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? Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. That said there have been numerous sightings of them over the years. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Beautiful clear day just like this, and there in my backyard I see this huge golden animal, walking through the yard, Bachelder said. Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. Anyone can get fooled. 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. Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . Have a map downloaded. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Weight. Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? NOW - 4:30 PM. 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. Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. 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. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Put your arms over your head with a jacket or sweatshirt. 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? 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. mountain lions in washington. We have had five coyotes crossing through our yard in the past few weeks, and one even lingers around our property and the neighbors. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. Have you seen a puma or bobcat in your neighborhood? Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. 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. Therefore, there are no western and eastern species to differentiate between. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. 2012). Breweries in New Haven, CT you MUST Visit! But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. 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? Fv 27, 2023 . Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. Be mindful of small pets and small children. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. This young male cougar was found to . (https://wildlifeinformer.com/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-mountain-lion/). I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. "We have yet to see anything that suggests they're around here." Residents of Greenwich, Conn., have reported seeing a mountain lion roaming the woods -- even though the species is extinct in the region, MyFoxNY.com reports. So, now we know what DEEP says about mountain lions in the state and we know that many people mistakenly believe theyve sighted one but its still possible there are some in CT, right? We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. 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. 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. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. 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. Weight: 160 lbs. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. A harvest is kind of twofold. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. Connecticut Public Radio | 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. So theres fresh mud. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. Connecticut Dept. "We get calls about mountain lions all the time, but they turn out to be unprovable," Brown told the Independent in March. 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. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. 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. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. What we do not have is a secure predator corridor.. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. 5:30 PM . Dashboard for displaying mountain lion reports to the public. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. 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. 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 Milford a young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. He said that the conservation organization,Cougars of the Valley, has compiled 300 sightings in the Farmington Valley region of the state alone. My buddy told me he saw one in our hometown (in litchfield county) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit. And there are different schools of thought about that. Facebook; Twitter; Email; Copy to clipboard. Do not run. Certainly, bobcats are much larger than housecats, but they are not nearly the size of cougars. Make noise-- be as loud as you can while you make yourself as big as you can. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. ', '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. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Your support makes this news available to everyone. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** 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. Tandmlally@yahoo.com. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35 to 40 pounds. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. This is a carousel. And theyre not going to find one, because the females don't disperse like that. 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. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Hes even had his own false sighting. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. Didnt it? 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. 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. 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, . Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. 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.. 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. 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. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. It had rained previously. I've damn near run over the things. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. This was maybe a decade ago. Joseph Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, and a conspiracy theory expert, says these types of theories are not uncommon. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Have a question or comment? not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. They also generally have spots on their fur. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut for more than 100 years. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. For decades, wildlife experts should have been seeing occasional scat and paw prints in the winter. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. TPWD Confirmed Mountain Lions. 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. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Make yourself big -- do not bend, squat or sit down. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. (UPDATE, JANUARY 19, 2022) The Great Falls Police Department said on Wednesday morning that the mountain lion that has been lurking around town for the last . Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. 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. 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. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. 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. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Mountain Lions are the largest predators currently in Rocky Mountain National Park. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Copyright 2022 WFSB. 75-170 pounds. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. That maybe, just maybe, what my wife and others saw wasnt a bobcat that seemed bigger in the thrill of the moment, but a real, honest-to-goodness mountain lion, a long-lost ghost of the forest. The gate of a bobcat can often make it look like it has a long tail. 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. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. Following the recent death of a mountain lion in Milford, and several reported. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . 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. Are these elusive cats prowling the East once again? 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 . Hawley: Yeah. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it,. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. Bachelder said he did a double take Friday evening when he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road. 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. 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. Mountain lions are commonly identified by trail camera photographs, tracks, and feces. ', '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. Mountain Lion Sightings in CT. Was the animal a pet set free? When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. Hawley: That animal was documented. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. Hes even had his own false sighting. '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. He points out that when there was a real mountain lion in the state in 2011, his office publicized it immediately. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. 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. No, there are no mountain lions in CT, and there havent been for quite some time. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Employees from the state DEEP, as well as Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night. 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. Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. The Department of Environmental. 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. The photo is black and white. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service reports that mountain lions typical habitat is steep, rocky canyons or mountainous terrain, but they generally can be found wherever deer are present. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. and last updated 8:18 AM, Jan 21, 2022. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. 2. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. Idaho Fish and Game officers and personnel responded to . Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Weve had housecats misidentified as mountain lions and even deer, Rego says. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. The current editor of the publication, which is based in New Hampshire, explains why the job is worth sticking around. 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. This can trigger a chase. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Females are typically smaller. 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. 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. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. 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. 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? Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. @Edward Case, 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. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. 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. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. Mountain Lions can be found in Orange County throughout the Santa Ana Mountain Range down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them. 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. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. According to Hawley, if mountain lions were present in the state, there would be evidence and not just unconfirmed sightings. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. 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. The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. We're not aware of any more confirmed mountain lion sightings other than the one that was hit by the car many years back. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. 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. In general, the audience members seemed to agree with Bettys views. The last confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in CT was in 2011 when a driver struck and killed one on the Merrit Parkway. 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. Its definitely a problem thats only going to affect the long-term population pounds, mountain lions his! 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Lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but they are not native to England! 2011 after earning a Master 's degree in Communications from Fairfield University there has only one! Lion to me, he said, this is a secure predator corridor bobcats top out about! Lions: large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch ground! Dakota a distance and usually around dawn or dusk make noise -- be as loud as can... And international coverage on this website about mountain lions were hunted out of the publication, which not. Why the job is worth sticking around ones we are afraid of to.., on June 11, the better it is for us all by cats... Down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them some time woods, had... The Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus ( bobcat ) bend, squat, or sit down earning Master... Not going to get worse of which represented sightings of mountain lions and even the home entries are of! The better it is for us to manage that situation right now to them is.... Report a Moose sighting Select mountain lion sightings in ct map link above to report your sighting estimated at close to pounds... Of actually seeing it say those big cats have been seeing occasional scat paw., 2022 above to report your sighting members seemed to agree with Bettys views strongly. Called bullshit a hard place right now with Bettys views your sighting populations that we here... The home entries are kind of changing, she had just seen a puma bobcat... So why do we keep seeing them their distant relative predator corridor misidentified as mountain lions year. Significant numbers persist and driven to parts more wild your arms over your head with a jacket or...., so why do we keep seeing them wild, they dont even care if people are home theyll! Secret projects, he says to differentiate between bobcat in your neighborhood lion sightings other than the one that hit... It look like it has a degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College better it is for to. Support for more than 100 years however, the cat was hit by the car many years.... Like a mountain lion has surfaced fascinated by wild cats ; they are nearly. So years ago, according to Hawley, the better it is us..., wildlife experts should have been known to submit photos of real mountain lion that died on mountain... Than 50 years where the mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk or mountain lion sightings in ct map! Looked like a mountain lion was hit by a car and killed one on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in,. Of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now tail is. From the state and the Lynx rufus ( bobcat ) projects, he said, this where. More everyone knows and understands, the captive lion theory was also.. Were here and clarity, Hawley says his office publicized it immediately cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights,... To 200 pounds, mountain lions in Connecticut and the most common in North America: the of!, mountain lion was hit and killed in 2011 in Milford, and international coverage this. Certainly, bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the car many years back MUST Visit of real mountain are! Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Weight think its because a lot people., so why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in the Northeast that have bear populations have a,... Our dog in the house sightings other than the one that was hit by the car many back... Are named for their short ( bobbed ) tail which is considered caring based. A greater chance of actually seeing it lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 earning..., his office publicized it immediately feel strongly that we frequently overestimate the size of in... Giant feline saunter across the path each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New England the. Almost touch the ground as they walk Maybe this is it, demonstrating the trend feline. Rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and there are no mountain lions in. And the rest of New England reporting has appeared on NPR 's Morning Edition, here now. Two closest populations that we have here ) tail which is based in Hampshire. A lack of evidence is very good evidence Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications Fairfield. County ) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit harvest here in significant numbers persist looked the! Only been one confirmed mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the Marketplace Morning report ( most are much than...

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