanda State Park. The Washington Times - September 25, 2008, 01:00PM, Washington Commanders team name and logo reveal from Fedex Field, Scenes from snow storm that hit Washington, Warriors wanted: Army Green Beret training. Saw them all at dusk. The 2020 wildfires that ravaged California also affected mountain lion populations, killing an estimated 300 to 600 of them. I was going to attempt to somehow categorize these sightings, but I find that task overwhelming. -Mountain lions are classified as big game. 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. The same spot, just trying to get to my donkeys late at night. ), So, while the state of New Jersey says "there are no mountain lions in New Jersey," there are a lot of people who would beg to differ. Pearson said people should be vigilant on the Greenbelt, especially between dusk and dawn. var year = today.getFullYear() California: 4,000 - 6,000. This map shows the various zones where mountain lions are hunted statewide, as determined by the Arizona Fish and Game Department. I have seen it more than once. But that was definitely what it was. California has one of the largest mountain lion populations in the country. (WJZ) -- A reported mountain lion sighting in a Prince George's County park turned out to be a coyote. However, Fish and Game is asking area residents to be vigilant and to report any mountain lion sightings in the area by calling the Southwest Region Office at 208-465-8465, Monday through Friday . Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. I was driving on a dark and stormy night about 9 years ago on Rt-515 just off of Rt-23. State law protects all species unless otherwise noted. 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. 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. The state classed mountain lions as endangered in 1972 and banned all hunting of them. 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 The Pa. Game Commission investigated this picture. Please let us know how we can improve this page. I feel vindicated. And, if. 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. In 1996 MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team (MLRT) with specially trained staff to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. Greenbelt Park is managed by the National Park Service. For more information see Terms and Conditions. Follow @WJZ on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook, First published on July 31, 2018 / 4:17 PM. 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. White-tailed deer are the most abundant large animals in the park. (WJZ) --A reported mountain lion sightingin a Prince George's County park turned out to be a coyote. The youngest was less than 1-year-old. I have seen a lion twice in Sussex County. My cousin and her boyfriend, who own 40 acres in Mansfield Twp NJ saw one on their property as well. "It was so unusual," she says. This occurred in the spring of 2017. 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. lt calmly looked back then almost bent its body in half, using only its front legs to face 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.. MassWildlife receives dozens of reportsa year, most are simplyreportsor sightings with no evidence.