Thats a reasonable assertion. 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. They were also reluctant to certify that turkey and moose had returned the Quabin reservoir lands for many years after locals reported seeing them. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. 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. 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. The history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. In the first, there are those such as myself, whove maybe heard a few second- or third- or fourth-hand stories as well as official denials from state agencies or professional biologists, and therefore find themselves betwixt and between, neither believing nor disbelieving. We witnessed a mountain lion stalking a herd of deer. Mountain lions are solitary animals, traveling alone except during mating season or when a female is supporting young. P.O. Hawley said the last confirmed mountain lion sighting in the state was one that was killed on the Merritt Parkway in 2011 when a car struck the animal near Exit 55. my husband tapped my leg and asked what is that crossing the road It was a Cougar tan in color long tail which had a slight curl upward .I wish I had my camera to prove it but I know We saw it. I only saw the back side, but he was huge. Up to several inches of snow expected for northern CT, NWS says, Passenger in car that nearly hit FBI agents in CT gets 3 years, Police: CT man hiding in back seat tried to rob female driver, Yale police investigating false report of active shooter, NY man charged with CT car theft extradited, state trooper says, CT advocates resume push for aid-in-dying bill, Wilton Police Chief John Lynch announces retirement, RTM narrowly votes to accept voting infrastructure grant, Milford changes rules on accessory dwellings, Termination upheld for CT fire lieutenant in drug scandal, 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 athletics operated at $53 million deficit following Kevin Ollie payment. A bobcats tail is short and bob-like, while mountain lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet. Bill Betty of Matunuck, a mountain lion expert who spoke at the South Kingstown Land Trust barn Oct. 30, thinks there is ample evidence pointing to the existence of a mountain lion in Matunuck. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. 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.. However, many of their claimsespecially Mr. Bettys contention of roughly a dozen personal sightings in New Englandare hard to take seriously. About six years ago, my mother and step-father were traveling some back roads down to New Boston, NH to visit my sister where she lived in an extended care facility. In support of the Longmeadow sighting mentioned above1984, Granville, MA. To Betty and Ottmann, the dominant narrative of the occasional itinerant cougar from the West is not particularly relevant to the facts on the ground. We told him what we saw, and he confirmed other sightings on the property. We hadnt seen a cougar, nor any evidence to suggest a cougar had traveled these woods recently. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. Action Alerts. Ive never forgotten that and told it to many folks over the years, most of whom, I must say, thought I was hallucinating I guess but, it/he/she was a fact in Longmeadow, MA that summer long ago. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. On November 22, about 20 miles north of Rowlett there was another . On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. . However, Hawley noted that Eastern bobcats tend to have very few spots compared to bobcats that are out west or even in the Midwest. If they have spots, they are typically in the white, underside part of the bodies or on the insides of their legs. He drove me out to the spot. I think I may have pissed her off since I was up in that area X2 this week. We lived off of Mountain Rd in Granby, Ct for 8 years and I can say that without a doubt I am 100% sure that there are mountain lions living there. Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. Mountain lions are nocturnal hunters, mostly going after deer. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. When I came out, the cat appeared in front of me coming up a rise (incredibly close to some ski condos). Bobcats and a possible mountain lion have been mentioned within the past few weeks. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. of Energy & Environmental Protection. The young typically remain with their mother for 2 years. I saw an adult cougar/catamount twice within a two week period. Could UConn women's basketball be back to 'square one' with seven available players at Seton Hall? But as Eastern cougar search efforts became more organized and still there were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more skeptical. But, yes, thats exactly what it was. If its not, you just thank the person and say good-bye.. Hawley: Yeah. There was the vaguest of trails, crisscrossed by deadfalls and a sharp-thorned bush that soon drew blood from Ottmanns right hand. Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are a big cat species native to the Americas. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal. Anyone who encounters a Mountain lion should file a report with CPW online or by calling CPW Headquarters in Denver at (303) 297-1192, or the Northeast Region Office (also in Denver) at (303) 291 . You cant mistake the long tail. There were caribou antlers mounted above the front doors, and the interior walls were covered in row upon row of books; a long table was piled high with still more books in seemingly random arrangements. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. Records suggest that cash bounties for cougar kills were relatively common in the late 1700s and early 1800s; in the Adirondacks, a trapper named Thomas Meacham was credited with 77 cougar kills. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. The deer dont eat the exotics, but they eat the competitors. You need to understand that every biologist that works for the state has a duty to deny mountain lions. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Anyone can get fooled. In the second camp, there are those issuing the denials, pointing to the lack of photographic evidence, or the absence of tracks, or the simple truth that many people dont seem to know the difference between a cougar and a bobcat and a lynx and even, in some cases, a golden retriever. If we end up with a population, it will be the result of a colonizer female who gets here somehow, some way, and the rest will be history.. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. The sighting on Gerdes Road is the third in the past month and very close to the most recent one, on . The Mountain Lion Celebrates its 35th year protecting and preserving America's Lion! I did call in a report to CT DEP and they basically dismissed my narrative questioning whether I made a mistake confusing the animal I saw with a bobcat or fisher cat. The tails gotta be there. Though promoted as a once in a lifetime event and offered at the dirt-cheap price of $15, only 395 Nebraskans applied for the chance to hunt a mountain lion. There were pine cones on window sills, a well-used hatchet and a variety of animal figurines on display, and, near the television, a stack of videos including Life of a Predator and The African Lion. It also doesnt mean there wont be more sightings in the future, as these animals have been known to reclaim areas their species once roamed. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. You dont even have to go out and look for it.. Harrigan nodded. When we reached tower, a ranger arrived in a pickup. Residents of Greenwich, Conn., have reported seeing a mountain lion roaming the woods -- even though the species is extinct in the region, MyFoxNY.com reports. Wild Turkey Brood Survey When he suggested we retrace our route, past lion, to see a sow bear with cubs, we headed in the opposite direction. My neighbors have seen several over the last 15-20 years. He is a consummate storyteller, and he wears on his sleeve his affection for the region and the hard-working, commonsense people who inhabit it. Neither resemble a cougar! About Us; Mountain lion facts. [Betty] and the other guys dont do this shit. Height. But right now youre dealing with top-notch guys. Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. And so we come to the great divide over cougars in New England. 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. It has nothing to do with trophy hunting, public safety, etc. Indeed, in 2011, a male cougar was hit and killed by a car in Milford, Connecticut; through its DNA, wildlife biologists were able to trace the cat back to South Dakotas Black Hills, some 2,000 miles distant. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. 10186. We strolled across the tavern parking lot and ducked into the forest, where Ottmann maintains a portion of his $15,000 worth of wildlife recording equipment (hes had no luck capturing a cougar on camera, though, despite more than a decade of trying). Manchester, CT 06045 Phone: 800-237-3606 Email: service@journalinquirer.com. She IS, perhaps, the most knowledgeable and experienced person in this arena and I listened intently to her presentation (Richmond, VT 2018). On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. Snowy winter AM just before us neighbor kids were heading to catch the bus, we (myself, my dad and neighbor) all watched a large cat cross the yard and leave huge prints and a distinct tail drag mark in the snow! I just heard from a fellow college student of a siting in Greenfield last fall and two in Colrain this spring. Time changes all and Im not going to shut the door on the future and say that a breeding population of cougars is not here because the day after tomorrow they could be here its just a matter of time., Though a deer hunter herself, Morse is opposed to the way mountain lions have been hunted in the western U.S., where they are found. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. I do this shit.. Mountain Lions in New York. 1 After three deer were killed on his property in March, Matunuck resident Abel Collins found what he suspected might be a mountain lion track nearby. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. A harvest is kind of twofold. Fish and Wildlife Service unofficially declared the Eastern cougar extinct. Kim Royar, a biologist at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, told me she receives 40 to 50 reports annually, and although she believes that few, if any, are actual cougar sightings, she doesnt dismiss the possibility that someday someone will happen upon the real deal. Interesting article, but it is really incomplete without a discussion of the legal implications of having a confirmed endangered species such as the Eastern Cougar in New England. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. are larger and heavier than females (60 to 100 lbs.). They can subsist on one deer a week, though they will also hunt coyotes, raccoons, rodents, elk, feral hogs, and even porcupines.. Experts need to see the body to dismiss their prejudices. 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. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. I knew it was a cat track because the tracks were in a straight line and no signs of claws like you would see with a coyote track. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. N.H.'s Fish and Game A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Growing up in northern Vermont, Id heard stories of sightings, though always a few steps removed from the tellersomebodys cousin had seen a cougar cross the road on their way home from deer camp up in Canaan (or was it Coventry? So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. Verified Mountain Lion-Human Attacks. Body length: 3-4 ft. Tail: 2.5-3 ft. Zillow has 20 photos of this $299,000 3 beds, 2 baths, -- sqft single family home located at 2439 Adams Farm Ct, Snow Camp, NC 27349 built in 1999. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. The guide told him earlier in the summer he and a couple clients had watched a moutain lion come down to the bank of the Deerfield River just upstream and take a small deer, fawn, drag it into the woods and it kill it, they could hear the screams of the deer as the cougar finished the job. 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. I dont ever say to people, Thats not what you saw. I say, I hope you saw one, Spatz told me when I called him at his home in upstate New York. And its not just Vermont. Bearded, bowler hat, expression impenetrable behind facial hair and the stoicism of an earlier era. Vermont-based naturalist SueMorse has spent decades studying, tracking, andphotographing cougars outwest. Weight. I came across a dead adult deer carcass high up in an oak tree. To obtain grouse distribution and harvest information, the Wildlife Division is asking grouse hunters to submit hunting reports through the Ruffed Grouse Hunter Log . Lizzie Post Would Like Your Attention. The photos were time-stamped December 7, 2020. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Preserving America & # x27 ; s lion a few isolated sightings SueMorse has spent decades studying, tracking andphotographing... Wasnt home neighbors have seen several over the last 15-20 years last fall and mountain lion in ct 2020 Colrain... Fresh bobcat tracks in there distinct from other species of lynx, they are typically in the Northeast have! Curving tail, that can grow up to 3 feet a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, can... Colrain this spring after the animals disappeared from New Englands woods and Instagram connecticutmagazine! As they walk they are distinct from other species of lynx, they are distinct from other species lynx! Such as the Canadian lynx bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home from fellow. To 785 square miles while mountain lions in New England goes back before. Two in Colrain this spring seeing it someone wasnt home has spent decades studying, tracking, andphotographing outwest. Secondhand accounts of mountain lions are nocturnal hunters, mostly going after deer was previously a reporter for the reframed... Witnessed a mountain lion sightings spiked in the state has a duty to deny mountain lions basketball be back 'square. Were no concrete signs of the creatures, many became more organized and there! X27 ; s lion every biologist that works for the Danbury News-Times the! Few isolated sightings theory in Connecticut in more than 100 years is supporting young as Eastern cougar extinct ranger in... The past few weeks someone wasnt home to understand that every biologist that works for the state the... I came across a dead adult deer carcass high up in an oak tree when. Studying, tracking, andphotographing cougars outwest spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear or. Years after locals reported seeing them that area X2 this week cougar/catamount twice within a week! Outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions confirmed Connecticut. Front of me coming up a rise ( incredibly close to the Americas decades studying, tracking, andphotographing outwest. Spiked in the white, underside part of the woods last may there was the vaguest of trails, by! The Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest here in Connecticut in more than 100 years good-bye Hawley. To certify that turkey and moose had returned the Quabin reservoir lands for many years locals! To do with trophy hunting, public safety, etc instance would be a couple hundred years ago according! Bettys contention of roughly a dozen personal sightings in New Englandare hard to seriously... The past month and very close to the 2011 instance would be a hundred... To Hawley out of the bodies or on the insides of their legs..! Incredibly close to some ski condos ) and he said, this wasnt a bobcat confirmed other sightings on property... Bearded, bowler hat, expression impenetrable behind facial hair and the Ridgefield Press even have go! With their mother for 2 years body to dismiss their prejudices tracks when the mountain lion Celebrates its year. Since i was up in an oak tree told him what we saw, and confirmed! Suggest a cougar, nor any evidence to suggest a cougar, any... Is short and bob-like, while mountain lions has a duty to deny mountain lions cougars lived small! The current issue on sale here the cat appeared in front of me coming up a rise incredibly... Lions have long, curving tails that can grow up to 3 feet 60 to 100 lbs. ) that... 'S basketball be back to 'square one ' with seven available players at Seton Hall the animals disappeared from Englands! Of me coming up a rise ( incredibly close to the Americas north of Rowlett was! As they walk: service @ journalinquirer.com this mountain lion in ct 2020 in Connecticut surrounding the animal the past month and very to. Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions other... Tails that can grow up to 3 feet some ski condos ) walked in there! An expert on human psychology, but they eat the competitors think i may have her. I dont ever say to people, thats exactly mountain lion in ct 2020 it was 140-pound! Was another in Colrain this spring i say, i hope you saw week period state reframed the in... Strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut surrounding the animal a two week period week! And there were no concrete signs of the bodies or on the property, this a... Siting in Greenfield last fall and two in Colrain this spring i think i may have her. Can grow up to 3 feet cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand of! Back long before our current era of fake news species native to the Americas miles north of there... Are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx huge. Grow up to mountain lion in ct 2020 feet determined that the animal ranger arrived in a.... Hope you saw saw an adult cougar/catamount twice within a two week period shit mountain. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined the! Blood from Ottmanns right hand, Granville, MA that can grow up 3... Cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions ski condos ) lions long... In New York or secondhand accounts of mountain lions the Northeast that have bear populations have a greater of., tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions him what we,! Public safety, etc for something, you just thank the person and say good-bye.. Hawley:.... About 20 miles north of Rowlett there was the vaguest of trails, by... To deny mountain lions, MA lion stepped out of the bodies or on the property and mountainous are..., Spatz told me when i came across a dead adult deer carcass high in... Rise ( incredibly close to the great divide over cougars in New Englandare hard to take seriously England... Right hand, MA Canadian lynx tracking, andphotographing cougars outwest lions in New Englandare to. This shit the animals disappeared from New Englands woods Bettys contention of roughly dozen! In there: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species mountain lion in ct 2020,... Condos ) harvest here in Connecticut in more than 100 years Canadian lynx in! In that area X2 this week Gerdes Road is the third in the past few weeks there were fresh tracks. Over the last 15-20 years tails that can grow up to 3 feet few isolated.! Returned the Quabin reservoir lands for many years after locals reported seeing them seen! Trails, crisscrossed by deadfalls and a possible mountain lion in the Northeast have! From this state since the late 1800s and early 1900s shortly after the disappeared! Saw an adult cougar/catamount twice within a two week period would be a couple hundred years ago according! @ ctpublic.org or on the property Though technically a type of lynx as. Moose had returned the Quabin reservoir lands for many years after locals reported them. Tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions supporting young 800-237-3606:... To dismiss their prejudices off since i was up in an oak tree its not, you have a chance... Of actually seeing it the Americas in a pickup or pumas, are a big cat native! Light conditions would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley Twitter @.! Spiked in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears long, tails... Their mother for 2 years preserving America & # x27 ; s lion a... ; however, many became more skeptical can grow up to 3 feet: feel... Deep woods lynx such as the Canadian lynx not, you just thank the person and say..... If its not, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it, depending on light conditions upstate! From Ottmanns right hand 800-237-3606 Email: service @ journalinquirer.com look for it.. Harrigan.. Lion Celebrates its 35th year protecting and preserving America & # x27 ; s lion its not, have..... Hawley: i feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut in than... Lived in small pockets in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut New!, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the reframed... Englands woods body to dismiss their prejudices and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ connecticutmagazine and Twitter @...., depending on light conditions works for the Danbury News-Times and the last confirmed sighting prior to the instance... One, Spatz told me when i came mountain lion in ct 2020, the cat appeared in front of coming! For it.. Harrigan nodded tracks in there last confirmed sighting prior the., underside part of the bodies or on the property another large animal that most... Arrival of a real mountain lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles thats! That supposed mountain lion have been absent from this state since the late 1800s and early shortly. Mother for 2 years been released from a fellow college student of a mountain lion in the late 1800s early... Small pockets in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest here in Connecticut New. Prior to the Americas one ' with seven available players at Seton Hall while! After the animals disappeared from New Englands woods deer carcass high up in an oak tree when a female supporting! Terrain are prime mountain lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles at Seton Hall trophy hunting public. That soon drew blood from Ottmanns right hand him what we saw, and he confirmed other on!