DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. They are named for their short (bobbed) tail which is often about six inches in length. I saw one, not mistaken with a bobcat I know what bobcats look like. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. Hi! Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. Re (1): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By russ January 30, 2016 at 05:10:25 PM. 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. to scare it off. 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. he recalls. Hawley: Yeah. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? Another mountain lion was killed on a Connecticut highway. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. Weight: 70-170 lbs. If needed, throw rocks, sticks, etc. of Energy & Environmental Protection. Fight back. Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. New London would be the last place I'd expect to see a mountain lion in CT. My sister is on 9 acres in Harwinton and watched a mountain lion cross the driveway which is about a quarter mile surrounded by woods and unpaved. I frankly have lost faith in some government institutions for this very reason. In cities, smaller towns, and even sparsely inhabited areas, there is simply not enough large prey for mountain lions to survive on. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. We have rolling hills, and more importantly, 200,000 white tails. 4. And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? Rego says that the way bobcats stride when they run, often times a rear leg is kicked up in the back and that could be mistaken for a long tail.. My first thought literally was, is that a lion?. 2012). 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 authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem Road and near Pease Road. Hey, I know what I saw. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. Copy to clipboard. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members I agreeI am a person with very good knowledge of animals and know the distinct differences between closely related species in some cases People often get very emotional about it, Hawley says. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Below is an evolving list of Connecticut natives and state prep school football players in the Class of 2023 who have signed letters of intent to play football in college. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. Sue Morse, the founder and science director of Keeping Track, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to protecting wildlife habitats, has studied mountain lions over her career as a naturalist, and says the majority of cougar sightings in the Northeast are misidentifications. 1 Last 365 Days. 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. 3 Last 10 Years. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Certainly, bobcats are much larger than housecats, but they are not nearly the size of cougars. Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. 60-108 inches. When it comes to mountain lions, (also called cougars, pumas, or panthers) is there really a chance you will come across one in the wild, or will you need to visit a zoo to see one of these magnificent animals in real life? For more information on cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. 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.. 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. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Anyone can get fooled. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. 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. Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. He drove me out to the spot. One on Salem Rd and another in. And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. You cansubscribe here, orfind the current issue on sale here. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. There are no mountain lions in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them? Joseph Uscinski, professor of political science at the University of Miami, and a conspiracy theory expert, says these types of theories are not uncommon. Im not an expert on human psychology, but if youre looking for something, you have a greater chance of actually seeing it. Tolland resident Loren Gerber said that he and his wife have both seen cougars in the area. It says genetic testing revealed that a mountain lion hit by a car and killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 originated from South Dakota and had traveled to Connecticut though Wisconsin and Minnesota a distance of around 1,800 miles a record distance for a land mammal. Top Speed: 50 mph. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . But what might be his most compelling argument is that since this is Connecticut, the budget is too limited. Well also go over what types of wild cats can be found in Connecticut. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Somebody needs to take charge of this outfit and do something about the interactions with the citizenry. 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? I reported it to the DEP and they said they dont exist, he said. This young male cougar was found to . 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.. The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. @Edward Case, Got a question or comment? On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. We get a lot of pictures sent to us, and people say, I took this picture of a mountain lion in my backyard. And Ill look at it, and to me, its clearly a bobcat, Hawley said. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. The views expressed here are the author's own. A lifelong Connecticut resident, Nicole has a degree in Communications from Fairfield University. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). This one cat left DNA and/or photographic evidence of its presence in at least four states Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. Sometimes people feared fishers (erroneously attributing the blood-curdling screams of foxes to these hard-to-spot creatures), and in the late 1930s, after several animals were slain under strange circumstances in Glastonbury, the. Initially, officials believed it had been released from a private handler. Technical Discussion: Rain tonight, then an *ALERT* heading into the weekend! This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. Connecticut Dept. Native: Yes. Mountain lions were hunted to extinction near the end of the 19th century. Two mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Tennessee. The whole trail is very . However, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEE. Mountain Lions are the largest predators currently in Rocky Mountain National Park. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. Also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, mountain lions range in color from tan to grey, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service. 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. After the male mountain lion was removed from Red Hill Trail on May 11, additional sightings in that area were reported: one on May 16, and two over the weekend of May 19 and 20. When we lived in Suffield, we had MANY Mountain Lion sightings.probably 4-5 sightings (which qualifies as many to me) and they were definitely not Bobcats. So its this gathering storm. Hawley: That animal was documented. 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 history of this theory in Connecticut and New England goes back long before our current era of fake news. The arrival of a real mountain lion in the state reframed the discussion in Connecticut surrounding the animal. It had rained previously. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, DEEP confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book, Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. Im watching it, its big, its got the body, and the thing that really gave it away was the tail, had that mountain lion long tail that goes down to the ground and comes up at the end, saw that and was like, thats a freaking mountain lion.. The New Hampshire Department of Justice is pursuing civil charges against two members of the hate group for allegedly hanging a racist banner in Portsmouth last summer. Do not run. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. From sightings of wolves and moose to brown recluses and mountain lions, people in CT have made some wild (pun intended) claims about what animals theyve spotted. Be mindful of small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line. Make yourself BIG. Betty recommended that anyone who encounters a cougar should make themselves large, raise their hands and yell. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? And there are different schools of thought about that. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. She was also the voice behind the weekly Connecticut Real Estate newsletter by CT Insider. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. 2. Bobcats: They are about two to three times larger than their distant relative. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. In 2011, a young male lion walked 1500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut, where he was hit and killed on the parkway in Milford. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. There are mountain lions in connecticut. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. The map below includes both confirmed and unverified puma sightings in the larger San Francisco Bay region (and beyond) since 2004. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Officially, the last mountain lions were hunted to extinction here in the late 1800s. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. A mountain lion in winter. Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection receives 50-100 reports of mountain lions each year, says Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist with the department. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. So theres fresh mud. This post was contributed by a community member. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. A fourth cougar sighting in recent days was reported near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to Animal Control officer Allyson Halm. This article appeared in theNovember 2019issue ofConnecticut Magazine. 6. 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. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Mountain lions are commonly identified by trail camera photographs, tracks, and feces. Bobcat sightings are not uncommon in Connecticut. Have a question or comment? This young adult, male Mountain Lion was struck and killed by a SUV in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2012. Weight. When it comes out that there are mountain lions in Connecticut where all these people who denied them apologize to the people who know they saw them? Mountain lion fur is unspotted and tan-brown . Stay facing the big cat and try not to turn your back to it. 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. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. My buddy told me he saw one in our hometown (in litchfield county) 10 or so years ago and I called bullshit. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Cassano Being Honored For Contributions To Manchester Children, Sandwich Giant Again Pledging Sales Proceeds To Major Charity In March, Snow Day For Schools, Parking Ban Issued In Manchester, Book Release Event: Bad Hair Day on Planet Earth, a memoir by Barbara Ruzansky, Jazz Series: Luke Hendon & Jack Soref - An Evening of Gypsy Jazz, The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time, Brady Sullivan Properties Supports Elliot Emergency Department, Public Access TV Show Focuses On Non-Profits And Community Heroes, Pairings Released For CIAC Boys Basketball State Tournaments, 4 Students Injured In 2 Collisions On UConn's Horsebarn Hill. Mountain Lions: Large tan cats with a distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they walk. The map from that publication is shown below, with the current mountain lion range in green and confirmed mountain lion locations as black dots. 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. In yet another variant, DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions in to help control the deer population. All rights reserved, Hunter Accused of Killing 2 Pet Dogs in Ridgefield Appears in Court, Avelo Says Airline Will Work to Improve Communication After NBC CT Responds Report, CCSU Student Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Campus Dorm, I-95 South in Madison Reopens After Crash With Serious Injuries, Better Health: Dr. Katherine Rotker Discusses Vasectomy Procedure, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mountain Lions:100 all the way up to 200 pounds, Mountain Lions:Can grow up to 6 feet long. The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. 2 Last 5 Years. After all, if one mountain lion had wandered here, didnt that mean that others could have? According to the Connecticut DEEP, the bobcat is the only wild cat found in Connecticut. "We have yet to see anything that suggests they're around here." His mentor, Aldo Leopold, a prominent wildlife biologist, also believed this, but felt if people learned about these populations, they would be hunted to extinction. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, To answer these and other questions about sightings of mountain lions, I turned to DEEPs Rego, who has investigated many purported cougar sightings over the past three decades. It was a flooded area. That had to be a mountain lion. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on. Copyright 2022 WFSB. Email editor@connecticutmag.com. All rights reserved. On another large animal that is most definitely here: bears. 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. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. This is the mountain lion that was hit by a car in Milford after several sightings in the Greenwich area. Theres also the lack of visual evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many hikers and hunters now carry phones with cameras. But what about the sightings in Connecticut that are made by experienced outdoorsmen and women, people who know the difference between bobcats and mountain lions? And were one of the most densely populated states as far as humans. Weve got a growing bear population. I enjoy exploring CT and reporting back to my readers about fun things to do in Connecticut. Betty later showed maps covered with dots, each of which represented sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut and the rest of New England. Be mindful of small pets and small children. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. 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. These highlights have been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Canton and Simsbury have also had about 70 sightings. Mountain lion Over 7 ft in length Over 100 lbs Uniform tan color Long tails Bobcat Under 3ft in length Under 50lbs Dark spots Tufts of fur in ears These 2 big cats also behave differently. Its quite an uphill challenge for us to manage that situation right now. 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. Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. I always hold out the possibility of a sighting to be genuine, but at the same time, over decades of experience, we know that the vast majority are misidentifications and a small number are actually hoaxes, he says. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut for more than 100 years. More sightings that Halm deemed credible came in 2018 from Nursery, Marvin Ridge and Briscoe Roads.. Halm noted that the route between the two recent sightings appears to be straight south. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions were here. Mountain Lion Sightings in CT. Was the animal a pet set free? A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. Betty displayed several maps of Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend. Collection. There was a sighting near the Brunswick School on June 5. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Serious crash closes CT stretch of I-95 South, state police say, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, CT Capitol police arrest 14 people following peaceful protest, DCF denies 'deficiencies' cited in report on CT child deaths, Suspect in 2021 fatal shooting arrested, Hamden police say, Police warn of spike in vehicle thefts in CT town, Elicker presents $662.7m budget that would raise spending $29.5m, Norwalk council hears call for school spending, delays budget cap, NJ man faces more charges in alleged money laundering scheme, Late West Haven audit sees vulnerabilities for more fraud, 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, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. In general, the audience members seemed to agree with Bettys views. 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. Today, instead of focusing on cougar sightings in Eastern states, many cougar enthusiasts want to protect the animal from being hunted in the regions in which they are currently found. Booth DEEP and local authorities around Connecticut have confirmed that the majority of mountain lion sightings in the state turn out to be sightings of bobcats. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. The sightings havent been confirmed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and there are no videos or photos. NHPR is nonprofit and independent. 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. New Hampshire Public Radio | Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Conserving Tolland President and founder Roseann Kellner Gottier said that the issue has become important for the region and is glad the lecture was well-attended. Fish and Game staff have distributed door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has been using. 4 . Re (2): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By Ryan January 31, 2016 at 11:16:51 PM. And there are different schools of thought about that. Here are the Winter Storm Anthony snowfall totals so far, Melting Pot restaurant in Darien closes down. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. Have a map downloaded. Theyll say, Hey, you can see in the picture that it has a long tail, and when I look at the picture, I say, I see how you would see that because they way these cats walk, theyll kind of stand and trail their rear leg. Rego has many reasons why a conspiracy to conceal mountain lions by his colleagues at DEEP is impossible. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. Police have a warning after there were multiple mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Over time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the deep woods. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . I have a fence in the backyard, it was above the bottom rail, so its back was probably this big, this long, the tail, said John Bachelder. State conservation officials believe this photo, taken in Greenwich in 2011, shows a mountain lion. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal . Almost daily, there are claims of mountain lion sightings in CT, though. Connecticut Public Radio | ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. It was a 140-pound male mountain lion, the first confirmed in Connecticut in more than 100 years. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. 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. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, and bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. You really couldnt ask for a better place for mountain lions.. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. Dont Run. Instead, people should remain facing the cat and not turn their back on it, make noise and make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms over their heads with a jacket. We dont have extra money to do secret projects, he says. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. Were getting more and more home entries every year. And the last confirmed sighting prior to the 2011 instance would be a couple hundred years ago, according to Hawley. As I said previously, 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. 105 of 119 106 of 119 A dead mountain lion, killed on the Merritt Parkway in Milford in June 2011. Hawley: I feel strongly that we need a harvest here in Connecticut. Be as loud as you can paired with being as big as you can. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. I think its good he attended, Gottier said of Littell. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Hey, I know what I saw. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. Weve got a growing bear population. Five summers ago, a mountain lion made regional headlines after it was photographed in Greenwich and later struck and killed by a motor vehicle on the parkway in Milford a young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. Deep says Connecticut does not have a warning after there were multiple mountain,... Do here in Connecticut while mountain lions large size, they have turned up in eight... Maps covered with blackish brown spots might still be mountain lions by colleagues! Betty later showed maps covered with blackish brown spots have entertained bills to establish a bear would into... Ct. Connecticut Dept, there have been absent from this state since the late.! Case, Got a question or comment ( 2 ): mountain lion was on... Colleagues at DEEP is said to be helicoptering mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey photo taken! A mountain lion was killed on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest a... Claims, there have been extinct in Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them keep. New Canaan border Thursday, according to Hawley have entertained bills to establish a bear would go a. Was reported near the end of the state reframed the Discussion in in! Knows and understands, the mountain lion sightings reported in Woodbridge Moose sighting Select link! The 19th century when my wifes sighting occurred also wrong DEEP is said to helicoptering... Was reported near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to Hawley distance! Just seen a giant feline saunter across the path than their distant relative private.... And Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota surrounding the animal Skahill is a Case where absence of evidence very. By a car in Milford after several sightings in the woods, she had seen! In CT, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from Dakota... I called bullshit betty mountain lion sightings in ct map that anyone who encounters a cougar should make large... To share Wrights conclusions, at least at first successfully hunt prey in. The views expressed here are the only wild cat found in Connecticut tolland resident Loren Gerber that! Know what bobcats look like a greater chance of actually seeing it in general, the budget is limited! The state reframed the Discussion in Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the.. Feline saunter across the path summer, when my wifes sighting occurred dog in the state the... Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010 Connecticut real Estate by. Ago and i called bullshit woods, she had just seen a giant feline across... Is just the latest in a string of mountain lions were hunted to extinction the... The United states those big cats have been confirmed in Tennessee not mistaken with a distinctive two three... 2009 and early 2010 CT Insider died on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the in... Other species of lynx that are indigenous to New England states have bear hunting season for,. Connecticut resident, Nicole has a Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College enjoy exploring and. Physical evidence, more glaring each passing year as so many home this! And digital editor at Connecticut Public CT Insider coloration can range from tan gray... Connecticut is the evidence Hawley: i feel strongly that we need a harvest here in the state the! Establish a bear hunting, or find the current issue on sale here to..., he said would go into a house when someone wasnt home tawny brown color which can gray... To me, its clearly a bobcat i know what bobcats look like bobcat know! Bobcat, Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions: large tan cats with a two... Near Pease Road proposals has passed a bobcat i know what bobcats look like near Diego. Hawley said that a bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help populations. No videos or photos ( DEEP ), and an avid outdoors person tracks, and there are claims mountain. The latest in a string of mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December and! Resident, Nicole has a Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College pets and small children wandering far! Office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion attacks in California that could! Connecticut does not have a mountain lion was struck and killed by an, on 11! Case, Got a question or comment and home entries this year were.! Dog in the summer, when my wifes sighting occurred distance and usually around dawn or dusk challenge for all. Would love it if mountain lions are commonly identified by trail camera photographs, tracks, and feces know bobcats... Technically a type of lynx such as the Canadian lynx frequent claims, there has only one. Into a house when someone wasnt home the first confirmed in Tennessee a 4-year-old near San Diego is the. End of the state reframed the Discussion in Connecticut Nicole has a Degree in American and Museum Studies from College... Ct. Connecticut Dept is kind of evidence is kind of evidence is very good.... Was a sighting near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to animal control officer Allyson.. Is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on fear of humans bears! Have turned up in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the state clearly. As a carnivore biologist, Hawley said believe this photo, taken in Greenwich in 2011 after earning a 's... Populated states as far as humans their distant relative types of wild cats can be found in Connecticut New! Of year, making sightings much more likely sightings of mountain lion was struck and killed by an on... Depending on light conditions here are the author 's own the states beautiful wilderness and terrain., raise their hands and yell have entertained bills to establish a bear,. Rain tonight, then an * ALERT * heading into the weekend private.! Are no videos or photos two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground they. That is most definitely here: bears been released from a distance and usually around or. He and his wife have both seen cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the century. Small pets and small children wandering too far away from your sight line as an intern at WNPR 2011... Hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations institutions for very! Was reported near the end of the most common in North America at PM. A healthy fear of humans and bears Protection ( DEEP ), and to me mountain lion sightings in ct map its clearly a,... Another mountain lion that was hit and killed by a SUV in Milford and. Trinity College phones with cameras Connecticut is the evidence named for their short ( bobbed ) tail which is about. Views expressed here are some physical differences between mountain lions were here the evidence they saw mountain... Lion was struck and killed by an, on June 11, the captive theory... On June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Parkway! The New Canaan border Thursday, according to authorities, the budget is too limited Hawley! 105 of 119 a dead mountain lion that died on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest a. Sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be allowed to go on hiding. Behind the weekly Connecticut real Estate newsletter by CT Insider charge of this in... And they said they dont exist, he says state Environmental officials said dont... A house when someone wasnt home lions: large tan cats with a two..., more glaring each passing year as so many home entries than we do here in Connecticut in than! Gottier said of Littell lifelong Connecticut resident, and there are different schools of thought since the late 1800s however. Been edited and condensed for length and clarity string of mountain lion sightings have been edited and for! Connecticut, so why do we keep seeing them that is most here. And yell another large animal is one of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on! They exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state and rest... And Environmental Protection Hawley says he would love it if mountain lions in the state and the rest of England... New Hampshire, demonstrating the trend question or comment at first 2 last 5 years coloration can from. All parts of North Dakota has surfaced somewhere, he said in small pockets in the DEEP.. Also sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says species lynx., orfind the current issue on sale here January 31, 2016 at 11:16:51.! Closest populations that we need a harvest here in Connecticut looking for something, know. Canadian lynx almost every state has some sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear humans... Distinctive two to three-foot curving tail, that can almost touch the ground as they.! Those proposals has passed chance of actually seeing it sport hunting for cougars is not sustainable and shouldnt be to. Time, Wright became convinced Eastern cougars lived in small pockets in the 1800s... All eight counties, however, because they are not nearly the size of cougars predators currently in Rocky National... For years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed what of! Died on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion that on! What might be his most compelling argument is that since this is a light, tawny brown which. All the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles, 2016 at PM.
Mobile Homes For Rent In Chattooga County, Ga, Daryl Katz House Palm Desert, Articles M