mountain lions in the the northeast us

has anyone seen a mountain lion is northeast pa or jersey? i think i saw 1 last year and my brother claims he saw one in jersey. a friend of mine i just talked to says his neighbor has seen one in her backyard twice. the game commission denies they are here but sightings and prints are becoming much more common. just wondering what everyone else thinks or has seen.
mods if not in right forum feel free to move it

Originally posted by bigfoot1212
has anyone seen a mountain lion is northeast pa or jersey? i think i saw 1 last year and my brother claims he saw one in jersey. a friend of mine i just talked to says his neighbor has seen one in her backyard twice. the game commission denies they are here but sightings and prints are becoming much more common. just wondering what everyone else thinks or has seen.
mods if not in right forum feel free to move it

ok! There are coming around here in Upper State NY St Lawrence County

that and Coy-Wolfs

Please Look at my thread I have Posted A while Ago ! it was in the News Here in My Area


www.abovetopsecret.com...

Of course they're around, they're all through Canada, coast to coast. They have no qualms about crossing borders I am in northern Saskatchewan now, lots around, they just don't show themselves much. When I lived in Vancouver, there were also lots around. They just generally stick to the woods. I would think as long as there are heavily forested areas, they will be there.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Wolfenz, I just posted this link on your other thread. DNA evidence is proof that wolves and coyotes are mating sometimes, just like wolves and dogs, and coyotes and dogs. They are all canines, when a female is in heat, the male is quite friendly, so the job gets done.

Its very likely that mountain lions are making a comeback in the Northeast US.

They could either be moving in from the aeras in which that are more native, a few escaped from the zoo, or people were illeagaly keeping them as pets and let them into the wild after they became too big.

And its not just mountain lions, its a whole bunch of other animals, like wolves. I live in Massachusetts, near Boston, and Ive seen a wolf in the woods. I know it wasnt a coyote, I know what coyotes look like, I see them alot too. If it wasnt a wolf, it could have been, like Wolfenz said, a coy-wolf. But Im pretty sure it was a wolf. Over the years, there have been reports of wolves in the NE where as years ago, they were completely gone.

Another animal thats moving in is the bear. They have become rather abundant in New Jersey and have been seen farther north.

Other quick examples are fishers, lynxs, and even sharks (we cant forget the ocean). Actually, there was sightings of great whites here off the coasts of Boston just yesterday (June 28, 2010) so they closed off the beaches and called in the helicopters and everything.

All in all, more and more animals are moveing into the Northeast, not just cougers.

I agree with some. Animals do migrate and im sure climate change would have something to do with that. However i also believe that we dont know enough about our present eco system's (local or national) to say that x or y animal absolutely never existed or will exist here.

well my biggest question is why is the game commission denying it?
and are they released animals and is there a breeding population or have they migrated? i know pa has i believe the 5th largest deer herd in the nation and that is the cougars fave prey

reply to post by bigfoot1212



I have seen one in western PA. I was driving up a winding mountain road when I saw a huge cat (huge compared to any other cats in the area)sitting on the side of the road about the size of a smaller retriever. There are two witnesses to this story.

But, I never knew that a mountain lion in PA was a myth? In western PA, it's wide known that they are around. They sound like a crying baby at night sometimes.

reply to post by Nutter


thanks for the reply- it is what everyone has been telling i'm nuts.
i know the difference between a bobcat and a puma
now the question is why does the game commision adamantly deny that they don't live here?

Originally posted by bigfoot1212
reply to post by Nutter

 

now the question is why does the game commision adamantly deny that they don't live here? [/quoteI live in bradford county Pa, not the city bradford. so no ones confused, and theres always been tales of them here. they used to live here until we killed them all. the last one was supposably killed in the 60's. There totaly adapted to this climate. and there plenty of food for them. Now as for the game commision. Maybe they deny because they brought them in. and now with a breeding population, if someone get attacked Pa will pay the price.

reply to post by James Battleworthy


that is a possibilty
i'm an outdoorsman but they scare the hell out me.
they are so quiet you will never know what hityou until you are dead.

reply to post by bigfoot1212

well my biggest question is why is the game commission denying it?

I'd like to know why too.I've seen mtn. lions while hunting,and have told game wardens about them,and they practically said I was nuts.

Other hunters here in central Pa. have also seen them.One was pure black.

Here in NJ I thought it was common knowledge that we have 'em.
I haven't seen any myself, but I'm ok with it

reply to post by crowpruitt


if someone saw a black puma they should play the lottery because mt lions are rarely. the black panther everyone talks about is actually a jaguar.
they do have a range up to the southern us supposedly
i'm not saying they can't be black but where was it? and could it be a jauguarundi?

[edit on 1-7-2010 by bigfoot1212]

reply to post by bigfoot1212


Looks like Senator Roger Madigan has forced them to compromise and start saying "there might be".

www.bfro.net...

That is of course after he spotted one on his farm while having a party with children present.

I have seen one in Northern Virginia. Iam in a western county and saw one 2 years ago on my farm. Scared me silly. No one belives me. They are denied here also. I know what I saw. If made a really scary growl.

The State doesn't want the responsibility of any death or property damage caused by cougars, so they deny their existence. If the evidence starts to mount, they will claim that they are coming in from another area and/or there isn't enough of a population for any breeding to occur. As long as they can deny or shift the blame it is unlikely they will have to compensate any damages they cause.

Got them in NH. We've had Fish and Game employees claim sightings as well as homeowners and hikers.

There was a lecture up here not long ago I attended given by a guy who founded some mountain lion research group. He was attacked by one in Rhode Island and has claimed sightings in all of New England. Had photos and tracking data to back it up.

They're here for sure.

thanks for all the replies
when i tell people they are here they look at me like i have 5 heads and call me nuts.
i think it going to have someone shoot one or be killed by one before they will acknowlege and announce that yes they are here- even then they will more than likely say it was an escaped animal