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. In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Theres something in human nature to overestimate the size of wild animals we see, especially if we get a brief glance and if the animal is moving. He adds, Bobcats can get pretty large and some people believe they should have pretty visible spots and very often theyre pretty uniform in color. This is especially true in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. The mountain lion is believed to have had an encounter with a family on their lawn. In 2011, a young male lion walked 1500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut, where he was hit and killed on the parkway in Milford. . Do Not Approach! ', '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. Got a question or comment? Re (2): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By Ryan January 31, 2016 at 11:16:51 PM. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. He drove me out to the spot. Even though human persecution has driven them locally extinct in the eastern part of the state, Texas mountain lion hunting is allowed year-round with no bag limits. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. 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.. to scare it off. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. However, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEE. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. He said that the conservation organization,Cougars of the Valley, has compiled 300 sightings in the Farmington Valley region of the state alone. If needed, throw rocks, sticks, etc. Hawley: That animal was documented. Hes even had his own false sighting. After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? 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, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Serious crash closes CT stretch of I-95 South, state police say, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, CT Capitol police arrest 14 people following peaceful protest, DCF denies 'deficiencies' cited in report on CT child deaths, Suspect in 2021 fatal shooting arrested, Hamden police say, Police warn of spike in vehicle thefts in CT town, Elicker presents $662.7m budget that would raise spending $29.5m, Norwalk council hears call for school spending, delays budget cap, NJ man faces more charges in alleged money laundering scheme, Late West Haven audit sees vulnerabilities for more fraud, several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month, one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011, U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Theyll say, Hey, you can see in the picture that it has a long tail, and when I look at the picture, I say, I see how you would see that because they way these cats walk, theyll kind of stand and trail their rear leg. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. The big cat. "We get calls about mountain lions all the time, but they turn out to be unprovable," Brown told the Independent in March. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. @Edward Case, 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. 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. Emaileditor@connecticutmag.com, or contact usonFacebook@connecticutmagazine orTwitter@connecticutmag. Anyone can get fooled. Mountain Lions in the State of Texas In Texas, it's always open season on mountain lions. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. The upper mile is pretty overgrown in a pretty way. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. Fight back. Hey, I know what I saw. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem Road and near Pease Road. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. I have a fence in the backyard, it was above the bottom rail, so its back was probably this big, this long, the tail, said John Bachelder. 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. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. This young adult, male Mountain Lion was struck and killed by a SUV in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2012. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. It was a flooded area. Live Now All times eastern. 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. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. 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. Fv 27, 2023 . Ive been doing this for 40 years. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including, is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. And theyre not going to find one, because the females don't disperse like that. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. However, Hawley noted that Eastern bobcats tend to have very few spots compared to bobcats that are out west or even in the Midwest. If they have spots, they are typically in the white, underside part of the bodies or on the insides of their legs. 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. 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. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. It also doesnt mean there wont be more sightings in the future, as these animals have been known to reclaim areas their species once roamed. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. 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. Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. Mountain lions are commonly identified by trail camera photographs, tracks, and feces. We have rolling hills, and more importantly, 200,000 white tails. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. Mountain lions would have inhabited all of what is now Nebraska, roaming the hills and plains as an apex predator, hunting deer, elk and other large game. Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. Weight: 70-170 lbs. 5:00 PM. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). 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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. Re (3): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By weather01089 February 1, 2016 at 04:55:52 PM. Do not run. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. All rights reserved. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. Another mountain lion was killed on a Connecticut highway. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. 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. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. When we lived in Suffield, we had MANY Mountain Lion sightings.probably 4-5 sightings (which qualifies as many to me) and they were definitely not Bobcats. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. Have a map downloaded. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. 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. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 Especially when pictures are blurry which happens a lot in trail cameras or youll get pictures taken at night or something on Ring cameras that hind leg really does often look like a tail kind of curling up behind the animal.. 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.. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Are there any mountain lions in CT? Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. he recalls. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. 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. It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Sightings can be reported to the McCall Fish and Game office at 208-634-8137. For more information on cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. Im confident that we get occasional outlier animals.. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. Beautiful clear day just like this, and there in my backyard I see this huge golden animal, walking through the yard, Bachelder said. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. These hangers include safety tips about living with mountain lions, and what to do if people observe or encounter one. This can trigger a chase. 1.Customize your maps Style your maps with custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . There is also something appealing about the idea that there is an animal out there so cunning that it has escaped our notice and the eyes of our cameras. 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. 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. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. New Hampshire Public Radio | So its this gathering storm. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. 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.. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Mountain lions went extinct in Connecticut during the 1800s, but bobcats are still seen regularly. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. 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". About 80 people gathered at Tolland High School Thursday night to take in a mountain lion lecture sponsored byConserving Tolland. In some versions, state officials dont want to alarm people about the feline predators in their midst. Give today. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. Hawley: That animal was documented. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. 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