I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' Recently, a man I spoke with told me that he was reminded of a sighting he and two friends had 20 years earlier, and after recalling the incident he was motivated to call his college buddies and reflect on their observation. (I know, there are no mule deer in PA, well except for the ones held in canned hunt preserves . Visit www.legis.state.pa.us for contact and bill information. Supplemental feeding causes deer and elk to concentrate, which facilitates the spread of diseases like CWD. Hunters will continue to mail antlerless-license applications to county treasurers, as required by law. Quick and easy replacement is available online at www.ilostmycard.com. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. Remember, this one was photographed in Arizona in good puma country, although this was the first one I've recorded there. Pennsylvanias hunting seasons, bag limits and regulations protect wildlife populations for the long-term. Stay calm. I'm a photographer, yet I've never had a chance to snap a photograph of one of these bears. Reporting is mandatory, regardless of harvest, for DMAP (Deep Management Assistance Permits) and second spring turkey licenses. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Possibly, but it seems unlikely that enough would have been released or had escaped to make for a viable population. In 2020, more than 6,000 migratory game birds, including more than 5,000 waterfowl, were banded in Pennsylvania. Those with additional questions related to Pennsylvanias Hunter-Trapper Education program, as well as mentored hunting opportunities, can contact the Pennsylvania Game Commissions Hunter-Trapper Education Division by calling 717-787-7015, from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. What is the minimum and maximum ages for a mentored hunting permit? All of the above are Mountain Lions, or Pumas, or Cougars. The agency employs more than 200 habitat management staff, which includes foresters and land managers, many of whom participate on burn crews as one of their many duties. Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax. I am hoping that more and more people will learn of my own interest in this, and will pass on this information and that I'll receive more reports and, hopefully, sometime, a game camera photo that is definitive. Most of the recent cougar sightings east of the Rocky Mountains were confirmed due to some kind of crash with a train or vehicle and as any Angeleno could tell you, some of them even reside in cities. *Please note: Our state game wardens are responsible for many things, from protecting wildlife, to enforcing hunting regulations, conducting search and rescues, assisting with biological research, educating the public about wildlife and more. The above frame, although admittedly still amorphous, is at least telling. Unfortunately, their web site no longer seems active, and has been taken over by some wacky drug product. For mentored hunters ages 7 and older, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags. Fire improves wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities by increasing soft mast production in shrubs like blueberry, huckleberry and blackberry. The agency is always faced with the challenge of providing as many hunting opportunities as possible, while ensuring the wildlife resource is managed sustainably. Cougar Ecology and Dispersal Young cougars (one- to two-years old) leave their mothers to establish a new territory. Pennsylvania has 308 state games lands, which span more than 1.5 million acres. original web site, although if I ever have enough time I might Two other reports went, in detail, on what they saw, the size, the length of tail, etc. Still, our research shows females (both juvenile and adult) comprise a larger portion of the fall harvest than males. We do not currently know the effects of disease turkey populations. Hunters with bears to be checked after check stations close should contact the appropriate region office. Our smaller Siberian, Mace, is 12 (one foot) at the shoulder and weighs a good 15 pounds. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. These birds are a tangible product for hunting license buyers. Did they migrate south from Canada? The last wild cougar in Pennsylvania was killed in 1871 and the last cougar born on the East Coast was killed in 1938 in Maine. Click here to learn more. The gobbler population in a given area is directly related to the reproductive success of hens in the population. How Can Hunters Modernize Antlerless Deer License Applications? If you see a deer or elk displaying symptoms of CWD, report it to the appropriate Game Commission region office. Harvest tags will continue to be issued in physical form on durable stock. Fall seasons differ according to the wild turkey population density in each Wildlife Management Unit, varying from closed to 3 weeks + a 3-day Thanksgiving holiday season. Alhough Canada lynx have a bigger range than bobcats, they're the only known wildcat species in Pennsylvania, even though people have mistakenly reported sightings of pumas or mountain lions in the region. But they are less shy of pets and livestock, and they don't necessarily stay in the woods, either. I used to archery hunt for deer, and I spent a lot of time (way too much time) sitting silently in a tree stand waiting for deer. Perhaps my Fed Ex driver was simply recalling a rural legend, but he said it was an employee that he knew, and it was a story he heard first-hand. Being outdoors is good health care and self-care; however, recommendations for social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 still apply. Thank you in advance for helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife! The smell of rotting flesh was unmistakable. Those interested in submitting their thoughts and opinions on an issue related to hunting and wildlife in the state are encouraged to email the agency at A prescribed fire is very different from a wildfire because it is planned months, sometimes even years, in advance. Is a mountain lion bigger than a bobcat? The doe bolted for the trees with the cat still attached, and every 6 feet or so you could see a large impression in the snow, which mustve been the cats rump as it was hanging on with teeth and claws. No. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. redo these pages to match the new web site But that's not Is there a Mountain Lion Conspiracy? Mountain Lion / Cougar sighting in Pennsylvania - October 2019 (Part 2) Flatsquatch Productions 1.8K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K views 3 years ago Scott describes his mountain lion /. Over time, cats that had been released in Florida, probably pets that outlived their welcome, bred with the native puma, and their genes mingled. Are the Latest Fast CF Cards worth the Expense? So, couldn't that same argument apply to pumas in the Northeast? With declining turkey populations in many Wildlife Management Units, it might seem logical to eliminate the second spring gobbler tag to reduce harvest. Why is the Game Commission considering the reintroduction of American Martens? This framework represents an effort to proactively revise Pennsylvanias season-setting process to respond to declines, while we still have a functional statewide population. Photos submitted as mountain lions are typically feral housecats. Bowhunter Education course records dating back to 2000 and Cable Restraint/Furtaker Education records dating back to 2005 are also maintained. The elk rut is triggered by photoperiod (day length) and generally begins around the middle of September and carries through early- to mid-October. a high priority. They also instill a fear. Turkeys aren't like deer, which can overpopulate a given area and strip it of available food. By reporting harvests, hunters are helping the Game Commission monitor populations and help set future seasons and bag limits. On average, one antlerless deer is harvested for every four antlerless deer licenses allocated. So is the second largest extant cat in North America still managing to eke out a living in the Keystone state? Where can I find information about hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits? pgccomments@pa.gov for their messages to be shared with the Board of Game Commissioners and appropriate staff. Michelle LaRue, executive director of the Cougar Network and a research ecologist at the University of Minnesota, will discuss the eastern expansion of cougars from their core range in the western U.S. at 7 p.m. in Moravian College's Haupert Union Building, Bethlehem. This is not a Pennsylvania puma! The mountain lion will most likely attempt to tackle you and crush your skull or bite your throat. That does not mean that the agency does not care and that we will not follow up with the information provided. If a bear on your property becomes a nuisance by being destructive or dangerous, you can report it to the Game Commission region office that serves the county in which its located. Again, I've been told that some Game Commission personnel have admitted that pumas may exist in Pennsylvania, but they rationalize this by saying that the pumas are not breeding and they are not from original wild stock. What species can a mentored hunter hunt? Despite yearly reports of cougar sightings in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Hunters and trappers buying licenses online will continue to be mailed all durable-stock license panels, including harvest tags, and will also be given access to eLicenses. Consider planting vegetation that provides both food and cover. However, if it doesn't exist, and if someone saw one, wouldn't there be a worry that it was a dangerous escapee? And while youre here, make sure you check out my free books page and help yourself. But as the South Dakota mountain lion proved, in its at least unusual migration to Connecticut, anything is possible. NEW! Youngsters who participate in the mentored program for at least three years before turning 12 are required to get a license at 12, rather than continuing as a mentored hunter. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? Mature trees are left standing and are typically not impacted by the fire, (unless that is the desired effect). The Pennsylvania Game Commission periodically receives reports and photos of mountain lions. "In one sense you would return a missing ecological community member back to the forest system," Keller said. In 2011, a mountain lion migrated from South Dakota to Connecticut, a journey of some 1,500 miles. Those applying for elk licenses can select which zones they would like to hunt. Users must realize that these decisions are highly weather dependent and therefore cannot be made more than a few days in advance. This bill would eliminate the current process, which includes mailing a pink antlerless deer application envelope to a county treasurer. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. A Game Commission vehicle was there, and the Fed Ex driver, after reaching the bottom of a long hill, turned back to check on what he saw. I have three observations here: 1. Larger and more aggressive animals often exclude younger and weaker animals which causes aggressive behavior resulting in injuries and even death for particularly vulnerable individuals. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. There is a low-slung head and neck, high shoulders, and a long back. And again, while they may have been mistaken, they certainly were completely convinced that they had seen a puma. A dark brown puma, backlighted by a strong sun, could appear all black, or very dark, and he accepted that. Theories include the Nittany Lion, Mountain Lion, Puma, Cougar, Bobcat and even an actual black eastern Panther . Read more here. Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt They are there to help us. More information is available here. How can I replace my Hunter-Trapper Education card? Be safe and stay healthy! I was stupid to not take pics of the tracks. Thats outside the maximum known range for a bobcat, and way beyond the size of any healthy house cat that isnt built like a sausage. Now, if there were any escapes, and if any of these bred with a possible minuscule number of eastern pumas, a relic native population, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? According to the commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. What is a prescribed fire? and are the same size as the American mink and the same length as an adult fox squirrel. On that, I've had emails sent with game trail photo attachments, or killed pumas, supposedly shot in Pennsylvania, but these were hoaxes. Can I shoot a mountain lion in self defense? The Pennsylvania Game Commissions website, mobile app and Hunting and Trapping Digest are all great resources when looking for information related to current hunting and trapping seasons and beg limits. Please remember and take note, it is unlawful to take the antlers that are found still attached to a skull. To learn more about this action, and for an update on the status of turkey management in the Commonwealth, please review the wild turkey biologist's January 2021 report to the board. Those licenses remain available and 2. As biologists are quick to stress, cougars rarely attack humans. One man sent me a game camera photo that was blurry but looked like a mountain lion, or puma, as I like to call them. Click here for information, including regulations, maps, public shooting ranges, seasonal road schedules, access for hunters with disabilities, designated routes for horses and bicycles and more. They rejuvenate succulent browse plants preferred by deer and elk, which promotes oak habitats, and their vitally important acorns, and maintains grasses and broadleaf plants sought by brooding turkeys and grouse. Hunting mortality or number of turkeys harvested, especially in the fall, can affect turkey population due to the harvest of hens. The big cats largely disappeared from the eastern U.S. roughly a century ago. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent state agency and receives no General Fund money from the state's annual budget. Granted, the image is not great, and I used some Photoshop adjustment layers to enhance the image, making it a bit easier to see. I've seen hoaxes, of pumas carrying deer shot with game cameras, but these were of western cats. Yes. They ran across my yard, moving alongside my house, then disappeared into the woods. Can so many people be so wrong? Contact your Game Commission region office for additional information on how to create, preserve, or enhance wildlife habitat. The agency is primarily funded by hunting and furtaker license sales, as well as State Game Lands timber, mineral, oil/gas revenues, a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, and assets that have been procured with license dollars. Using our cat Mace, again, as reference, lets try and see. Rarely seen but surprisingly numerous, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) prowls most of Pennsylvania's woods throughout much of the state. More than half of the Game Commissions annual revenue comes from license sales, a relatively fixed income source. A training certificate, which is recognized throughout North America, is awarded when you pass a test at the end of the course. If the tag was on the antlers, there would be no way to identify the head or carcass. A Mountain Lion Cover Up There are currently four WPRAs in the state. At headquarters, there is an executive staff and seven bureaus: Wildlife Habitat Management, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Protection, Administrative Services, Marketing and Strategic Communications, Information and Education and Automated Technology Services. Yes. Gobblers harvested during the spring season do not impact the overall turkey population because the males we harvest are taken after peak breeding and when over half of the hens have begun incubating eggs. A Hunting &Trapping Digest will be included with your license/permit purchase at no additional cost. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Be familiar with the regulations and guidelines for the transportation of harvested game where you are hunting; 2. At least one made it to Chicago;another wound up inConnecticut. ? Obviously, other pumas must be about, and the series of ridges extending north and east and west from my location could all be included as critical habitat as well. Pennsylvania is home to the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States. Here are a few ways to limit human-bear interactions: Bring pet food containers and bird feeders inside overnight, or completely if bears continually return; keep trash cans inside, if possible, until the morning of collection day; and regularly clean and remove grease from outside grills. However, that said, this past winter we did have a very large bobcat attempt to take a deer behind the house. 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