HomeA Majestic Animal in Westerly, RI
About two years ago, I was looking out my bedroom window which overlooks woods, fields, and wetlands. There, walking along haybales which my neighbor had set out to prevent run-off into the wetlands as he worked in his field, was a mountain lion which sauntered casually along the length of the bales. I had plenty of time to study him in broad daylight. His tail was as thick as my arm. Definitely not a bobcat. I called RI DEM to report what I had seen, but they did not believe me. Later, my neighbor's co-worker at the Westerly Hospital reported that she had seen one within that same month at night on route 184 in North Stonington, CT. It crossed the road, stopping traffic, and the drivers spoke to each other saying, "Did we just see what we think we saw?" I know what I saw.
June 21st, 2013 - 19:43
I saw a mountain lion in Ashaway RI about 10 years ago, at night in the woods near the road, my lights lit up his huge head and eyes, long tail, very long tail, I know what a mountain lion looks like, I know the difference between a mountain lion and a bobcat of coyote. even though I was in my car, it was still frightening,,,DEM of course did not take it seriously, My friend who lives near me saw one (same area) kill a chicken….that’s why Im on this site, renewed interest.
June 16th, 2014 - 16:51
DEM believes you but they will adamantly deny they exist here in the Northeast especially in Rhode Island. They live here already and have been since the 1950’s. Don’t bother calling them. They will do nothing for you. Call me and I can contact the proper authorities who will come out and check for pawprints .
June 17th, 2014 - 16:43
Bob, thanks, but we prefer they contact the group running this board at the phone and/or emails listed. We will enlist an array of experts that is unparalleled and not open to question to do what can be done.
June 16th, 2014 - 16:55
They exist here in the Northeast. Have been here for awhile. Authorities will not admit they share this state with us. Where there is a deer population, there is a cougar population. Females are approx. 100 lbs and males are approx. 135 lbs. 22-28 inches tall with a long tail.
June 30th, 2014 - 04:33
I was fortunate to find this web site and I wanted to report the “incredible” news that on June 15, 2014, my wife (Anne-Marie) and I had witnessed a healthy, adult “mountain lion” cross in-front of our car at about 25 meters or so, as we traveled South, along Noyes Neck Road, in the Village of Weekapaug, in the Town of Westerly, Rhode Island, on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2014 at around 06:00 PM.
We reported the indecent to RI DEM and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, whose Agent provided the indecent report to the Service and RI State endangered species biologists. A biologist returned our call two days later and took my report, it seemed “with a grain of salt” as he kept relating the “rarity to next to impossibility of a resident mountain lion in Southern Rhode Island” and he related, old reports of mountain lion sightings in CT, but insisted “not Rhode Island.” However, he said he would be investigating this report, and I did request a written response to this incident, but I haven’t heard any word back yet… and in reality, I’m not holding my breath, but at least his office returned our call, the RI DEM has yet to respond back to us and from what I read, they are very reluctant to admit to ANY mountain lions exist at all in the State of Rhode Island.
Just for the record, I am a retired, RI State Licensed “Social Sciences” (you know, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Sociology, etc.) High School and Middle School Teacher, who has a passion for ALL things outdoors, especially animals (land, air, and aquatic). Also, Anne and my sighting occurred between the evening hours of 6:00 - 6:30 PM. These hours are very “active” hours for both “prey and predator species.” Be that as it may, the reason for my wife and I being in this area of Weekapaug at this time was due to my wife and I just visiting my father and mother-in-law at their residence, approximately 3-4 miles away from the sighting area in Weekapaug. The sighting was preceded by my wife and I regular observation of a flock of Wild Turkeys at the most southern end of “Ocean Breeze Dairy Farm”, run by Frank and Sylvia Panciera, whom as a matter of concern for the safety of the farm owners and hired hands, my wife notified Frank Panciera, the farm owner, the next day after the sighting. Mr. Panciera was very grateful for the call and thanked my wife, Anne for the call. As far as the size of this cat, it appeared to be close to approximately 100-125 lbs., as compared to the size of my service dogs, both “Rottweiler” and my current service dog breed of the “Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.” Both breeds of dogs we’ve owned for over 20 years, both breeds are considered “large and giant breeds” averaging from 75 to 135 lbs. Therefore, after some discussion, we both agreed that the size of this mountain lion cat we observed that evening, as being “distinctly” bigger than both dog breeds by at least 25-35 lbs. easy.
The cat observed was the classic figure, color, and tail shape of a California (Western) Mountain Lion. The biologist from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, also lastly, gave the possible reason for the sighting as being a “possible release of this “exotic” animal from an unlawful pet owner who couldn’t handle the animal any further, so they set it free…” possible but, I just don’t know.
However, I DO KNOW WHAT I SAW & MY WIFE ANNE CONCURS WITH OUR CONCLUSION… WE SAW A LARGE, VERY HEALTHY, “MOUNTAIN LION,” WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, on June 15, 2014 @ 6-6:30PM… NO DOUBTS WHAT-SO-EVER!!!
If I was not confined to a wheelchair as I am now, I would be tracking this animal myself to prove beyond any doubt that Anne and I witnessed a “live, wild, Mountain Lion” in Westerly, RI. Unfortunately, I can no longer track wild animals (i.e. hunt), in their native habitat, as my mobility now is very limited by my being severely injured and confined to a wheelchair since 2002.
For any further information, contact at: [email protected]
July 6th, 2014 - 13:36
Pete great report. We have an ongoing investigation in that area as we speak. Yours is not the only report. Its certainly misleading for ANY wildlife official to say there are no mountain lions in Rhode Island, since there was a confirmation at Matanuck in 2011. The evidence was sufficient to get the thumbs up from the USFW, and 2 other experts. The “exotic” theory is an “assumption” that has been made before, based on no evidence other than “it must be they cannot be here”. Thus far, that theory has been flushed down the drain on several occasions. Although there are many misidentifications of animals such as bobcats out there, there are a number of people who KNOW what they SAW. These people take offense when told they are nuts by wildlife officials. Keep up the good work, in any capacity you can. It is appreciated. Ray