In 2011, genetic testing confirmed that a mountain lion originated in South Dakota and traveled more than 1,500 miles before being struck by a car on the Merritt Parkway, according to Reuters. Slowly, mountain lions recolonized North America after having retreated to warmer climates in South America during the Pleistocene ice age. DEEP sightings: Where the bears are in CT. Jim Shay. Hawley, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, says data dont support a breeding population of mountain lions in Connecticut. If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Email editor@connecticutmag.com. Give today. Stephen Gencarella, professor of folklore studies at the University of Massachusetts and a Connecticut resident, says, The government coverup is only the latest version of something that could stretch back in the oral tradition to precolonial times. He notes that supposed mountain lion sightings spiked in the late 1800s and early 1900s shortly after the animals disappeared from New Englands woods. Mountain lion Over 7 ft in length Over 100 lbs Uniform tan color Long tails Bobcat Under 3ft in length Under 50lbs Dark spots Tufts of fur in ears These 2 big cats also behave differently. Booth DEEP and local authorities around Connecticut have confirmed that the majority of mountain lion sightings in the state turn out to be sightings of bobcats. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. I reported it to the DEP and they said they dont exist, he said. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Betty recommended that anyone who encounters a cougar should make themselves large, raise their hands and yell. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. 75-170 pounds. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Sightings can be reported to the McCall Fish and Game office at 208-634-8137. Running joke in the family when we see one is "But of course it wasn't a Mountain Lion, because there are no Mountain Lions in CT". 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. I couldnt tell you how happy I would be if mountain lions were actually recolonizing the state of Connecticut, Hawley says, but its just not happening., Hawley spoke about bobcats, mountain lions and bears on The Colin McEnroe Show: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators.. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. 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. His mentor, Aldo Leopold, a prominent wildlife biologist, also believed this, but felt if people learned about these populations, they would be hunted to extinction. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Breweries in New Haven, CT you MUST Visit! Technical Discussion: Rain tonight, then an *ALERT* heading into the weekend! But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Hawley says that they would be finding carcasses of mountain lion prey and mountain lion tracks if these animals had recolonized the state, and this simply isnt happening. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. Give users the ability to create and share their own custom maps and use zoom, pinch, rotate, and tilt to explore maps in more detail. Even so, for decades, skeptics dismissed mountain lion sightings in Connecticut out of hand, pointing out that if the cats were here in anywhere close to the number of reported sightings, there would be DNA and physical evidence of their presence, not to mention photos and videos. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. 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? Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. But its also a great story that lays out how an animal this large, at 150 pounds, traveling through even rural areas, leaves signs and is detected. All rights reserved. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. That had to be a mountain lion. The mountain lion is believed to have had an encounter with a family on their lawn. I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. I've damn near run over the things. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with one's family in their lawn. 3 Last 10 Years. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. I always hold out the possibility of a sighting to be genuine, but at the same time, over decades of experience, we know that the vast majority are misidentifications and a small number are actually hoaxes, he says. 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If you follow local news outlets and local social media pages, youll notice a common theme when it comes to wildlife sightings people often mistake one type of animal for another. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. Ive been doing this for 40 years. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. But honest misidentifications are more common. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. There are mountain lions in connecticut. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? 5. In 2016, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion on a Fox Run Road property in New Canaan, though state officials said they were unable to confirm the sighting based on paw prints left by the animal. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Mountain Lions can be found in Orange County throughout the Santa Ana Mountain Range down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. It went through my yard, went up behind, I have some property, past my barn, went into the woods, east, lots of woods back there, just disappeared.. Population estimates are thought to be around 20 individuals which is considered caring capacity based on the amount of land and . Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. 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. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. It had rained previously. ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? His mentor, Aldo Leopold, a prominent wildlife biologist, also believed this, but felt if people learned about these populations, they would be hunted to extinction. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service reports that mountain lions typical habitat is steep, rocky canyons or mountainous terrain, but they generally can be found wherever deer are present. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. 1.Customize your maps Style your maps with custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images. Fight back. These were reported to CT DEEP and though the sightings may not have been confirmed as true mountain Lion sightings, this post is to spread awareness on the issue in case youre presented with such situation. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. To answer these and other questions about sightings of mountain lions, I turned to DEEPs Rego, who has investigated many purported cougar sightings over the past three decades. Time changes all and Im not going to shut the door on the future and say that a breeding population of cougars is not here because the day after tomorrow they could be here its just a matter of time., Though a deer hunter herself, Morse is opposed to the way mountain lions have been hunted in the western U.S., where they are found. The photo is black and white. Have a map downloaded. Facebook; Twitter; Email; Copy to clipboard. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) He published his first book in 1959, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, In the 1950s, the 'Mad Dog murders' terrorized Connecticut, Connecticut Magazine: Best restaurants for dessert for 2023, Connecticut Magazine: CT's best brunch spots for 2023, Meet rising hip-hop star and CT native Felly, Connecticut Magazine: Best vegetarian, vegan restaurants for 2023, Save money by electrifying your homes systems, Stratford's Allan Dias and his brush with rock 'n' roll fame, Review: Hachiroku in New Haven is a slice of Japanese heaven, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. (UPDATE, JANUARY 19, 2022) The Great Falls Police Department said on Wednesday morning that the mountain lion that has been lurking around town for the last . However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. But its also a great story that lays out how an animal this large, at 150 pounds, traveling through even rural areas, leaves signs and is detected. While Betty had plenty of evidence to support a mountain lion population, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection still lists the mountain lion as extinct under the Endangered Species Act. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). Connecticut is cougar heaven, Betty said. Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Betty said that, according to officials, it's thought that there has been no reproducing, native population in the state since the 1920s. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. COMPARED TO A HOUSE CAT Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. It was a flooded area. 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. This is a carousel. Mountain lions are solitary animals, traveling alone except during mating season or when a female is supporting young. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. Mountain Lion Sightings in CT. Was the animal a pet set free? She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. @Edward Case, mountain lions in washington. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. It was a lion-like cat with a tan coat and no spots that was about three times the size of our 30- to 35-pound dog. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. For over 30 years the CT DEEP has been tracking reported sightings and maintain it has never observed or found proof that mountain lions are still here in the state. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. While there is currently not much safety training being done in the state for the extinct animal, Betty predicts that cougar safety will eventually be as common in New England as it is in California. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. Today, instead of focusing on cougar sightings in Eastern states, many cougar enthusiasts want to protect the animal from being hunted in the regions in which they are currently found. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Are There a Lot of Spiders in Connecticut? Get started. Were getting more and more home entries every year. Abbott believes it is possible that more mountain lions such as the one that was killed in Milford in 2011 could migrate here. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. of Energy & Environmental Protection. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Top Speed: 50 mph. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Stephen Gencarella, professor of folklore studies at the University of Massachusetts and a Connecticut resident, says, The government coverup is only the latest version of something that could stretch back in the oral tradition to precolonial times. He notes that supposed mountain lion sightings spiked in the late 1800s and early 1900s shortly after the animals disappeared from New Englands woods. Re (3): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By weather01089 February 1, 2016 at 04:55:52 PM. A mountain lion in winter. There is a big difference between Tuesday when none of us saw a moose in our region and then Thursday we did, Morse says. Uscinski, a Connecticut native, adds that the theory that the government is covering up the existence of mountain lions is likely motivated by a distrust of authority. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. Five summers ago, a mountain lion made regional headlines after it was photographed in Greenwich and later struck and killed by a motor vehicle on the parkway in Milford a young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. 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. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. It was a flooded area. Not long after, what was believed to be the same mountain lion was struck and killed on Route 15 in Milford. But a high-profile sighting in 2011 stirred up renewed interest in the animals here, when a mountain lion from South Dakota was hit and killed by a car on a Connecticut highway. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. The tail may have one to several indistinct dark bands and a tip that is black on top and whitish below. Re (1): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By russ January 30, 2016 at 05:10:25 PM. It certainly would be a spectacular sight to witness a cat as large as a mountain lion out in the wild, but, for now, in Connecticut, its not in the cards. The state explains any cougar evidence, such as the recent mountain lion, under one of three theories: a subspecies relic of the Eastern mountain lion; a Western cougar that migrated to the area; or an escaped or abandoned pet. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. So, now that youve got the answer on whether or not mountain lions can be found in CT, lets talk about which wild cats are more likely to be seen here. Bachelder said he did a double take Friday evening when he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road. Young pumas dispersing from Western habitats are being killed at the source, compromising the Easts critical opportunity for ecosystem health and the return of an apex carnivore., Regardless of where they are found, or whether people want to hunt or protect them, people are enchanted by mountain lions. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. Below is an evolving list of Connecticut natives and state prep school football players in the Class of 2023 who have signed letters of intent to play football in college. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. Experts Warn Residents to Take Precautions After Recent Mountain Lion Sightings By Bay City News Published June 11, 2021 Updated on June 11, 2021 at 6:50 am NBC Universal, Inc. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Copy to clipboard. So, there you have it an answer to the question of whether or not there are mountain lions in CT. Certainly, bobcats are much larger than housecats, but they are not nearly the size of cougars. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. This can trigger a chase. But recent expert-confirmed sightingswhich have involved photographs, videos, and DNAin Tennessee support a theory that mountain lions, whose populations out west have continued to expand, are slowly making their way back to this side of the country. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it,. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . What about mountain lions, though? This can trigger a chase. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Description. Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. A bill which would change the name to the Pequot River has full support from the Mashantucket Pequot and Eastern Pequot tribes, but the Mohegan Tribe has voiced concerns. Got a question or comment? The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. More sightings that Halm deemed credible came in 2018 from Nursery, Marvin Ridge and Briscoe Roads.. Halm noted that the route between the two recent sightings appears to be straight south. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. "I was hoping for tracks after the rain, but the area was not conducive for it," Halm said. Connecticut Dept. 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. Since cougars are the second largest cat in North America and a natural predator, they can pose a threat. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Not really, Rego says. These tips include carrying safety equipment and walking . The sightings havent been confirmed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and there are no videos or photos. Once at dusk driving in the Berkshires, he saw what he initially thought was a cat-like creature that was far bigger than a bobcat leap across the road. Im confident that we get occasional outlier animals.. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Following the recent death of a mountain lion in Milford, and several reported. 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