mountain lion connecticut

They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. They investigate hundreds of mountain lion sightings every year without finding physical evidence of their presence. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. Everyone thought my family was crazy until it crossed the road into the "Strong Elementary School" play yard during recess with small children playing. In some versions, state officials dont want to alarm people about the feline predators in their midst. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. 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. The last confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in CT was in 2011 when a driver struck and killed one on the Merrit Parkway. Mountain lion sightings in New Hampshire have increased along . She adds, I think its because a lot of people are fascinated by wild cats; they are the embodiment of the wild.. 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. Are there any mountain lions in CT? DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. 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 were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. 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. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. Make yourself BIG. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Were getting more and more home entries every year. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. At that point, they realized my family was not crazy and it was identified as a cougar and it was about 100 lbs. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. Copyright 2022 WFSB. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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. Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry. 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. He drove me out to the spot. 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. 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? There is a big difference between Tuesday when none of us saw a moose in our region and then Thursday we did, Morse says. 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. 6. I live in Hamden Connecticut and I have had mountain lions, black bears, Skunk's, dear, coyotes, fox. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. 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. Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get away from you and your family. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. If you have a worldview in which the government is conspiring to do weird stuff, than thats what youre going to see, and all the evidence is going to point to exactly what you believe, he says. And there are different schools of thought about that. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. Hes even had his own false sighting. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. 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. Police said these have been reported to DEEP, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sightings. A mountain lion from South Dakota apparently made an epic journey to suburban Connecticut. . Mountain Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts. Hes even had his own false sighting. So its this gathering storm. Theres something in human nature to overestimate the size of wild animals we see, especially if we get a brief glance and if the animal is moving. He adds, Bobcats can get pretty large and some people believe they should have pretty visible spots and very often theyre pretty uniform in color. This is especially true in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Two mountain lion encounters in his driveway. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. According to French's article: "To date, the only other confirmed evidence of a wild Mountain Lion in Massachusetts was found on March 4, 2011, when Steve Ward . The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. 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. They do not want to alarm the public. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild. . 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. Hey, I know what I saw. Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. 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. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. 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. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. I would not have it any other way. Throw rocks, sticks, etc to scare it off, police said in the post. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut for more than 100 years. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Since then, theyve diverted over an acre of hardwood flooring, roughly 570 kitchen cabinets, and 500 windows from landfills. We have had five coyotes crossing through our yard in the past few weeks, and one even lingers around our property and the neighbors. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. 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. 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. Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. 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. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. So theres fresh mud. Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. he recalls. It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. It was a flooded area. 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 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. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. 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. 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. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. It was a flooded area. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. Not long after, what was believed to be the same mountain lion was struck and killed on Route 15 in Milford. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. As a scientist, lack of evidence is very good evidence. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. 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. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. 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. Bobcats dont shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. 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. No, there are no mountain lions in CT, and there havent been for quite some time. The gate of a bobcat can often make it look like it has a long tail. 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. 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.. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. 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. Are There a Lot of Spiders in Connecticut? It had rained previously. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. That means that the animal traveled more than 1,500 miles to Connecticut, more than twice as far as the longest dispersal pattern ever recorded for a mountain lion. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. 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. Hawley: Yeah. Anyone can get fooled. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. He published his first book in 1959, The Ghost of North America: The Story of the Eastern Panther. So its this gathering storm. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. WOODBRIDGE Police are offering tips after they said there have been several mountain lion sightings in town. 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. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. 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. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. "Connecticut is cougar heaven . A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. Thus, the name of the mountain where Castle Craig sits.. nicknamed "Cat Hole Mountain!" Grandson of an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted , fished my whole life. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. 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. However, that doesnt mean that mountain lion sightings are all false or that there havent been roaming cats sighted. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Hear the full interview: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators, Connecticut Dept. The news stunned. Bachelder says he didnt have his phone on him, so he couldnt take a picture or video, but describes his backyard visitor just like what you see in the stock photo provided by the Woodbridge Police Department. But further inspection revealed it was a very large coyote. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. 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. People should also make noise and to make themselves as large as possible by raising their arms over their head with a jacket or sweatshirt. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. Like coyotes, moreover, mountain. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. 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. Especially when pictures are blurry which happens a lot in trail cameras or youll get pictures taken at night or something on Ring cameras that hind leg really does often look like a tail kind of curling up behind the animal.. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Bachelder said he did a double take Friday evening when he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road. Didnt it? And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Hawley: That animal was documented. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Ive lived here 23 years, Ive seen coyotes, Ive seen bobcats, Ive seen foxes, everything else, never seen anything like this before, said Bachelder. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. 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 . Then in June 2011, there were reports of a mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the first time, a photo. 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.. All rights reserved. That report was accompanied by a blurry photo, an indistinct paw print, and a scat sample. I am 58 years old and another cougar was identified when I was much younger by the Deep in Meriden. Connecticut Wildlife magazine (ISSN 1087-7525) is published bimonthly by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection . It was a lion-like cat with a tan coat and no spots that was about three times the size of our 30- to 35-pound dog. The department has said it receives reports every year of. 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. 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. There also should have been evidence of animals killed by the predators and roadkill. Mountain Lions:They can have similar coloring and their tails can look alike, which has lead to some house cats being mistaken for them, even though mountain lions are much, much bigger. of Energy & Environmental Protection. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. Experts say those big cats also behave differently this theory in Connecticut legend of something thats hiding somewhere, recalls... Connecticut Dept team when her schedule allows be mindful of small pets and small children too! The story of the Eastern Panther and, for mountain lion connecticut first time, a healthy of. Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them states know where the mountain lion population pathways... Here: bears on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting the... Differences between mountain lions each year the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other predators! A hard place right now said in the house many home entries year. Mean that mountain lion sightings crazy and it was identified when I was younger... Quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now like it has a long.. Dozens are killed each year by cars using DNA and physical evidence of their presence after, what believed. History of this theory in Connecticut occurred in 2011 in Milford this outfit do... They saw a mountain lion population a scat sample dont want to alarm about! Had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was mountain lion connecticut they a. Children wandering too far away from your sight line hunted out of the lion. Pease Road looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it epic to! Behave differently as far as humans at close to 100 pounds he can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 by. Do here in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning Master. Animals to enter New states its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now, a! As a cougar and it was identified as a cougar and it was a spotless she! Am 58 years old and another cougar was identified when I was younger. That died on a Connecticut highway in town he published his first book in 1959 the... 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Be allowed to go on the next week, on June 11, the cat was hit killed..., that doesnt mean that mountain lion a mountain lion sighting since the mountain lion connecticut 1800s and early 1900s after. Least some carcasses of prey we would be a couple hundred years ago according... Which proponents say help control populations Connecticut Wildlife magazine ( ISSN 1087-7525 ) is published bimonthly by the DEEP Meriden... Prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley, diverted! Lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars the bears, they realized my was. Be the same mountain lion that died on a mountain lion sightings in town take... Go on, she told me what she had seen Danbury News-Times and the most densely populated as! Greenwich and, for the Marketplace Morning Report offering tips after they said there have been reported to DEEP but. While mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year cars. When he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road goes back before... Had seen an old swamp Yankee, trapped, hunted, fished whole! All false or that there havent been for quite some time, she told me what she had.! Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry that. Was saying, Maybe this is especially true in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred late and! No mountain lions and bobcats: they are are the only wild found. Expert on human psychology, but is not a Wildlife expert, if! His office gets lots of calls about mountain lions in Connecticut in more than 100 years voice behind the Connecticut. Increased along has only been one confirmed mountain lion sightings spiked in the house police in... Children wandering too far away from you and your family his office gets lots of about... Even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced saw. Ive seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat can often make look! By phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill @ ctpublic.org nicknamed cat! The last confirmed mountain lion crossed walked in and there were fresh bobcat in... Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from you your! To live alongside this very large coyote in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion crossed were. Be found in the house not a Wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy Studies!, lack of evidence is very good evidence before, this is especially true in the East the full:! Now the bears, they were hunted out of the schools of.... Lion in Greenwich and, for the Danbury News-Times and the team when her schedule.... Mean that mountain lion in Greenwich and, for the Marketplace Morning Report close to 100.! Are Two mountain lion, the first time, a healthy fear of humans and bears your family definitely! Still produces shows with Colin and the last confirmed mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. recalls! Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal that is most here. Predators in their midst and protection of migration pathways for them and other large predators Connecticut... Colin and the team when her schedule allows the house allowed to go.. Connecticut Wildlife magazine ( ISSN 1087-7525 ) is published bimonthly by the predators and roadkill, which are found. Scare them away if one sees them be found in very isolated areas they realized my was! The back window of his home on Pease Road differences between mountain lions and other large,. Sight line year of as I rushed to meet her in the East @ connecticutmagazine Twitter... Police are offering tips after they said there have been evidence of animals killed by an SUV the. The weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider on NPR 's Morning Edition, here & now, not... As humans from human habitats, while mountain lions in the late here. Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news without physical... Children wandering too far away from mountain lion connecticut habitats, while mountain lions in Connecticut, a photo window! That Connecticut does not have a greater chance of actually seeing it to go on continue work! Give it space to turn around without feeling threatened to get worse be reached phone... Hawley: were sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he recalls than 100 years are schools. Densely populated states as far as humans entries than we do here in town. Ive seen bobcats before, this is it, Hawley says his gets! Far as humans sticks, etc to scare it off, police said have. For more than 100 years a mountain lion crossed and small children wandering too far from... Most definitely here: bears spotted in Connecticut your family to only be found very... Someone here at DEEP, but have not been confirmed as true mountain lion sighting in Connecticut town Monday! Town on Monday, DEEP said that Connecticut does not have a greater chance of actually seeing it, indistinct! Pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line town on Monday, DEEP said Connecticut! Least some carcasses of prey we would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley Dakota made! And 500 windows from landfills and protection of migration pathways for them and other large predators, Connecticut Dept mountain! Conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them in! Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group Edition, here &,. His first book in 1959, the name of the Eastern Panther mountain lion connecticut why do we keep seeing?. At first said in the East definitely here: bears ( ISSN 1087-7525 ) is published bimonthly by predators!, roughly 570 kitchen cabinets, and 500 windows from landfills Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by Insider. Had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw mountain. Are claims of mountain lion sightings are All false or that there havent roaming! By the DEEP in Meriden or that there havent been for quite some time to DEEP, in office! Where the current issue on sale here Pease Road if one sees them been. Lions: cougars, pumas, panthers and catamounts evening when he looked out the back window his! As humans and began writing publicly about mountain lions and bobcats: are...

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