The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. Copy to clipboard. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on. 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. The Department of Environmental. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. 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. 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. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. So theres fresh mud. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. 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. Mountain Lions can be found in Orange County throughout the Santa Ana Mountain Range down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. Fight back. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. 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". A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. 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. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 Re (1): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By russ January 30, 2016 at 05:10:25 PM. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Fv 27, 2023 . Mostly shaded. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. 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. Bachelder says he didnt have his phone on him, so he couldnt take a picture or video, but describes his backyard visitor just like what you see in the stock photo provided by the Woodbridge Police Department. mountain lions in washington. Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. The New Hampshire Department of Justice is pursuing civil charges against two members of the hate group for allegedly hanging a racist banner in Portsmouth last summer. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Tim Abbott, the regional land conservation and greenprint director for the Housatonic Valley Association, says that during a lecture on mountain lions last winter at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, when the speaker asked if anyone had seen a mountain lion, half of the roughly 400 people in attendance raised their hands. You really couldnt ask for a better place for mountain lions.. By, March 2023 Fund Drive Rules and Regulations, Persons with disabilities who need assistance accessing NHPR's FCC public files, please contact us at publicfile@nhpr.org. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, Tolland resident Loren Gerber said that he and his wife have both seen cougars in the area. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Mountain lions are solitary animals, traveling alone except during mating season or when a female is supporting young. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. 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. DEEP sightings: Where the bears are in CT. Jim Shay. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. 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. Adult males can be around 8 feet in length and weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, while adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. As far as the claim that mountain lions live in CT, as we address in the previous section, that has been debunked. DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. A mountain lion in winter. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. 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. One on Salem Rd and another in. About 80 people gathered at Tolland High School Thursday night to take in a mountain lion lecture sponsored byConserving Tolland. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. I think its good he attended, Gottier said of Littell. The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. 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. Native: Yes. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. 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. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. 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. 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. I might also add that I notified the State wildlife division about evidence of a bear in my neighborhood in Windham County and never received even an acknowledgement. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. This young male cougar was found to . 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. What about mountain lions, though? It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Im watching it, its big, its got the body, and the thing that really gave it away was the tail, had that mountain lion long tail that goes down to the ground and comes up at the end, saw that and was like, thats a freaking mountain lion.. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. 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. Height: 3 ft. Max. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, For the first time in decades, The Old Farmer's Almanac is looking for a new editor, NSC-131 members say they can't find a NH defense lawyer for pending civil rights case, Cautiously optimistic: Maple syrup producers expect a good season this year, In Spokane, Washington, officials test a housing strategy rejected by NH lawmakers. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. The sightings havent been confirmed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and there are no videos or photos. Breweries in New Haven, CT you MUST Visit! A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. 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. Canton and Simsbury have also had about 70 sightings. Betty said that, according to officials, it's thought that there has been no reproducing, native population in the state since the 1920s. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. Hi! While other states have their Bigfoot and sea monster sightings, in Connecticut, and throughout much of the Northeast, we see mountain lions even when were told such sightings are unlikely, if not outright impossible. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. Posted on Published: November 4, 2022- Last updated: December 28, 2022. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. 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It provided absolutely irrefutable proof that a wild Mountain Lion, at least occasionally, can make its way to New England. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. This is the mountain lion that was hit by a car in Milford after several sightings in the Greenwich area. 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. COMPARED TO A HOUSE CAT Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. This can trigger a chase. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. He also quoted the work of geneticist Melanie Culver, who has proven that all North American puma species are genetically virtually identical. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. Stay facing the animal and try not to turn your back to it. But that doesnt stop people from seeing them. 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. Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) So, now we know what DEEP says about mountain lions in the state and we know that many people mistakenly believe theyve sighted one but its still possible there are some in CT, right? Betty, who has had a dozen personal sightings in Rhode Island, studies mountain lion evidence and attends national conventions. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Weve had housecats misidentified as mountain lions and even deer, Rego says. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. 3 Last 10 Years. 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