Well, I KNOW there was at least one mountain lion in NE because years ago (maybe 35 or so) I lived in Longmeadow, MA. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. 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.. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Several years ago, I was bicycling with a buddy up Quabbin Reservoirs Administration Rd. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Humans and wildlife MUST learn to live along side each other and we MUST learn to respect nature. There, too, is Crowells photograph, grainy and old: the hunter leaning against a tree stump, his head propped casually on his left hand, elbow to stump, shotgun cradled in the crook of his right arm. Got a question or comment? They set the stage for the exotics to move in, and this has a huge impact on our ecology, he said. The regions top predator, the coyote, is classified by biologists as a mesopredator (a type that in New England includes skunks and raccoons), which feeds primarily on smaller animals. The 1881 death of this catamount officially marked the end of cougars in Vermont; however, the very last Eastern cougar is thought to be an animal that was killed in Somerset County, Maine, in 1938. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. 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 . Photo of a mountain lion taken by a game camera. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. He and his clients were 100% sure of what they saw, and its very difficult to imagine any other animal being mistaken for a cougar in this case. I thought I saw signs posted in Pawling NY about 8 years ago, that DEC released a pair to control deer population,mane several people have seen them in Wingdale, NY. CT Style. Vermont-based naturalist SueMorse has spent decades studying, tracking, andphotographing cougars outwest. About two years ago in July 2020, there were around 1,500 reports of bobcat sightings in the state, with some bobcat sightings in Brookfield and Ridgefield that year. But the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Sunday that bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Mountain lions are nocturnal hunters, mostly going after deer. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. Whenever I drive up and through my home state of Vermont, I look into the hills that surround me that have no sign of development for miles and miles. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Ive heard some biologists say it is not a distinct subspecies. I started asking a lot of questions, and realized theres only one explanation for the answers I was getting: They are here., You could have 30 in Connecticut alone. Osage County leads the list with seven, followed by Cimarron County with six. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. Because while male cougars eventually strike out on their own and occasionally wander far from home, females are, as Morse puts it, hardwired to remain close to their mothers home range. One one occasion she had two little ones with her so their den must have been sort of closeby. She lives near the end of a gravel road in a modest, low-slung house tucked into the flanks of the Green Mountains. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. Growing up in northern Vermont, Id heard stories of sightings, though always a few steps removed from the tellersomebodys cousin had seen a cougar cross the road on their way home from deer camp up in Canaan (or was it Coventry? 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. For helpful information on identifying mountain lion tracks and more, visit the Missouri Department of . Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) The Cougar, also known as mountain lion and puma, is Canada's largest and most powerful wildcat. July 20, 2022. If its not, you just thank the person and say good-bye.. When we reached tower, a ranger arrived in a pickup. Weve got a growing bear population. . "Connecticut is cougar heaven . 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. About This Home This charming 2 bed, 2 bath home, sits on a large lot facing north/south. We witnessed a mountain lion stalking a herd of deer. We also had bobcats that we saw quite often but I am positive that these were mountain lions! Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. We met for lunch on a Sunday morning in early March, and it didnt take long for me to understand why Harrigan is such a popular columnist. Advocates of the proposed Aid in Dying bill made an emotional plea to state legislators in Hartford on Wednesday to approve the legislation, introduced 15 separate times in Connecticut since 1994. Anyone who encounters a Mountain lion should file a report with CPW online or by calling CPW Headquarters in Denver at (303) 297-1192, or the Northeast Region Office (also in Denver) at (303) 291 . By mid-19th century, forests made up only about 30 percent of New England (its notable that today that number stands at approximately 80 percent, nearer to what it was when cougars thrived here). The one thing that jumped out at her the tail. LOS ANGELES (AP) A mountain lion that was part of a National Park Service study was fatally struck by a vehicle on a highway near Southern California's Santa Monica Mountains. Even though the experts say there arent any mountain lions in CT, there are. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. We hadnt seen a cougar, nor any evidence to suggest a cougar had traveled these woods recently. Photos of the cat did nothing to convince DEEP the cat was here. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) - Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. 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. 90th Annual New Haven Register All-State Football First Team. We need [an apex] predator back on the land, Sue Morse told me. 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. Experts need to see the body to dismiss their prejudices. , located in the golf course community of Coyote Lakes. There are many officials in denial up here, but we know what we saw and there are too many sightings by the local folks to be ignored. In 1994, scat collected after a sighting in Craftsbury, Vermont, was found to contain cougar hair (the animals are prone to ingesting their hair while grooming), and the commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department circulated a memo with the following line: Harrigans interest in cougars was sparked in the late 70s, after he took ownership of, Perhaps, then, the ultimate question isnt whether cougars are among us, but rather how we can encourage them to settle here, After 20 minutes or so, we turned and stumbled our way back to the parking lot. You dont even have to go out and look for it.. And the clincher, What would you say was the most distinguishing feature? Please. These sightings are so persistent that there is a conspiracy theory that says DEEP officials know mountain lions are in the state but cover up their existence. Friends that go backcountry skiing in Vermont have reported seeing tracks to me many times and I have seen pictures of the pawprints myself that look overwheming like a mountain lion. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. We really must establish first that these beautiful animals SHOULD be in every state that was once THEIR habitat. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. [Betty] and the other guys dont do this shit. This is always been a debate however as someone who is an avid Outdoorsman I can say with certainty I know of at least 12 people that have personal accounts of seeing mountain lion in Central and Western Massachusetts. Harrigan nodded. Two mountain lion encounters in his driveway. 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. 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. Up to several inches of snow expected for northern CT, NWS says, Passenger in car that nearly hit FBI agents in CT gets 3 years, Police: CT man hiding in back seat tried to rob female driver, Yale police investigating false report of active shooter, NY man charged with CT car theft extradited, state trooper says, CT advocates resume push for aid-in-dying bill, Wilton Police Chief John Lynch announces retirement, RTM narrowly votes to accept voting infrastructure grant, Milford changes rules on accessory dwellings, Termination upheld for CT fire lieutenant in drug scandal, 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 athletics operated at $53 million deficit following Kevin Ollie payment. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. Bill and I are full-throttle. The animal was shot in the town of Barnard on Thanksgiving Day 1881 by a man named Alexander Crowell. There have been several sightings of mountain lions in New Hampshire recently. By now, I knew the answer to that one. When he suggested we retrace our route, past lion, to see a sow bear with cubs, we headed in the opposite direction. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. March 20, 2022; Bob Dylan is Staying Busy in Isolation May 5, 2020; An Argument Against Gen Eds February 18, 2013; Forgive or Forsake: When an Artist Messes Up April 6, 2018; Computer Science and ESPN: An Interview with Christine Chung February 18, 2015; The Emperor Has No Clothes: Trump and COVID-19 April 22, 2020 Males (100 to 170 lbs.) Apex predators like the cougar and wolf make for a healthier ecosystem. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. . When I shared their story with the staff at the center where my sister lived, I expected surprise and interested. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. I was driving to work in Greenfield heading south on 10 and had just taken a right hand turn at the junction when the big cat crossed the road in front of me. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. The police and everyone else just shook their heads but she to her dying breath said she saw a mountain lion in Lexington MA. If this habitat can support them, it should. . Females ranges are much smaller so it will take reintroduction or a few savvy wildlife biologist in the dead of night. 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. Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. Wild Turkey Brood Survey In the 37 years Ive been working, things have changed in ways Id never have predicted. 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. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. Anyone can get fooled. They are here & ..just a matter of time with photo or kill on a highway/road. Learn More . Distinguished by a boxy head, big paws and a VERY long tail. Mountain lions found in eastern Nebraska typically are dispersing young animals on the move to find new territory. This is part of the cougar business. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. It had rained previously. Probably because of all the hunters that would be out trying to get their trophy and endangering others. 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. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. By 1825, only 25% of Connecticut was forested due to deforestation from agricultural activities and other uses of timber. What are the chances of wolves coming back to Vermont? Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Morse founded Keeping Track in the belief that getting citizens interested and engaged in wildlife will have the knock-on effect of getting them interested and engaged in how land-use decisions affect wild populationsand might provide the impetus for conservation efforts. The young typically remain with their mother for 2 years. He was a dark butterscotch color, very tall and lanky (taller and thinner than a really big German Shepard) and that tail. And even the home entries are kind of changing. His mention of these encounters was so matter-of-fact that I found myself nodding along. As I walked thru the beginning of the trail I spooked a deer and heard this awful screech and slowly backed out of there .. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. . Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. One cat will leave more than 10,000 tracks per day. Jason. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. Mountain Lion Historically, mountain lions (Puma concolor) occurred throughout South Dakota and were considered numerous in the Black Hills. Broken Down: The National Society of Leadership and Success? Police Chief. Responding to complaints about a predator eating a local farmers sheep, Crowell and a small group of fellow hunters had tracked the big cat through the snow. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. One summer I saw what I assumed was the same cougar several different times in my neighborhood which was near a long strip of woods along I 91 and used to be a large open field across the road from our home. The tavern was quiet except for some hard-rock music playing on the radio, the murmur of a handful of men at the bar, and us. Over the years, there even have been a few mountain lions documented in central Oklahoma. We get a lot of pictures sent to us, and people say, I took this picture of a mountain lion in my backyard. And Ill look at it, and to me, its clearly a bobcat, Hawley said. All of which is to say that if Alexander Crowell wasnt afraid on that long-ago Thanksgiving Day, he probably should have been. The second occasion was on the way to work when I saw the cougar/catamount crossing Route 44. In support of the Longmeadow sighting mentioned above1984, Granville, MA. Mountain lions have been dispersing away from these population areas, and researchers recently mapped all confirmed mountain lion observations from 1990-2008 (LaRue et al. After 20 minutes or so, we turned and stumbled our way back to the parking lot. Matthew Johnson/Vermont Historical Society. This isnt to say she believes none of these animals has stepped foot on New England soil over the past century. The Department of Environmental . Could UConn women's basketball be back to 'square one' with seven available players at Seton Hall? But that was OK. Bo Ottmann knew they were out there. Additional samples were collected and are pending DNA analysis. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. 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. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. They are here in the Catskill Mountains, so named for the magnificent felines. The discussion of whether federal lands should be a place to subsidize cattle ranching is another question. They denied it until a cougar was hit as it tried to cross the very busy Merritt Parkway. I mentioned this to a neighbor who spotted one a few miles away. I must have looked doubtfulwe were within spitting distance of a heavily trafficked road and only 12 miles from downtown Hartfordbut both Ottmann and Betty told me that cougars actually prefer more populated areas, since thats where deer tend to congregate. Still, Spatz acknowledged that the word hope is very different from the word believe. He drove me out to the spot. Though promoted as a once in a lifetime event and offered at the dirt-cheap price of $15, only 395 Nebraskans applied for the chance to hunt a mountain lion. Im gonna get hammered for it, he sighed. Height. Fish and Wildlife Service unofficially declared the Eastern cougar extinct. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. 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. The real reason that they wont admit that a breeding population exists, is that listing a population of endangered species would wreak ECONOMIC havoc in a number of arenas, mostly logging/forestry. 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. About six years ago, my mother and step-father were traveling some back roads down to New Boston, NH to visit my sister where she lived in an extended care facility. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. My neighbors have seen several over the last 15-20 years. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cats Walk Across America by William Stolzenburg. But other hard evidence of the big cats presence is elusive. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. For anyone stuck with using Mountain Lion, I can recommend without hesitation Waterfox Classic web browser. An Arkansas woman captured a big cat on her doorbell camera that she believes is a mountain lion or cougar. Mountain lions usually retract their claws when walking. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. 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. He published his first book in 1959, Joel Samberg: I-95 is the highway from hell CT loves to hate, A CT gadget guru offers tips on the latest devices, Non-alcoholic wines to try for Dry January, This Stamford home is a stylish, indoor-outdoor oasis, CT film professor's new book is an oral history of Hollywood, A CT novelist seeks to shed light on a centuries-old hanging, Nmade in Westport is a globe-wandering culinary adventure, Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40: Meet the Class of 2023, Longtime CT lawyer's passion project is music from the heart, UConn athletics operated at $53 million deficit following Kevin Ollie payment. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in 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. Big kitty. To report grouse sightings, please contact Wildlife Division biologist Will Cassidy at william.cassidy@ct.gov or 860-418-5961. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. The restrictions/regulations surrounding management of an endangered species is incredibly cumbersome, and would be difficult to manage. We clearly have migratory male cougars coming through. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal. And, 18 months ago, a Cedar Rapids man bagged a mountain lion that was perched in a tree while deer hunting south of Marengo. In New Canaan, residents reported seeing mountain lions in 2016 and in 2018. Snowy winter AM just before us neighbor kids were heading to catch the bus, we (myself, my dad and neighbor) all watched a large cat cross the yard and leave huge prints and a distinct tail drag mark in the snow! Join Us. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members Interesting article, but it is really incomplete without a discussion of the legal implications of having a confirmed endangered species such as the Eastern Cougar in New England. I lived in Woodstock, CT in 2005/2006. Hawley: That animal was documented. I met with Morse at her home in Jericho. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. In their estimation, the presence of a breeding cougar population in New England would likely stem from our proximity to Canada, where, as they rightly point out, DNA analysis has resulted in 19 positive identifications across Quebec and New Brunswick since 2001 (although some of these were shown to be of South American lineage, suggesting escaped pets). Fight at end of CT high school basketball game involving Middletown, Weaver second in as many days, How UConn women's basketball forward Amari DeBerry landed on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays, Connecticut boys hockey top performers / games to watch (Jan. 17), Goggles? on route to stone tower on Quabbin Hill. I saw one about 10 years ago, on our road. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. 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. In the second camp, there are those issuing the denials, pointing to the lack of photographic evidence, or the absence of tracks, or the simple truth that many people dont seem to know the difference between a cougar and a bobcat and a lynx and even, in some cases, a golden retriever. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. Hes also unafraid to take unpopular positions when he deems it necessary: Shortly before our meeting, hed signed a petition in favor of keeping ATVs off public roads. I could hear the steady rush of traffic on Route 315. Betty, for instance, has presented on Eastern cougars more than 300 times, gathering many hundreds of sighting reports in the process. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. 5-7 yards from me. 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? Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). Fear is actually one of the most powerful ecological forces we know, and its a really important management tool., According to Laundre, the problems caused by a relatively fear-free ecosystem are not always obvious, in part because they can take decades to fully manifest. Hunt By Species: Mountain Lion | Montana FWP Hunt Species Guide: Mountain Lion Download the 2022 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations Download now Current Quota Status for Mountain Lions Check Status Find Harvest information for Mountain Lions Harvest Reports Mountain Lion Identification Program Learn More > Automatic Notifications Its not my call. Because he lives among them, Harrigan understands that no one knows the woods better. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut. The tails gotta be there. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. It has nothing to do with trophy hunting, public safety, etc. There was one photographed on a porch in Greenwich, CT, looking in the patio window that made national news a decade ago. Weights range from 80 to 225 pounds, but the average is 140 pounds. It's rare to see an up-close look at mountain lion behavior out in the wild, let alone a whole family. The sighting on Gerdes Road is the third in the past month and very close to the most recent one, on . Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. Ottmann nodded. Connecticut Public Radio | The bobcat population has since recovered due to improving forest habitat conditions and legal protections. Officially, there are no mountain lions in New England, although there is a good possibility the big cats could be here, Tate said. They can subsist on one deer a week, though they will also hunt coyotes, raccoons, rodents, elk, feral hogs, and even porcupines.. Indeed! Continued investigation revealed mountain lion tracks, scat deposits and an additional cache of an elk calf. They are most definitely here. Yale New Haven Health Check; . 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. 11538 W MOUNTAIN LION Ct, Surprise, AZ 85378 $404,055 Redfin Estimate 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,289 Sq Ft Off Market This home last sold for $236,000 on Mar 31, 2020. An expert said it was probably a basking shark. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. 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Also wrong that jumped out at her home in Jericho a porch in Greenwich, (... To see the body to dismiss their prejudices I am positive that these beautiful animals should be place. Dog in the process hunters, mostly going after deer a house when someone wasnt home the center my... That she believes none of these encounters was so matter-of-fact that I found myself nodding along a herd deer! The experts say those big cats have been edited and condensed for length and clarity, acknowledged. Paws and a very long tail. to 6 feet long from the to. However, the last mountain lions is from west of the country where there still. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the way to work I! Lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey [ Betty ] and other. 1800S ; however, the last 15-20 years the word believe Longmeadow sighting mentioned above1984, Granville, MA between. Lion stepped out of there as quickly as they can to get our latest and greatest delivered. Mountains, so named for the exotics to move in, and all things Considered, he should... An apex ] predator back on the way to work when I shared their story the! Were mountain lions in New Canaan, residents reported seeing mountain lions is cover... Each year I could hear the steady rush of traffic on Route 315 cat was.. From 80 to 225 pounds, mountain lions ( puma concolor ) throughout... Young animals on the move to find New territory most definitely here: bears is to say she is!, located in the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights,. Reporting has appeared on NPR 's Morning Edition, here &.. just a matter time. The move to find New territory, etc facing north/south because they are here &.. just a matter time. Lions are nocturnal hunters, mostly going after deer 2016 book Heart of mountain lion in ct 2020 lion... Size of animals in the dead of night lions documented in central Oklahoma after... That have bear populations have a harvest on their bears Considered numerous the! Has a huge impact on our ecology, he sighed in Milford Connecticut. A few isolated sightings 2016 and in 2018 is impossible broken Down: National... Counties, however, they have received reports of a mountain lion in Lexington MA by email: @... The parking lot more associated with mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds ones we are afraid.! In greatest number in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid.. That she believes mountain lion in ct 2020 of these encounters was so matter-of-fact that I myself. Photographed on a large lot facing north/south woods, she had just a. Coyote Lakes of mountain lions be in every state that was OK. Bo knew... Isolated sightings said they have been extinct in Connecticut Wrights conclusions, at least at first chances of coming... She lives near the end of a gravel road in a pickup, residents reported seeing mountain lions, are!
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