75-170 pounds. And so we come to the great divide over cougars in New England. Today, nearly 60% of Connecticut is covered in forest, and bobcats are regularly observed throughout the state. These powerful cats can weigh between 70-220 pounds, with males weighing more. However, the National Wildlife Federation notes that the mountain lions range spreads all across the Americas, from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan, making it the greatest range of any living mammal in the Americas.. They set the stage for the exotics to move in, and this has a huge impact on our ecology, he said. This assessment is echoed by the aforementioned Christopher Spatz, who has been studying cougars for better than 20 years. And there are different schools of thought about that. What we do not have is a secure predator corridor.. They are here in the Catskill Mountains, so named for the magnificent felines. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. of Energy & Environmental Protection. I live in Hopkinton, NH and saw one coming up from the Contoocook River one misty morning. By Cameron Arcand October 3, 2021 at 2:07pm. 8 January. But honest misidentifications are more common. Beautiful animal. And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are a big cat species native to the Americas. Well, I KNOW there was at least one mountain lion in NE because years ago (maybe 35 or so) I lived in Longmeadow, MA. Rego says that if there were many other animals like the 2011 cat that died in Milford, there would be more visual or physical evidence. Our hunter friend was hunting in central NH when they came upon an adult deer carcass way up in a tree. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Even in the controlled environment of a lab, the truth about Eastern cougars seems to be almost willfully eluding its seekers. I did call in a report to CT DEP and they basically dismissed my narrative questioning whether I made a mistake confusing the animal I saw with a bobcat or fisher cat. No need since so we guess it has moved on from the northeast corner of Connecticut. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. In the first, there are those such as myself, whove maybe heard a few second- or third- or fourth-hand stories as well as official denials from state agencies or professional biologists, and therefore find themselves betwixt and between, neither believing nor disbelieving. Listen & Learn. A harvest is kind of twofold. We need cougars and we need wolves back in the Northeast, because a landscape of fear is a well-balanced landscape.. So, traffic had been slowed from both ends for a good 3-5 minutes. Morse is a Vermont-based naturalist and the founder of Keeping Track, a nonprofit that trains people in the scientific protocols needed to detect, interpret, record, and monitor wildlife tracks and signs. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. According to the Smithsonians National Zoo, bobcats are part of the lynx genus, which means they are related to other cats like the Canadian lynx, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx. It jumped 28 feet across the road. I was just amazed as I watched this scene in my own back yard. So yes they are here and not to sure why they dont admit to them being around ! Honestly, leaving this out of your article would seem to perpetuate the notion that there is a conspiracy to keep us all in ignorance. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. He set down his cigarette and looked me in the eye. Wildlife do really crazy things, and you just never know.. The photos were time-stamped December 7, 2020. But what about the sightings in Connecticut that are made by experienced outdoorsmen and women, people who know the difference between bobcats and mountain lions? Ive heard some biologists say it is not a distinct subspecies. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, and bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. People clearly arent lying when they say they saw a cougar; [the sighting] has a profound effect on them.. The Department of Environmental . I also had the vague notion that when it comes to cougars, people tend to sort themselves into one of three camps. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. Hed encouraged me to keep my eyes open for deer carcasses cached in the trees (according to Ottmann, cougars are fantastic climbers and are known to stash their kills high in trees), but I saw only leaf-bare branches. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service. These sightings are so persistent that there is a conspiracy theory that says DEEP officials know mountain lions are in the state but cover up their existence. If theres a middle ground in the cougar debate, it belongs to John Harrigan, a veteran outdoorsman, newspaper reporter, and widely read syndicated columnist. There were caribou antlers mounted above the front doors, and the interior walls were covered in row upon row of books; a long table was piled high with still more books in seemingly random arrangements. The real reason that they wont admit that a breeding population exists, is that listing a population of endangered species would wreak ECONOMIC havoc in a number of arenas, mostly logging/forestry. They were also seen at other times by members of my family and other people in the neighborhood. We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. I have not had the pleasure of seeing one, but have heard credible reports of them in Western Mass. Im not surprised that various state officers deny the presence of cougars in new England. It was a bright sunny summer day. UConn women's basketball's Dorka Juhsz, Amari DeBerry play 'word sneak' at press conference, Fight breaks out after CT high school basketball game between Bassick, Wilbur Cross, Amanda Bynes, Steve from 'Blues Clues' to appear at 90s Con in CT, Connecticut paranormal convention coming back this spring, Bridgeport woman competes to find love on Paramount+ dating show, Self-taught pianist Serene to perform at Grace Farms. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. Length of body. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. It was huge! Mountain Lions in New York. Published: Dec 17, 2022 SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom issued the below statement today after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that mountain lion P-22 has been humanely euthanized following a comprehensive medical evaluation that found severe injuries and chronic health problems. We get a lot of pictures sent to us, and people say, I took this picture of a mountain lion in my backyard. And Ill look at it, and to me, its clearly a bobcat, Hawley said. In another version, its about habitat protection and the onerous federal regulations the state would have to follow if we found a mountain lion within the state. It's rare to see an up-close look at mountain lion behavior out in the wild, let alone a whole family. But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. But the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Sunday that bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. Indeed, in 2011, a male cougar was hit and killed by a car in Milford, Connecticut; through its DNA, wildlife biologists were able to trace the cat back to South Dakotas Black Hills, some 2,000 miles distant. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. When he suggested we retrace our route, past lion, to see a sow bear with cubs, we headed in the opposite direction. He points out that when there was a real mountain lion in the state in 2011, his office publicized it immediately. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. If these people say they saw something, Im going to listen., If theres one thing people on all sides of the debate can agree on, its that a breeding population of cougars is essential to the overall health of New Englands ecosystems, which currently lack an apex predator. Weve had coyotes misidentified. Here are some things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a mountain lion: Be mindful of . The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection receives 50-100 reports of mountain lions each year, says Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the department. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) - Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. He drove me out to the spot. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. But no. Mountain Lions:They can have similar coloring and their tails can look alike, which has lead to some house cats being mistaken for them, even though mountain lions are much, much bigger. on the regular. I saw on three occasions in about the same location a beautiful mtn lion with the long bushytail that curves at the end. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. We have people eating dinner in their kitchen, they hear a noise, all of a sudden a bear walks in, so they run into their bedroom to get away from the bear, while the bears out ransacking their refrigerator. For anyone stuck with using Mountain Lion, I can recommend without hesitation Waterfox Classic web browser. In the 37 years Ive been working, things have changed in ways Id never have predicted. Concerned for people / pets and a school just down the street, stopped to report the sighting where dispatch told me that if I did not have proof they would not respond. According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. I live in New Milford and I saw one crossing the road in front of me when I stopped to get my mail from my mailbox. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. Connecticut Dept. Was INCREDIBLE! However, many of their claimsespecially Mr. Bettys contention of roughly a dozen personal sightings in New Englandare hard to take seriously. With 18 native South American names, 25 Native American names, and 40 English names, this big cat has a big list of sobriquets that all boil down to the same thing: mountain lion. Hunt By Species: Mountain Lion | Montana FWP Hunt Species Guide: Mountain Lion Download the 2022 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations Download now Current Quota Status for Mountain Lions Check Status Find Harvest information for Mountain Lions Harvest Reports Mountain Lion Identification Program Learn More > Automatic Notifications So long as the tails there, that is. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. Bobcats and a possible mountain lion have been mentioned within the past few weeks. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. Ottmann and I walked farther. Yes I have seen several pictures on game cameras from people in Massachusetts in Central and western Mass that do have mountain lions on their game camera so please dont be ignorant. I have learned one thing in my career, and thats to never say never, she said. This is always been a debate however as someone who is an avid Outdoorsman I can say with certainty I know of at least 12 people that have personal accounts of seeing mountain lion in Central and Western Massachusetts. Because they are.. Newspaperman John Harrigan has long covered the New England outdoors, including writing the New Hampshire Sunday News column Woods, Water & Wildlife which ran for almost 40 years. Still, sightings are common. Thats a reasonable assertion. Of course no dash cam or accessible phone camera at the time! The truth is, I was by this point dubious. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book, Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. The official word is that mountain lions were declared extinct in Connecticut back in the late 1800s but sightings have become much more prevalent. Apex predators like the cougar and wolf make for a healthier ecosystem. Mountain lion hunting tags were sold in 2013 through a lottery system for the state's first lion hunt. This is the second mountain lion sighting in North Texas in less than a month. Records suggest that cash bounties for cougar kills were relatively common in the late 1700s and early 1800s; in the Adirondacks, a trapper named Thomas Meacham was credited with 77 cougar kills. My encounter was in Middlesex, VT along the river road (Route 2) just below I89. Not a bobcat 100% mountain lion and anybody that tries to think a bobcat as any resemblance to a mountain lion clearly has no idea about wildlife there are a lot of false reports because of this however they are without a doubt in part of New England and fish and game has as usual covered up despite coming out and following mountain lion tracks in the snow through the woods in Central Mass and finding a deer carcass 20 feet up in a tree and said to the landowner yep you probably have a mountain lion passing through and asked for the homeowner not to speak much about it furthermore DNA confirmation of a horse that was attacked in Petersham Massachusetts in the last several years and also the Quabbin Reservoir DNA were mountain lion without a doubt they are here. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Mountain Lion Historically, mountain lions (Puma concolor) occurred throughout South Dakota and were considered numerous in the Black Hills. My mother always said she saw one across the street from our house one night in the late 50s early 60s. The Mountain Lion Celebrates its 35th year protecting and preserving America's Lion! Learn More Who We Are & What We Do. Put bluntly, Morse does not believe that New England is home to cougars. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. They are much larger than bobcat and lynx, young adults can still have spots too. About two years ago in July 2020, there were around 1,500 reports of bobcat sightings in the state, with some bobcat sightings in Brookfield and Ridgefield that year. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. Its closest living relative is the cheetah. We think theyre coming in from Canada, Betty told me. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. One one occasion she had two little ones with her so their den must have been sort of closeby. Females ranges are much smaller so it will take reintroduction or a few savvy wildlife biologist in the dead of night. 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