are there mountain lions in the poconos

Mountain lions are well-established in 14 western states and have also recently been confirmed in 10 Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Let's say the facts indicate that there have been a lot of 'pet' pumas, and many of these escaped. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. In personal contacts, that monthly average might even be higher. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. Travis Lau, a spokesperson for the Game Commission, said the state has a "never say never" approach when it comes to mountain lions and acknowledges that Western cats could be moving east. Here are the 15 US States That Have Mountain Lions. There are deserts, mountains, and swamps in the state of Utah, all of which are suitable for mountain lions. It seems unlikely, considering captives have never shown this trait, but people are reporting big black cats. "He doesn't like men too much," said Suzanne Murray, owner of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in this south-central Pennsylvania town. Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? "The cougars examined in the Northeast in the past 70 years are likely released or escaped captives. Would that declaration close that ridge to hunting? The skeleton was reassembled at the State Museum, where it has been on display ever since. Outdoor adventures abound, and so do our fabulous shopping and restaurants. Thank you for reading! According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Unless I am only dealing with a lot of delusional people with little judgment, something is out there. As a state known for its mountains, its no wonder that mountain lions live here! And how many would let them go, or provide an opportunity for escaping? Yet, except for Florida, which has about 100 of them "Florida panthers"), no eastern state has a verifiable population of these large 100- to 200-pound cats that were extirpated 100 years ago. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. In 2015, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed near the site where the mastodon was found. All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. Mountain lions thrive there due to the high elk population, dense forests, and isolated mountain ranges. I believe them. Since mountain lions are the top predators (unlike most other states with grizzly bears), they have a well-developed population. Discover the Little-Known U.S. River Gorge That's, The 9 Best Books About National Parks for Travelers, mountain lions seem to be making a comeback. I'd suspect it would still be considered very rare, after all, it was thought to be extinct. Just take your pick of all these incredible Pocono lake house rentals or just a Pocono cabin for rent, in luxury of course! So how or why could there be a conspiracy? Furthermore, a different set of photos showed a "mountain lion" dragging a deer into the woods in Bradford County. "It's fall bow-hunting season soon," he said. Despite reported sightings throughout the East, including Pennsylvania, and a confirmed mountain lion killed in Connecticut in 2011, there has been no evidence that any of those cats were native to the East. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. I'm wondering, then, if the complete dismissal of sightings of Eastern pumas (other than the acknowledgement of released or escaped pets) isn't motivated by economics. Are mountain lions on their way to Pennsylvania? (570) 325-3229. Some outdoor enthusiasts insist they have seen the big cats here and believe them to be naturally occurring, native animals. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. Most of the native mountain lions live in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, but humans rarely ever see them due to their secretive nature. Mountain lions have a lifespan of about 8 to 13 years old in the wild. Other states have had sightings, especially as mountain lion populations begin to explore and look to expand. "It was in Worthington State Forest just across the Delaware River from Smithfield Beach). If we continue to be bombarded with manipulated photos and untrue claims in most cases by people who just want to get attention then we may be very resistant to accepting the "real McCoy" if or when) one finally arrives. It is an Italianate Villa home that features authentic Victorian furniture and finishing. Some experts predict that this wide-ranging predator, which can travel 600 miles in search of a territory, will surely reach our eastern states sometime in the next few decades. "With all of that said, though, there's a general lack of evidence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? Flying over the area, I've looked down and commented upon the amount of habitat that would be available for a puma, if only they existed. Imagination? But more and more people in Pennsylvania, from the Alleghenies to the Poconos to rolling farmlands in York County, claim they are seeing the big cats here, even though the state's "last" native lion, also known as a cougar or puma, was shot and killed in Berks County in 1871 and the feds have declared the Eastern subspecies extinct. Caribou meat apparently was part of their diet. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. All rights reserved (About Us). Arkansas isnt somewhere that we would generally think of when looking for mountain lions, but they are on the rebound! In July and August I received seven different reports, and everyone involved had done a search of some type to compare images of bobcats and pumas. Many of the reports I receive are extremely credible. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. They have almost been killed off a few times, but conservation efforts have helped to keep their numbers stable. Murray said Rocky was emaciated and chained when she found him at a private zoo. In only one report had an official from the Pennsylvania Game Commision, a local warden, actually agree with the person reporting the sighting. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. This ideal habitat allows for a large population of 2,000 mountain lions to thrive. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. Transient males have been sighted as far east as New York! He wrote that not being a roving animal, the mountain lion was much sooner destroyed than the wolf, and he said that if there were any left, it would have to be in the most desolate places in the county. They are generally believed to be young cats roaming in search of new breeding territories to claim as their own. I think it is possible that recognizing the existence of pumas in the East could jeopardize this industry and an entire economy. But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. And yet today the debate continues: Are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? It is almost safe to say that the panther has in these parts become extinct, Goodrich wrote. Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead. The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as that cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. On the other hand, there are probably thousands of game cameras covering water holes and game trails throughout Pennsylvania, and to my knowledge no one has yet recorded a puma. Biologists who investigate these reports claim that several may, indeed, be mountain lions, but most likely they're animals that have escaped from captivity or have been released by their owners. A mastodon's skull was first located in Marshalls Creek, Monroe County, on July 5, 1968. She also houses a bobcat named Nia she took in from a couple who couldn't handle her. Heres What the Data Says. More about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. What does a Mountain Lion look like on a game camera? Still, these resilient animals reside in secluded areas across the United States, with current data suggesting they may even be returning to their historical regions! This, after they were told that there were no pumas in Pa. I've looked in the PGC game laws booklet and saw nothing on this, which I guess you could conclude means a puma would not be legal to shoot. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Phineas Teeple of Manchester Township is thought to have killed the last wolf in Wayne County. They are there to help us. Packer Hill Ave. Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. Nevertheless, I put up a MOULTRIE game camera -- a brand that I've had tremendous satisfaction with -- at the carcass, hoping that scavengers would visit. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. An article in last year's New York State Conservationist magazine about mountain lions concluded that none exists in that state, even in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Mountain wilderness. Well, right behind our property lies a mountain ridge, one of several that makes a continuous forest that extends, with little interruption, for scores of miles in three directions. Reports generally go uninvestigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which discounts them as mistaken identities, illegal pets escaped or released and outright fabrications. Eyes are normal and are not light sensitive, and the over-all color, generally black, is usually not detrimental and may actually be of benefit. Here's more about mountain lions in Pennsylvania: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The cat was far enough away that I couldn't get a size reference, and I believed the cat was further away than it actually was. At the end of the last Ice Age, many animals in Pennsylvania died out. ? Is there a correct position for the upright on a Wimberley actionhead? I don't want to seem like a nut case here, but I must ask this question and you'll soon understand why? Everyone else, when reporting, were frustrated as they were told they had seen a bobcat. accident on jimmy carter blvd today, how to neutralize sulfuric acid for disposal, what are geminis attracted to,

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are there mountain lions in the poconos