Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. However, if you've seen a mountain lion, or other mystery creature, or evidence of either, in Pennsylvania, contact outdoor writer Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.). I've seen so many examples of these distortions, exaggerations and lies over the last couple of years that I've grown very dubious about anything I see on a computer. The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos / p o k n o z /, are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania.They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, Wyoming Valley and the Coal Region to the west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs. The state of Texas is home to many mountain lion populations, but the numbers are incredibly hard to find. He said he'd never forget the sighting, but it was only when he saw another, a few months ago, in daylight, from his cabin, that he decided it was time to tell someone. DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion So what? "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? Ramapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization, Bigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. Mountain Lion in Pocono's Pennsylvania Kacie PA 7.9K views 2 years ago Mountain lion in bucks county pa or not? Heres What the Data Says. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions - AZ Animals Would a puma then qualify as a native species? Of interestRamapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer More conclusive evidence is needed: Keep your cameras handy. In the area around the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia there are mountains and deep caves that contain some of the coal mines that were a major part of the state's industry in the early part of the 19 th century. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. So how or why could there be a conspiracy? How, Who, and Why? Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania - Hoot Hollow This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. I wanted to know if they're here, so I called some people I trust and asked them one simple question: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? Here's more about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The bobcat wouldn't survive. The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as that cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. The mountain lion population in Nevada is essential to the control of deer and rodent populations in the mountainous regions of the state. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I've seen about 10 black bears in Pennsylvania, and all within ten miles of my home. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. Mountain Lion Reports What is the Kiboko backpack? Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled, Over the last few years I've done several Questions of the Month regarding Mountain Lions, or Pumas as they should properly be called, in the Mid-Atlantic States and in Pennsylvania. They are there to help us. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead. What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. Imagine my surprise. But more and more people in Pennsylvania, from the Alleghenies to the Poconos to rolling farmlands in York County, claim they are seeing the big cats here, even though the state's "last" native lion, also known as a cougar or puma, was shot and killed in Berks County in 1871 and the feds have declared the Eastern subspecies extinct. The mountains and isolated forests of the state allow these large cats to live their lives without encountering humans very often. Mountain lions weigh 90-160 pounds, while bobcats weigh 20-30 pounds. Mountain lions are well-established in 14 western states and have also recently been confirmed in 10 Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Once a mountain lion matures, it will leave its mother and find its own territory. The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet The state of Idaho is large, expansive, and full of rocky wilderness. Although in captivity, they can live much longer. An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a 600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in. However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. The Poconos is a mountain area in northeastern Pennsylvania.It is 2,400 square miles of wooded mountains and valleys full of beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and wildlife. The life cycle then repeats itself. "We've been here 45 years and I've probably been told by people at least 100 times that they've seen a cougar or mountain lion," said owner Vince Hall. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains - National Park Service Is it the New Best Pack? About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? See also: Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. On a recent stifling morning in Adams County, the 290-pound mountain lion with perfect bone structure is ignoring the raw chicken breast and pork chops a handler tossed into his pen. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. The bounty for adult wolves and cougars was raised on March 16, 1819 to $12. In Pennsylvania, I receive a few reports of black, big cats, which makes one wonder -- are there melanistic (black) pumas out there, or are those sightings always wrong. All rights reserved. Same story as 'black panthers' across the country, because of course there, scientifically, can be no such thing. Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. Biologists traced it back to the Black Hills of South Dakota, from where it ventured nearly 2,000 miles looking for a new mate. The State cites that there are no road-kills, and in a heavily trafficed state like Pennsylvania there should be kills. There's a saying that "things aren't always what they appear to be." A placard affixed to the fence outside Rocky's pen states that "cougars are solitary creatures and rarely seen by humans." Newspapers carried stories in 1956 about hunters supposedly seeing and killing wolves in Pike and Monroe Counties. The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . Goggling Eastern Puma brings up other web sites, however, with varying levels of professionalism or credibility. Have some feedback for us? On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Because the neck bothered me, I decided to do some Photoshop on the puma in the lower left, moving his head higher up and changing the image to a contrasty black and white - to give a silhouette for comparision. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. These creatures lurking in Pa.'s woods can hurt or kill you There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. Of course, the writer's comments were hearsay, but it does make sense. Wyoming has a historically stable population of mountain lions, but recent drops in numbers have caused some to worry. Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. I've seen about 20 mountain lions, or pumas, in the field, but all but 2 were in Chile. He saw a big cat. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Although there was no evidence that the 2011 mountain lion ever set foot in Pennsylvania, DNA evidence confirmed that it had been both west and east of the state. In 2016, a trail cam photo in South Jersey was later determined to show a house cat. The agency has declared extinct the eastern cougar, one of 11 subspecies ofmountain lions native to North America. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one game camera image that still looks very credible to me. This happens usually around the 18-month mark. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. Then there is Rocky. Continuing with that thought, if that were so, then it'd be possible, if not very likely, that the Eastern puma would be an Endangered Species. The next day, another friend, who works for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, called me to ask if I had seen the photo of a Pocono mountain lion with a deer in its jaws. Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. You know, the Penn State Nittany Lions.". Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. Among those who have investigated the primeval times of the Pocono Plateau and Delaware River valleys and tributaries was the late Vernon Leslie, Ph.D., a Wayne County historian and archaeologist. Who knows? Controlled hunting of mountain lions is allowed within the state. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know!