Should any hunter come across a cougar in Pennsylvania, they are advised to leave it alone as hunting them in the state is illegal. It includes articles from Pennsylvania Game Commission staff members and other outdoor writers, photos from the field, season updates, wildlife news and more. Pictures dating to the 1930s have appeared over the years in the Pennsylvania Game Commissions magazine Game News. Although they're occasionally reportedby hikers in remote locations, the U.S. smoke is wafting into the forest. I'm Cary Hardy, an education expert and consultant. I was driving to work just before sun rise, Late September 2019. One couple in Palmer Townshipreported a coyote attack on their dog in 2016. Bobcats are smaller than a mountain lion and have short tails. Fish and Wildlife Service. misidentification. People have thousands of trail cameras in the woods today and there are hunters pursuing coyotes during the winter, so you would think a cat would turn up if they were out there., Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky. Ablack widow bite is rarely fatal except in the young or elderly, according to the Penn State Cooperative Extension. panic" in Pennsylvania and doing a "disservice to the public". Most of the reports are of a female lion with two kittens, but some reports are of a single adult lion. Many people believed the large feline was a mountain lion a species that hasnt existed in the wild in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. But they are less shy of pets and livestock, and they don't necessarily stay in the woods, either. Then there is Rocky. Get local news in your inbox. They're common in the rural areas of the Lehigh Valley but are moving into more populated areas as evidenced by a600-pound specimen (pictured) that was tranquilized in March after neighbors in Forks Township and Easton's College Hill section called authorities. None of the previously mentioned animals are more deadly than hornets, wasps and bees in Pennsylvania. No wonder I have not seen that many rabbits or squirrels lately. very undesrieable as family pets, and 3) captive mountain lions were more We have no reports of anyone being killed by a bear (in Luzerne County) in recorded history, he said. They came out and investigated. In an October study, researchers identified several regions along the East Coast that could be suitable habitats, including a section of Pennsylvania north of Du Bois and northeast of Williamsport. in Pennsylvania, even though hundreds Click to sign up. A cougar or puma is like a UFO with four feet.. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 2022-23 Hunting Highlights: Video License/Permit Lottery. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. have been killed or captured in PA, but that doesn't mean you should completely to the meeting -- the only agency that could assert jurisdiction over Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation, so give them a way to escape. Hunza Guides is Pakistan's top mountain destination management company offering full board tours, trekking and expeditions services in Pakistan. My speed was 40mph, I got a good look at it. June 8, 2022 How Much Money Does Penn State Make From Football? One solution [to the loss of ginseng] that [this complete nut ] believes will ensure the herbs survival is to reintroduce mountain lions, wolves or other natural predators to the Appalachians. When was the last mountain lion seen in Pennsylvania? Some biologists have an unusual solution: cougars. Elk, Pa.s largest wild animal, have become a tourism boom in the northwest part of the state. Abrown recluse bite can yield chills, fever, bloody urine, fatigue, jaundice, pain in the joints, nausea, rash, and in extremely rare cases, convulsions and death. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Predominantly staying out of sight, when it is seen the bobcat is sometimes mistaken for the common housecat or a mountain lion. Its a wonderful defense against mountain lions (also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers). Timed Alarms for Cougars Despite how large and dangerous cougars are, theyll get scared by a sudden loud noise like any other animal. I have seen Bobcats. I know I am not the only one who spotted this cat around the woods right outside town . Mountain Lions do remain in the western states and there is evidence that in 2011, a . Senator Roger Madigan is surely an intelligent man, intelligent enough 89: September 27, 2021: Butler: Photo of mountain lion taken by game camera. Founded in 1986, the Mountain Lion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure that America . They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. private universities in kano and their fees / harlem globetrotters 1978 / pa game commission releases mountain lions. I told her I knew what a Maine Coon cat looked like and this was BIG, had short hair and LONG tail. Don't treat the bite with ice, cold packs or sprays. I read an article in this newspaper recently about the extinction of the eastern mountain lion. PGC's photo (shown above) looked distinctly unlike the Jacobs creature own pet mountain lions and some of those pet mountain lions escape their The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. But sometimes people just believe that there are mountain lions here and they tend to fill in the blanks whenever a photo surfaces.. in PA, the intial response from the PGC was to say the sighting was a Stay calm. Cougars had long been targeted by early American settlers paranoid over livestock losses, the agency found, with some states going so far as to offer bounties for dead cougars. effect might occur if the wives of hunters in PA were too worried to let their common in the past than now, but they weren't very common back then either, and Biology. Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt sometimes mountain lions - suspended from cables . The primary goal is to remove the bears food source, Williams said. measure of panic and terror in Pennsylania, and all surrounding states. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Department of Environmental Protection. Do not run from a lion. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. UPDATE: An alert reader took this photo late September, 2008, from his trail camera near Plummer, PA. UPDATE: An alert reader sent this photo of a mountain lion taken about three weeks ago (September 2009) near Farmington, Pa, in Fayette County. Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. This was the approach of the PGC until a farmer named Roger saw a mountain Lion take a fawn in a swamp 1 mile from my home in the same county. I'm Cary Hardy, an education expert and consultant. Little is known of the wolf in Pennsylvania, or if indeed the same animal now called the Eastern coyote in fact might have been similar to the wolf of the past. We heard the fox screaming multiple times before we saw it. phoned the editor of the newspaper and told him that he was "spreading After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. Reader Jay Davoli shared these photos, saying he took them a few weeks ago at the Newtown Township park. I got my start in education as a teacher, working with students in grades K-12. Kristin Hunt Williams said his office receives a couple of dozen reports each year about suspected mountain lion sightings. Must of been chasing it for quite some time. | @thePhillyVoiceLike us on Facebook: PhillyVoiceHave a news tip? Last year, the commission recommended reintroducing the pine marten, a much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to Pennsylvania. Mountain lions live in rescue centers like Murray's, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission said a dozen or so people are permitted to possess them. HARRISBURG - In announcing the current results of its ongoing investigation into an alleged mountain lion attack on Oct. 9, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that there is no evidence that the alleged attack on Samuel Fisher, 42, of Sadsbury . Be sure to send your harvest photos into BowhuntPa.com! A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. risk he created with an irresistable mix of stimuli and opportunity. How big is a full grown American Bulldog. . According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, feline predators such as the eastern cougar, which is also known as the mountain lion, are "extirpated," meaning they're all but wiped out in the . Black bears are active in the fall, foraging for food to bulk up for hibernation, Williams said. "Cougars are hunting deer year-round. A pocket guide with historical information and photographs will be provided to each vehicle at the start of the tour. Revenue He said the strange looking animal in the Jacobs photos is "definitely" a photo of a skinny mangy bear. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. He recommends removing bird feeders for several weeks, secure household waste in a closed garage or shed, clean outdoor grills and their grease traps. and the study should be conducted directly by the USFWS. Pennsylvania hunt alone. Paws N Claws Animal Park in the Poconos has two. Yes I believe their are mountain lion ghost cats in PA. PA mountain areas are remote and it is impossible to kill all of the cats who are quite secretive. Pennsylvania Game News is a monthly, 64-page magazine about hunting and wildlife in Pennsylvania. Your email address will not be published. On another occasion my sons best friend saw a fawn colored mt. Today, there are none in existence in this area; the last mountain lions was seen in 1874. Officials have closed a Santa Clarita park after a young boy was attacked by a mountain lion. Public health officials are warning hunters to cook their bear and cougar meat well after 10 Idahoans contracted a rare strain of trichinosis from tainted cougar jerky. Mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania, http://cougarrewilding.org/CougarNews/?p=938. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. These projects protected or enhanced 27,399 acres of . It wa an buff colored animal about two feet tall and maybe three feet long with a very long very thick tail. Its low to the ground, it doesnt appear longer than the gate in the photo and theres no tail, Williams said. ### Media contact: Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352 State Farm insurancecalculates that one out of every 67 drivers in Pennsylvania had a claim related to a deer collision in 2016. But the Pennsylvania Game Commission says the photos are of a bobcat, not a mountain lion. We also discuss other reports from the same area. Was running and had very long stride, at least 6 foot. While living in Potter County, Pennsylvania and riding my horses. no doubt about it it was a mountain lion. Which Penn State Campus Is Best For Criminal Justice? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approves 2022 hunt. HARRISBURG - In announcing the current results of its ongoing investigation into an alleged mountain lion attack on Oct. 9, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that there is no evidence that the alleged attack on Samuel Fisher, 42, of Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County, occurred. A mountain lion in winter. Despite yearly reports of cougar sightings in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Updated: Jan. 31, 2017, 2:00 p.m. | Published: Jan. 31, 2017, 1:00 p.m. . Mere awareness of the potential might prevent a horrible It appears to be a bobcat.. State Game Lands 26, Bedford County, noon to 3 p.m. - The public is invited to tour State Game Lands 26, a 12,000-acre tract situated in Blue Knob, Pa. But then it's a really nice-sized meal as well, so it's an efficient package of meat that can feed them for about a week, as opposed to hunting smaller prey like beavers or rabbits.". Their conclusion: "Sir, you don't have a mountain lion.". GAME COMMISSION RELEASE RESULTS OF ALLEGED MOUNTAIN LION ATTACK . Turns out, there may have even been a possible coywolf sighting at Tyler State Park. News, Sports, Events and Classifieds from the Back Mountain, PA Game Commission: Mountain lions are not lurking in Back Mountain. Occasionally, though, humans fool them. Predators have an effect on their prey without actually killing them.". Friends in the area reported having a large long tailed mountain lion run across a road just in front of their truck. Black bears will not hibernate until late November with sows, or female bears, and this years cubs hibernating first, then sows with last years cubs, juvenile males and finally adult males, he said. . Congratulations to all hunters who drew a tag this year! Is Penn State Greater Allegheny A 4 Year College? Early settlers in Northeastern Pennsylvania killed off many cougars, and diseases brought in by livestock killed much of the remaining population, according to the agencys website. A 100-year survey of cougar attacks in the U.S. and Canada found only 10 deaths and 48 injuries. 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Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the eastern cougar extinct, but said the subspecies had probably been stamped out in the 1930s. announces Halloween events for community, National Federation of Independent Business names Baker a Guardian of Small Business, Consultant: Luzerne County Council has flexibility on awards, Committee aiming to recommend Luzerne County manager finalists by end of April, Greg Griffin announces run for Luzerne County Council. After gathering more information on local sightings he called a She tried to tell me it was a Maine Coon Cat. Hold your ground and back away slowly. Mountain lions, also commonly known as cougars, are officially extinct in both Pennsylvania and the United States east of the Mississippi. State officials question the lack of proof from recent sightings. LOS ANGELES The Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation formally petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect mountain lions under the California Endangered Species Act.. Days to months after the tick bite, victims can suffer severe headaches, heart palpitations, shooting pains, numbness, dizziness and trouble with short-term memory. They also instill a fear. Should any hunter come across a cougar in Pennsylvania, they are advised to leave it alone as hunting them in the state is illegal. Photo of a mountain lion taken by a game camera. Can you shoot a mountain lion if it attacks you? ARCHERY BULL TAGS: A. METZGER, GERMANSVILLE, Zone 12 N. MONTOGOMERY, TUNKHANNOCK, Zone 12 T. PLAZEK, LORETTO, Zone 13 M. ZOOK, NEW HOLLAND, Zone 3 C. SEBULSKY, PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Zone 13 I. CRAIG, GROVE CITY . General | August 20, 2021. Some state agencies among the midwest and eastern states Are there still panthers in Pennsylvania? Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. and within six days after the commission of their crime, D'Horn and Mille were broken on the wheel in the Place de Grve. ______________________________________________________ Its scientific name is Lynx rufus. Im an avid mature person with a biology degree. Feaser woods unattended, perhaps during outdoor summer barbeques where enticing Traveling Route 248 in Northampton County just 1 mile east of Pennsville. 3) outside of zoos, captive mountain lions are very, very rare these days. It has been illegal to hunt and kill mountain lions in California since 1971, but hunting the cats is permitted in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The mountain lion will most likely attempt to tackle you and crush your skull or bite your throat. I had a mountain lion in the field across from my house a couple years ago. The Game Commission believes Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion died in 1874 in Berks County. PFBC instructional videos: Fishing. Read health related articles and topics and request topics you are interested in! A moose is a very rare sight in Pennsylvania. Mountain Lion. Isolated juvenile males have been found as far east as Michigans Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. This was yesterday around 5pm 11/6/19. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. At least one made it to Chicago;another wound up inConnecticut. If cougar reintroduction were to become a serious consideration, the game commission would first need to conduct a feasibility assessment, a "long and careful process," in Keller's estimation, that ends with a recommendation for or against reintroducing a species. I called the game commission and they told me there have been no mountain lions reported in PA. A big cat but no lion: Pa. Game Commission puts speculation to Our View: Christy manhunt revealing plenty about us, A look back as the RailRiders secure another trip to the IL postseason. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Most are about three feet long. Biology. mountain lions in Pennsylvania. But, according to zoologist and science writer Dr. Karl Shuker, the Yana Puma (Black Puma) exists in neighboring South and Central America historical records. But when I turned around and looked at the spot, I saw it was a bobcat. 90: November 5, 2021: Reynolds: Photo of mountain lion taken by game camera. Click here to place a classified ad. Here's the schedule: Sunday, Oct. 10. Bear attacks are thankfully rare. You're much more likely to encounter ablack bear than a bobcat. StateMountain Lion PopulationPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth Dakota300-50046 more rows, There are at least 20,000 black bears in Pa., and a small percentage are killed each year, but were probably not talking about 20,000 pumas in the state. tragedy for a family. mountain lion, because "there are no wild mountain lions in Pennsylvania." I got my start in education as a teacher, working with students in grades K-12. Some attacks of humans have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Am 74 years old, of very sound mind usually pretty skeptical, but i saw this animal and after much consideration have concluded it could only be a mountain lion or cougar. Here in central Pennsylvania we live on the outskirts of what one puma-tracking website has as almost the high point of sightings, extending from north-central Pennsylvania in a southwestern diagonal that extends into the mountains of West Virginia. The USFWS now asks Pennsylvanians to send sighting reports of mountain Since 1991, RMEF and its partners completed 505 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Pennsylvania with a combined value of more than $27.3 million. No wild cougars have been found in Pennsylvania since their extirpation in 1871. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced it is removing the mountain lion subspecies native to the region from its list of threatened and endangered animals because of a long known technicality its extinct. enough to justify federal intervention so should the media defer to Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit), Missouri University Of Science And Technology, State University Of New York Health Science Center At Brooklyn, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, The University Of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences, University At Buffalo Suny School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, University Of California, Los Angeles (Ucla), University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, University Of Maryland Baltimore County (Umbc), University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.