are there mountain lions in the poconos are there mountain lions in the poconos

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). The Game Commission concluded they were coyotes. It's 90-something degrees, but Rocky's stare feels like ice down your pants. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. Melanism is the reverse, where there is an abundance of dark or black pigmentation. Mountain lions roamed all of the continent prior to the arrival and westward spread of European settlers, but only the eastern and Florida subspecies were found east of the Mississippi. A law was passed March 10, 1806, requiring the county to pay the person producing the scalp of a full-grown wolf or cougar, $8, and for the scalp of a young whelp or cub, $4. The large tracts of untouched rocky land and bighorn sheep populations make for pristine mountain lion habitat. More Questions about Pumas in Pennsylvania. All rights reserved (About Us). Mountain lions typically eat about one deer per week, along with other smaller prey as the opportunity arises. He saw his cat at very close range -- 20 yards or less, and when I pointed out to him that pumas are never black he said that perhaps it was the light. Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? As they get older, the cubs begin to leave the den and explore. "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. Can so many people be so wrong? A total of 32 mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles in the study area since 2002. Mountain lions have an interesting life cycle that consists of a few different characteristics. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. Mountain lions thrive there due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. A neighbor scared the animal away before it could finish its meal; the sheeps carcass was used as bait, to catch the big cat. I'm thinking of the solution often suggested for pesky endangered species out west, namely wolves and grizzly bears. Everyone is familiar with albinism, the absence of pigmentation that results in a white, essentially pigment free animal, defined by pink skin and pink eyes. In Michigan, there has been multiple sightings of 'black panthers,' animals that were thought to be mountain lions, or pumas, except that they were black. 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 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. There had been 17 other mastodon finds in Pennsylvania up to 1968, but all were fragmentary. You be the judge. Compare any game camera image with the shots above, or this game camera image, to confirm your identification. 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 skeleton was reassembled at the State Museum, where it has been on display ever since. 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. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Most, quite honestly, don't know or can't believe or accept what they saw, they really can't believe their eyes. A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. 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. All rights reserved. This is only hearsay, however, since I'm only going on their stories. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? He knows and was familiar with bobcats, and it was not a weird house cat that he and his friends misjudged in size. They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? If it were, it would be listed. The claim of mountain lions on the move was bolstered in 2009 when one was killed by a car in Greenwich, Conn. All of the above images are of bobcats. It had been captured in Florida, and was to be released. However, my friend and I discussed this, and agreed, we saw what we saw, and had it been 40 years ago or four months ago, we knew we saw a coyote. I can't dismiss the eye-witnesses I've interviewed. There are also big swaths of thick of forests in parts of the state. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. No projectile points or spearheads were found with the remains, indicating the animal may have died naturally rather than killed by native hunters. The other two clans were the Turtle and Turkey. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. 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. The State argues that there is no physical evidence, and no credible photographs. Accounts abound concerning interaction between these great beasts and people in northeast Pennsylvania, with wolves into the early 19th century and in the case with cougars, well into the early 20th century. "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. ", (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. This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. If you see a puma (mountain lion-cougar), contact me. DCNR gave the following as examples: the saber-tooth cat; a small, three-toed horse; the Pleistocene beaver, and the mastodon. And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. Some experts predict that this wide-ranging predator, which can travel 600 miles in search of a territory, will surely reach our eastern states sometime in the next few decades. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. While the chances that I'll ever see a puma in Pennsylvania myself are virtually zero, I'm always on the alert -- for the bobcat I've never seen in Pa., for a fisher, bear, deer, red salamander, toad, or snake, and yes, I'm always hoping that I too will become one of those who saw something that officially cannot exist within the state, a puma I know I saw but, of course, could not have! Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. Michelle LaRue, executive director of the Cougar Network and a research ecologist at the University of Minnesota, will discuss the eastern expansion of cougars from their core range in the western U.S. at 7 p.m. in Moravian College's Haupert Union Building, Bethlehem. The Cascade Mountains are an important habitat for mountain lions in the region, and a stable population lives within the state. Not only do hunting licenses support the various state game commissions, and in some states the acquisition and maintenance of public hunting lands, but hunters are a huge boon to local economies each fall, with purchases of food, lodging, hunting equipment, etc. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in North America; no one has ever captured or killed a black Mountain Lion. Mountain Lion Reports The first is the mating season which can occur during the late to early spring months. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also reports evidence that humans arrived during the last glaciation or soon after. 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. Check out the tails of the two! 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. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Bushkill Falls Trail. 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? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I'm a photographer, yet I've never had a chance to snap a photograph of one of these bears. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. For many who have believed to have seen a cougar in the wilds of the Poconos, these arguments might be less than convincing. One of the three branches or clans of the Lenape Tribe at the end of the 17th century was known as the Wolf (Minsi). Everyone else, when reporting, were frustrated as they were told they had seen a bobcat. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is always open to review evidence, but to date only hoaxes have crossed the PGC. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Would my mountain ridge be declared 'Critical Habitat' for the puma? The life cycle then repeats itself. This is huge news for conservationists around the country and a sign that cougars may be heading east once again. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the Eastern subspecies of the mountain lion extinct, which would seem to bolster the skeptics. Leap transferred ownership rights to the state. There is also a small population of cougars in Florida. They often would catch sheep in broad daylight. 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. 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. 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. 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. The first settlers kept sheep to supply their household with wool. It will happen eventually. They once inhabited the entire United States, but were killed off and pushed west. But even without that second look there was no question that we'd seen a coyote. These color morphs are most common in rain forests and jungles. These powerful, majestic creatures once lived across much of the country but have since been killed or pushed out of most of it. (PennLive has investigated many reports of mountain lions, and other mystery creatures, and has found no confirming evidence. "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. 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. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. 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. If there were wild cougars in our midst, the Game Commission also pointed out, eventually there would be solid evidence such as a carcass, scat and paw prints that could be verified. Mountain lions that are looking for new breeding areas are known as transient and are almost always males. Recently, on a back road in Pennsylvania, a friend and I had our first sighting of a coyote in Pennsylvania. What does a Puma (Mountain Lion) look like on a Game Camera? 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. They mostly live in the far western Trans-Pecos region of the state, where they can freely roam 50,000 to 80,000 acres of land. "They're getting a lot of that out west. If we say it ain't so, it ain't so! Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? 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 bones were found perfectly preserved. Pocono Record sports writer Mike Kuhns wrote a great piece on Oct. 14, "Does the mountain lion roam PA?" There is a small breeding population in the state, despite being killed off in the 1920s. (570) 325-3229. . In this at this distant epoch, archaeologists attempt to clear some of the mists and mysteries of prehistoric times. I've done this myself once, in Tanzania, when I saw a black house cat that I thought was a black leopard! An animal's coat can stray far from the norm. Ironically, I almost deleted the image, as on the small camera LCD monitor the cat was small and I thought that it was just another deer that moved along the stream. What equipment do we take in the field? Why is bat photography so difficult? 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. Encouraged by the bounties, settlers waged war on these perceived beasts. All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. ? Recent post: Why Is It Called Beaver Stadium? The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. Still, people say they know what they saw out there. with a fluted projectile point were found near Middletown, Orange County, New York. One man, in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, had seen one, at night, about 25 years ago. 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. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. Mountain lions' canines are 3 to 4 inches long. 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?' 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! 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. Let me explain this. Mountain lions live almost everywhere in the state of Washington. The same goes for New York and several other eastern states. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. 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. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. And book one of these Poconos cabins rentals for the best outdoor access to these activities. Of interestRamapough Lenape chief: National park in PA and NJ would be among 'most destructive things' since colonization. After a small population was reintroduced into their historic land, their population has grown to a stable and breeding group of between 200-300 individuals. In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. In all those hours I never saw a coyote, bear, or bobcat, and yet all live in my area. Some may also be kept illicitly as pets, which would quickly become a problem as the cat matures. The bobcat wouldn't survive. I believe them. Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax, More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. I had three cameras positioned, so had a cat visited, I'd have had it. When he told me this, he commented on how an experience like the one he and his friends had just is not forgotten. What would account for the long tails? Something to consider, even though we all trust the government. 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. Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. While there have been no confirmed occurrences of mountain lions in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s, dozens of sincere reports of sightings and tracks and even more hoaxed reports emerge across the state each year. Goodrich said he once saw a mountain lion spring from a thicket and kill a sheep on a public road. They've been extinct in the eastern part of North America for more than a century. I haven't seen any reports like that.". do I get an immediate, 'Oh yeah!' Knowing that pumas range widely, would my ridge be the only one closed? During this time, male mountain lions will travel in search of females. Who knows? Fish and Wildlife Service. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! He wrote that not being a roving animal, the mountain lion was much sooner destroyed than the wolf, and he said that if there were any left, it would have to be in the most desolate places in the county. 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.