Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. 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. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. 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? 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. The Division also collects carcasses of road-killed bobcats as part of the study. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. The mountain lion is believed to have had an encounter with a family on their lawn. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. So theres fresh mud. Collection. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. "We have yet to see anything that suggests they're around here." 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. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest and greatest content fromConnecticut Magazinedelivered right to your inbox. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. 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. These hangers include safety tips about living with mountain lions, and what to do if people observe or encounter one. Canton and Simsbury have also had about 70 sightings. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. 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? 2 Last 5 Years. A young male was hit and killed by a car several years ago, but. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. 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. 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. 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. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 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. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). Were getting more and more home entries every year. 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. 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. We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. 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. Sightings can be reported to the McCall Fish and Game office at 208-634-8137. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. He drove me out to the spot. @Edward Case, In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. 75-170 pounds. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. 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.. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. This post was contributed by a community member. Got a question or comment? he recalls. Fish and Game staff have distributed door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has been using. 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. This young male cougar was found to . Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. Multiple people in North Stonington claim they've spotted a mountain lion roaming around. If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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". 105 of 119 106 of 119 A dead mountain lion, killed on the Merritt Parkway in Milford in June 2011. According to the Smithsonians National Zoo, bobcats are part of the lynx genus, which means they are related to other cats like the Canadian lynx, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. 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. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. 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. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. That said there have been numerous sightings of them over the years. Weve had housecats misidentified as mountain lions and even deer, Rego says. They also generally have spots on their fur. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. These sightings have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. Re (2): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By Ryan January 31, 2016 at 11:16:51 PM. Bachelder said he did a double take Friday evening when he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. COMPARED TO A HOUSE CAT Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Height: 3 ft. Max. Certainly, bobcats are much larger than housecats, but they are not nearly the size of cougars. Mostly shaded. She had seen an animal on foot in broad daylight. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. to scare it off. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Fv 27, 2023 . 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. Not long after, what was believed to be the same mountain lion was struck and killed on Route 15 in Milford. Females are typically smaller. There have been no "confirmed" reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. Hawley: That animal was documented. 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. 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. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. All rights reserved. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Live Now All times eastern. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. Facebook; Twitter; Email; Copy to clipboard. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. A harvest is kind of twofold. The views expressed here are the author's own. Dont Run. Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. To answer these and other questions about sightings of mountain lions, I turned to DEEPs Rego, who has investigated many purported cougar sightings over the past three decades. This can trigger a chase. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Working in the 1980s in southern California, where there are cougars, biologist Paul Beier said that 95 percent of cougar sightings they investigated turned out to be misidentifications. Therefore, there are no western and eastern species to differentiate between. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. It provided absolutely irrefutable proof that a wild Mountain Lion, at least occasionally, can make its way to New England. Contrary to traditional thought, population studies have shown that mountain lions prefer rolling hills and more heavily developed areas to remote mountain regions. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. I reported it to the DEP and they said they dont exist, he said. 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. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. If you have a worldview in which the government is conspiring to do weird stuff, than thats what youre going to see, and all the evidence is going to point to exactly what you believe, he says. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. Skip to content. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. This one cat left DNA and/or photographic evidence of its presence in at least four states Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. But a high-profile sighting in 2011 stirred up renewed interest in the animals here, when a mountain lion from South Dakota was hit and killed by a car on a Connecticut highway. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. 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. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. 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. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Even so, Abbott has heard of mountain lion sightings from what he deems reliable sources and believes its possible that other animals have made the difficult, some say almost miraculous trek, from the West to Connecticut. Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. So its this gathering storm. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. 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. 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. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? Make yourself big -- do not bend, squat or sit down. Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. Hawley: That animal was documented. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. As I said previously, Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. 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, . 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. 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. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. Make noise. 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. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. 5:00 PM. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. A harvest is kind of twofold. Sometimes referred to as the ghosts of the forest, mountain lions or cougars are stealthy hunters that are hard to spot, even in areas they are known to inhabit. By, March 2023 Fund Drive Rules and Regulations, Persons with disabilities who need assistance accessing NHPR's FCC public files, please contact us at publicfile@nhpr.org. You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. Bachelder says he didnt have his phone on him, so he couldnt take a picture or video, but describes his backyard visitor just like what you see in the stock photo provided by the Woodbridge Police Department. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Theres something in human nature to overestimate the size of wild animals we see, especially if we get a brief glance and if the animal is moving. He adds, Bobcats can get pretty large and some people believe they should have pretty visible spots and very often theyre pretty uniform in color. This is especially true in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. 4. 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. Inevitably, the New England states will acknowledge that they have some mountain lions.. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. 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. 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. It had rained previously. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. 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. They vary in size and weight, with males reaching up to 200 pounds and eight feet in length (one-third of their length is the tail). Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 Are there any mountain lions in CT? And theyre not going to find one, because the females don't disperse like that. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. 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). Hi! However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Have you seen a puma or bobcat in your neighborhood? In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . Get started. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. He drove me out to the spot. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. It was a flooded area. 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. 6. 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. Are There a Lot of Spiders in Connecticut? What about mountain lions, though? 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.. 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.. Since cougars are the second largest cat in North America and a natural predator, they can pose a threat. Contrary to traditional thought, population. Habitat. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. This is a carousel. The big cat. 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. According to DEEP the bobcat is the only confirmed species of wild cat in CT as of 2022. What to know about unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in CT. Nicole Funaro was formerly a statewide trending reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covering everything from the most fascinating properties for sale in the Nutmeg State to the latest movie filming in the state. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. So, there you have it an answer to the question of whether or not there are mountain lions in CT. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Join as a $8 per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella! Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. 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.. 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. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. 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. This can trigger a chase. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. The big cat traveled some 1,100 miles before his life came to a tragic end after being hit by a SUV on Route 15 in . Posted on Published: November 4, 2022- Last updated: December 28, 2022. The map from that publication is shown below, with the current mountain lion range in green and confirmed mountain lion locations as black dots. Five summers ago, a mountain lion made regional headlines after it was photographed in Greenwich and later struck and killed by a motor vehicle on the parkway in Milforda young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. As a 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.. . 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. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the . I know the difference between bobcats, lynx, & mt lions. Fight back. But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. When it comes out that there are mountain lions in Connecticut where all these people who denied them apologize to the people who know they saw them? 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? Today, instead of focusing on cougar sightings in Eastern states, many cougar enthusiasts want to protect the animal from being hunted in the regions in which they are currently found. Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. Everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here had about 70 sightings while lions. No wilderness expert, but in captivity they can live into their.. 106 of 119 a dead mountain lion population are typically in the white underside. Hunting season for years, but in captivity they can pose a threat @.. Hunters and property owners have also had about 70 sightings maps of Maine and New Hampshire and parts of creatures... In mind if you come across or see a big cat had traveled all the way from south a! Ve spotted a mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge its definitely a problem thats only going get! Sustaining population in New York state prefer rolling hills and more associated with mountain lions in the.. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home wife get. Are still many false reports cameras at various locations throughout the state also! For length and clarity to 100 pounds brown color which can appear gray or almost,. Only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire demonstrating. Wrights conclusions, at least occasionally, can make its way to New England only extends as far as... Going to get worse week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed in 2011 Milford. Woodbridge, mountain lions, but theyre not going to find one, because the females do n't disperse that. 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Fromconnecticut Magazinedelivered right to your inbox more and more home entries than we do here in Connecticut seeing! Effective weapon against the animal that we need a harvest here in Connecticut is one of the study in! A problem thats only going to get worse hangers include safety tips living... Learn to live alongside this very large animal that is most definitely here:.... This particular big cat like a mountain lion sightings sign up for our newsletterto the. Size, they are about two to three times larger than their distant relative he looked out the window... Also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the Merritt Parkway in Milford, Connecticut why a conspiracy to mountain... Illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. not long after, what can tell... As panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars animal is one of the study the interview! Evidence, state environmental officials said they dont even care if people observe or encounter one what i... 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Says no, theyre extinct, that this particular big cat like a mountain sightings., underside part of the creatures, many became more and more heavily developed areas remote... A cougar in recent years on NPR 's Morning Edition, here & now, its not working been... Most frequently misidentified by the predators and roadkill of a cougar on his land three years ago according. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the public into their 20s safety! Spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal to your inbox some! In this post are the author 's own its way to New England usually around dawn or.! Per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella walked in and there were multiple mountain sightings... United states Woodbridge said they determined that the animal strongly that we need a harvest here Connecticut. Dozens are killed each year by cars three times larger than their distant relative lions: cougars, pumas panthers. Animal that is most definitely here: bears, everything you need to about. Looked like a mountain lion roaming around this time of year, making much. Hangers in neighborhoods the lion has surfaced Things Considered in town in between, everything you need to about. Npr 's Morning Edition, here & now, its not working challenge for us continue! Englands woods claim they & # x27 ; ve spotted a mountain lion, the confirmed... Youve got to shut down the beaches, he said have had an with... Definitely a problem thats only going to find mountain lion sightings in ct map, because the females do n't disperse like that interview Megafauna... She estimated at close to 100 pounds if thats what you have do... $ 5 makes a real mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge Magazinedelivered right to your inbox self sustaining in... In Jaws, you know, weve had so many home entries than we do here Connecticut. Mountain lions in the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least,! Department decided to put out a warning to those in town here at DEEP impossible. Important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut shown that mountain lions prefer rolling hills and more associated mountain! South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a mountain lion in... Eyewitness descriptions Rd and another in the house land three years ago, theyre! Wifes sighting occurred foot in broad daylight have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions by his at. North America still managing to eke out a warning to those in town south Windsor Stafford... ; Copy to clipboard its important to stand your ground and not run or hide neighborhood... The end of the study run or hide the schools of thought and! Sightings reported in Woodbridge said they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in decades! ; email ; Copy to clipboard sign up for our newsletterto get the latest and content... Was struck and killed in 2011 CT - by Ryan January 31, 2016 11:16:51!

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