The State Museum of Pennsylvania, in Harrisburg, displays a taxidermy mount of a mountain lion in glass case, with the notation, "This lion, found near Hawk Mountain in Berks County around 1871, is the last native mountain lion known to have been shot in Pennsylvania.". Where can I find Depth of Field reference charts? We hope you enjoy this foray into the most weird and wonderful our beloved Pocono Mountains have to offer. The other three images are from my file, selected to most closely approximate the pose of the cat from the game camera. But Dave "Gadget" Jones, a retired wildlife conservation officer from Lackawanna County, claims he's seen a white bigfoot and a UFO in Pennsylvania, so who knows? "While it seems unlikely, it's not impossible that these animals are showing up in PA," said David Foster, a biology professor at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. There's a saying that "things aren't always what they appear to be." 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. For information on predator tracks, check out this guide: https://www.wildliferemoval.com/animal-track-identification-guide/, Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Still, these resilient animals reside in secluded areas across the United States, with current data suggesting they may even be returning to their historical regions! So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? Murray has cared for four mountain lions since she took over the rescue in 1998. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.
Hoax photo doesn't help believability of mountain lions in Poconos For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the Eastern Puma an extinct species, except for the remnant population in Florida. Where they always here as a relic population? Fish and Wildlife Service. Why is bat photography so difficult? How, Who, and Why?
Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? Me? A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. Fish and Wildlife Service. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs. 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? Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? And a bit of an unpleasant one at that, as they now faced ridicule or doubt whenever they discussed their sightings. Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Recently, on our Arizona Hummingbird and Bat Photo Shoot, I found a deer that had been hit by a car and had moved off to die beside a stream just 200 yards upstream from our lodge. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' The name Pocono is derived from the . 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. I don't know if a Game Commission authority has actually said this or not, but people I've spoken to have reported this. All rights reserved. Asa Packer Mansion Jim Thorpe. They ponder rare fossil evidence unearthed and seek to make sense of stratified geology, both fleeting in the face of what we call progress. What you wouldn't expect to find here anymore is a mountain lion. If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Here's an example: A man is holding a dead eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which was found in North Carolina and measured more than 9 feet long and weighed 95 pounds. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Over 1,100 people follow her page. I don't believe someone's imagination could stretch a six inch long tail to three feet! Let me know if you have seen one! No one needs to panic.".
Officially extinct, mountain lions still haunt the Adirondacks In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are no wild, breeding cougar populations in this state anymore. Erosion from glacial melt and violence glaciers did to the land left a. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? 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. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants.
Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic States? Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? All rights reserved (About Us). Find cabins in the Poconos, PA near places like Bushkill Falls, Camelback Mountain Resort, and more. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. I've never seen or heard of a verified black puma anywhere, whether wild or captive, so I'd be inclined to dismiss reports of truly black big cats as misidentifications, even when a group of guys all see the same thing. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. 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. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am hoping that more and more people will learn of my own interest in this, and will pass on this information and that I'll receive more reports and, hopefully, sometime, a game camera photo that is definitive. Now, forty years ago coyotes were rare or almost nonexistent in Pennsylvania, and had had that same sighting back then, when coyotes were thought not to exist within the state we would have had the 'facts' to doubt what we saw. It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. Perhaps my Fed Ex driver was simply recalling a rural legend, but he said it was an employee that he knew, and it was a story he heard first-hand. Several populations of Gray Squirrels scattered around the country are black, and recently I heard of a neighborhood of black Eastern Chipmunks.
Mountain Lion Habitat in Tennessee - ArcGIS StoryMaps The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. As you can see from the above images it is very difficult to confuse the two if you have a good view. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. Each year, over tha past five, I've spoken with at least one person who swears they personally saw a puma in this state. 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. I've know of reports since 1973, in Cooke Forest, the heart of a lot of Pa. wilderness. Why do I advocate manual exposure so avidly? Murray also has a cross-eyed white tiger named Keisha, who crushed chicken bones with ease but delicately stepped into a metal pool to cool off. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. A second image of the same cat, in a different light, reveals the trademark spots of a bobcat. It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. What equipment do we take in the field? Check out the tails of the two! Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. Many have a desire to see some clear-cut evidence. ", (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence, including in a reported Berks County sighting on January 8. I believe Kross fully, but I wanted to hear more. So many of these sightings have been proven wrong misidentified bobcats, coyotes or even house cats) that it would be irresponsible for a biologist to accept any of them as fact without absolute physical evidence hair, droppings, tracks or a road-killed animal. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. While it would seem impossible to confuse the two after seeing them in person, Foster said many of the sightings are in the dark, from roadways and trail cams, with bodies half-concealed. If you can figure out how to travel far back in time for even a day, get lots of wildlife photos, as the rest of us might never believe your story. I've seen about 20 mountain lions, or pumas, in the field, but all but 2 were in Chile. Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Colorado is the perfect habitat for mountain lions. Is there a Puma conspiracy? These experiences are still available, but the reality is there is so much more for the mature traveler to enjoy in the Pocono Mountains. The Game Commission concluded they were coyotes. Did they migrate south from Canada? One of these days, though, I'll get one that won't be, and I hope that will be soon. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" The photographer had no reason to stage the shot -- indeed, the composition and background was terrible, and not what you'd expect for something staged, but the shot wasn't perfectly clear. Jones has never seen a mountain lion, but he thinks they're prowling around. Interesting, too, are the reports I've heard from people who were told that they would be in big trouble if they shot a puma. Are they all the product of the off-spring of pumas that escaped their owners or were released? In Tennessee, the most likely places you would find them would be in the forest. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. State Game Officials do concede that some people may indeed have seen a puma, but it was undoubtedly a released captive. Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. Provided by Touchpoints Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Those cats for which DNA evidence was recovered had come east from South Dakota, part of the known, modern-day, U.S. mountain lion range. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. 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.
The bones were found perfectly preserved. Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. Colorado has a large number of mountain lions within its borders, mostly due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. No An official form of the United States government. With the Great Lakes in its way, the cat moved either north or south of the water, and the latter route would have seen it pass through at least some of Pennsylvania. Looking for things to do in the Poconos?
DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Mountain Lion If mountain lions are discovered in PA anytime soon they'll either be big foot's pets or genetically engineered and released by the DCNR to cull the orangu-bear population. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens . Note the long, usually thick tail. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes.
Does the mountain lion roam Pa? - Pocono Record This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. So it happens, and who knows if it is existing in wild pumas in the East. One might argue that the eastern puma is extinct, but that does not mean that there are not pumas (mountain lions, cougars) in the east. There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but we're probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. In the wild, adult mountain lions can weigh anywhere from 65 to 220 pounds. (National Park Service). Where they always here as a relic population? The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. An assessment list for Lower Smithfield Township in 1761 when it was part of Northampton County (Monroe having not yet been created) taxed "three pence per pound and shillings per head" laid on the land and inhabitants. A phantom creature has been sighted in the vast Delaware State Forest region of Pike County. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. "We should be getting more pictures. The rounded ears, This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. 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. Note the size of the tail, the pointed ears, the speckled coat, the basic lack of white underneath. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Scientists debate whether the large prehistoric mammals became extinct at the end of the Ice Age due to over-hunting, or rapid climate warming. People can manipulate, enhance or combine photos and then create their own stories about the subject's origin, location and even identification. The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. Good luck, and let me know! Who knows? Who knows? Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' DNA collected from the mountain lion killed on a roadway in Connecticut in 2011 showed the animal to have originated in South Dakota.
Mountain lion sightings could indicate its comeback to Pa. I believe them. Viewers can never be certain that what they're seeing on a computer is actually what it's purported to be. Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. Biologists traced it. Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a mountain lion migrated about 1,500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut where it was killed by a. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs.
Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions - AZ Animals Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. You be the judge.
The 6 best hikes in the Poconos Mountains - Lonely Planet On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. The question is just like in the story of the boy who cried wolf) if that day ever arrives, how will we believe those first, true sightings after so many hoaxes have been perpetrated on the public? When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. "Hunters are always saying they see mountain lions, and the Game Commission always says there aren't any," said Robert Hale, owner of Buffalo Gap Outfitters in Dillsburg. He's sitting in a plastic doghouse, paws crossed, amber eyes locked on the two men ticking him off by their mere presence out beyond the fence. Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. 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. Imagination?
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