HomeMountain Lion “confirmations”
"Confirmations" of mountain lion sightings are a loaded topic. One private group has set up "levels" of confirmations, and pretty much thrown out many old confirmations done before cameras were on everyones phone. While there are a lot of misidentifications that take place, there are a heck of alot more "confirmed" sightings than 6 since 1960 in Southern New England. Absent from this "confirmed' list are sightings by a Mass Wildlife employee, a family unit confirmed by VT wildlife people, and many track confirmations since 1960. The naysayers always throw out the "escaped pet" lablel, saying most real sightings are probably just that. Keep in mind, that label was attached almost immediately to the CT cat hit in Milford, until a necropsy and DNA were done. Escaped pets are likely not to survive very long without good skills in Southern New England. The problem these days is that wildlife agencies really dont have the budget to investigate many sightings. Unfortunately, they in many cases will dismiss them as non cougar without sufficient investigation. Keep the sightings coming. Too many people that are beyond credible are seeing these cats. Most of the credible experts feel the population will continue to increase over the next few decades. You will likely see one eventually if you are in the right place and lucky!!
May 21st, 2013 - 10:11
“In God we trust….. in ALL others we VERIFY ” Simple as that ! These are large animals…. they leave evidence.
May 21st, 2013 - 10:23
Yes they do, and when the evidence, most often tracks, is located and documented, suddenly the bar is raised. There were numerous sets of tracks documented in Western MA in the 1970-2000 timeframe. Now they are just ignored and forgotten. Back in the “good ole days”, everyone didnt carry a cell phone, so many opportunities were missed. But I can tell you first hand, as can anyone thats been in the woods, that tracks are not often left. I’ve seen numerous bear up close and personal, but they didnt leave tracks due to the ground. They are a lot bigger than cougars. The evidence is often hard to find and obscure unless you have a huge population, which we clearly dont….yet…. Verification is fine, as long as its reasonable. I think I’ve seen your name around, don’t you work for a state agency?
May 29th, 2013 - 08:48
No, I do not work for any state agency. These animals leave some sort of evidence…. hair on a wire fence or tree, kill cache… etc. Every sighting I’ve investigated ends up being a bobcat, coyote, housecat or dog with the exception of the young male lion that was struck & killed in 2011.
May 29th, 2013 - 09:23
Well we don’t have a lot of wire fences left around. We are getting reports of deer caches, and there were two confirmations in Rhode Island based on those. FYI, the wildlife agency initially labeled them as bobcat attacks, but the Environmental Police did a thorough investigation instead of a few minute one, and found significant evidence leading to the conclusion they were cougar attacks. Ive talked to people reporting caches in Massachusetts that the wildlife agency does not investigate. We also have numerous tracks that were cast and confirmed in the past, pre cell phones everyplace. I fully realize many of these are bobcats, but there is a core of reports from people that are reliable, that give descriptions that clearly cannot be a bobcat. Im also aware the state agencies cannot investigate everything due to lack of funds. But caches are worth pursuing. Ive also had complaints of family units that have hung around for a time, and the agency would not come out and even look. So you investigate sightings, but not for the state? I thought I recalled your name from a state agency, maybe I was mistaken.
May 29th, 2013 - 13:33
If there were adult breeding mountain lions in Connecticut there would be a LOT of pissed off farmer. There would be reports of large animals like cow and horses taken down and killed. Its just not the case. Not saying that a stray mountain lion could not get lost on its way through like the occasional moose. In the past 20 years i have been hearing these stories. I do think its great that this sight is trying to get to the bottom of it one way or another.
May 29th, 2013 - 13:37
Fact is there are reports of this. Cows, Deer, and pets in Massachusetts and CT. Coyotes also in Massachusetts. They are increasing in numbers, and provide great food for any cats around. Sure the numbers of mountain lions aren’t likely very high, but fact is the population is creeping east and south, and will increase, just like moose and bear did. They are here, just not in large numbers yet.
May 29th, 2013 - 14:21
hmmm weather01089, how do you know mountain lions are here??? Did you bring them here? As it stands right now this day 5/29/2013 today the fact is there is zero evidence Zero photos, zero reports of confirmed mountain lion attacks on cows or horses in Connecticut. Exception of finding a dead cat on the Merritt. Maybe this sight will provide some proof with there cameras and willingness to provide a place there can be a record of sightings. but till then the only fact that we know for sure is there is no recorded evidence.
June 12th, 2013 - 15:38
Your facts aren’t correct, Ill return them. Do your homework.
June 13th, 2013 - 14:46
If my facts are not correct then what is the purpose of this websight?
June 13th, 2013 - 15:26
You stated there were zero reports etc etc. Well that is not correct.
Do you have access to all to know this?
June 15th, 2013 - 14:08
Well just one example, a deer kill in Fairfield. A cat was witnessed dragging it off:
http://fairfield.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/letter-mountain-lion-spotted-on-ross-hill-road
You must be really looking close there, there have been many others.
June 13th, 2013 - 15:33
There are Zero confirmed reports or photos etc.
Now Weather01089 you seem to KNOW something that the rest of us dont. And seem to be dying to tell us. So tell us are you a part of the Cougar Rewilding Foundation? Have you been re-populating the east with cougars from the west?
June 13th, 2013 - 15:53
Depends on who “confirms” the report. The very topic of this thread. Along with the standard used to confirm it.
I’m not a part of any rewilding foundation. Are you part of a state agency? We don’t have to repopulate the east,
they are already here and repopulating themselves. The reports you are referring to have been coming in all
winter and spring. Do a little google. Or you can wait, and we will post some of them. What about the cat hit in
Suffield late last year? Several witnesses saw the cat, one that is qualified to know what it was. Seems the
witness called the police, who responded, and called animal control. A follow up to the police was made, and
they confirmed they responded to a “large cat” hit, but stated animal control took it over. A call to animal
control, and lo and behold, he says nothing happened and he didn’t respond to anything! Well now, if he said
it was a bobcat, that would be believable, but “nothing happened??”. The witnesses had kids and were going to
church, so they didn’t hang out there long. It was gone 45 minutes later.Horses have been attacked, and there
were deer kill. Like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and others, they don’t respond, or admit to responding. That
has turned around now in Rhode Island, right near the border, where TWO confirmations of cougar kills have been
made. Confirmed by in state officials, and three outside experts. So whats next, the ole “escaped pet” again??
Who exactly do you think is “confirming” these? Remember, the cat hit in Milford was instantly labeled an
“escaped pet” within hours, but overturned later. So what agency do you work for?
June 16th, 2013 - 08:52
Do you have a link for the 2 confirmed in RI or at least what town they were in?
Thanks.
June 16th, 2013 - 11:39
I do its been posted in other places. Also have a copy of the environmental police officers report,
which is now also posted on the internet. Overwhelming overturn of an incident quickly labelled a
bobcat by the fish and game.
This was the original statement on this incident, that was overturned by the above investigation:
http://narragansett.patch.com/articles/matunuck-cat-sighting-not-a-mountain-lion-witnesses-disagree
This is the article on the overturning of the sighting:
http://narragansett.patch.com/articles/matunuck-cat-sighting-reviewed-dem-changes-original-position
Report here:
http://www.cougarnet.org/northeast-desc/RIpublished%20cougar%20story12-16-12.pdf
Note, The Providence Journal took this to 3 outside experts, who ALL agreed this was
a cougar attach, no question. So why did fish and game do a fast look and warp what they saw
to fit a bobcat? Here again, multiple witnesses that KNOW what they saw.
This was the other sighting that was reversed and now concluded it was a cougar:
http://middletown.patch.com/articles/resident-claims-mountain-lion-spotted-middletown?logout=true
Anyone see a pattern here? Most of the fish and game departments in Southern New England instantly
label these bobcats. I asked one once why, and the reply was “It must have been, there are no cougars here”.
So, this is not logic, investigative skill, or science at work, its bias.
June 16th, 2013 - 11:42
Also note one of the biologists reviewed the deer carcass and concluded “no mountain lion evidence”
How hard did he look? The evidence was obvious, and confirmed by the experts. Either he ignored it, or
did now know how to identify it.
June 16th, 2013 - 11:46
Sorry officers report is here, at this link:
http://www.easterncougarnet.org/northeast-desc/Mt%20Lion%20Matunuck%20ReportApril%202011.pdf
June 15th, 2013 - 07:25
You should do a little research before making such arrogant statements. Here’s just one statement from the DEEP. Potential mountain lions in Fairfield no longer have police protection.
Police Chief Gary MacNamara said Tuesday that the state Department of Environmental Protection told area police departments that the animals, if they can’t be contained, should be “euthanized.”
“On the recommendation of the DEP, if we can’t contain the animal, the animal by its mere presence will have to be euthanized,” MacNamara said. “They’re not common in the area, they’re not native to the area, and if they’re seen and can’t be contained, they do pose a threat and should be euthanized.” I lived in the northwest for a couple of years, I knew there were mountain lions but never seen one and neither have most of my neighbors. There was no way to “confirm” that mountain lions lived there….but they did. There has been attacks on livestock in Litchfield county, there has been scat found on several occasions, and have twice been put down by state DEEP agents. Not to mention one walked here from S.Dakota. It would only walk this far if it was being pushed out of other cougars territories. They’re here and they have been for a long time.
June 15th, 2013 - 14:04
Problem still, DEEP still maintains there are none here, and thats that cat walked from South Dakota.
Their original statement was firmly its an “escaped pet”. Its pretty unscientific to attach a label
like that without even some kind of evidence it was, neutered, etc. The South Dakota story is a “save
face” deal that reeks. Various people have asked to get access to the DNA to retest it, but alas, nope.
I think we need an immediate petition to get protection passed for these animals.
As to the other incidents, they bury them. We know of others that has been done to. They are here, and
the evidence is here, but when DEEP is contacted,they dont often investigate. If they do, you won’t hear
a lot of what is found.
Pretty odd that you would order a on existant animal to be euthanized. It should be tranquilized and
relocated.
June 17th, 2013 - 08:07
solid evidence…footprint, fur, scat….UNTIL that happens, DEP will always deny. They have investigated NUMEROUS photos that people say are of mountain lions…..and in many cases these mountain lions are dogs…..dogs.
I think they are here, but to think the dep should simply take someones word for it is ridiculous. And citizens stating emphatically that ML are breeding in CT and the DEP saying it is two different things.
June 17th, 2013 - 08:44
I don’t think anyone has stated they are breeding here, yet anyway. Based on what is happening in surrounding states,
and reports I personally have investigated, they do not investigate many or most reports. And there has been evidence
that has been ignored. I don’t think there is any solid breeding evidence until a female is confirmed, or a cub. The very
presence of a female makes this a whole new ball game. And yes, on this very board many many photos of bobcats come in.
But there is a core of reports that either are so multiple, or backed up by other evidence, that say otherwise. Anyone
that has seen bobcats can easily tell the difference between a bobcat and a cougar. Investigating photo’s is easy.
Going out when you get solid leads and looking for other evidence is another issue. Look at what is happening in
the neighboring states with the denial. Two were just posted that the wildlife folks and biologists flatly said were
bobcat. In one, the evidence was clearly warped to fit that, not looked at objectively. Why??
June 23rd, 2013 - 21:44
I think it is fair to say that there is at least 1 resident lion in E. Haddam My daughter often hikes around the Devil’s Hopyard. I have repeatedly advised her to carry pepper spray just in case……She poo-pooed me until about 6 months ago. She saw the last two thirds of a well-muscled, long tailed, tawny cougar run into the bushes. She is far from an alarmist, and is knowledgeable about wildlife. Then, about a month ago, her friend saw one also. If you recall, the town selectman and the dog warden came upon one while out together. Route 149 seems to be part of this cat’s domain.I have no doubt that my daughter genuinely saw a mountain lion….if you knew her, you would agree. I don’t believe the DEP is being truthful on this subject….not sure why.
June 17th, 2013 - 17:41
Stop being passive aggressive in your writing weather01089. Here is your quote from a few blurbs up. “We don’t have to repopulate the east, they are already here and repopulating themselves.”
June 17th, 2013 - 18:03
Thanks for the advice, just stating the facts. You had stated no evidence, I see a bunch posted, and the agencies of the states involved and their handling of them. No comment on that? I do agree a large majority of these are going to be misidentification, but
again there is a core of reports all the time that are credible. And the evidence is there, many people dont know how to recognize it.
December 14th, 2013 - 14:21
Back almost 20 years ago I was working up stairs in my very secluded house. I went out the window onto the roof of a porch to get some air. As I was going through the window I saw a big Cat out on my back yard. At first it was laying down and I couldn’t see it well. I first thought it may be a Bobcat but when it got up to chase a field mouse I noticed it had a long tail. The tail was what I thought of as stripped. I watched this cat for 20-30 minutes before deciding to go back to work. I made a noise so I could get a better front look. When the cat looked at me I realized this cat would have no problem jumping up and getting me. It had very Brod shoulders and large round eyes.
Many years later I was looking through a book and saw that young Mountain Lions have “ringed tails”. The only thing that stopped me from saying I saw a Mt. Lion back then was the ringed tail.
About 4-5 weeks ago after getting out of my car when arriving home (same home) I heard a deer snorting in the woods. While standing there looking in that direction off to my left eye I caught something. I turned and looked and there was a full size Mt. Lion walking into the woods. I turned and started to look in the other direction where I had heard the deer and again I caught something out my right eye. I turned to see the deer heading toward where the Mt. Lion had headed in.
I believe the Mt. Lion had got a fawn and was headed back to eat it and the doe mom was still grieving over it.
Maybe 17-18 years between sightings but within 50 yards apart.
I recently saw a picture of a Mt. Lion taking in North Springfield, Vt. This picture was the same exact memory I had from the last view.
I don’t know why the game biologist are denying there existence other than money. Vermont’s larges industry is tourism. I suspect the state is worried that if the cat got out of the bag people would stop coming out of fear.