A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. COMPARED TO A HOUSE CAT Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on. Hawley: Yeah. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. 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. 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. Collection. Give today. My buddy told me he saw one in our hometown (in litchfield county) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit. 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. There are mountain lions in connecticut. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. It had rained previously. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. 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. This is a carousel. Hes even had his own false sighting. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry. 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. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. This post was contributed by a community member. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. 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. 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. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. 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. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Its extremely rare for a person to see a wild animal and to underestimate its size. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Hey, I know what I saw. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. Skip to content. Mountain lions have been dispersing away from these population areas, and researchers recently mapped all confirmed mountain lion observations from 1990-2008 (LaRue et al. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. 2 Last 5 Years. Betty recommended that anyone who encounters a cougar should make themselves large, raise their hands and yell. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. Put your arms over your head with a jacket or sweatshirt. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. Slowly, mountain lions recolonized North America after having retreated to warmer climates in South America during the Pleistocene ice age. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. 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. He drove me out to the spot. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cats Walk Across America by William Stolzenburg. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . Were getting more and more home entries every year. 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.. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Anyone can get fooled. Native: Yes. The views expressed here are the author's own. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Betty said that, according to officials, it's thought that there has been no reproducing, native population in the state since the 1920s. Connecticut Dept. These hangers include safety tips about living with mountain lions, and what to do if people observe or encounter one. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. '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, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Kitchen Remodeling Companies in CT, The Best Bathroom Remodeling Companies in CT, recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, Video of fatal police shooting of CT man will not be released yet, Cannabis activists want more CT criminal cases dropped, expunged, CT DOT faces criticism following overnight tree-cutting, Haar: $1M in payouts approved, and CT still has a garbage crisis. 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. 75-170 pounds. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. 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? Register for a user account. 105 of 119 106 of 119 A dead mountain lion, killed on the Merritt Parkway in Milford in June 2011. 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. 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. About 80 people gathered at Tolland High School Thursday night to take in a mountain lion lecture sponsored byConserving Tolland. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** This young adult, male Mountain Lion was struck and killed by a SUV in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2012. "I was hoping for tracks after the rain, but the area was not conducive for it," Halm said. I enjoy exploring CT and reporting back to my readers about fun things to do in Connecticut. Habitat. 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. 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. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. 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. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. 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.. 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. 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? 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. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. Seeing a wild cat can be both frightening and exciting, and its common for people to make mistakes in identification, as all most people are used to seeing is the common housecat. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. Re (3): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By weather01089 February 1, 2016 at 04:55:52 PM. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection receives 50-100 reports of mountain lions each year, says Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the department. Well also go over what types of wild cats can be found in Connecticut. 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. One on Salem Rd and another in. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. TPWD Confirmed Mountain Lions. They are very bold. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. 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.. The upper mile is pretty overgrown in a pretty way. We have had five coyotes crossing through our yard in the past few weeks, and one even lingers around our property and the neighbors. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. 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. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. It was a flooded area. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Mountain Lions can be found in Orange County throughout the Santa Ana Mountain Range down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. . 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. Here are the Winter Storm Anthony snowfall totals so far, Melting Pot restaurant in Darien closes down. Get started. 1 Last 365 Days. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. "We have yet to see anything that suggests they're around here." 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. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. He drove me out to the spot. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. 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). We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Hey, I know what I saw. According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. 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. Weight: 160 lbs. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. 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