Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. Have a question or comment? Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. 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. It had rained previously. 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. According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. Breweries in New Haven, CT you MUST Visit! If it really comes down to it do what you have to do to deter it from following you. Are there any mountain lions in CT? Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. Reports of mountain lion sitings in Matunuck and the Great Swamp Management Area date back to at least 2004, but have never been confirmed by state officials. 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. This young male cougar was found to . 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. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. 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. This is a carousel. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, and bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. The last confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in CT was in 2011 when a driver struck and killed one on the Merrit Parkway. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Do Not Approach! Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. Your support makes this news available to everyone. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. He published his first book in 1959, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, In the 1950s, the 'Mad Dog murders' terrorized Connecticut, Connecticut Magazine: Best restaurants for dessert for 2023, Connecticut Magazine: CT's best brunch spots for 2023, Meet rising hip-hop star and CT native Felly, Connecticut Magazine: Best vegetarian, vegan restaurants for 2023, Save money by electrifying your homes systems, Stratford's Allan Dias and his brush with rock 'n' roll fame, Review: Hachiroku in New Haven is a slice of Japanese heaven, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 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. And there are different schools of thought about that. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. They also generally have spots on their fur. 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. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. 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. You can highlight your store locations with custom colors and elements. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. 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. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. (UPDATE, JANUARY 19, 2022) The Great Falls Police Department said on Wednesday morning that the mountain lion that has been lurking around town for the last . 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? DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book, Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. According to DEEP the bobcat is the only confirmed species of wild cat in CT as of 2022. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. 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.. Register for a user account. In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. Native: Yes. 6. Explore the most popular trails in my list Mountain lion sightings with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Connecticut Dept. The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. And even the home entries are kind of changing. Hi! Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. Make yourself BIG. 5:30 PM . It certainly would be a spectacular sight to witness a cat as large as a mountain lion out in the wild, but, for now, in Connecticut, its not in the cards. Even though human persecution has driven them locally extinct in the eastern part of the state, Texas mountain lion hunting is allowed year-round with no bag limits. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The gate of a bobcat can often make it look like it has a long tail. 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. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. I know the difference between bobcats, lynx, & mt lions. It was a flooded area. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? 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. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. 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. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. 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. These sightings have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. 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I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases In the 1930s, Bruce Wright, an influential wildlife manager from New Brunswick, Canada, began gathering reports of sightings of mountain lions in the East and searching for their tracks. It had rained previously. The Division also collects carcasses of road-killed bobcats as part of the study. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. They vary in size and weight, with males reaching up to 200 pounds and eight feet in length (one-third of their length is the tail). Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Join as a $8 per month sustainer and get our brand-new owl umbrella! Get started. 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. The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. A bill which would change the name to the Pequot River has full support from the Mashantucket Pequot and Eastern Pequot tribes, but the Mohegan Tribe has voiced concerns. Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. 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. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, For the first time in decades, The Old Farmer's Almanac is looking for a new editor, NSC-131 members say they can't find a NH defense lawyer for pending civil rights case, Cautiously optimistic: Maple syrup producers expect a good season this year, In Spokane, Washington, officials test a housing strategy rejected by NH lawmakers. Two mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Tennessee. That had to be a mountain lion. 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). Mountain Lion Sightings in CT. Was the animal a pet set free? It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. Anyone can get fooled. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. 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. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. 60-108 inches. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. South Windsor resident Stafford King is sure that he saw a cougar on his land three years ago. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. Technical Discussion: Rain tonight, then an *ALERT* heading into the weekend! So theres fresh mud. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. Hawley said the last confirmed mountain lion sighting in the state was one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011 when a car struck the animal near Exit 55. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including, is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. The whole trail is very . We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. 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. Fv 27, 2023 . The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. Running joke in the family when we see one is "But of course it wasn't a Mountain Lion, because there are no Mountain Lions in CT". Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. And there are different schools of thought about that. Didnt it? Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) "We have yet to see anything that suggests they're around here." The sightings havent been confirmed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and there are no videos or photos. The Mountain Lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. 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. Give users the ability to create and share their own custom maps and use zoom, pinch, rotate, and tilt to explore maps in more detail. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. 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More sightings that Halm deemed credible came in 2018 from Nursery, Marvin Ridge and Briscoe Roads.. Halm noted that the route between the two recent sightings appears to be straight south. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. 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. 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. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. 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Tandmlally@yahoo.com. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. 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.. 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. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. 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