Pennsylvania Mountain Lion Conspiracy? | |
PA Sleuth (OP) User ID: 636328 United States 01/16/2010 12:08 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Here we go again about mountain lion sightings [link to www.washingtontimes.com] By Gene Mueller on Nov. 5, 2008 into Inside Outside After the Pennsylvania Game Commission said it investigated an alleged mountain lion attack on a Lancaster County resident last month, it quickly said that tests conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab and the East Stroudsburg University in Monroe County determined the samples collected from multiple sites at the scene of the attack tested negative for blood -- that is cougar blood, not that belonging to a human. Tests conducted on a knife that Samuel Fisher, 42, of Sadsbury Township, said he used during the “attack,“ showed human blood and some old deer hair, but nothing that might have belonged to a mountain lion. The state’s wildlife officials were called to an area where Fisher said he shot at one large cat and then was attacked and injured by a second large cat on Oct. 9. A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter came to the area to search for whatever it was that Fisher said attacked him. The police used an infrared thermal imaging camera and also employed search dogs specifically trained to find and follow the trail of cats, but the Game Commission said there was no cat activity in the area other than a small house feline. Now charges may be filed against Fisher for making false or fraudulent statements. “The Game Commission has no evidence of wild, breeding populations of large cats in Pennsylvania to date," said Doug Killough, the commission’s Southeast Region director. However, John A. Lutz, the director of the Eastern Puma Research Network in West Virginia, said that it is ridiculous for the Game Commission to deny the existence of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. “This incident was the first, but the actions of this cougar [tells us] it could be an apparent pet cougar seen roaming the southeastern Lancaster County countryside for months,” said Lutz.. “Repeated cougar sightings have [also] been reported in the Fair Hill area in Cecil County, Md., and Nottingham in southwestern Chester County, Pa., according to residents since July 23,” he added. Lutz also said that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources can supply proof that cougars were or still are in New Castle and Sussex counties. There’s even a video that shows a cougar crossing a field. Article from Inside Outside Washinton Time Blog, November 5, 2008, by Gene Mueller |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 568981 United States 01/16/2010 12:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Interesting. This is a familiar story. Same thing is happening in rural areas of Ohio. State Game commissions are reluctant to admit to having these animals roam their land as it would mean more work for them. The presence of an endangered animal means field research, reports, protection, money spent, etc. These cats have very wide areas that they roam/hunt on a huge circular path that can take many weeks if not months to repeat. And the repetition is so infrequent, they may not be seen or heard again for a long time. It is laziness on the part of the government employees. End rant. |
PA Sleuth (OP) User ID: 636328 United States 01/16/2010 12:19 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Mountain lion reported in Armagh Commission says sightings are probably rural myth [link to lewistownsentinel.com] By Nick Malawskey, Sentinel reporter, [email protected] MILROY - Recent reports of a mountain lion prowling in Armagh Township may be more a rural myth than actual fact, said the Pennsylvania Game Commission on Wednesday. Still, that doesn't stop residents from keeping an eye out for the big cats. Recently, a Laurel Avenue woman reported to the Mifflin County Regional Police she had spotted a mountain lion in her yard, about 40 feet from her house. And while officers were unable to locate the lion, Tammy Soccio said she'll continue to keep an eye out for the cat. Soccio, who contacted the police, said several other residents of the Milroy and New Lancaster Valley said they also have spotted the lion lurking in the woods and the mountains of Armagh Township. Neighborhood residents have taken photos of tracks they believe may belong to the big cat, and Soccio said she was planning on installing game cameras near her property to try and spot the beast. Local Wild Life Officer Jeffrey Mock said although the Pennsylvania Game Commission investigates every sighting, it is unlikely the feline prowling around Armagh is a mountain lion. "Ninety-nine percent of them are somebody sees something, and it's a case of mistaken identity," Mock said. Mock said most sightings turn out to be bobcats, which, according to the game commission, are the only official feline predators in the commonwealth. Mock said although bobcats are "fairly good sized" they would be dwarfed in comparison to a true mountain lion. "(And) unlike foxes and coyotes and bobcats that eat little things ... those mountain lions, they eat big things," Mock said. "In western states they kill bull elk. So if you had one running around they would be eating deer or some pretty big things." The last mountain lion killed in the wild in Pennsylvania was taken in 1967, but it was neutered male not a naturally bred organism. According to the game commission, Pennsylvania's last known wild eastern mountain lion was killed in Berks County in 1874. And, except for Florida, the eastern mountain lion is believed to have been extirpated from the East Coast by 1900. But, during the years, mountain lion sightings have been reported throughout the state. Mock said he thinks part of the mystique of the mountain lion resides in Pennsylvania's rural heritage. "It's a symbol of our wildness," Mock said. "There's a group of people that do want to believe that they are here." Mock said the mountain lion's legendary status is very similar to that of Big Foot - numerous sightings, tracks and anecdotal evidence, but no hard facts. "Once someone sees one or thinks they see one it's kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy," Mock said. "Generally, once you get one call ... it'll keep going and going and going until it stops." Still, the game commission is happy to investigate any sightings reported to the agency. "I would certainly encourage people if they think they see one to give us a call to come and we'll take a look at it," Mock said. The south-central Pennsylvania Game Commission office can be reached at (814) 643-1831. Article from the Lewistown Sentinel, September 4, 2008, by Nick Malawskey, Sentinel Reporter |
PA Sleuth (OP) User ID: 636328 United States 01/16/2010 12:28 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Wild Cat Caught On Tape In Western Pa. Neighbors Concerned For Safety [link to www.wpxi.com] Posted: 10:01 am EST November 8, 2007 Updated: 11:34 am EST November 8, 2007 ARMSTRONG COUNTY, Pa. -- A local couple shot home video of what they think is a mountain lion. Mindy Shearer said, “He come out of the corner of woods here. Actually laid on back and was rolling around and scratching and stuff.” But the game warden can't say for sure what it is. The animal was spotted in South Buffalo Township in Armstrong County last month. Mindy said, “I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was kind of awe-inspiring. I wasn’t afraid. People said, ‘Weren't you afraid?’ No -- it was a mountain lion!” The eastern cougar is on the endangered species list. Over the last two months there have been at least a dozen sightings in southwestern Armstrong County. The Shearers are sure they saw one not far from their home. “There was no question in my mind. It wasn't moving like a dog, wasn't moving like a deer. It was a cat -- a big cat,” Mindy said. Bill Shearer added, “I would venture to say 180 pounds. It was big real big.” They managed to catch a few seconds of video and showed Channel 11 the tape. The picture is shaky but startling. Channel 11 talked to the wildlife officer who also saw the tape. He said it looks like a mountain lion but he can't be sure. Another neighbor said he saw what looked like a mountain lion while in a tree stand in nearby woods on the first day of archery season. With plenty of wildlife to keep the beast close to houses, neighbors are concerned for their children's safety. Mindy said, “When it's happening you're not afraid but when you stop and think about it and you think basically these things are killers. So, that's my fear; its' going to grab a kid.” Bill said, “In California, those hikers and bikers being stalked and attacked and killed … if this thing is still around, it’s an issue. “ Officials said if it is a cougar, it's likely an illegal pet that got away. But they need more pictures and more evidence before taking action. Article from WPXI (Pittsburgh), November 8, 2007 |
PA Sleuth (OP) User ID: 636328 United States 01/16/2010 12:33 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | [link to www.encyclopedia.com] I wonder if one of these Mountain Lions can be documented if one would get their 15 minutes of fame? |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 866534 United States 01/16/2010 12:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The Arkansas Game and Fish Comission says the same thing. People have always claimed to see mountain lions for years, even though the AGFC says the last one was killed in the early 1900's. My dad used to do a lot of coon hunting with hounds at night and he claims to have seen several in the past. What he was seeing, and what most sightings consist of, are "black panthers" which are said to not exist in North America. They are treated kind of like Bigfoot or other cryptids. Anyway, recently, the AGFC has conceded that there may be less than 10 mountain lions in the state at any one time, and that they are traveling in and out from other states. When you get into some areas in the Ouachita and Ozark mountains of Arkansas, it becomes clear that you could never be 100% certain what is out there, due to the vastness of the areas. |
bobnightman
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bobnightman
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3bbb
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Anonymous Coward User ID: 68118 United States 01/16/2010 12:55 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | They've been sighted in WV, and Va too. There have been several sightings here in my area of Va. Personally, I've seen two wild cats with long tail, dark in color, both were at least twice the size of a bobcat. About the size of a skinny full grown lab(dog). Alot of people here think they were reintroduced to curb deer population. Another theory suggests they escaped from zoos or containment. And yet another that suggests they migrated from the deep south where large black cats still thrive in the wild. There is a shelter in WV near the WV / Pa border that cares for neglected wild cats or cougars. I've also heard them, they sound like a woman screaming, pretty scary sound I gotta say. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 853352 United States 01/16/2010 12:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | With so many sitings, I bet the place is infested with cougars. And I'm not talking about the MILF, Pabst Blue Ribbon driking kind, either. BTW, I am from So Cal. I am afraid to hike in the hills alone because of the big cats. Attacks are rare. But still, I have seen deer standing on trails surprised as I round a corner, and I keep thinking, "Wow, that could have been a lion. And that deer may well become a lion's next meal. |
JF Priest
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mopar28m
User ID: 683557 United States 01/16/2010 01:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Hundreds of sightings occur annually. I've seen wolves & wolverines in Iowa too. vaccinefreehealth blogspot com The risk far outweighs any benefit as the risk will vary from child to child. facebook.com/graphixyourway |
Hickory
User ID: 837690 United States 01/16/2010 01:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It would'nt surprise me if their was mountain lions in PA. You have an abundance of wildlife, bears, coyotes, bobcats why not mountain lions. I would love to see one in the wild, from a distance of course. You have one life. Live it. You have one voice, use it. You have one :Hickory-1: |
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Anonymous Coward User ID: 783923 Canada 01/16/2010 01:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Interesting. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 568981This is a familiar story. Same thing is happening in rural areas of Ohio. State Game commissions are reluctant to admit to having these animals roam their land as it would mean more work for them. I disagree. At every waking moment, gov't agencies attempt to expand whenver & wherever they can. A simple DNA test will confirm the claims in the article. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 854062 United States 01/16/2010 01:53 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
hoot no more/hasheater User ID: 866604 Switzerland 01/16/2010 02:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Light green forest service trucks have been covertly dropping these trapped in cali cats all over the east for years. It is part of the 'Rewilding of America' program of the "Agenda 21" of TPTB. Just as damned real and sh!tty a program as the chemtrails They are in almost all the states of the east now. Friend of mine saw one in the Michigan U.P. ten years ago. Recently very very clear trail camera pictures of them have been taken there |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 853352 United States 01/16/2010 02:42 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
PA Sleuth User ID: 618832 United States 01/16/2010 04:16 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I do quite a bit of solo backpacking and camping in PA. I have never seen or heard a mountain lion (nor saw a sign of one), however I am apt to believe they are here. I heard a pack of wolves howling one time when hiking the Old Loggers Path up above Williamsport in what was formally Tiadaghton State Forest (now Loyalsock State Forest). I also heard something strange once when camping on Shade Mountain in Bald Eagle State Forest (sounded like a strange whooping sound off in the distance). |
PA Sleuth User ID: 618832 United States 01/16/2010 04:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Light green forest service trucks have been covertly dropping these trapped in cali cats all over the east for years. It is part of the 'Rewilding of America' program of the "Agenda 21" of TPTB. Just as damned real and sh!tty a program as the chemtrails Quoting: hoot no more/hasheater 866604They are in almost all the states of the east now. Friend of mine saw one in the Michigan U.P. ten years ago. Recently very very clear trail camera pictures of them have been taken there I was thinking about this... If so many people are spotting them and the Game Commission swears up and down they don't exist then it could be possible that either they have migrated here in small numbers, OR the Game Commission has a reason for keeping "hush" about it. Reasons for them to keep silent would be the animals are escaped from somewhere that would be embarassing to either the Game Commission or the State, it's a federal program, or it's some sort of eco extremist group taking rewilding into their own hands. The "theory" I keep hearing over and over again though is that they (the PGC) are secretly re-introducing them to decrease the deer population and they have them tagged and tracked to keep the mountain lion population under control. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 842655 United States 01/16/2010 04:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Iowa DNR officials are maintaining that there isn't any mountain lions in Iowa either despite the fact that 4 have "officially" been killed by hunters. Quoting: mopar28mHundreds of sightings occur annually. I've seen wolves & wolverines in Iowa too. What the f*ck are hunters shooting them for in the first place? That would be highly illegal. Or do hunters think they can shoot anything in the woods and get away with it? I wish all hunters would shoot each other in the face, the f*cking cowards. Big man with a gun. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 785725 United States 01/16/2010 04:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Iowa DNR officials are maintaining that there isn't any mountain lions in Iowa either despite the fact that 4 have "officially" been killed by hunters. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 842655Hundreds of sightings occur annually. I've seen wolves & wolverines in Iowa too. What the f*ck are hunters shooting them for in the first place? That would be highly illegal. Or do hunters think they can shoot anything in the woods and get away with it? I wish all hunters would shoot each other in the face, the f*cking cowards. Big man with a gun. only if walmart has no food bwahaha |
Hickory
User ID: 837690 United States 01/16/2010 05:56 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Iowa DNR officials are maintaining that there isn't any mountain lions in Iowa either despite the fact that 4 have "officially" been killed by hunters. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 842655Hundreds of sightings occur annually. I've seen wolves & wolverines in Iowa too. What the f*ck are hunters shooting them for in the first place? That would be highly illegal. Or do hunters think they can shoot anything in the woods and get away with it? I wish all hunters would shoot each other in the face, the f*cking cowards. Big man with a gun. I don't know what hunters would be shooting at them for either. Its not like they are going to use them for food. Just a reason to kill. Makes me sick. You have one life. Live it. You have one voice, use it. You have one :Hickory-1: |
PA Sleuth User ID: 514702 United States 01/16/2010 07:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Iowa DNR officials are maintaining that there isn't any mountain lions in Iowa either despite the fact that 4 have "officially" been killed by hunters. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 842655Hundreds of sightings occur annually. I've seen wolves & wolverines in Iowa too. What the f*ck are hunters shooting them for in the first place? That would be highly illegal. Or do hunters think they can shoot anything in the woods and get away with it? I wish all hunters would shoot each other in the face, the f*cking cowards. Big man with a gun. Self defense maybe? Defending their livestock perhaps? I don't think any one has enough information about that story at this point to be passing judgment. As I stated earlier, I do a lot of backpacking and camping (solo), but I do not hunt (I fish though and I am pro-hunting). I also carry a firearm with me when I do either 3 outdoors activities. I have had enough close calls with all sorts of wildlife to know it is a good idea to bring along a gun (as a last resort) for protection. I haven't had to use it yet, but I want it with me in case I some day need it to protect myself from a crazed or startled animal, rabid hippies, or soulless urban dwellers. Bringing along a firearm levels the playing field against something with claws and paws the size of your head, teeth that can crush a skull, and a weight that puts an NFL lineman to shame. I consider men/women that carry firearms to be rather intelligent people who value their own lives and the lives of others. Now, compare that to useless imbeciles who love themselves, hate those with differing opinions, and who think man has no right to do what is only natural while also espousing how we must protect nature (of which man is part of). |
PA Sleuth User ID: 514702 United States 01/16/2010 07:56 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Cougar Reports on the Rise in Eastern U.S. [link to news.nationalgeographic.com] By Cameron Walker for National Geographic News March 7, 2003 At one time, spotting a cougar in the eastern United States ranked alongside an encounter with Bigfoot or a UFO. But over the years, the rise in cougar tales has sparked an interest in wildlife officials and cougar enthusiasts alike. Now, four wilderness lovers have formed a new network to trace cougar presence from the prairie to the eastern seaboard. "There was a need for somebody to really document what the cougar status is in the East," said Ken Miller, one of the Eastern Cougar Network's (ECN) four founders. Lynx Needs Habitat Corridor Protection, Study Suggests Montana Town Seeks Ways to Repel Cougars, Bears Elusive Snow Leopard Seen in Rare Photos Rare Leopard Behavior Documented on Film Big Cats Kept as Pets Across U.S., Despite Risk The founders spent a year compiling research and sightings from eastern states, talking to fish and wildlife officials and cougar biologists, and implementing a rigorous system for confirming cougar presence. The ECN Web site debuted earlier this month. "The thing just slowly evolved," said co-founder Bob Wilson, a high school biology teacher in Kansas. The four men worked by phone and email to put together the network. "Before we knew it, we were little boys working on a real fun project." One of the network's most striking accomplishments is a map of the cougar presence in the eastern United States. Sprinkled with dots that mark probable and confirmed cougar encounters, the map suggests that cougars may be crossing from legend into reality. "When we started putting this together, it became really compelling," said ECN co-founder Mark Dowling. While this doesn't mean that the mountain lions are returning in force, it does suggest a comeback for these animals once thought extirpated from the eastern half of North America. "Whether or not this is happening, we're probably not going to know for sure for the next ten years," said Wilson. "But it gives us a tantalizing picture that these mountain lions might be coming back." Mountain Lion Mystique Cougar, puma, mountain lion, catamount, panther—by any name, this big cat has inspired wilderness lovers across the country. "There's just a basic enthusiasm for mountain lions," Wilson said. "They're beautiful, they're graceful. It's kind of a link with the past." The fourth-largest cat in the world, cougars in North America once ranged from coast to coast. With wild lands cleared for agriculture and game hunting on the rise, populations of cougars and other large predators took heavy hits. By the 1960s, cougars dwindled in the western states and were declared extinct in the East. One of the cougar's former haunts was the state of Iowa. The last historical record in the state occurred in 1867. But in the late 1990s, wildlife officials started to get reports of these large cats on the prowl. Initially officials didn't believe the sightings. "We thought these guys were spending too much time at the bars," said Ron Andrews, furbearer resource specialist with Iowa Department of Natural Resources. But the reports kept trickling in. In 2001, two weeks after the state had announced that a few wild cougars might be present, a run-in between car and cougar provided wildlife officials with the first tangible evidence of the cat's existence. Scientists examined the teeth and claws of the animal, and determined the cat had been living in the wild. Since then, interest—and reports—of cougars in Iowa have grown. "We're still pondering about what's happening out there," said Andrews. "There could be a few free-ranging wild mountain lions in the state." But with thousands of cougars in private hands across the country, it's also possible the mountain lions spotted in the wild could be escaped captives, he said. "Should mountain lions actually be occurring naturally, we think it's exciting to see these animals come back," Andrews said. Lynx Needs Habitat Corridor Protection, Study Suggests Montana Town Seeks Ways to Repel Cougars, Bears Elusive Snow Leopard Seen in Rare Photos Rare Leopard Behavior Documented on Film Big Cats Kept as Pets Across U.S., Despite Risk One kink in the cougar story has been how to put North American cats into a family tree. In the early 1950s, the cougar was broken into 15 different subspecies. Currently, two of these subspecies, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar) and the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi), are listed as endangered by the federal Endangered Species Act. In 1999, a study by Stephen O'Brien and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute suggested the North American cats may be closer relatives than previously thought. Many cougar biologists now think that the cats in North America species are so closely related they should be considered a single subspecies. For now, the splits within the cougar species stand, and it's unclear how changing species designations would affect cougar protection. One thing that is clear is the cougar's comeback. In the West, mountain lion populations have started to boom, with states like Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado declaring the cats completely recovered. The slow reappearance of the animals in the East could be the movements of these large ranging cats. Increased protection of wild lands and reduced human hunting pressure may have helped the cougars and other predators by protecting the animals and the prey they eat. "Nationwide, there's obviously a wildlife population expansion that's occurring," said Andrews. In the prairie and Midwest, predators like black bears, wolves, and bobcats are beginning to return to spots where they haven't been seen in years. While most news about the environment may be of doom and gloom, Dowling said, "I think the cougar is a real wildlife success story." Importance of Confirmation To make the process of confirming cougar presence more rigorous, the Eastern Cougar Network limits confirmations to specific criteria. "Sightings can be wrong—people can see a housecat and think it's a cougar," said ECN co-founder Miller. To guard against this possibility, ECN maps only cougar finds determined to be "confirmed" or "probable." A confirmed cougar requires the body of a dead cougar, a live captured cougar, a photograph of an animal, or DNA evidence. To tally a probable cougar encounter, ECN looks for cougar-specific tracks, wounds or kills on prey that mirror a cougar's hunting style, or a sighting by a wildlife official. The network provides contact information for wildlife officials in eastern states for those who want to report cougar presence, as well as creating a spot for managers to learn what's happening with the cougar in neighboring areas. "Now all the states know what's going on in all the other ones," Dowling said. Todd Lester, who started the nonprofit Eastern Cougar Foundation in 1998, said that the new network will be a big help in coordinating cougar knowledge across the East. The founders of ECN hope to continually update their site, compiling cougar reports and working with wildlife officials to learn more about cougar habitat to uncover what areas could be future sites for cougar expansion. With all these goals, one of the founders has a personal one as well. Wilson, who has spent 20 years capturing wildlife on film, still hasn't seen a cougar. "I would just about give anything to see one in the wild," he said. Article from National Geographic, March 7, 2003, by Cameron Walker |
PA Sleuth User ID: 514702 United States 01/16/2010 08:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | [link to www.pabucks.com] Also, this comment was made as a reply to the article available at the above link: Dave Ohmer, Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:29 pm The PGC has never outright denied that cougars are in PA - just that they are not here naturally. A few years back, I had a conversation with an administrator in the PGC, and he admitted that, at that time, the PGC knew of several cougars in PA, and that all of them were either escapees, or illegal releases from owners who couldn't take care of them anymore. The vast majority of these cats have had their canine teeth removed, and starve to death within a few months of release. |