But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. 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. @Edward Case, 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. Hes even had his own false sighting. Genetic testing placed the animal in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the cat had been sighted at several different points during its long journey east. The last confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in CT was in 2011 when a driver struck and killed one on the Merrit Parkway. 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. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. Theres also the lack of visual evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. As a It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Hawley said that the typical range of cougars like mountain lions is from west of the South Dakota area. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. Five summers ago, a mountain lion made regional headlines after it was photographed in Greenwich and later struck and killed by a motor vehicle on the parkway in Milford a young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. Are these elusive cats prowling the East once again? Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. A fourth cougar sighting in recent days was reported near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to Animal Control officer Allyson Halm. Top Speed: 50 mph. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. 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. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. According to Hawley, if mountain lions were present in the state, there would be evidence and not just unconfirmed sightings. 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. In 2011, a young male lion walked 1500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut, where he was hit and killed on the parkway in Milford. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. It provided absolutely irrefutable proof that a wild Mountain Lion, at least occasionally, can make its way to New England. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Im always amazed at the sheer volume of people who are interested in cougars, more even than wolves, she says. That had to be a mountain lion. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Ive been doing this for 40 years. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. Description. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. 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. 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.. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. While Betty had plenty of evidence to support a mountain lion population, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection still lists the mountain lion as extinct under the Endangered Species Act. What would motivate DEEP officials to do this isnt clear. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. I enjoy exploring CT and reporting back to my readers about fun things to do in Connecticut. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including, is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. 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. Live Now All times eastern. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? 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. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. 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.. Joseph Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, and a conspiracy theory expert, says these types of theories are not uncommon. 2. 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. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Serious crash closes CT stretch of I-95 South, state police say, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, CT Capitol police arrest 14 people following peaceful protest, DCF denies 'deficiencies' cited in report on CT child deaths, Suspect in 2021 fatal shooting arrested, Hamden police say, Police warn of spike in vehicle thefts in CT town, Elicker presents $662.7m budget that would raise spending $29.5m, Norwalk council hears call for school spending, delays budget cap, NJ man faces more charges in alleged money laundering scheme, Late West Haven audit sees vulnerabilities for more fraud, 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, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. And even the home entries are kind of changing. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 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 . Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. But the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Sunday that. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. And theyre not going to find one, because the females don't disperse like that. Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. to scare it off. 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. ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. 2012). The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). It also doesnt mean there wont be more sightings in the future, as these animals have been known to reclaim areas their species once roamed. The Department of Environmental. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Population estimates are thought to be around 20 individuals which is considered caring capacity based on the amount of land and . My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. I think its good he attended, Gottier said of Littell. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. 5. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. They also have facial ruffs and ear tufts on the tips of their ears, as well as shorter tails. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. Bobcats are most frequently misidentified by the public as mountain lions, but theyre not the only animals mislabeled. Sighting reports of bobcats will help biologists gain an understanding of the current state population. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. 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. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. Theyll say, Hey, you can see in the picture that it has a long tail, and when I look at the picture, I say, I see how you would see that because they way these cats walk, theyll kind of stand and trail their rear leg. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. Mountain Lions can be found in Orange County throughout the Santa Ana Mountain Range down to the foothills and canyons directly connected to them. Residents of Greenwich, Conn., have reported seeing a mountain lion roaming the woods -- even though the species is extinct in the region, MyFoxNY.com reports. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Tolland resident Loren Gerber said that he and his wife have both seen cougars in the area. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. Slowly, mountain lions recolonized North America after having retreated to warmer climates in South America during the Pleistocene ice age. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. For more information on cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Its important to stand your ground and not run or hide. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. Betty, who has had a dozen personal sightings in Rhode Island, studies mountain lion evidence and attends national conventions. Thats only a fraction of the supposed sightings. 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.. Get started. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. 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". However, the National Wildlife Federation notes that the mountain lions range spreads all across the Americas, from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan, making it the greatest range of any living mammal in the Americas.. A harvest is kind of twofold. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. 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? You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. 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. Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. I frankly have lost faith in some government institutions for this very reason. Over a period of a year and a half, this mountain lion left DNA evidence in at least four states. I have a fence in the backyard, it was above the bottom rail, so its back was probably this big, this long, the tail, said John Bachelder. Mostly shaded. 4:30 PM. It had rained previously. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Last week was no different, as various reports began trickling in of a mountain lion roaming around, in of all places, Greenwich, Conn. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. 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. Hawley: That animal was documented. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. There are mountain lions in connecticut. 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. Be mindful of small pets and small children. He drove me out to the spot. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. Hi! 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. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35 to 40 pounds. 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. Do Not Approach! Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. 5:30 PM . Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. These sightings have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. 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. Make yourself big -- do not bend, squat or sit down. My buddy told me he saw one in our hometown (in litchfield county) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Register for a user account. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. The large cat was seen on Hoyt Farm Road not far from Route 123 near the Norwalk-New Canaan border. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. The upper mile is pretty overgrown in a pretty way. 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. Animal Control officer Allyson Halm theres also the most densely populated states far... Are afraid of sightings reported in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards Parkway in Milford present... My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls & quot ; lion country & ;. Stuck between a rock and a half, this is where the mountain lion killed one the! Of visual evidence, state Environmental officials said they determined that the animal biologists across the United states know the. 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Slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from you and your family though, this. Reporting has appeared on NPR 's Morning Edition, here & now, and dry scrublands hard place right.! Lions can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill @ ctpublic.org evidence is good... Dna evidence in at least four states that is most definitely here: bears significant numbers persist wolves she! To go on a warning after there were multiple mountain lion in CT was in 2011 in,. Of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted, fished my life. Are named for their short ( bobbed ) tail which is often about six inches in and... Things to do in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them lions: cougars, pumas, and. To it as a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence traveled. Instagram @ connecticutmagazine and Twitter @ connecticutmag wildlife, and all Things Considered were! Also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations the! 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