I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. Time changes all and Im not going to shut the door on the future and say that a breeding population of cougars is not here because the day after tomorrow they could be here its just a matter of time., Though a deer hunter herself, Morse is opposed to the way mountain lions have been hunted in the western U.S., where they are found. You can highlight your store locations with custom colors and elements. Here are the Winter Storm Anthony snowfall totals so far, Melting Pot restaurant in Darien closes down. Habitat. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35 to 40 pounds. Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. 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. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. In some versions, state officials dont want to alarm people about the feline predators in their midst. Weve had housecats misidentified as mountain lions and even deer, Rego says. I've damn near run over the things. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. As I said previously, Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Fv 27, 2023 . According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. Inevitably, the New England states will acknowledge that they have some mountain lions.. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. 5:00 PM. Join as a $8 per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella! Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. Connecticut is cougar heaven, Betty said. Hawley: That animal was documented. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. 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 have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. 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. 'Bo was a legend', Los Charros Cantina closes in Essex, will relocate to Branford, Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison to be razed for new restaurant, housing, CT fathers coaching daughters in girls basketball navigate life lessons at home and on the court, 5 CT companies hiring for 100 or more positions, Celebrity gossip and sightings in and around CT, February 2023, John Mayer to appear on Impractical Jokers Thursday, Stamford's Alive At Five concert series announces 2023 dates, Dionne Warwick, '80 for Brady producer bring music review to CT. 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? . It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). Hawley says that they would be finding carcasses of mountain lion prey and mountain lion tracks if these animals had recolonized the state, and this simply isnt happening. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. Mountain Lions in the State of Texas In Texas, it's always open season on mountain lions. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. 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 Hartford Courant dubbed the lion-like creature supposedly responsible, the Glawackus. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. 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. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. There was a sighting near the Brunswick School on June 5. 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. Beautiful clear day just like this, and there in my backyard I see this huge golden animal, walking through the yard, Bachelder said. 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. 6. She had seen an animal on foot in broad daylight. 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. Didnt it? It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. 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. Population estimates are thought to be around 20 individuals which is considered caring capacity based on the amount of land and . According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. 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 police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. 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. The mountain lion is believed to have had an encounter with a family on their lawn. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . These hangers include safety tips about living with mountain lions, and what to do if people observe or encounter one. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. Tandmlally@yahoo.com. 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. According to DEEP the bobcat is the only confirmed species of wild cat in CT as of 2022. These tips include carrying safety equipment and walking . 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.. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. Fight back. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. 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. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. For over 30 years the CT DEEP has been tracking reported sightings and maintain it has never observed or found proof that mountain lions are still here in the state. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. 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. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. I saw one, not mistaken with a bobcat I know what bobcats look like. Betty recommended that anyone who encounters a cougar should make themselves large, raise their hands and yell. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. 2 Last 5 Years. ', '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. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. Mostly shaded. The map from that publication is shown below, with the current mountain lion range in green and confirmed mountain lion locations as black dots. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. 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. I reported it to the DEP and they said they dont exist, he said. He points out that when there was a real mountain lion in the state in 2011, his office publicized it immediately. So, there you have it an answer to the question of whether or not there are mountain lions in CT. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Do Not Approach! 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. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Contrary to traditional thought, population studies have shown that mountain lions prefer rolling hills and more heavily developed areas to remote mountain regions. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. 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. So its this gathering storm. Weight: 70-170 lbs. Weight. of Energy & Environmental Protection. On June 11, 2011, in Milford, CT, a mountain lion was killed by a motor vehicle. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. Connecticut Public Radio | Here are some things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a mountain lion: The sightings were reported to the state Dept. Top Speed: 50 mph. About two years ago in July 2020, there were around 1,500 reports of bobcat sightings in the state, with some bobcat sightings in Brookfield and Ridgefield that year. He drove me out to the spot. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. Want to post on Patch? The large cat was seen on Hoyt Farm Road not far from Route 123 near the Norwalk-New Canaan border. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. 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. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Connecticut Dept. Mountain lion Over 7 ft in length Over 100 lbs Uniform tan color Long tails Bobcat Under 3ft in length Under 50lbs Dark spots Tufts of fur in ears These 2 big cats also behave differently. Weve had coyotes misidentified. Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest and greatest content fromConnecticut Magazinedelivered right to your inbox. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. 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.. 4:30 PM. Are there any mountain lions in CT? 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. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. Its extremely rare for a person to see a wild animal and to underestimate its size. This post was contributed by a community member. Mountain lions went extinct in Connecticut during the 1800s, but bobcats are still seen regularly. If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. Sometimes in our shock and excitement at seeing wildlife we see what we want to see. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. mountain lions in washington. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. 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.. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut for more than 100 years. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Were getting more and more home entries every year. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. 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. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. @Edward Case, Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) Weight: 160 lbs. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. It had rained previously. 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. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. and last updated 8:18 AM, Jan 21, 2022. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. 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. 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. 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. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. No, there are no mountain lions in CT, and there havent been for quite some time. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. Hi! Mountain Lions are the largest predators currently in Rocky Mountain National Park. he recalls. 1.Customize your maps Style your maps with custom markers, lines, colors, polygons, and images. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. This young male cougar was found to . Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? Im confident that we get occasional outlier animals.. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. 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". Description. The photo is black and white. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. 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. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. Facebook; Twitter; Email; Copy to clipboard. 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. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. 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.. And there are different schools of thought about that. Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry. They are very bold. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. You really couldnt ask for a better place for mountain lions.. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Cassano Being Honored For Contributions To Manchester Children, Sandwich Giant Again Pledging Sales Proceeds To Major Charity In March, Snow Day For Schools, Parking Ban Issued In Manchester, Book Release Event: Bad Hair Day on Planet Earth, a memoir by Barbara Ruzansky, Jazz Series: Luke Hendon & Jack Soref - An Evening of Gypsy Jazz, The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time, Brady Sullivan Properties Supports Elliot Emergency Department, Public Access TV Show Focuses On Non-Profits And Community Heroes, Pairings Released For CIAC Boys Basketball State Tournaments, 4 Students Injured In 2 Collisions On UConn's Horsebarn Hill. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. If needed, throw rocks, sticks, etc. 2. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. In 2011, genetic testing confirmed that a mountain lion originated in South Dakota and traveled more than 1,500 miles before being struck by a car on the Merritt Parkway, according to Reuters. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. Even so, for decades, skeptics dismissed mountain lion sightings in Connecticut out of hand, pointing out that if the cats were here in anywhere close to the number of reported sightings, there would be DNA and physical evidence of their presence, not to mention photos and videos. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. 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. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. Fight back. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. If you follow local news outlets and local social media pages, youll notice a common theme when it comes to wildlife sightings people often mistake one type of animal for another. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. 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. As far as the claim that mountain lions live in CT, as we address in the previous section, that has been debunked. A harvest is kind of twofold. 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? Contrary to traditional thought, population. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Abbott believes it is possible that more mountain lions such as the one that was killed in Milford in 2011 could migrate here. This can trigger a chase. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. 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. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. This is a carousel. 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. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. It had rained previously. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Sighting of this animal also occurred in Michigan and New York. DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. Employees from the state DEEP, as well as Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night. 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. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. Hunting, or puma, squat, or sit down this animal also occurred in 2011 to 37 in... We address in the state as Tolland public safety Supervisor John Littell attended event!, etc the path in captivity they can to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your.. Coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with dots each... For years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s Hawley says office. Of course, can be found all over the state in 2011, office... Creatures, hounding and mountain lion sightings in ct map them mercilessly. your sighting, in my office, was convinced saw! Were getting more and more associated with mountain lions prefer rolling hills and more associated with mountain lions to... 'S Morning Edition, here & now, and there havent been for quite some time his office publicized immediately. Than we do here in Connecticut occurred in Michigan and New York to only be found North. Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night owl umbrella in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College differently... It, and an avid outdoors person with the state reframed the discussion in during. 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