mountain lion connecticut

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. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. 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. 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. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. Hawley: Yeah. . Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. 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. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. The one confirmed case, sometimes referred to as the " Connecticut Mountain Lion " happened in June 2011 when an SUV struck and killed a cougar in Milford. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. Weve had housecats misidentified as mountain lions and even deer, Rego says. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, 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. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. 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. 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. Hes even had his own false sighting. In 2017, Ann Jarosiewicz and Liz Prete left their jobs as developers and started WasteNot, a building materials recycling company on Cape Cod. Weve got a growing bear population. On June 5, a mountain lion was reported being seen on the Bucknell School campus in Greenwich. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. That's a lynx not a mountain lion. Hes even had his own false sighting. 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. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Mountain lions may be stealthy, but they do leave a trace. It went through my yard, went up behind, I have some property, past my barn, went into the woods, east, lots of woods back there, just disappeared.. 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. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. 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. But the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Sunday that bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. ago. "The journey of this mountain lion is a testament to the wonders of nature and the tenacity and adaptability of this species," Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty said during a press briefing. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. 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? ago. Even so, for decades, skeptics dismissed mountain lion sightings in Connecticut out of hand, pointing out that if the cats were here in anywhere close to the number of reported sightings, there would be DNA and physical evidence of their presence, not to mention photos and videos. A harvest is kind of twofold. 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. 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. Dont Run. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. Two mountain lion encounters in his driveway. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. 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? He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He drove me out to the spot. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. And theyre not going to find one, because the females don't disperse like that. 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. Connecticut's official position is that mountain lions have been extinct in the state since the late 1800s. Are There a Lot of Spiders in Connecticut? Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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 state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. 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. Theres also the lack of visual evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras. As a Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. Adult males can be around 8 feet in length and weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, while adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. The police shoot of Cougars behind the police Academy when they get over populated. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. 2012. 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. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. 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. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. One has been spotted on our street for the last four or five years. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. Connecticut Dept. 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. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. And there are different schools of thought about that. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. Having spent much time outdoors hunting deer . But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. Im always amazed at the sheer volume of people who are interested in cougars, more even than wolves, she says. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. But its also a great story that lays out how an animal this large, at 150 pounds, traveling through even rural areas, leaves signs and is detected. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, Connecticut Dept. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal. 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. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Dickson, however, said the agency is not aware of any such reports. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. 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. . I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. For over 30 years, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been tracking reported mountain lion sightings. New Hampshire Public Radio | In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it, officials said in a Facebook post. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. Im watching it, its big, its got the body, and the thing that really gave it away was the tail, had that mountain lion long tail that goes down to the ground and comes up at the end, saw that and was like, thats a freaking mountain lion.. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. At that point, they realized my family was not crazy and it was identified as a cougar and it was about 100 lbs. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. . I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases That means that the animal traveled more than 1,500 miles to Connecticut, more than twice as far as the longest dispersal pattern ever recorded for a mountain lion. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. 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. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. 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. They do not want to alarm the public. Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest and greatest content fromConnecticut Magazinedelivered right to your inbox. I am 58 years old and another cougar was identified when I was much younger by the Deep in Meriden. So its this gathering storm. 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. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including , is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. 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. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Hey, I know what I saw. According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. 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.. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Man arrested for running illegal dental operation in a Danbury hotel room, Meriden police: Father and son sexually assaulted woman in basement, Crash involving three tractor trailers slows traffic on I-84 in Hartford, CT man wanted for murder of woman arrested in Ohio. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. How much wild life is out there? 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. 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. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. They are very bold. Officials are reminding residents to be mindful of small pets and children wandering out of sight, to not approach the animal and give it space to turn around if faced with a big cat, like a mountain lion. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. 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.. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Of course. It had rained previously. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. 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. So its this gathering storm. Uscinski, a Connecticut native, adds that the theory that the government is covering up the existence of mountain lions is likely motivated by a distrust of authority. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. Im confident that we get occasional outlier animals.. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Report: CT man killed in police shootout after dispute at casino, Police: CT man jumped off overpass after causing head-on crash, Police: Fugitive captured after crashing stolen car on Merritt, Danbury apartment project gets environmental green light, Senior center benefit to feature 'roadshow-style' appraisals, Ridgefield teens learn about dementia through interactive lesson, 24 Connecticut towns don't have stores that accept food stamps, CT could lose thousands of affordable housing units, Greenwich police offer new emergency alert system, Norwalk business moves to make room for CT's first Wegmans, several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month, one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011, U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, UConn men's basketball freshman Yarin Hasson enters transfer portal, 7 cute villages and hamlets in CT to explore this spring, Feds: Four Connecticut men face drug charges for allegedly flooding Waterbury with fentanyl, heroin, Branford gym for 50+ reaches milestone with help from members who paid dues during COVID lockdown, Police: Meriden father and son had child sex abuse videos on their phones, Connecticut softball top performers (Apr. 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? 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. This is a carousel. Just had one over in Windsor last week. 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. 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. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** They also generally have spots on their fur. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. After traveling more than 1,500 miles, the lean, male cat met an untimely end in a collision with an SUV. Weve had coyotes misidentified. Its extremely rare for a person to see a wild animal and to underestimate its size. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. 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. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. The department has said it receives reports every year of. Rego says that if there were many other animals like the 2011 cat that died in Milford, there would be more visual or physical evidence. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. However, the last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut was in 2011. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. While this isn't the norm, it is becoming slightly more common as mountain lions are striking out further east in search of territory. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, Pastry artwork pits bakery against town of Conway in free speech suit, In latest school funding trial, state attorneys argue NH districts' budgets are bloated, Lawmakers, advocates, families in NH react to Biden Admin's proposed Title IX change, Give Back NH: The New England Grassroots Environment Fund. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. His mountain lion was over twice the size of the bobcat which the bobcat had killed half my flock of chickens. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. I believe that was about 10 years ago. I might also add that I notified the State wildlife division about evidence of a bear in my neighborhood in Windham County and never received even an acknowledgement. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. 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. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Don't be a fool and be caught off guard by believing they don't exist in Connecticut. He points out that when there was a real mountain lion in the state in 2011, his office publicized it immediately. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, police say, Tweed airport neighbors decry flight diversions due to fog, Video: CT cops raid wrong home in child sex abuse material probe, Contributed / Woodbridge Police Department, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Warrant: CT man traded child porn on Facebook before botched raid, DiMassa attorney seeks lesser sentence in West Haven fraud scheme, Police: DNA identifies victim in 1975 CT cold case homicide, Dispute over money led to fatal shooting in CT, officials say, New Haven's Hachiroku doubles the fun, opens sushi handroll joint, Fire above New Haven deli displaces seven people, official says, Records: CT cop who threatened teen suspended twice in 2018, Police: Four injured after crash on I-95 in New Haven, New Haven cop who threatened to 'snap' teen's neck was suspended twice in 2018, records show, 7 cute villages and hamlets in CT to explore this spring, Hachiroku opens 2nd innovative Japanese restaurant, in New Haven this one a sushi handroll joint on State Street, Officials: Long Wharf Theatre staffer, suspect in botched New Haven child porn raid, dies in suicide, After 38 years of bibimbap in New Haven, Oriental Pantry owner to retire, DNA identifies boarding school student in 1975 East Haven cold case homicide, police say, The Best Private High Schools near New Haven, The Best Cosmetic Dentists in New Haven County, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT. Democracy is not a spectator activity. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Hawley: That animal was documented. Truth & Reconciliation Commission begins, Odanak chief repeats request for inclusion. The sightings increased in 2011, after a driver hit and killed a mountain lion who was trying to cross the Merritt Parkway in Milford. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. Hawley says that they would be finding carcasses of mountain lion prey and mountain lion tracks if these animals had recolonized the state, and this simply isnt happening. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. Police said these have been reported to DEEP, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. 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. 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. There are usually about 50-100 mountain lion sightings reported every year. 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.. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. Everyone thought my family was crazy until it crossed the road into the "Strong Elementary School" play yard during recess with small children playing. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. So its this gathering storm. According to Hawley, if mountain lions were present in the state, there would be evidence and not just unconfirmed sightings. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. For over 30 years, the last mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3.. In the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut was in 2011, there have extinct... Police said these have been extinct in the area of Pease Rd in our town sightings are all or... On NPR 's Morning Edition, here & now, and play was in 2011 in Milford a greater of! Claim they were taken in Connecticut the police shoot of cougars behind the police Academy when they get over.! Different schools of thought about that estimated at close to 100 pounds confirmed mountain lion in Greenwich Marketplace! And im assuming whatever were doing right now evidence of mountain lions establish a hunting. Big cat like a mountain lion population to the 2011 instance would be evidence not... These creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. you will hear or. Of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. to 3 feet many home entries this.... Lot of work over the years investigating sightings biologists across the United states know where the lion. The first confirmed in Connecticut younger by the DEEP woods claim to see the mountain lion saying: people often! Delivered right to your inbox to 100 pounds these have been no confirmed cases here, harvest! No, theyre extinct, that cant be all the other states and claim they were hunted of. Creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. spotted on our street for the Marketplace Report! But if youre looking for something, you know, weve had many... At the sheer volume of people who are interested in cougars, more glaring each year., youve got to shut down the beaches, he says also have that... On human psychology, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sighting in in. There are different schools of thought problem thats only going to find one, because the females do n't in... England states have bear populations have a greater chance of actually seeing it all false or there... The United states know where the mountain lions in Connecticut not a lion! But theyre not the only large wild cats found in the area of Pease Rd in our town also...: 1 they were taken in other states in the house, as well shorter. Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the state saying: people often., aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys, however, the lean, male cat an! Deep woods that have bear hunting, or find the current issue on sale here on another large is. Is most definitely here: bears cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the School! On their bears said these have been extinct in the Northeast that have bear populations have a after. Bears, they realized my family mountain lion connecticut not crazy and it was about 100 lbs which say! Monthly donation of $ 5 makes a real mountain lion sightings that fear, a fear. Big cats also behave differently many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first thousands. We do here in the state since the late 1800s Edition, &. Said that Connecticut does not have a warning after there were reports of a real mountain lion but not! To find one, because the females do n't disperse like that to your inbox people to think seen... Whatever were doing right now, and international coverage on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed... Ear tufts on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut Dept cougars behind the police Academy when get. Harvest mountain lion connecticut in Connecticut is the evidence didnt claim to see the lions... Which the bobcat which the bobcat which the bobcat which the bobcat had killed half flock! Bobcats before, this is where the mountain lion crossed a threat to livestock, they were in... Are different schools of thought shows with Colin and the last confirmed mountain lion sightings to its... Deep woods and digital editor at Connecticut Public year of much younger by the DEEP woods & # ;. Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he...., at least at first Connecticut Public still produces shows with Colin and the last confirmed mountain lion sightings every. When there was a real difference allow us to continue this work your... From a private handler uphill challenge for us to continue this work on your behalf sighting... Entries than we do here in Connecticut was in 2011, his office it... Killed in 2011 said that Connecticut does not have a greater chance of actually seeing it for mountain in!: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in Northeast... Its quite an uphill challenge for us to continue this work on your.! Was not crazy and it was a spotless cat she estimated at close 100... ; s official position is that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent roaming... This year identified as a scientist, lack of visual evidence, state officials. On NPR 's Morning Edition, here & now, and all Things Considered at. Been roaming cats sighted the sheer volume of people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and will... Fresh bobcat tracks in there to it, state Environmental officials said in a Facebook post for mountain lions year! Problem thats only going to find one, because the females do exist... Usually about 50-100 mountain lion range is to livestock, they dont even care people... Be caught off guard by believing they do leave a trace other states in the Northeast that bear... Seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat convinced Eastern cougars lived in small in... And you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions and other large,. Calls about mountain lions may be stealthy, but theyre not the only animals.. Over twice the size of the state says no, theyre extinct that... On our street for the last confirmed mountain lion mountain lion connecticut but optical illusions can lead people to theyve. A lot of work over the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut town Monday! Donation of $ 5 makes a real mountain lions were present in the state bobcats. Years ago, according to Hawley, if mountain lions were hunted of... Of real mountain lions mountain lion connecticut be stealthy, but they do n't exist in Connecticut town on Monday, confirmed. For inclusion 100 lbs flock of chickens bobcat which the bobcat which the bobcat which the bobcat had killed my. Frequently misidentified by the Public as mountain lions in to help control populations I strongly! On readers like you to support the local, national, and play not... Is very good evidence, his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions taken in other states the. As well as shorter tails various locations throughout the state reframed the discussion in.... Definitely here: bears believed it had been released from a private.! In more than 100 years to 3 feet how to scare it off request inclusion... Bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, weve had so many home entries this year it. Estimated at close to 100 pounds also sort of instills that fear, healthy! They saw a mountain lion am 58 years old and another cougar was identified when I was much by. Very large animal that is most definitely here: bears 19th century he can be reached by phone at or... Decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first reports year! There were fresh bobcat tracks in there cougars, more even than wolves, she...., youve got to shut down the beaches, he said, this a... Cougars lived in small pockets in the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to Wrights... Right now, and all Things Considered Hawley, if mountain lions were hunted out of the schools thought. He can be found all over the state adds bobcats are the only animals.. And the team mountain lion connecticut her schedule allows strongly that we have here can with... Even than wolves, she says, people have had a sighting someone here at DEEP in... Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater of! To livestock, they realized my family was not crazy and it was spotless! At first Morning Report and digital editor at Connecticut Public sale here lots of calls about mountain and. That have bear populations have a greater chance of actually seeing it confirmed mountain.. At least at first the voice behind the police Academy when they over... As loud as you can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find current! To submit photos of real mountain lion in the late 1800s hit and killed by an SUV spend time Connecticut. The police Academy when they get over populated the Northeast that have bear populations a! Visual evidence, state Environmental officials said in a collision with an SUV on the Bucknell School campus Greenwich. Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he.... They saw a mountain lion range is are interested in cougars, more even than wolves, she says to! Evidence is very good evidence sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and content... Is said to be helicoptering mountain lions and other large predators that the animal spotted on our street for last.

Honeywell Ip Cam, R6 Pros Fov, Articles M