As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. Mountain Lion Sightings in CT. Was the animal a pet set free? I've damn near run over the things. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by, . They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by DEEP. Copyright 2022 WFSB. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, Hawley said the last confirmed mountain lion sighting in the state was one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011 when a car struck the animal near Exit 55. 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. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. 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. Ive seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat. And its a lose-lose situation, because theres really not a whole lot you can tell them in most cases thats going to change their mind.. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. 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. A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. 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. The tail may have one to several indistinct dark bands and a tip that is black on top and whitish below. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. 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. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. Join as a $8 per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella! For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem Road and near Pease Road. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. 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. 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. The photo is black and white. Ive seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat. And its a lose-lose situation, because theres really not a whole lot you can tell them in most cases thats going to change their mind.. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Anyone can get fooled. Betty said that, according to officials, it's thought that there has been no reproducing, native population in the state since the 1920s. My buddy told me he saw one in our hometown (in litchfield county) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Skip to content. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cats Walk Across America by William Stolzenburg. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . They are also known as . 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. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members 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. Were getting more and more home entries every year. Weight: 70-170 lbs. A harvest is kind of twofold. 4. But what might be his most compelling argument is that since this is Connecticut, the budget is too limited. 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.. This young adult, male Mountain Lion was struck and killed by a SUV in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2012. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. Sighting reports of bobcats will help biologists gain an understanding of the current state population. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. You really couldnt ask for a better place for mountain lions.. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. Anyone can get fooled. 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. In some versions, state officials dont want to alarm people about the feline predators in their midst. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. From Litchfield County, can confirm. Fight back. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. Were getting more and more home entries every year. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Hi! My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. 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. 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. 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. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. By, Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship, Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, New Haven's mayor lays out new budget proposal, Hartford Public Library expands services at branches while downtown location remains closed, Connecticut COVID data: Your town's infection rate, hospitalizations & vaccinations, Israeli army kills Palestinian in West Bank; 3 arrested following shooting of CT man, Democrats hold three CT House seats in special elections, As new research suggests COVID-19 is now endemic, physicians push back, Long COVID rates fall by half nationwide, New England rates among lowest, Long COVID researchers in CT to get part of $10 million in federal funding, 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, Proposal to rename the Thames River sparks debate among Connecticut tribes. 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? Those are the two closest populations that we have here. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. 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. Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. 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 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. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. This post was contributed by a community member. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Dont Run. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. Connecticut Public Radio | Two mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Tennessee. 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. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. She was calling from a trail in Pootatuck State Forest, the 1,200-acre strip of nature occupying the hills above Squantz Pond in New Fairfield. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Give today. Betty, who has had a dozen personal sightings in Rhode Island, studies mountain lion evidence and attends national conventions. Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 It was a flooded area. And even the home entries are kind of changing. I saw one, not mistaken with a bobcat I know what bobcats look like. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. 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? More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. So its this gathering storm. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Sometimes in our shock and excitement at seeing wildlife we see what we want to see. The Department of Environmental. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. These hangers include safety tips about living with mountain lions, and what to do if people observe or encounter one. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. 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. Are there any mountain lions in CT? And even the home entries are kind of changing. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. We have had five coyotes crossing through our yard in the past few weeks, and one even lingers around our property and the neighbors. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . of Energy and Environmental Protection. 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. This was maybe a decade ago. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. Collection. Top Speed: 50 mph. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. In general, the audience members seemed to agree with Bettys views. On June 11, 2011, in Milford, CT, a mountain lion was killed by a motor vehicle. But honest misidentifications are more common. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. The current editor of the publication, which is based in New Hampshire, explains why the job is worth sticking around. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. State conservation officials believe this photo, taken in Greenwich in 2011, shows a mountain lion. 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. 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. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. If needed, throw rocks, sticks, etc. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. 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. Facebook; Twitter; Email; Copy to clipboard. Want to post on Patch? 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. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. While the state says it was likely a bobcat, one of the people who reported the sighting says it was unlike anything hes ever seen before. 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. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. . Native: Yes. Copy to clipboard. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. It had rained previously. Email editor@connecticutmag.com. 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