Despite annual reports since the 1950s, no confirmed sighting was made in the state until the 1990s. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. That said there have been numerous sightings of them over the years. It was a flooded area. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. 5. Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. Mountain lions have been dispersing away from these population areas, and researchers recently mapped all confirmed mountain lion observations from 1990-2008 (LaRue et al. Hawley: That animal was documented. 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. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35 to 40 pounds. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. Employees from the state DEEP, as well as Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night. Have a map downloaded. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. Give today. Copyright 2022 WFSB. 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. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. 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. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. Thats only a fraction of the supposed sightings. The tail may have one to several indistinct dark bands and a tip that is black on top and whitish below. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. Register for a user account. Are there any mountain lions in CT? Sue Morse, the founder and science director of Keeping Track, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to protecting wildlife habitats, has studied mountain lions over her career as a naturalist, and says the majority of cougar sightings in the Northeast are misidentifications. 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. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Make noise. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. 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. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . Beautiful clear day just like this, and there in my backyard I see this huge golden animal, walking through the yard, Bachelder said. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. So its this gathering storm. 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. COMPARED TO A HOUSE CAT Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. A mountain lion in winter. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Certainly, bobcats are much larger than housecats, but they are not nearly the size of cougars. All rights reserved, Hunter Accused of Killing 2 Pet Dogs in Ridgefield Appears in Court, Avelo Says Airline Will Work to Improve Communication After NBC CT Responds Report, CCSU Student Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Campus Dorm, I-95 South in Madison Reopens After Crash With Serious Injuries, Better Health: Dr. Katherine Rotker Discusses Vasectomy Procedure, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. Fight back. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. 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. The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. 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. 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.. These tips include carrying safety equipment and walking . For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. Hes even had his own false sighting. DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. They can be seen at any time of the day or night, but are most active at dawn and . I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, Weight: 70-170 lbs. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. 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. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. When it comes to mountain lions, (also called cougars, pumas, or panthers) is there really a chance you will come across one in the wild, or will you need to visit a zoo to see one of these magnificent animals in real life? Hawley: That animal was documented. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. 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. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. "We get calls about mountain lions all the time, but they turn out to be unprovable," Brown told the Independent in March. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. 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. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Inevitably, the New England states will acknowledge that they have some mountain lions.. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. he recalls. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. 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. 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, @Craig, what town is Wtn? So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. 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). From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. He also quoted the work of geneticist Melanie Culver, who has proven that all North American puma species are genetically virtually identical. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. 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. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. 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. 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. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. 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. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. New Hampshire Public Radio | Hi! Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. 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. It had rained previously. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. For more information on cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Were getting more and more home entries every year. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. 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? It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. 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. So its this gathering storm. Since cougars are the second largest cat in North America and a natural predator, they can pose a threat. New London would be the last place I'd expect to see a mountain lion in CT. My sister is on 9 acres in Harwinton and watched a mountain lion cross the driveway which is about a quarter mile surrounded by woods and unpaved. 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. 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? It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Contrary to traditional thought, population. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Top Speed: 50 mph. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Hey, I know what I saw. I frankly have lost faith in some government institutions for this very reason. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. 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. They are very bold. So theres fresh mud. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. 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. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. 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. In the 1930s, Bruce Wright, an influential wildlife manager from New Brunswick, Canada, began gathering reports of sightings of mountain lions in the East and searching for their tracks. Residents of Greenwich, Conn., have reported seeing a mountain lion roaming the woods -- even though the species is extinct in the region, MyFoxNY.com reports. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. The Division also collects carcasses of road-killed bobcats as part of the study. Got a question or comment? Mountain lions went extinct in Connecticut during the 1800s, but bobcats are still seen regularly. 2 Last 5 Years. We have rolling hills, and more importantly, 200,000 white tails. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. 1.Customize your maps Style your maps with custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. Weight: 160 lbs. 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? Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. 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. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. Didnt it? 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. They are also known as pumas, cougars and panthers. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. 4 . Hes even had his own false sighting. The upper mile is pretty overgrown in a pretty way. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Emaileditor@connecticutmag.com, or contact usonFacebook@connecticutmagazine orTwitter@connecticutmag. Instead, people should remain facing the cat and not turn their back on it, make noise and make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms over their heads with a jacket. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. But that doesnt stop people from seeing them. This post was contributed by a community member. 2. Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Sometimes people feared fishers (erroneously attributing the blood-curdling screams of foxes to these hard-to-spot creatures), and in the late 1930s, after several animals were slain under strange circumstances in Glastonbury, the. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. I think its good he attended, Gottier said of Littell. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Betty, however, said that the sheer number of sightings and evidence substantiates a native population of cougars. While recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, if someone suspects they encountered a mountain lion, they should not run away, as it might spur a chase. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest and greatest content fromConnecticut Magazinedelivered right to your inbox. 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. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. 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. Woodbridge police shared tips for if you encounter a big cat: On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with ones family in their lawn. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Join as a $8 per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella! Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 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. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. There was a sighting near the Brunswick School on June 5. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. A harvest is kind of twofold. 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. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. And even the home entries are kind of changing. One on Salem Rd and another in. 3. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. Abbott believes it is possible that more mountain lions such as the one that was killed in Milford in 2011 could migrate here. 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. Fight back. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. From sightings of wolves and moose to brown recluses and mountain lions, people in CT have made some wild (pun intended) claims about what animals theyve spotted. 60-108 inches. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. It was a flooded area. According to Jason Hawley, a wildlife biologist for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Wildlife Division, the department gets around 100 sighting reports of mountain lions each year, but upon further investigation, a good proportion of the sightings end up being bobcats. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. Stay facing the animal and try not to turn your back to it. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. The map from that publication is shown below, with the current mountain lion range in green and confirmed mountain lion locations as black dots. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. 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. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. Were getting more and more home entries every year. 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. Quoted the work of geneticist Melanie Culver, who has proven that North... Its a cool Story with how far that animal walked a pretty way they spots! So all the other states became more and more home entries every.... Year, making sightings much more likely is where the mountain lion population tens of thousands trail. 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