Big-cat activist gives own theory on mountain lions

...Based on his own observation of a "big cat track" in Clarence Fahnestock State Park ("It wasn't a bobcat track," he said) and the recurring reports of mountain lions in Putnam and beyond, the Mahopac expert discounts the explanation that every mountain lion supposedly wandering the wilder fringes of suburbia is a formerly captive animal... wardy, a nurse, and her husband, a teacher, watched a mountain lion in their yard in December. The couple live off Nichols Street, near protected state and New York City watershed land.

"My husband and I could not believe what we were seeing, but it was a completely unobstructed view, and the animal stood still for quite a while, swishing its long tail back and forth," she added... MORE

A Comment from Bob~

I'm beginning to hear comments in the press that there's something not to be believed about the recent slew of mountain lion sightings. Some are claiming that group hysteria is responsible.

The fact is that sightings are reported from person to person, hunter to hunter, and called into the DEP on a regular basis. These reports rarely make the press because they are not taken seriously. When I reported a close encounter with a mountain lion right outside the DEP office a few years ago, no one contacted the media for a follow-up. The DEP didn't even bother stepping out their door and walking a minute down the wooded road to verify my report. I was treated like an ignorant child who couldn't figure out the difference between a dog and a cat (read the letter below). I'm betting my report never was put to paper or spoken of beyond the person who answered my call.

As far as this being a recent trend, don't you believe it. Mountain lions are out there, and they are numerous. Keep an eye out and be careful when predator calling, especially when alone. Watch your children in the woods, while hiking along paths and walking down back roads where you live. Conceal carry when possible but never shoot unless attacked. Carry a camera and look for prints and evidence after a sighting. Don't keep the information to yourself. Report it to the press. Stay safe. ~Bob

The following is a response to a recent report that I emailed into the DEP after I was warned of mountain lions being spotted in the area where I walk. This was not far from the area of my own sighting. You decide. Part of this email has already been proven wrong by the recent road kill.

Mr. Rich,

I would not let the possible presence of a mountain lion stop you from walking where you want to. As I said we do not have a wild population in this state or any state within 1000 miles. People mistake deer, coyotes, bobcats and other animals for mountain lions all the time. We have investigated at least a 100 alleged mountain lion sightings over the last 10 years or so. All turn out to be bobcats, coyotes or other
animals. I assure you, at a quick glance a bobcat can look like a small mountain lion. People often see a trailing back leg they mistake for a long tail. People that have spent their entire lives in the woods have sent us pictures claiming it was a mountain lion.......all of them turn out to be bobcats upon our inspection. We pick up 30-40 bobcats, 10-20 bears, 60-70 fishers, and thousands of deer each year on the roads of
this state. We have never picked up a mountain lion. We have never been given an actual picture of a mountain lion (imagine this with all the trail cameras out there). We have never been given a picture of a track that even resembled a mountain lion track. Talk to a biologist in any nearby state and they will tell you the same thing. As far as the horse, a bear can do a number on a horse (although they rarely attack livestock) I assure you, we do not have a wild population of mountain lions in CT. Hope this helps,


Jason Hawley
Furbearer/Bear Program
CT DEP Wildlife Division
Sessions Woods WMA
Burlington, CT
860-675-8130
jason.hawley@ct.gov