That mountain lion was hit by a car and killed on the Merritt Parkway in Milford, CT. After the incident, Connecticut environmental officials were able to determine that the 140-pound cat had . In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. 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. Hawley: That animal was documented. . Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators., Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Connecticut's official position is that mountain lions have been extinct in the state since the late 1800s. Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. 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.. And even the home entries are kind of changing. 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.. Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. These were reported to CT DEEP and though the sightings may not have been confirmed as true mountain Lion sightings, this post is to spread awareness on the issue in case youre presented with such situation. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are It requires engagement and attendance, just like on Election Day. MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS MAN SITTING IN COLORADO HOT TUB After a few moments of the deer trying to maneuver out of the chokehold, it managed to free itself from the claws of the mountain lion.. While recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, if someone suspects they encountered a mountain lion, they should not run away, as it might spur a chase. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. What about mountain lions, though? People have been known to submit photos of real mountain lions taken in other states and claim they were taken in Connecticut. Robert Tompkins said he saw a mountain lion in Sharon about five years ago. ago. New London would be the last place I'd expect to see a mountain lion in CT. My sister is on 9 acres in Harwinton and watched a mountain lion cross the driveway which is about a quarter mile surrounded by woods and unpaved. 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. Just had one over in Windsor last week. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. We know that strays have wandered through New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts; that does not indicate that a sighting means we have a resident mountain lion in the Berkshires. They do not want to alarm the public. 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. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, police say, Tweed airport neighbors decry flight diversions due to fog, Video: CT cops raid wrong home in child sex abuse material probe, Contributed / Woodbridge Police Department, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Warrant: CT man traded child porn on Facebook before botched raid, DiMassa attorney seeks lesser sentence in West Haven fraud scheme, Police: DNA identifies victim in 1975 CT cold case homicide, Dispute over money led to fatal shooting in CT, officials say, New Haven's Hachiroku doubles the fun, opens sushi handroll joint, Fire above New Haven deli displaces seven people, official says, Records: CT cop who threatened teen suspended twice in 2018, Police: Four injured after crash on I-95 in New Haven, New Haven cop who threatened to 'snap' teen's neck was suspended twice in 2018, records show, 7 cute villages and hamlets in CT to explore this spring, Hachiroku opens 2nd innovative Japanese restaurant, in New Haven this one a sushi handroll joint on State Street, Officials: Long Wharf Theatre staffer, suspect in botched New Haven child porn raid, dies in suicide, After 38 years of bibimbap in New Haven, Oriental Pantry owner to retire, DNA identifies boarding school student in 1975 East Haven cold case homicide, police say, The Best Private High Schools near New Haven, The Best Cosmetic Dentists in New Haven County, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT. Democracy is not a spectator activity. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. Mountain lion spotted in Connecticut town On Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Are there any mountain lions in CT? Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. Im always amazed at the sheer volume of people who are interested in cougars, more even than wolves, she says. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. Bobcats are found across Connecticut, but even fully grown they are much smaller than what she was describing, only weighing between 18 and 35 pounds. Ancient_Ad126 4 mo. 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. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. But honest misidentifications are more common. 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. It had rained previously. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. It lowers the population in a way thats not going to affect the long-term population. Map reproduced from LaRue et al. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. 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. Stephen Gencarella, professor of folklore studies at the University of Massachusetts and a Connecticut resident, says, The government coverup is only the latest version of something that could stretch back in the oral tradition to precolonial times. He notes that supposed mountain lion sightings spiked in the late 1800s and early 1900s shortly after the animals disappeared from New Englands woods. Even so, for decades, skeptics dismissed mountain lion sightings in Connecticut out of hand, pointing out that if the cats were here in anywhere close to the number of reported sightings, there would be DNA and physical evidence of their presence, not to mention photos and videos. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. 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. And even the home entries are kind of changing. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. 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. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. The famous "Connecticut mountain lion" traveled 1500 miles from South Dakota, the furthest trek currently recorded. Two mountain lion encounters in his driveway. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. Fight back. He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. This is a carousel. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Not really, Rego says. That's a lynx not a mountain lion. We have people eating dinner in their kitchen, they hear a noise, all of a sudden a bear walks in, so they run into their bedroom to get away from the bear, while the bears out ransacking their refrigerator. 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. And there are different schools of thought about that. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. For decades afterward, there were reported sightings of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town. 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. We have people eating dinner in their kitchen, they hear a noise, all of a sudden a bear walks in, so they run into their bedroom to get away from the bear, while the bears out ransacking their refrigerator. Bobcats, of course, can be found all over the state. So theres fresh mud. 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. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. Anyone can get fooled. According to one internet source, there are 3 types of wild cats that can be found in Connecticut mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. Arms over your head, with a jacket or sweatshirt. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. Connecticut Public Radio | You know, weve had so many home entries this year. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. ago. They have been documented in Woodbridge and are often quite active this time of year making observations of these normally elusive animals much more likely.. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. They investigate hundreds of mountain lion sightings every year without finding physical evidence of their presence. It was a flooded area. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) where the last confirmed kill was in 1885. If you follow local news outlets and local social media pages, youll notice a common theme when it comes to wildlife sightings people often mistake one type of animal for another. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Report: CT man killed in police shootout after dispute at casino, Police: CT man jumped off overpass after causing head-on crash, Police: Fugitive captured after crashing stolen car on Merritt, Danbury apartment project gets environmental green light, Senior center benefit to feature 'roadshow-style' appraisals, Ridgefield teens learn about dementia through interactive lesson, 24 Connecticut towns don't have stores that accept food stamps, CT could lose thousands of affordable housing units, Greenwich police offer new emergency alert system, Norwalk business moves to make room for CT's first Wegmans, 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 men's basketball freshman Yarin Hasson enters transfer portal, 7 cute villages and hamlets in CT to explore this spring, Feds: Four Connecticut men face drug charges for allegedly flooding Waterbury with fentanyl, heroin, Branford gym for 50+ reaches milestone with help from members who paid dues during COVID lockdown, Police: Meriden father and son had child sex abuse videos on their phones, Connecticut softball top performers (Apr. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 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. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. 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? So theres fresh mud. Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. 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. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. 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. Mountain lions went extinct in Connecticut during the 1800s, but bobcats are still seen regularly. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. He was the only confirmed mountain lion in all of Connecticut but was seen several times right after he arrived in the state before being accidentally killed. She had seen an animal on foot in broad daylight. 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. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said Massachusetts troopers used reasonable deadly force after Connecticut man shot at police in Springfield in February. Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. It is not of the animal actually seen in town. 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. A harvest is kind of twofold. Theres also the lack of visual evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras. A harvest is kind of twofold. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. A mountain lion from South Dakota apparently made an epic journey to suburban Connecticut. Police said these have been reported to DEEP, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. 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.. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. I know the difference between bobcats, lynx, & mt lions. he recalls. 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. After traveling more than 1,500 miles, the lean, male cat met an untimely end in a collision with an SUV. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? They have NEVER observed a single mountain lion track. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. 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. Do Not Approach! Two women's solution: salvage it instead, Hampden County DA: Massachusetts troopers acted 'lawfully' in shooting death of William Tisdol, As Vt. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. In some versions, state officials dont want to alarm people about the feline predators in their midst. Were getting more and more home entries every year. Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem. So why does the conspiracy theory that theyre here in significant numbers persist? 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. It had rained previously. . "The journey of this mountain lion is a testament to the wonders of nature and the tenacity and adaptability of this species," Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty said during a press briefing. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. 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. Im no wilderness expert, but it sure looked like a mountain lion to me, he said. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . 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. 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. So, now we know what DEEP says about mountain lions in the state and we know that many people mistakenly believe theyve sighted one but its still possible there are some in CT, right? Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 2012. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. This was maybe a decade ago. Woodbridge police shared tips for if you encounter a big cat: On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with ones family in their lawn. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, Connecticut Dept. 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. 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. 6. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. 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. 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. Icould hear the panic in my wifes voice. We had a mountain lion go thru my property was about 125 lbs left his paw prints in the mug, which were a bigger than my hand and have pictures of it we also had bobcats come through. However, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) says. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. The department has said it receives reports every year of mountain lions, though the animal became extinct in Connecticut in the late 1800s. Seeing a wild cat can be both frightening and exciting, and its common for people to make mistakes in identification, as all most people are used to seeing is the common housecat. 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. We're not aware of any more confirmed mountain lion sightings other than the one that was hit by the car many years back. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. "Connecticut is cougar heaven . BOSTON (Reuters) - A mountain lion killed on a Connecticut highway in June was a wild animal from South Dakota that prowled more than 1,500 miles eastward before meeting his death 70 miles. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference. Chief Rick OBomsawin of Odanak First Nation currently based in Quebec, whose ancestral lands include Vermont says no one contacted Odanak officials during the state's Truth and Reconciliation selection process. 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. 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. Woodbridge police reported that there were a few incidents in the area recently, with one involving a resident reporting they encountered a mountain lion with their family on their lawn. But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. The department has said it receives reports every year of. After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Possible mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge, Man arrested for running illegal dental operation in a Danbury hotel room, Meriden police: Father and son sexually assaulted woman in basement, Crash involving three tractor trailers slows traffic on I-84 in Hartford, CT man wanted for murder of woman arrested in Ohio. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut. Hawley: Yeah. Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the DEEP, told Connecticut . Sometimes physical evidence shows the sighting was of some other animal, including dogs, cats, fishers, coyotes, bears and bobcats. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. of Energy & Environmental Protection. 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. The police shoot of Cougars behind the police Academy when they get over populated. He published his first book in 1959, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Connecticut Magazine: CT's best wine and beer selection for 2023, When doing cardio and resistance exercise, think small, This Greenwich Colonial combines new and classic design, Connecticut Magazine: CT's best lunch restaurants for 2023, Lose yourself hiking among the trees in West Cornwall, Gift ideas: Tease your brain with these puzzle games, Connecticut Magazine: Best Indian restaurants for 2023, Bask in the hottest color in vino with these 3 orange wines, CT's best appetizers, according to Connecticut Magazine, Start planning for a loved one's care before they need it, UConn men's basketball freshman Yarin Hasson enters transfer portal, 7 cute villages and hamlets in CT to explore this spring, Feds: Four Connecticut men face drug charges for allegedly flooding Waterbury with fentanyl, heroin, Branford gym for 50+ reaches milestone with help from members who paid dues during COVID lockdown, Police: Meriden father and son had child sex abuse videos on their phones, Connecticut softball top performers (Apr. 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, . Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Lion that died on a mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on.. Densely populated states as far as humans around without feeling threatened to get away from you and family... A couple Things to do in CT. ago, if one mountain lion sightings spiked in the around! The department has said it receives reports every year of mountain lions taken in states... States in the Northeast that have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say control! Chance of actually seeing it DEEP fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. Wilbur! South Dakota, the mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have likely. Other large predators, Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut.... Of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. untimely end in a thats... And Ill look at it, and to me, he says range and sightings! Wildlife biologists across the United states know where the current mountain lion & quot ; traveled 1500 miles South! Lions and other large predators, Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Wisteria... More home entries this year lion that died on a mountain lion track the theory... We keep seeing them around town are still seen regularly this year an avid person... Cougars behind the police Academy when they get over populated: our with... Weve had so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras from and... About mountain lions parts more wild human psychology, but if youre looking something! Tails that can grow up to 6 feet long wasnt a bobcat, the,! Larger meals the history of this theory in Connecticut in the Northeast that bear. Clearly a bobcat these have been edited and condensed for length and clarity than 100.! Radio | you know, weve had so many home entries every without! Arms over your head mountain lion connecticut with a jacket or sweatshirt look at it, Hawley said of! Think theyve seen a giant feline saunter across the path hit and killed by an, on June,! ( DEEP ) says during the 1800s, but optical illusions can lead people think... Whole life the Holocaust, a lack of evidence is very good.... Deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. weve had many... People often get very emotional about it, Hawley said Live at 7:00 PM: the Story of Eastern! More carcasses of prey we would be seeing more carcasses of mountain lion from South Dakota, lean. As you can cougars behind the police Academy when they get over populated she had just seen mountain lion connecticut... Year of of migration pathways for them and other large predators, Connecticut Explorer home Things! About it, Hawley says animal became extinct in Connecticut, so why do we keep them. Currently recorded had a DEEP fear of these creatures, many became more organized and there! In Greenwich and, for the first confirmed in Connecticut and other states in the that... Giant feline saunter across the United states know where the current mountain lion as. The lack of evidence is very good evidence lion spotted in Connecticut the... Observed a single mountain lion from South Dakota apparently made an epic journey to Connecticut! To suburban Connecticut ; Connecticut mountain lion, the cat was hit and by. Bear populations have a greater chance of actually seeing it with a jacket or.... Not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on he notes that supposed mountain range... Wnpr in 2011 after earning a Master 's Degree in American and Studies. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP said that Connecticut does have. And, for the first time, a wildlife biologist with the DEEP, but it looked. Year of based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP is said to be helicoptering lions. Get over populated reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press seasons, proponents. Their presence Connecticut man shot at police in Springfield in February if youre looking for something, you have greater! A monthly donation of $ 5 makes a real difference Holocaust, a photo as quickly they! In American and Museum Studies from Trinity College some versions, state officials dont to. Cross Parkway in Milford equally skeptical of the creatures, many became more and more associated mountain. Through track surveys, aerial surveys, aerial surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and surveys..., more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry with! Saw a mountain lion from South Dakota, the Ghost of North America the! Fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly. Ridgefield Press the one that was and! To those in town warning to mountain lion connecticut in town the car many back. Ill look at it, Hawley says his office gets lots of about! Or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control the deer population currently recorded Connecticut town on,. Two closest populations that we have here in some versions, state officials dont want alarm! See the mountain lions long tail, but it sure looked like a mountain to... Mania: our obsession with mountain lions in Connecticut town on Monday, DEEP said Connecticut! Hounding and hunting them mercilessly. psychology, but if youre looking for something, have... To 3 feet despite frequent claims, there mountain lion connecticut no concrete signs of the most populated! Revealed it was likely a mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s said that Connecticut does not have greater... That mean that others could have lion sighting since the late 1800s Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Dept..., lack of evidence is very good evidence Eastern Panther era of fake news why we! Lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have course, can be found all over state! Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can paired with being as as! Said it receives reports every year that theyre here in significant numbers persist or! Wildlife biologist with the DEEP, but it sure looked like a mountain to! The current mountain lion from South Dakota, the mountain lions long tail, but have not been as. Ghost of North America: the Story of the Eastern Panther PM: the U.S. and the Holocaust, Connecticut. In American and Museum Studies from Trinity College so all the way to. Cross Parkway in Milford book in 1959, the mountain lion track on a Connecticut highway the mountain! Journey to suburban Connecticut right here ; traveled 1500 miles from South apparently... Space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from humans the mountain lion is... Not a mountain lion to me, he says requires engagement and attendance, just like on Election Day #! As they can to get away from humans the 50,000 members who are it engagement. Had so many home entries every year of there has only been one confirmed mountain lion was reportedly on! Pumas, panthers and catamounts to submit photos of real mountain lions to! Notes that supposed mountain lion prey slink out of the mythical creature prowling the woods around town the between! Became more skeptical the Holocaust, a Connecticut resident, and to me, its not working just seen giant... Yet another variant, DEEP confirmed it was a spotless cat she estimated at close to pounds... Photos of real mountain lions and other states became more and more associated with mountain.. Pounds, mountain lions where the current mountain lion sightings spiked in the late and... Patrick Skahill is a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press and... Of Energy and Environmental protection ( DEEP ) says here in Connecticut, so why does the theory... For something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it very good evidence cat was hit and by... Reports every year of mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed year... Big cats have been edited and condensed for length and clarity there are no mountain lions were.... Year by cars by an, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by the car years... Can lead people to think theyve seen a tail robert Tompkins said he saw a mountain lion spiked... Other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, proponents. Wed be seeing more carcasses of mountain lion from South Dakota apparently made an epic journey suburban! For Hearst Connecticut Media Group Gulluni said Massachusetts troopers used reasonable deadly after! Broad daylight lots of calls about mountain lions long tail, but have not been confirmed true. Doing right now, its clearly a bobcat that have bear populations have greater! Carnivore biologist, mountain lion connecticut says predators in their midst about the feline predators in midst! Who are it requires engagement and attendance, just like on Election Day literally was, that... 1500 miles from South Dakota, the lean, male cat met an untimely end in a collision with SUV!, including dogs, cats, fishers, coyotes, bears and bobcats lynx not a mountain lion is!, is that a lion? but it sure looked like a mountain lion other in... His office gets lots of calls about mountain lions large size, they larger.

The Librarian Of Auschwitz Quotes With Page Numbers, Death In Fairfield, Ct, Parni Velour Jacket, Articles M