Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. mountain lions in washington. 4 . (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. It says genetic testing revealed that a mountain lion hit by a car and killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 originated from South Dakota and had traveled to Connecticut though Wisconsin and Minnesota a distance of around 1,800 miles a record distance for a land mammal. 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. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. He also quoted the work of geneticist Melanie Culver, who has proven that all North American puma species are genetically virtually identical. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. Meanwhile, a family in Redwood City has shared footage of a big cat seen recently in That maybe, just maybe, what my wife and others saw wasnt a bobcat that seemed bigger in the thrill of the moment, but a real, honest-to-goodness mountain lion, a long-lost ghost of the forest. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. While there is currently not much safety training being done in the state for the extinct animal, Betty predicts that cougar safety will eventually be as common in New England as it is in California. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. 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. 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. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. They usually either don't disperse at all or they'll kind of overlap their mother's home range, or they'll disperse very short distances.. 60-108 inches. "Mountain lions are considered extinct in the northeast." Bobcats are not uncommon in Connecticut, according to the state, although their population is limited throughout the state, with the. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. 5:30 PM . Rego says that the way bobcats stride when they run, often times a rear leg is kicked up in the back and that could be mistaken for a long tail.. All rights reserved. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. This young male cougar was found to . Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. Fight back. 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. Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. 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. Ive been doing this for 40 years. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. Connecticut Public Radio | However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. Fish and Game staff have distributed door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has been using. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. Sighting reports of bobcats will help biologists gain an understanding of the current state population. Since cougars are the second largest cat in North America and a natural predator, they can pose a threat. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. Canton and Simsbury have also had about 70 sightings. State conservation officials believe this photo, taken in Greenwich in 2011, shows a mountain lion. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. 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. If needed, throw rocks, sticks, etc. As a On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Its extremely rare for a person to see a wild animal and to underestimate its size. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. Skip to content. 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. Mistaken reports of mountain lions are most commonly bobcats. Weight: 160 lbs. Collection. Have a question or comment? 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. Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. he recalls. Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. Weve got a growing bear population. 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. DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. Do Not Approach! Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. 6. 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.. Habitat. Email editor@connecticutmag.com. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Slowly, mountain lions recolonized North America after having retreated to warmer climates in South America during the Pleistocene ice age. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. 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. Conserving Tolland President and founder Roseann Kellner Gottier said that the issue has become important for the region and is glad the lecture was well-attended. Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. 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. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. 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. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. So its this gathering storm. Explore the most popular trails in my list Mountain lion sightings with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. 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. 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. Mountain Lions in the State of Texas In Texas, it's always open season on mountain lions. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. Hey, I know what I saw. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. Tolland resident Loren Gerber said that he and his wife have both seen cougars in the area. 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. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. A mountain lion in winter. 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. Betty, who has had a dozen personal sightings in Rhode Island, studies mountain lion evidence and attends national conventions. One on Salem Rd and another in. Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. Top Speed: 50 mph. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. Bobcats are found across Connecticut, but even fully grown they are much smaller than what she was describing, only weighing between 18 and 35 pounds. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. A distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that cant be, part! Wild animal and to underestimate its size does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist Hawley... Right here a mountain lion Bootheel area in 1927 to 6 feet.... 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