The photos were time-stamped December 7, 2020. Theres probably 100 in Connecticut, Ottmann interrupted, rolling a cigarette as he spoke. 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. Even so, Abbott has heard of mountain lion sightings from what he deems reliable sources and believes its possible that other animals have made the difficult, some say almost miraculous trek, from the West to Connecticut. Betty was quiet, and I wondered if even he, a man who does not doubt the presence of these cats in our midst and who himself claims multiple sightings, thought Ottmann was exaggerating. My assumption is it was the same animal. I lived in Woodstock, CT in 2005/2006. 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.. However, many of their claimsespecially Mr. Bettys contention of roughly a dozen personal sightings in New Englandare hard to take seriously. The tavern was quiet except for some hard-rock music playing on the radio, the murmur of a handful of men at the bar, and us. When he suggested we retrace our route, past lion, to see a sow bear with cubs, we headed in the opposite direction. For who but we humans can look across the landscape and not acknowledge our role in the diminishment of cougars and the myriad ways in which we have knocked the landscape out of balance? Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. Adult Cougars have short fur that is brown or greyish (sometimes reddish) over most of the body, with a white chest and belly. Wildlife biologists, as professional scientists, require a higher level of documentation and proof. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Defenders of Wildlife developed funding to support wolf predation on cattle which I believe worked. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. It had rained previously. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them. . Stupid me grabbed my camera and a stick as to protect myself ( yes stupid idea as I could stop this thing from attacking me lol. I live in New Milford and I saw one crossing the road in front of me when I stopped to get my mail from my mailbox. The reasons for this conspiracy vary depending upon whom you talk to, but they coalesce around the idea that wildlife agencies would be inconvenienced by the cougars presence, as theyd be forced to respond in ways that would tax their resources. Harrigan is 72 and lives just outside the northern New Hampshire town of Colebrook; he has a long, craggy face that seems almost to have molded itself after the mountainous landscape of his home state. If its not, you just thank the person and say good-bye.. Because he lives among them, Harrigan understands that no one knows the woods better. Apr 20, 2020. When I came out, the cat appeared in front of me coming up a rise (incredibly close to some ski condos). 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. Were arrogant if we think were the only species that makes decisions based on fear, he told me when I called him at his home in Oregon. And he said, This is where the mountain lion crossed. We walked in and there were fresh bobcat tracks in there. He set down his cigarette and looked me in the eye. Several years ago, I was bicycling with a buddy up Quabbin Reservoirs Administration Rd. She didnt claim to see the mountain lions long tail, but optical illusions can lead people to think theyve seen a tail. I have learned one thing in my career, and thats to never say never, she said. Fear is actually one of the most powerful ecological forces we know, and its a really important management tool., According to Laundre, the problems caused by a relatively fear-free ecosystem are not always obvious, in part because they can take decades to fully manifest. I couldnt tell you how happy I would be if mountain lions were actually recolonizing the state of Connecticut, Hawley says, but its just not happening., Hawley spoke about bobcats, mountain lions and bears on The Colin McEnroe Show: Megafauna mania: our obsession with mountain lions and other large predators.. The females are where its at, she said. My neighbors have seen several over the last 15-20 years. And so when they come to him with a sighting, hes prepared to believe. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Could UConn women's basketball be back to 'square one' with seven available players at Seton Hall? Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Didnt it? What to know about unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in CT. Nicole Funaro was formerly a statewide trending reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covering everything from the most fascinating properties for sale in the Nutmeg State to the latest movie filming in the state. 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. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. He points out that when there was a real mountain lion in the state in 2011, his office publicized it immediately. 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. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Westford, MA, crossing Dunstable Rd from Long Sought For Pond into the woods. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. . Hes spent this winter hoping for colder temperatures so he can use it. Continued investigation revealed mountain lion tracks, scat deposits and an additional cache of an elk calf. My heart was saying, Maybe this is it, he recalls. Mountain lion spotted in East Haddam - YouTube 0:00 / 2:17 Mountain lion spotted in East Haddam 6,872 views Apr 27, 2012 22 Dislike Share Save WTNH News8 135K subscribers A Mountain lion. With all the thousands of trail cameras in the woods of New England, one would think that there would be at least one picture taken of a catamount. Its distinctive featurethe one that sets it apart from other North American wild catsis its tail, which is thick and often as long as its body. Its OK, he told me. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. Bearded, bowler hat, expression impenetrable behind facial hair and the stoicism of an earlier era. Even in the controlled environment of a lab, the truth about Eastern cougars seems to be almost willfully eluding its seekers. Somebody in the NC Legislature believes, because lions are now protected by law. Mrgunsngear (Mr. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. When a group of officers arrived at a neighborhood in Loveland, Colorado . Body length: 5 - 8 feet Ear length: 3 - 4 inches Tail length: 21 - 35 inches Weight: 90 - 160 pounds Behavior: Mountain lions are solitary animals except during the breeding season or when females are raising kittens. 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. (Attacks #12 and 13; death #6) 35-year-old Mark Jeffrey Reynolds, an amateur mountain bike racer, was reported as being killed by a mountain lion sometime after 1:25 p.m. at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in southern Orange County. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Hes even had his own false sighting. 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? This guy was very intelligent, he had abandoned a professional career to pursue his dream of guiding. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. LINCOLN, Neb. Spatz and Sue dont want to go where were going.. Betty folded his arms across his chest, where they rose and fell and rose again with his breathing. Saw one on old mountain rd Peterborough N.H. a few years ago on my property followed it and ran to get my camera have a photo but in distance by time got it was amazing animal t Metcalf. A trail camera was set up and confirmed the presence of a mountain lion on February 16, 2020. Wildlife do really crazy things, and you just never know.. Wed be seeing more carcasses of prey we would be seeing at least some carcasses of mountain lion prey. Rego says that if there were many other animals like the 2011 cat that died in Milford, there would be more visual or physical evidence. Then saw him a few more times from further away across the road and along the edge sometimes of the woods. If you dont think cougars are coming to the East, think again, she said, leaning forward for emphasis. It was fast as hell but there was no mistaking its not only long,but THICK tail as it disappeared into the woods. My daughter said to me thats the biggest cat Ive ever seen. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. my father was recently trout fishing in central Mass. He wore red suspenders and a baseball cap. The young typically remain with their mother for 2 years. I also had the vague notion that when it comes to cougars, people tend to sort themselves into one of three camps. By Cameron Arcand October 3, 2021 at 2:07pm. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. CT Style. We also had bobcats that we saw quite often but I am positive that these were mountain lions! So, traffic had been slowed from both ends for a good 3-5 minutes. Still, there are those of us who know what weve seen. Manchester, CT 06045 Phone: 800-237-3606 Email: service@journalinquirer.com. Anyone can get fooled. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. Someone told New Canaan police that a mountain lion was spotted on Gerdes Road, just north of the Darien-New Canaan border, at about 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14.. Its closest living relative is the cheetah. As I looked at my daughter and then turned to follow the direction she was looking, I saw the animal in my side mirror. Bobcats are plentiful across Connecticut and are between 18 and 35 pounds. We think theyre coming in from Canada, Betty told me. P.O. One summer I saw what I assumed was the same cougar several different times in my neighborhood which was near a long strip of woods along I 91 and used to be a large open field across the road from our home. The scientific name for the catamount is Puma concolor. Experts need to see the body to dismiss their prejudices. They can be found in several different ecosystems including mountains, forests, wetlands, and deserts. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. 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. - YouTube Multiple people in North Stonington claim they've spotted a mountain lion roaming around. Hawley: Yeah. In the 37 years Ive been working, things have changed in ways Id never have predicted. An expert said it was probably a basking shark. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. But it also sort of instills that fear, a healthy fear of humans and bears. 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. Hawley: That animal was documented. You need to understand that every biologist that works for the state has a duty to deny mountain lions. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here. Beautiful animal. Photos of the cat did nothing to convince DEEP the cat was here. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. I knew it had to have been from a mountain lion Ive seen bobcats and their tracks and from the size of the deer carcass Im convinced there are mountain lions amongst us in Massachusetts! Could UConn women's basketball be back to 'square one' with seven available players at Seton Hall? Ottmann grew up and still lives just minutes from the tavern; his familiarity with the establishment was obvious (after we met in the parking lot, he led me into the building through the kitchen, greeting each of the staff by name). There have been several sightings of mountain lions in New Hampshire recently. This was as clear as day had a long tail and long body I was thinking someones pet was on the loose or escaped form a zoo !! Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. Bobcats typically have brown fur with a reddish tinge that is marked with black or brown spots or stripes, according to the National Zoo. Today, nearly 60% of Connecticut is covered in forest, and bobcats are regularly observed throughout the state. You dont even have to go out and look for it.. Another important difference: bobcats are found in Connecticut while mountain lions are not. He can be reached by phone at 860-275-7297 or by email: pskahill@ctpublic.org. 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. Hawley: Yeah. He/she was UNMISTAKEABLY a mountain lion: stretched out straight, long tail straight out behind him, golden/beigey color, and smallish head, little ears. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. The restrictions/regulations surrounding management of an endangered species is incredibly cumbersome, and would be difficult to manage. His mention of these encounters was so matter-of-fact that I found myself nodding along. Just like we dont need any slimy humans on earth period. Well, theres no difference between Maine and New Brunswick, anyway, said Betty. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. That's not to say that pits are not formidable dogs, they are. It is healthy to have respect and caution, but fear shouldnt drive ecological decision making. 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. There, too, is Crowells photograph, grainy and old: the hunter leaning against a tree stump, his head propped casually on his left hand, elbow to stump, shotgun cradled in the crook of his right arm. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. What are the chances of wolves coming back to Vermont? The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. They are here & ..just a matter of time with photo or kill on a highway/road. 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. People clearly arent lying when they say they saw a cougar; [the sighting] has a profound effect on them.. The discussion of whether federal lands should be a place to subsidize cattle ranching is another question. Hunt By Species: Mountain Lion | Montana FWP Hunt Species Guide: Mountain Lion Download the 2022 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations Download now Current Quota Status for Mountain Lions Check Status Find Harvest information for Mountain Lions Harvest Reports Mountain Lion Identification Program Learn More > Automatic Notifications They also want to foster the formation and protection of migration pathways for them and other animals to enter new states. 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. She lives near the end of a gravel road in a modest, low-slung house tucked into the flanks of the Green Mountains. Several years ago, I saw what was definitely a cougar walking along a street. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. Learn More . The one thing that jumped out at her the tail. A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. Apex predators like the cougar and wolf make for a healthier ecosystem. Our wildlife biologists and enforcement agents are mostly political bureaucrats who dont often venture more than 100yards from the truck. They can be seen at any time of the day or night, but are most active at dawn and dusk, corresponding with deer activity. On the other side, there are those (as represented here by Bill Betty and Bo Ottmann, along with a number of others I spoke with) who say the overwhelming quantity of anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise.
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