That mountain lion was hit by a car and killed on the Merritt Parkway in Milford, CT. After the incident, Connecticut environmental officials were able to determine that the 140-pound cat had . 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. 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. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. 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. 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.. 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? Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. 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. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. of Energy & Environmental Protection. 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. Since then, theyve diverted over an acre of hardwood flooring, roughly 570 kitchen cabinets, and 500 windows from landfills. 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. Only Ignorance would believe that something that once know to be - no longer is Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it is not there. Connecticut Dept. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. where the last confirmed kill was in 1885. And there are different schools of thought about that. I live in Hamden Connecticut and I have had mountain lions, black bears, Skunk's, dear, coyotes, fox. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. Theres also the lack of visual evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. 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. And even the home entries are kind of changing. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS MAN SITTING IN COLORADO HOT TUB After a few moments of the deer trying to maneuver out of the chokehold, it managed to free itself from the claws of the mountain lion.. According to Hawley, if mountain lions were present in the state, there would be evidence and not just unconfirmed sightings. A harvest is kind of twofold. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. 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. 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). Of course. Having spent much time outdoors hunting deer . And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. The Connecticut mountain lion left tracks, scat, fur and game camera photos in four states. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. ago. Woodbridge police provided this photo of a mountain lion, after several reported sightings in the area. In Connecticut, some folks in Sharon say they have seen mountain lions. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. They investigate hundreds of mountain lion sightings every year without finding physical evidence of their presence. 17), Police investigate death of New London High School student, Long Wharf Theatre to present Live from the Edge in Hamden, Torrington students to stage 'The Sponge Bob Musical' in May, 'American Idol' alums Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken to perform in CT, Talcott Mountain Music Festival starts June 30. 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. Hawley: Yeah. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. They also generally have spots on their fur. After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. 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. 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. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Hawley: That animal was documented. 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.. 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. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. I always hold out the possibility of a sighting to be genuine, but at the same time, over decades of experience, we know that the vast majority are misidentifications and a small number are actually hoaxes, he says. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the DEEP, told Connecticut . He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. What we do not have is a secure predator corridor.. of Energy & Environmental Protection. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) Weve got a growing bear population. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. Tim Abbott, the regional land conservation and greenprint director for the Housatonic Valley Association, says that during a lecture on mountain lions last winter at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, when the speaker asked if anyone had seen a mountain lion, half of the roughly 400 people in attendance raised their hands. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. 6. Hawley: Yeah. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Just had one over in Windsor last week. After traveling more than 1,500 miles, the lean, male cat met an untimely end in a collision with an SUV. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it, officials said in a Facebook post. 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. We had a mountain lion go thru my property was about 125 lbs left his paw prints in the mug, which were a bigger than my hand and have pictures of it we also had bobcats come through. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. And there are different schools of thought about that. Weve had coyotes misidentified. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? 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. Robert Tompkins said he saw a mountain lion in Sharon about five years ago. 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. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. She had seen an animal on foot in broad daylight. I strongly suspect what was observed was a bobcat. said Jenny Dickson, director of DEEPs wildlife division. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. As far as the claim that mountain lions live in CT, as we address in the previous section, that has been debunked. According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. 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. Especially, when they do migrate across country. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. So theres fresh mud. Woodbridge police reported that there were a few incidents in the area recently, with one involving a resident reporting they encountered a mountain lion with their family on their lawn. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. 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. 17), Police investigate death of New London High School student, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, CT pit bull that was almost euthanized goes viral, gets adopted. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. Joseph Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, and a conspiracy theory expert, says these types of theories are not uncommon. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. While recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, if someone suspects they encountered a mountain lion, they should not run away, as it might spur a chase. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. 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? Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. The sightings havent been confirmed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and there are no videos or photos. According to DEEP the bobcat is the only confirmed species of wild cat in CT as of 2022. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. 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. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. 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. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. 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. 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. 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. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. These were reported to CT DEEP and though the sightings may not have been confirmed as true mountain Lion sightings, this post is to spread awareness on the issue in case youre presented with such situation. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. The news stunned. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. For over 30 years, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been tracking reported mountain lion sightings. Young pumas dispersing from Western habitats are being killed at the source, compromising the Easts critical opportunity for ecosystem health and the return of an apex carnivore., Regardless of where they are found, or whether people want to hunt or protect them, people are enchanted by mountain lions. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. As I said previously, 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. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. "The state [Connecticut] explains any cougar evidence, such as the recent mountain lion killed in Milford, as an escaped pet [or one that came from the Mid-West]," Mr. Betty said in an e-mail. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. A qualitative assessment of . According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. 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. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. Hi! We're not aware of any more confirmed mountain lion sightings other than the one that was hit by the car many years back. The department has said it receives reports every year of. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Fight back. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. ago. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Copyright 2022 WFSB. MoRRoW187 4 mo. A mountain lion from South Dakota apparently made an epic journey to suburban Connecticut. . Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. It continues in Connecticut, where that South Dakota cat was killed in 2011, and in Massachusetts, despite two credible reports in the past quarter century (in one case, DNA-confirmed scat; in the other, verified tracks). He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off, police said in the post. 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.. Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. 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.. BOSTON (Reuters) - A mountain lion killed on a Connecticut highway in June was a wild animal from South Dakota that prowled more than 1,500 miles eastward before meeting his death 70 miles. Are there any mountain lions in CT? 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.. Anyone can get fooled. The Canada Lynxs geographic territory in New England only extends as far south as northern New Hampshire and parts of Maine, though. . 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. Weve got a growing bear population. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. 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. 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. 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