Either it was a mountain lion or our neighbors are feeding their cats miracle grow. Jordan Fenster is the editor of The Register Citizen. … Officially, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection maintains that there are no mountain lions living in Connecticut. A hard-to-spot mountain lion patiently waits for the right moment to attack an elk feeding in a gully at the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico in a photo posted by the refuge. Relevance. Its closest living relative is the cheetah. We have mentioned this before and were told that there is no such thing as mountain lions in Connecticut which we would disagree with. 5 counties change colors on CA reopening map. Do mountain lions live in Connecticut? April 25, 2009 at 10:43 PM They have NEVER observed a single mountain lion track. "The only reason I know it was a mountain lion is it had a long tail and was red," he said. A Web site devoted to mountain lion sightings, ctmountainlion.org, this weekend saw a posting by “Maureen,” a woman who claimed she saw one walking the mile-long boardwalk around Little Pond near the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield. And one story is good until another one is told. Not a SINGLE one of these domesticated creatures has ever been reported to have been killed by a mountain lion in Connecticut. However, no one seems to know the exact location of that rock. No hunter has reported being menaced or attacked by a mountain lion. Some Sharon residents say yes. Pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries also played a role in either greatly reducing or extirpating some species, such as the bald eagle. An alternative to a hunting season would be for animal control officers in Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns to have in their possession several box traps that could capture mountain lions without harming them. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. By the beginning of the 20th century, mountain lions were gone in eastern North America. Nonetheless, DEP officials have received phone calls from people raising this very question within the last two days, he said. If you do find it, be prepared and don't go alone. LENGTH. Fish & Wildlife Service. Out west, where mountain lions are present, there are confirmed reports of encounters between mountain lions and humans, and in some cases where mountain lions have actually attacked people hiking along trails. "I have a feeling they're around, but I want to see them," Loucks said. 1 decade ago. But other than the one killed by a motor vehicle on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 — the only confirmed presence of a mountain lion in Connecticut in recent times — none of myriad other reports have any tangible evidence to show that mountain lions actually roam our towns, meadows, or forests. An effort to reach the person who wrote the e-mail message about the presence of mountain lions in Connecticut was not successful. Every winter, after a fresh snow, DEEP sends out teams into the fields and woods looking for animal tracks. Patricia Sheeran, of Bloomfield, Conn., said she also saw a mountain lion about a quarter-mile from her home in 2007. “I was driving very slowly. The animal he saw crossed Route 361 heading toward Indian lake, he said. saying that mountain lions do live in CT, whilst the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) says that it is not true (Fig. There are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but wildlife officials still call them extinct and haven’t done much to support their populations. Sharon First Selectman Robert Loucks said he has not seen mountain lions in Connecticut. For many decades, numerous individuals have reported seeing mountain lions in Connecticut. David Hutter can be reached by e-mail at dhutter@registercitizen.com. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries also played a role in either greatly reducing or extirpating some species, such as the bald eagle. We have mentioned this before and were told that there is no such thing as mountain lions in Connecticut which we would disagree with. For over 30 years, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been tracking reported mountain lion sightings. U.S. National Park Service / Contributed photo. D.E.P. The animal was approximately 100 pounds, with a lengthy tail and giant leap, and Mullane is sure of what he saw: a mountain lion. One possible way to resolve the question as to whether mountain lions are present in Connecticut would be for DEEP to establish a hunting season on these lions. On June 11, 2011, in Milford, CT, a mountain lion was killed by a motor vehicle. For over 30 years the CT DEEP has been tracking reported sightings and maintain it has never observed or found proof that mountain lions are still here in the state. Mayor praises Lamont plan to expand COVID-19 vaccination... http://www.cody-wyoming-network.com/2010/01/mountain-lion-roaming-close-to-casper-mountain-homes, Did a tweet from Elon Musk cause the Bitcoin crash? Several years ago, during a Litchfield Hills Audubon Society meeting, one individual reported seeing a mountain lion. Moreover, a habit of mountain lions is to store unfinished meals such as a deer carcass in a tree crotch or bury it under a mound of earth; no one has witnessed either activity in Connecticut. A department employee said she would see if a Wyoming biologist could help shed light on these photographs. This photo provided by the U.S. National Park Service shows a mountain lion, newly dubbed P-79 with a new tracking collar, following its capture in a Simi Valley, Calif., neighborhood early Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Mountain Lion and Human Interaction. Mountains are another natural beauty folks love to look at, and some even enjoy exercising on them! "You never know," she said. … Statistically, this would indicate that there is a substantial population of mountain lions in Connecticut. Populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated in Connecticut. A few sprinkles possible. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Dennis Schain dismissed any suggestion that the species lives here. These days, the agency presumes the species is extinct. Schain said he didn't believe there had been any recent reports of mountain lions spotted in Milford. Mountain lions are territorial, claiming areas that run from 10 to 370 square miles in size (depending on the ecosystem in question). Contrary to … If you have evidence in the form of tracks, photo, video, or a kill … With an abundance of cell phones and motion cameras, no one has ever captured a photo of a mountain lion in Connecticut. High 47F. TheatreWorks to present free reading of ‘Hate Mail’ Dec. 19, ‘A Christmas Carol’ opens at Thomaston Opera House. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. This is what we know, $300K bond upheld in Stamford witness tampering case, Feds indict more alleged Bridgeport gang members on murder, racketeering charges, Police: Armed Hamden fugitive captured at Milford motel, Southington police: Man charged with sexual assault, strangulation, Middletown educators visit homes to increase student engagement, ‘deepen’ connections, Travis Barker’s Latest Project: Launching a CBD Wellness Brand. Answer Save. It is not the intention of this Op-Ed to impugn the integrity of those who claim to have seen mountain lion in Connecticut but in all fairness to present another point of view on this issue. If Mother Nature intended for them to be here-then they will surely roam here again. Before I was aware of a debate on whether there are mountain lions in CT or not, I hunted a 40 acres Woodbridge property where I had multiple cameras taking pictures every 5 seconds to form a daily time lapse. Populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated in Connecticut. 1 of 54 A mountain lion struck by a car and killed on Route 15 in Milford on June 11, 2011, is believed to be the animal spotted on the Brunswick School campus in northwest Greenwich a few months ago. Often, they discover that a fawn has been killed for consumption by a predator such as a bear, bobcat, or coyote, but never do they find any evidence that it might have been killed by a mountain lion. On one hand, the cats will sometimes attack livestock, and even humans. In this case, he backed his claim with someone with authority — a state policeman, a person with credentials. Having spent much time outdoors hunting deer, Tompkins said he "definitely" knows what mountain lions look like. So check them out! Heard an avid hunter swear that there were bt hes full of lion crap sometimes. TheatreWorks New Milford to present a free vitural staged reading of ‘Hate Mail.’. Wyoming Game and Wildlife Department officials agreed to look at the photographs but did not expect to be able to determine their source. During a coffee break, I approached the person for more information, but he offered very little except to give weight to his reported sighting by noting that a state police officer had also told him that he too had seen one. "We have long held that there was no native population of mountain … But the sightings persist, and not just by the Long Island Sound. Sharon town secretary Tina Pitcher was not convinced by the Department of Environmental Protection's assertion that mountain lions do not live here. "There has not ever been any credible evidence of the presence of mountain lions in Connecticut," Schain said. An alternative to a hunting season would be for animal control officers in Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns to have in their possession several box traps that could capture mountain lions without harming … Please report any sightings to headquarters at 530-934-2801. In Connecticut, some folks in Sharon say they have seen mountain lions. For many decades, hosts of individuals have reported seeing mountain lions in Connecticut. In fact, no one in our state has been killed, injured, or threatened by a mountain lion. Mountain lions have been dispersing away from these population areas, and researchers recently mapped all confirmed mountain lion observations from 1990-2008 (LaRue et al. The scientific name for the catamount is Puma concolor. Interactions between mountain lions and humans negatively impact both. Are there mountain lions in Connecticut? Nevertheless, he does not dismiss the notion that. In some areas, hunting these cats is legal, and in other areas, more indirect factors impact them. Robert Tompkins said he saw a mountain lion in Sharon about five years ago. As a result, CDFW has developed strategies to address the risk of mountain lions on the landscape, and highly trained scientific and law enforcement staff address all cases of human conflicts with mountain lions. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. There are no mountain lion populations in Connecticut, but DEP officials said that there have been other reported sightings of mountain lions … In Connecticut, some folks in Sharon say they have seen mountain lions. sirtravelalot/Shutterstock.com “I stood still, it turned its head and spotted me, but turned … Daniel C. Esty, who was DEEP Commissioner at the time, had called a mountain lion being in Connecticut an “anomaly.” “The confirmation of a wild mountain lion in our state was the first recorded in more than 100 years,” Esty said. After all, it has been often stated that there are at least two sides to every story. Whether you’re a long time hiker, a death defying mountain climber, a zip-liner with a serious wild side or just a lover of sights seeking a nice view, these mountains in Connecticut have something to offer. Low 31F. Most people want to believe there's a breeding population of mountain lions spreading through parts of Connecticut and into New York's Hudson Valley. On the other hand, humans kill mountain lions for a number of reasons. Are there mountain lion in CT? In Connecticut, some folks in Sharon say they have seen mountain lions. Given the significant number of reported sightings, one would think a photo or a few remains would occasionally turn up. Mountain lions don’t usually travel more than 100 miles from where they are born. Why chase in hot pursuit another wild creature when one can wander into a barn or pasture and find readily available a calf, lamb, colt, kid, or piglet or their parents for the taking. Some residents think so, 600,000 becoming vaccine eligible in CT on March 1, CHD director: New vaccination rules could speed up process, Middletown educator ‘thrilled’ by new vaccine policy, East Haddam gets $9,928 to assist fire department, Killingworth public defender appointed to Connecticut Superior Court. One of the pictures captured in 2014 was this one. The closest tree trunk diameter size is an inch over 3 feet. State police cars are also equipped with cameras. Mountains are another natural beauty folks love to look at, and some even enjoy exercising on them! Robert Tompkins said he saw a mountain lion in Sharon about five years ago. His son Jesse has looked into the possibility of the large wild felines living here for years, he said. The story has it that there is a multi-headed demon who dines on humans guarding the treasure trove. This question arose after a reader contacted this newspaper with a forwarded e-mail message with photos contending to be from local residents who say the cat was in their yard. 1). In recent years, there have been ever-increasing interactions between people and mountain lions. Lore has it that Kidd's treasure may be buried near Lion's Rock in Old Lyme. The e-mail message includes photographs of a large wild feline standing on a deck; however, the location of this photograph is unable to be determined. It always amazes me when I hear Mountain lions are not native to CT. Mountain lions WERE native to CT. That is until we extirpated them. Favorite Answer. Says Only One Mountain … To a local newspaper in a town nearby Bethlehem, an animal control officer reported seeing several mountain lions in town every day, yet no pictures. And something caught my … Deer hunters regularly sit in blinds often perched in trees, a perfect location for picture taking. The last catamount in Vermont is finally, officially, certainly dead. "(The DEP) has been saying that for years. Speaker Bill Betty presented evidence and proposed theories that could prove that Connecticut, including, is home to a native population of Eastern mountain lions. It is also known as cougar, panther, mountain lion, and puma, though catamount is the preferred regional vernacular. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/registercitizen. "There has not ever been any credible evidence of the presence of mountain lions in Connecticut," Schain said. Rabinowitz said there have been credible sightings of mountain lions around the Northeast along with tracks and hair. The Connecticut Mountain Lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. The young adult male was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2011. Whether you’re a long time hiker, a death defying mountain climber, a zip-liner with a serious wild side or just a lover of sights seeking a nice view, these mountains in Connecticut have something to offer. Id still like to know though as I go fishing with my kid sometimes. You have permission to edit this article. No naturalists or walkers have returned from their local travels with the remains of bones or skulls of these creatures. The mountain lion, though, has been extinct in Connecticut for a century, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. (http://www.cody-wyoming-network.com/2010/01/mountain-lion-roaming-close-to-casper-mountain-homes). "There has not ever been any credible evidence of the presence of mountain lions in Connecticut," Schain said. Even an animal that might be known for being secretive would have difficultly being aware that a hunter was sitting aloft, observing all creatures passing below. Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. The state Department of Environmental Protection has previously denied there being any mountain lions left in Connecticut, saying they are extinct. Partly cloudy. After seeing the photographs in question, Schain sent a link to a Cody Wyoming online site that includes the same photos. In addition, DEEP monitors the birth of deer fawns in our state. COLCHESTER, Vt. — Chairwoman: ‘Totally dysfunctional’ Ethics Commission needs... Shoreline workers bumped in new CT COVID vaccine plan, Vaccine rules delay eligibility for woman with lung issues, Expert doesn’t expect engine failure to hurt Pratt & Whitney. One possible way to resolve the question as to whether mountain lions are present in Connecticut would be for DEEP to establish a hunting season on these lions.

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