Mountain Lions in Mass??

[MassHunter2190]

Ok, I'm not really sure if this is "on-topic" or if I'm posting it in the wrong place, but I'm curious...

Has anybody else seen mountain lions/tracks of Ml's, or know somebody who has in Mass?

1. In '98, a friend of mine, (who's big on tracking), was absolutely positive that he saw mountain lion tracks just a couple miles behind my house. BIG cat tracks, with very distinctive tail dragging behind it.


2. Maybe 6 months back, I went for a walk with one of my dogs. We came out to a small field and the dog ran to the other side of the field, (maybe 120 yards away) and got into one hell of a fight with what I'm pretty sure was a mountain lion. The unknown...thing...was on its hind legs most of the time and taking short, stabby strikes at my dog's face. Like a house cat would do. Except this thing was no house cat. It stood maybe 5-6 ft. from what I could tell. But the thing that caught my attention the most was its long tail. After it got bored beating up my dog, it took off into the woods. I could tell that it was light-brown/tanish in color. (Dog made it out alright with just some minor cuts)

What else could have either of those been around here?

Has anyone else had an experience like this before?

(It seems more and more species are coming out these ways, it's not uncommon to see a moose now-a-days )

Any comments would be appreciated

 

[arcticap]

Being from neighboring CT, I've read newspaper and magazine reports about how people buy cougars as pets and then release them into the wild after a period of time. One could imagine that some of these may be declawed or surgically altered in some ways that may identify them as not being truely wild. Scat samples can be used to help confirm the identity. I have also read about hybred turkeys in the central MA area (Quabbin?) that were a cross between domestic and wild turkeys, thus they take on a mixed identity sort of like coydogs. Supposedly, the Hudson River acts as a major impediment to most natural eastward animal migration but is not a total showstopper.

 

[mete]

Vermont has documented that they have mountain lions.They have been doing DNA tests on scat. I know someone who has seen one at his home there.The problem is that many states refuse to admit they have the cats such as NY and PA. I have talked to people who have personally seen them in VT, MI, NY, PA. WV and NJ have introduced them to help reduce deer populations.

 

[Outrigger]

I had one cross the road in front of me about 5 years ago here in Vermont. If you see one you realize it sure can't be anything else! It wouldn't surprise me one bit for them to have moved farther south and east.

 

[LaEscopeta]

Keep in mind tracks can get bigger with time in several types of media. Like melting snow or drying mud will make tracks bigger, and often still retain the original shape, through not always. I suspect many of the Bigfoot tracks over the decades are boot tracks that got way big, and distorted enough so someone thought they saw toes. I also suspect some of the mountain lion tracks are really bobcat or lynx tracks that grew bigger and retained their shape. A couple ways to tell the different is look for the dragging tail marks (as noted in the post above) and measure the distance between the footprints. I don’t remember the exact number but when walking the track spacing is something like 15% or 25% of the cat’s length (assuming the back foot steps in the front foot print, the way most cats usually walk.)

I like the fact that big animals like mountain lions seems to be expanding. The fact that states can deny there existence makes me think they have learned how to avoid humans, so hopefully we will be able to co-exist this time.

 

[jobu07]

The problem is that many states refuse to admit they have the cats such as NY and PA.

You can say that again. We have had some major news stories from Buffalo to Elmira lately of big cats and cougars roaming the hills. The problem is our state DEC is rabidly denying that mountain lions exist in our state.

Eh. I've heard that when a mountain lion is released into the wild that it can travel up to 400 miles looking for another cat to mate with before establishing it's "home territory." And if that is the case states like West Virginia, that do have wild cat programs, are about a 400 mile straight shot down the Appalachains or Alleghany's. And they are mountain lions afterall.

 

[ScottsGT]

SC won't admit that there black panthers here, but a close friend had one in his yard about 10 years back, and he knows what he is talking about. Also met a hunter that saw one about 15 years beack in the area I hunt in. We've head some really chilling cats screaming in the woods, but you know how things can be when you are all alone in a tree stand late in the evening Was probably nothing more than a bobcat.

 

[mete]

Screaming in the woods ? a good chance that it was a great horned owl or screech owl , they're noted for making strange sounds !!

 

[ScottsGT]

Trust me, that was no owl! Now the owl did cause me to go home and change my underwear too!

 

[Preacherman]

Upon reading the title of this thread, I was wondering if the new Pope had introduced a radical new liturgical innovation to Catholic services...

 

[jobu07]

Upon reading the title of this thread, I was wondering if the new Pope had introduced a radical new liturgical innovation to Catholic services...

Yeah, uh, ya owe me a new coke after that one... mine is all over the wall.

 

[Augustwest]

I know several reliable folks who have seen them in NW Conn/SW Mass. Connecticut DEP says no way, no how...but they're out there.

Oh, and that same DEP who says the big cats aren't out there says it's illegal to kill them

 

[Man from Mich]

I spotted a mountain lion at the Wal-Mart parking lot. I think this lion was a union member because he seemed very lazy and confused. I not sure, but I think he was protesting Wal-Mart too.

 

[aut2no]

Has anyone else had an experience like this before?

To help get your thread back, I live nearby the sightings in the Beverly, Manchester/Hamilton area. Confusing reports - could be a cougar (former pet?) or a mountain lion (several have been spotted in New England)
A friend of mine found on his land a doe carcass severely mauled with large claw marks . No one had seen anything like it locally before. This area is under hunted with an over abundance of deer and coyotes. I'm not aware of anyone having spotted the large cat for several months now, but we've had heavy snow cover and folks haven't been in woods.

Some links for you to read:

This one is linked from the Beverly PD
http://geocities.com/beverlybigcat/home.html

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/2480632/detail.html

http://www.thelandmark.com/story.php3?story=6321

pages from local newspapers don't seem to come up on google searches anymore...if I run across more I'll post it for you


These sighting much further away in Acton, MA
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/11/12/town_pounces_on_lion_tales/

In Rutland, VT
http://www.thelandmark.com/story.php3?story=6321

 

[aut2no]

Screaming in the woods ? a good chance that it was a great horned owl or screech owl , they're noted for making strange sounds !!

here's the sound
http://www.mortay.com/Cougar/Scream.aiff

 

[Husker1911]

"could be a cougar (former pet?) or a mountain lion (several have been spotted in New England)"
===============================================

I'm not sure your meaning here. Cougars and mountain lions one and the same. Panthers, painters, several names from different regions. All the same creature. BTW, it's the most wide ranging mammal in the new world.

As for authorities denying their existance, same thing happened here in Nebraska. Game and Parks vehemently denied their existance for years. Several have been killed across the state in the last several years. Personally, I find it exciting and satisfying a wild predator has reclaimed its former territory. I'd dearly love to observe one. But you know what? I wouldn't alert the authorities. Nothing good could come to the animal. Sure, I carry a defense measure when I'm in the woods, but I'll respect their right to make a living. Just my .02 worth!

 

[aut2no]

Cougars and mountain lions one and the same

Agreed, just poorly written sentence on my part. The "cougar" sound file I posted was to show what a mountain lion sounded like.

 

[swampsniper]

Florida Panther

There are more big cats in Florida, in more places, than the state will admit to. If they admit it, they have to spend money on studies and reports.
At the rate this state is growing it is only a matter of time before the cats get pushed out in to the open.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/

 

[JamisJockey]

Don't forget about Bobcats, too. A layperson won't know any different.

 

[Husker1911]

Oh, I beg to differ. In most cases, a tail half the length of the animal is quite distinctive!

 

[JamisJockey]

Oh, I beg to differ. In most cases, a tail half the length of the animal is quite distinctive!

A hunter, outdoorsman, or someone who paid attention in biology would know the difference. Joe or Jane Sixpac probably wouldn't know the difference.

 

[rcm]

Local LEO here have spotted a big cat twice in Grantham. Calling it a mountain lion. Fish and Game says it is absolutely possible.

We had a linx in the back yard the other day. Beautiful animal.

 

[Colt46]

One killed in City limits of San Jose

just yesterday. Yet, there is still no way to hunt them. They seem quite bold and I suppose it won't change until children start disappearing that the Legislature will do something about it.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Their in my area of Ky also we have heard them and no they weren't bobcats.