are there mountain lions in the poconos

In January, the U.S. 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. It was estimated to be a young adult American Mastodon that had died about 12,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead. I'm thinking of the solution often suggested for pesky endangered species out west, namely wolves and grizzly bears. Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. The Bushkill Falls are a series of eight waterfalls in a 300-acre wooded enclave hidden amongst the Poconos. I usually follow-up on these reports and, via email or phone conversations, I receive more details. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! That's true. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. John Leap of East Stroudsburg's Lakeside Peat Humus Co. and an employee, Paul Strauser, found the bones in a peat bog off Route 209. Let me explain this. It will happen eventually. Good luck, and let me know! It has the color of a mountain lion, but the long tail appears to be missing. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. Certainly it is a romantic notion, but I've always held out the hope that pumas still roamed the east. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. 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. Here it is: I still couldn't get the big head/little neck, and the body is a bit stouter/shorter, but a striding cat might be stretched out a bit. The Game Commission concluded they were coyotes. The Pocono Mountains are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She feeds and cares for them with donations and grants. After a gestation period of 90 days, female mountain lions will give birth to litters of about one to six cubs. 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. Mountain lions thrive there due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. Note the long, usually thick tail. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. Where they always here as a relic population? About six months ago I posted the question, Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? In August, Amy Walters said her 12-year-old son was spooked by a mountain lion in Forest County in northwest Pennsylvania while riding his dirt bike. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Do elk live in Pennsylvania? years are available through this link. They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. What do I think of the Canon 1D Mark IV? (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. Interestingly, the US Fish and Wildllife Service has declared the Eastern Puma extinct, except for the Florida population known as the Florida panther. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. Had this been faked, I'd suspect the hoaxter would try for a more authentic background. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. Again, I've been told that some Game Commission personnel have admitted that pumas may exist in Pennsylvania, but they rationalize this by saying that the pumas are not breeding and they are not from original wild stock. If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. The Florida panther is an endemic subspecies of cougar that has lived in the everglades region for a very long time. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their. On some investigations, Foster has teamed up with Stacey Griffiths, who started the Central PA Mountain Lion Sightings page earlier this year. Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the country. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Leslie estimated that the first humans making up the Paleo-Indians lived in the upper Delaware valley as early as 11,000 B.C. Currently, there are only 15 states that meet that qualification. Mountain lion populations struggle to outpace the high hunting limits. do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' Today, we are going to explore the 15 US states that have mountain lions, plus a few others that may have some. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. On the second night, a mountain lion passed by, apparently drawn by the smell but put off by the stench, as the cat did not visit the kill. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. A Mountain Lion Cover Up One came to her as the result of an owner's divorce. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. 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. "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. 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. There are approximately 4,000 of those 10- to 40-pound cats in the state. 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. Where they always here as a relic population? In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. I want to believe they're here, but I'm having some trouble. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Why is bat photography so difficult? Caribou remains, dated by radiocarbon in excess of 10,000 B.C. 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. Reports of a mountain lion have come from several residents of Hemlock Farms who were hiking on. Fish and Wildlife Service. For our list, we only included US states with a stable breeding population. 1.8 miles, 2 hours, moderate. It has long been popular with honeymooners, but today the Poconos are a popular destination for families, skiers, adventure seekers, NASCAR fans, and those from urban areas around New England, New York City, Philadelphia . The earliest wave arrived at the end of the last Ice Age; the last wave is the Lenape or Delaware Tribe, which made contact with colonial settlers in the 1600s. Here, they've not been," Lau said in an e-mail. "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. "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. In the forests of Kenya, however, they do occur. In Yellowstone, definite puma country (perhaps not ideal habitat, but pumas are found in every section of Yellowstone), I've spoken to guys on road crews and with rangers, each with 20 years of field or road experience in Yellowstone, and the ranger had only seen 2 (both road kills and together) and the road crew guys two or three in all their years. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might "If there was mountain lions in Pennsylvania), I think we'd be getting reports from farmers and people with pets that there were attacks on their animals," Martinelli said. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. All rights reserved (About Us). Looking for things to do in the Poconos? Many of those claiming to have encountered a cougar in Pennsylvania take that non-confirmation by the commission as an attack on their veracity and character. Activities Milford Things To Do Hotels Map Of Activities Delaware Water Gap Hotels Bushkill Lake Harmony Hawley Skytop Tannersville Pocono Mountains Counties About the Poconos Pocono Mountains History Weather Area Services . Would these ridges be declared off-limits for hunting? There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. 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. Local outlets carried reports of cougar encounters at least into the 1910s. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. "From people that I trust have had visual sightings, they've seen mountain lions.". That solution: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up. Provided by Touchpoints What is the Kiboko backpack? Biologists traced it. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. But many others believe wild mountain lions are traveling from Western states, where as many as 30,000 could exist, and across the Midwest to Pennsylvania seeking new territory. "From three really reliable sources who are always around the woods from Monroe County to Bradford, there is no doubt that there are mountain lions in Pennsylvania," East Stroudsburg University football team offensive coordinator and avid hunter Mike Terwilliger said. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. Mountain lions, Goodrich wrote, were more dreaded than wolves as the cat could climb over any fence that could be built. Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. I was heading up the road and I saw an animal with a long tail.". Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. The reintroduction of mountain lions into South Dakota is one of the great wins of modern conservation. One of these days, though, I'll get one that won't be, and I hope that will be soon. 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 believe them. In captivity mountain, lions can live to be about 20 years old. RelatedBigfoot, mountain lions, and other mythical creatures: PA officials discuss what they know. 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. I've spoken to PGC personnel, two being friends, and neither believe there are pumas in Pa. One cited how a bobcat's tail can be much longer than you expect, although I've never seen a bobcat tail longer than, at most, twice the size of the tails illustrated above of the bobcat. These cubs are born blind and helpless. Hunting is legal, but the use of dogs was banned in 1996. Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! It's sort of like big foot, some people say they've seen him.". DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. On that note, I was speaking with a Fed Ex driver recently who told me that one of his colleagues had seen what he swore was a dead mountain lion on the side of a road. This animal was undoubtedly a bobcat. It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. Woolly mammoth bones were discovered in Bradford County in 1983. The bounty for adult wolves and cougars was raised on March 16, 1819 to $12. Although a large proportion of the Lenape Nation was dispersed far from their ancestral homelands in the 18th century, colonial settlers and their descendants struggled to live in this region with wolves and cougars inhabiting the forests. It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. The state of Idaho is large, expansive, and full of rocky wilderness. Illinois can also now be added to this list a mountain lion was found on the outskirts of Chicago. 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. Depends on who you talk to, I guess. I have not spoken with a Game Commission officer personally, so I don't know whether anyone killing a puma in Pennsylvania could do so without legal repercussions. Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. What the Lenape Indians never did, the European colonists and their descendants did swiftly eradicate the wolf and cougars viewed as a menace to their families and livestock. It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. The woman, a 66-year-old grandmother, asked not to be identified because she's a senior and didn't want people "bothering" her about it. Thank you for reading! The last of three glaciations covered 30% of Pennsylvania, including much of the Poconos, from around 20,000-10,000 B.C. Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, and more) are among the top predators that live in the United States. The other site, The Cougar Network, is still active, and is reporting the cats expanding range from the West, but offers little about the phenomenon of Pennsylvania cats. I've seen scores of leopards in the grasslands and deserts of East Africa and I've never seen, nor spoke with anyone, who has seen a black leopard there. Known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, there are four trails that lead to the cascades from the Bushkill Falls trailhead, each ranging in . All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. Here's a glimpse at what long-gone Pocono beasts the region's very first wave of residents may have seen, and the wild things that followed up to as late as the early 20th century. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? "There hasn't been one solid piece of proof to believe they are here. Currently, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback in regard to their historic range. The bones were found perfectly preserved. In prior interviews with the Game Commission, the suggestion was made to this writer that what many people may actually be seeing is a bobcat, perhaps in less than ideal circumstances. Mountain lions were once widespread across North America, but their range shrunk dramatically as they were pursued through unregulated hunting and by farmers aiming to protect their livestock, and moved off the landscape by habitat fragmentation. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Periodically, via Google searches, I receive reports from people who believe they had seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania, or in other mid-Atlantic states. (What is meant by "heads" is not clear.). Some have even reported seeing a "black panther," a near-impossibility because of the rarity of that recessive gene. Travis Lau, a spokesperson for the Game Commission, said the state has a "never say never" approach when it comes to mountain lions and acknowledges that Western cats could be moving east. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. There are, from time to time, eyewitness accounts from hunters or hikers who claim to have seen the cat. A recent alleged sighting in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, had Facebook groups abuzz. 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. Consider that the endangered Florida puma has mixed genes. the more visible white on the chest, the lack of spots, the huge hind quarters. I am bothered by the constricted neck of the cat on the game camera; 2. the tail is curved down, rather than up, but it may have been in mid-swing; 3. the goldenrod-appearing flower, and the background of cars, gives a sense of scale and location. 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. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. In his 1973 book "Faces in Clay" Leslie lays open the archaeological treasures of stone arrow or spear points and tools lost long ago by a succession of native peoples. If youve done any research on your own, you may have noticed that we didnt include a lot of states that have had cougar sightings, especially in the last few years. The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. Wyoming has a historically stable population of mountain lions, but recent drops in numbers have caused some to worry. "Given the period of time that has passed without verification of even a single eastern puma, the service concludes that the last remaining members of this subspecies perished decades ago," the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a Federal Register notice. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. Cougar Network tracks mountain lion expansion from the western U.S. to the east. In Tennessee, the most likely places you would find them would be in the forest. One of the important things for any animal is a place to call home. Can so many people be so wrong? They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. 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! Have all of those who have seen a puma really seen a bobcat? Every year we receive a few similar reports from hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts. a high priority. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. I'm wondering, then, if the complete dismissal of sightings of Eastern pumas (other than the acknowledgement of released or escaped pets) isn't motivated by economics. "They preyed upon the caribou, and probably the mastodon," Leslie wrote of these large animals flourishing on the grasses and cold-climate flora that sprouted following the glacier's retreat. Heres What the Data Says. A typical home range is around 150 square miles for adult males and 50 square miles for adult females in our region. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? Foster said mountain lions and bobcats could not breed. All rights reserved. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Editor's note: The Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent have collaborated for a series of stories called Mountain Beasts: Pocono cryptids, legends and lore. There are controlled hunting laws in the state of Oregon. Their are two web sites I know of that dealt with eastern pumas, with the one, the Eastern Puma Research Network, concentrating on sightings in the east. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native . Both sheep and young cattle fell prey to wolves, unless they were under constant watch. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. All of the above images are of bobcats. 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. In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. The Pocono Mountains are . Can so many people be wrong? Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. The next day, the photo disappeared from the site. The rocky habitat that covers much of the state is perfect for these ambush predators, especially since humans dont inhabit much of the land. "The day will come," he said, "when someone will pull the trigger on a mountain lion.". Foster, the Messiah College professor, said he has investigated about 15 reported mountain lion sightings since late May, and believed "three or four are pretty likely a mountain lion." Oregon has a large, stable breeding population of mountain lions. More conclusive evidence is needed: Keep your cameras handy. Some cats had a South American genetic profile. Imagine my surprise. 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. For example, leopards and jaguars, normally spotted cats, have a melanistic color morph, the 'black panther,' the black leopard or black jaguar. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. In the map above, I collected data from the state and on the federal level to find state parks . Some may be animals that dispersed into the region from western populations. Ashley Catherine Fontones, Pocono Record. Others would like to see some scientific proof. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Those special two were across a river just outside Glacier National Park in Montana, and consisted of a mother and two cubs (Mary saw both cubs, I only saw one, and we did so separately, as we were driving two vehicles). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Are Mountain Lions in Missouri Making a Comeback? The cat is known to live in the western U.S. and Florida, South America and Canada. Martinelli said that if there were mountain lions in Pennsylvania, there would be more sightings of them. Who knows? Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. ? They know what they saw, regardless of what the facts say, and they know they saw a puma. Angel, her African lioness who snarls at strangers, is a big girl. Most of the people I've spoken with live in this belt, but biologists friends I've spoken with have told me of their own reports, first-hand, from hunters in the Poconos who saw pumas, too. Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. Who knows? For example, one man I interviewed said he saw a 'black' puma, and this should disqualify his sighting as a black puma has never been recorded. If we don't see it, it doesn't exist. And when our officers go out to investigate reports of mountain lions, or when our staff reviews photos that are sent to us, often we're able to verify some other animal mistakenly was reported as a mountain lion.". Like Rocky, Nia is declawed. Best hike for seeing waterfalls. Armand Martinelli isn't only the mayor of East Stroudsburg, he's also a hunter who is connected with plenty of people in the area. By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. The last known mountain lion in Pennsylvania was killed in Berks County in 1874. 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). They regularly join the camp of those angrily claiming the commission has introduced the big cats back into Pennsylvania as a control measure against the state's huge deer population. 2023 www.poconorecord.com. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. Kross only saw the animal for a second, but it made a believer out of him. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. Among other uses, the tax was levied "for destroying wolves, foxes, heads and crows." The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? Many people have claimed to see them, and this writer chronicled numerous such reports in the local press from the mid-1990s to the 2010s. The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. At one time mountain lions, or more properly puma (Puma concolor), enjoyed the widest geographic range of any New World mammal, and were found throughout all of the contiguous United States. This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. Check out the tails of the two! "Likewise, I'm not aware of any escapes from captive facilities in my time here. Then there is Rocky. It was decided that this shouldn't influence the decision and, in fact, an infusion of new genes produces a hybrid vigor, lessening the chance of in-breeding. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? What equipment do we take in the field? Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit.

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