This young male cougar was found to have DNA from other cougars found in South Dakota which means it traveled about 1,800 miles east. Police said these have been reported to DEEP, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. At that point, they realized my family was not crazy and it was identified as a cougar and it was about 100 lbs. 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. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. A harvest is kind of twofold. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. 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.. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. 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.. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. And there are different schools of thought about that. Report: CT man killed in police shootout after dispute at casino, 24 Connecticut towns don't have stores that accept food stamps, CT pit bull that was almost euthanized goes viral, gets adopted, CT could lose thousands of affordable housing units. Not long after, what was believed to be the same mountain lion was struck and killed on Route 15 in Milford. Connecticut Public Radio | Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. ago. They have NEVER observed a single mountain lion track. Didnt it? 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. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. . NHPR is nonprofit and independent. He drove me out to the spot. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. In 2011, genetic testing confirmed that a mountain lion originated in South Dakota and traveled more than 1,500 miles before being struck by a car on the Merritt Parkway, according to Reuters. 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.. 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. Dont Run. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) Time changes all and Im not going to shut the door on the future and say that a breeding population of cougars is not here because the day after tomorrow they could be here its just a matter of time., Though a deer hunter herself, Morse is opposed to the way mountain lions have been hunted in the western U.S., where they are found. 4. Sometimes people feared fishers (erroneously attributing the blood-curdling screams of foxes to these hard-to-spot creatures), and in the late 1930s, after several animals were slain under strange circumstances in Glastonbury, the Hartford Courant dubbed the lion-like creature supposedly responsible, the Glawackus. Thus, the name of the mountain where Castle Craig sits.. nicknamed "Cat Hole Mountain!" There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. 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. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? In 2011, genetic testing confirmed that a mountain lion originated in South Dakota and traveled more than 1,500 miles before being struck by a car on the Merritt Parkway, according to Reuters. There are usually about 50-100 mountain lion sightings reported every year. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it, officials said in a Facebook post. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. Mountain lions also have tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Every winter, after a fresh snow, DEEP sends out teams into the fields and woods looking for animal tracks. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. During Autism Awareness Month, columnist John Breunig details the experience of taking his son to a Bruce Springsteen concert and the NY Theres just an incredible amount of bad information that we get from coercion and bad interviewing tactics, a policing expert says. Posted on Published: November 4, 2022- Last updated: December 28, 2022. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. And there are different schools of thought about that. Connecticut Dept. 17), Police investigate death of New London High School student, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, CT pit bull that was almost euthanized goes viral, gets adopted. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. So its this gathering storm. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. 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. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He drove me out to the spot. If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. And kept goingeast across the Great Plains to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and on to New England, through backyards and parking lots, across highways and railroad tracks, driven by the most. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. It was a flooded area. They do not want to alarm the public. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Wait a minute--there was a sighting in New London County a few years back, and my wife read an article about a mountain lion or cougar being struck by a vehicle in Milford a few years back. It was a flooded area. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. One has been spotted on our street for the last four or five years. Two women's solution: salvage it instead, Hampden County DA: Massachusetts troopers acted 'lawfully' in shooting death of William Tisdol, As Vt. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. The Connecticut mountain lion left tracks, scat, fur and game camera photos in four states. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. It had rained previously. So, now that youve got the answer on whether or not mountain lions can be found in CT, lets talk about which wild cats are more likely to be seen here. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. Connecticut Wildlife magazine (ISSN 1087-7525) is published bimonthly by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection . 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. So theres fresh mud. Ive been doing this for 40 years. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. 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. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. What we do not have is a secure predator corridor.. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. How much wild life is out there? It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. 40K views 8 years ago Multiple people in North Stonington claim they've spotted a mountain lion roaming around. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. She said the size made her do a double take and indeed she seen it had a very long tail, Bullsh** While this isn't the norm, it is becoming slightly more common as mountain lions are striking out further east in search of territory. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken 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. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection thinks it's unlikely. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. 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). Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, She had seen an animal on foot in broad daylight. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. There is also something appealing about the idea that there is an animal out there so cunning that it has escaped our notice and the eyes of our cameras. Breweries in New Haven, CT you MUST Visit! The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. 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. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). 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Democracy is not a spectator activity. In 2011, genetic testing confirmed that a mountain lion originated in South Dakota and traveled more than 1,500 miles before being struck by a car on the Merritt Parkway, according to Reuters. 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. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it,. She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. 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.. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Sometimes in our shock and excitement at seeing wildlife we see what we want to see. On June 5, a mountain lion was reported being seen on the Bucknell School campus in Greenwich. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. In Connecticut, some folks in Sharon say they have seen mountain lions. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. . I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Joseph Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, and a conspiracy theory expert, says these types of theories are not uncommon. Heres what to know about mountain lions (and other large cats) in Connecticut. Give today. But honest misidentifications are more common. 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. It would come regularly during its yearly migration. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. But what might be his most compelling argument is that since this is Connecticut, the budget is too limited. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. Only Ignorance would believe that something that once know to be - no longer is Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it is not there. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. 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. 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. Are there any mountain lions in CT? State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. 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. Mountain lion sightings in New Hampshire have increased along . Emaileditor@connecticutmag.com, or contact usonFacebook@connecticutmagazine orTwitter@connecticutmag. A harvest is kind of twofold. It had rained previously. Hey, I know what I saw. So, there you have it an answer to the question of whether or not there are mountain lions in CT. Were getting more and more home entries every year. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. They also generally have spots on their fur. As a Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. They usually either don't disperse at all or they'll kind of overlap their mother's home range, or they'll disperse very short distances.. According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Fight back. 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. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. Of course. Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. 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He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. So theres fresh mud. Do Not Approach! He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. There is a big difference between Tuesday when none of us saw a moose in our region and then Thursday we did, Morse says. Below is an evolving list of Connecticut natives and state prep school football players in the Class of 2023 who have signed letters of intent to play football in college. So its this gathering storm. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. That's a lynx not a mountain lion. Says that theres no mountain lions in Connecticut they are full of it. Working in the 1980s in southern California, where there are cougars, biologist Paul Beier said that 95 percent of cougar sightings they investigated turned out to be misidentifications. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by, . These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. While the state says it was likely a bobcat, one of the people who reported the sighting says it was unlike anything hes ever seen before. Weve got a growing bear population. 6. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. Ancient_Ad126 4 mo. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. 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