Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania ~ New Series Intro

[@NYPrepper]

Pennsylvania has the perfect terrain and topography for Mountain Lions. Steep cliffs and mountain country plus their #1 prey is Whitetail deer.

[@hettro-cv6082]

Remember that the Game Commision insisted years ago that there were no coyote in Pa! Guess they were wrong then how about now?

[@cherylcobern4483]

Those are in greater Pittsburgh PA area, as well.

[@703am]

I'm close to Uniontown pa and there are coyote around this area for sure occasional bobcat sighting as well

[@bondmood]

There are coyotes in Chicago! Love it.

[@martharetallick204]

Five years ago, I was in my old Chesco neighborhood. The big buzz was about our new neighbor, the coyote.

[@the_k9_cpt]

theyre all over valley forge!

[@chuckhuthmakerlvrr8866]

Last Fall while riding my bicycle along the Pine Creek trail, a very large bobcat jumped from one side of the trail onto the trail just in front of me. I can understand someone claiming to see a mountain Lion. But no tail....this was a large bobcat. Plus it had them pointy black hairs coming up from ears.

[@panda4757]

They’re a different color too

[@MaksimOutdoors]

Excellent video Cliff, I will add my two cents. After talking to many folks including hikers, hunters and so fourth I’ve met quite a few people that swear up and down they’ve seen them, after looking into the lion that crossed from the Dakotas to Connecticut that should be proof enough that a stray lion could’ve easily passed through the state. Now do I believe there is some community of them hiding away up in the national forest? Nah, but I do believe we have a few stragglers that roam through the state from time to time. The way the forests are rebounding I believe in the near future we may have a small population here in the wilds. Thanks for making this video buddy.

[@tangara7166]

Totally agree with you. Some sightings in the 70s to 90s could be escaped pets. There were plenty being sold in the state, then that was outlawed. Undoubtedly, some were tossed out when they outgrew the cute kitten phase.

[@katrinascreationscrafting]

In the 1990's my husband and his co-worker saw one. This was in Howard County, MD in the Pig Tail Recreation area of Tridelphia reservoir. They had stopped at the parking lot to eat lunch and across the branch of water they saw it walking along the shoreline. They got out of the truck to get a better look. The animal was several hundred yards away in a restricted WSSC area. They could tell it was a very large cat by the shoulder movements when it walked. It turned and stared at them when it heard the truck doors shut, then went up the ravine. It had a long tail so they knew it wasn't a bobcat. They went to the ranger station to report it, but were not taken seriously. And, no, they were not drinking their lunch.

[@WhatisHealth-q7l]

I saw a glimpse of one in Patapsco State Park in the mid 90s. They are in every state.

[@chrisdraughn5941]

In Odenton, Maryland near the State prison complex there was family who had several mountain lions, circa 1990. They were captive mountain lions, supposedly legally kept but the MD DNR eventually removed them. I suspect some of the mountain lion sightings from Maryland were due to people releasing captive mountain lions, perhaps that family in Odenton?

[@zkruic1883]

So crazy that you posted this around the time i saw a mountain lion. i think, anyway. i was at the in-laws barn, near the juniata, strolling up the clearing next to a treeline, and was not aware of the mountain lion debate at all!! however i saw a large light brown cat with a long tail suddenly leap from the treeline deeper into the forest. It had been watching us, and I didn't notice until we unintentionally moved towards it, spooking it to run away. Its movement is what stuck in my head- it moved in that bendy way like a cat, and its tail twisted after it. it happened too fast to take a picture, unfortunately. i described to my partner what i saw and they rushed us out, haha. i assumed that it was merely an anomaly, a singular hungry lion that got lost looking for food or something, like a shark in a missippi river.

[@NYPrepper]

I have no doubt they are around PA. I know several people who said they had seen mountain lion dens in their neighborhoods in Central PA. Also the Elk calf mortality rate was found to be unusually high, and much higher than initially thought. Somethings killing them and I doubt it's all Coyotes or Bear.

[@susanfromthemountains1754]

Thanks for showing the two different books. I went online and ordered both for my husband for his birthday coming up. He will really love them. Also I ordered him a new and really good pair of binoculars. He will be thrilled with his gifts. You've been such a a big help to me and I'll be sure to let my husband know how I got the idea for the two books. He loves maps too, like you. He always has- for nearly seven decades now. Thanks so much! Your channel is one of my favorites for many years. Thanks for keeping it up. There's never a dull video. God bless you.

[@mikemcdaid5201]

Very cool series. I'm a rookie just catching up to you. This is great thanks man.

[@MarileeEllicks-lm2jj]

I hear and see mountain lions and coyotes in northern Susquehanna co, Pa.. in the 1950s we could hear the screams of lions in our farm hollow.

[@KurtG-nn2cz]

Excellent presentation. You did a great analysis. For many years cougars were reported by folks in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The DNR denied it for years or claimed they were escaped pets. They started showing up on game cameras and eventually DNA was recovered. All the samples recovered were from South Dakota or Wyoming. Last fall a hunter captured a video on his game cam of a cougar killing a doe in the UP. The DNR confirms all reported sightings. The frequency has gone up a lot in the last few years. There are no confirmed females found. As you suggested all appear to be younger males. One was confirmed a few years ago in the lower peninsula and others were reported by National Park employees at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. One of the employees had worked at parks out west and was familiar with cougars. It would not surprise me to find that the occasional cougar makes it to Pennsylvania. If so one will eventually show up on a game camera. By the way a wolf was shot by a coyote hunter in Michigan several months ago not far from the Indiana border. It was a case of mistaken identity and the DNR confirmed it was a wolf most likely from the UP where there is a large population of them .

[@marysalmon2367]

i don't find it hard to believe some cats could be making their way from Idaho. NW PA is very remote with plenty of game.

[@alexlare3009]

I've come to this video due to a well respected neighbor in westminister maryland claiming one was in his woods line looking at him and his dog going in his back door and it blew me away because I saw 4inch cat paws in the snow about 3 minutes from his spot

[@josephdixon1827]

When living in Pa. 2000-2002, I seen an adult cougar ran through a harvested cornfield at the foot of where I was living at that time in New Swickley TWP. Western Pa. I came up from Florida where I have seen a few panthers in the wild and recognized immediatley what I seen. So are Cougars living throughout all of Pa?" I have no idea, but after that spring day, I shall assume they do.

[@travelsbytank2407]

You can add me to the list of people that have a sighting. In an area you have been to. It was a big cat,long tail and a very fluid walk. It crossed the forest service road some distance from me but I had a very clear view. Weiser State forest Greenland Tract .

[@brianmartin3084]

I have a scouting camera pics/vids of a bobcat with very few spots and a pretty long tail from Juniata county Pa

[@bondmood]

During your mail episode you read part of a letter from someone who can't really get out to the places you do. That's me. I can't travel much at all anymore and certainly can't hike around. So THANK you so much for making your videos. They're relaxing, informative and just all around enjoyable. My faves are when you're camping. You do a great job making the viewer feel like they're actually coming along. You have a great voice as well. I love this new series. If I had my choice, I would restore as many animals back to original lands as possible. I suppose I'm naive. Sorry for rambling. 😅

[@mariaroshon949]

I appreciate the fact that you’re presenting both sides.

[@matthewj2492]

Yes!!! Saw one, RT 380 as we were heading to Scranton, could not believe it. Took off just as we passed it. Last November.

[@outandaboutsciencewithmr.g]

From a fellow science teacher Cliff....You are 100 percent correct in all of your analysis of the situation and what you think are happening. I have been keeping tabs on this for years and have come across the same exact research and explanations as well. You did an awesome job of explaining this for everyone. Why you are the best!!

[@janmcclure6239]

We are partially retired and commute between central PA and western PA weekly. We are very familiar with wildlife and we have seen one. I won't say where. We also had a bobcat in our back yard near Shaver's Creek (central PA)

[@kategrossi8717]

100% agree. I have seen 2 myself. Also live in western PA. I get annoyed when he says he are mistakening bobcats for cougars. They dont really look similar at all if you spend any time at all. They are not the same size, color, shape. Hes from Eastern PA which is more heavily populated than western PA... and from the comments, I have noticed people claiming in the comments they have seen them in western PA.. so theres a trend.

[@panda4757]

Bobcats are common in PA and the population is on the rise.

[@cranerigging3604]

We have them in south Indiana . The stories go back generations and my Grand Dad always called them a Panther . The Wife almost ran over one last year crossing the road . It's fur coat had somewhat or a reddish brown color . Big as a German Sheppard dog .

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was fabulous thanks looking forward to series. Sounds like Australia whether Tasmanian Tiger. I know they are there but hope they are left alone. I’ve seen docos about the Mountain Lion and they are beautiful. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@countryayersdetecting1980]

Here in Garrett Co Md ,south of pitttsburgh . We’ve had several pics on trail can of cougar and also black cat (puma) near swallow falls .

[@patriciawilson5950]

While riding a bike trail near Pittsburgh, we saw warning signs for cougars. Then I saw my first rattlesnake. Pittsburgh proved more wild than our northern Michigan! Seriously, this video was very informative. I had no idea that cougars would migrate like that. Our zoo had a cougar and a bobcat sharing a cage and it was hard to tell the difference. It's all about the tail. Thanks for sharing. This sounds like a great series.

[@panda4757]

I live near Pittsburgh, if you saw either of those things while visiting it was 100% someone’s pet, we get lots of alligators too

[@joangravel2436]

Thanks for awesome video I enjoyed watching

[@dennisgibble7166]

Thanks cliff for the very good update o the mt . Lions .. how bout those " nittany lions " ? We are Penn state ! 😂

[@Bandz6x]

there’s definitely mountain lions here bro. there was report of one near route 100 in pennsylvania

[@rickyt3961]

thanks! Cliff. great information 👍🏾

[@icarusburning2208]

I'm from SE PA but now live in Northern MN, and I believe you guys could have some living in the thicker woods. We have them here but that wasn't always the case, lots of sightings on trail cams and first hand accounts but DNR will not say they are here either. The one that was killed by a car in Connecticut 10 years ago came from ND.

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

Thanks and Yes there are Mountain Lions all over Northern New England and Canada .

[@squidgameisaliarisawnosqui5341]

Love the new series I'll be watching as always great stuff ty Steve On To The Next YES PLEASE 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@2DAKE2]

I saw a mountain lion in Mansfield back in 2006ish when I was outside playing in the woods with my neighbor. That was the only time I ever saw one and it was terrifying. It had a huge tail and giant paws. Also saw several bob cats over the years and you can definitely tell the difference between the two

[@ruthgoebel723]

I've heard of these stories. In our area there are stories of tue 'catamount', some sort of ekusive wild cat-like creature. Some think it is a mountain lion. Who knows? These creatures supposedly were in the Blue Mountain area back in the day. We have ttail cam son our property and see all manner of interesting things. Thanks for this new series.

[@susandidier8274]

Cliff you’re an excellent teacher. Really enjoy your presentation. But does not seeing something mean it isn’t there?

[@JimmyBeanz13]

About 35 years ago my uncle saw one near the old coke ovens in Defiance, PA. He has been a lifelong hunter/now retired hunter. He swears to it til this day.

[@cherylcobern4483]

Yes! I've seen a couple, western PA, and YES, they were definitely mountain lions; and some have seen one in the greater Pittsburgh area, got a front on pic, clearly cougar. Well, THEY ARE in Pennsylvania, NOT just in zoos.. they are in the wild. I know what i saw, in early 2022, i identified what i saw - dead cougar cub. So, either theres a resident breeding pair or a migrating breeding pair in my area. I saw a black one in early 80s, jumping railroad tracks near where i live, and yes, it was not a housecat, had a long tail & nose to tip of tail, spanned the tracks.

[@kategrossi8717]

I am also from western PA and I 100% agree with you. I have seen two on two different occasions several years apart. My grandfather also saw one hit on the road, picked it up and called the game commission to come and see it and prove to them that they do exist and GC told him over the phone that it wasn't a cougar that it was a bobcat.. then a few days later they came to "confiscate" the cougar and my grandpa told them to go pound salt and that they didnt exist... remember. He kept the pelt in his freezer. We are country folk who spend more time in the woods than most people. There are clear differences between bobcats and cougars..

[@cherylcobern4483]

@@kategrossi8717 yaaaay for your grandfather! And thank you for commenting. 😊

[@mgratk]

I have definitely seen large cats in PA on many occasions, especially at sporting events at Pitt and Penn State. Also, I was going to make a joke about people seeing house cats, but then Cliff ruins it by mentioning actual house cat sightings! This should be another fun series, with potential for a discovery! Thanks Cliff!

[@bcoldgoalie]

I have to agree with your assessment of the status of mountain lions in PA. Logical that mountain lions from the West would expand their territory eastward for food and other reasons. All I know is that if I'm out in the backwoods here in British Columbia, the last thing I want to encounter is a mountain lion! 😅

[@johnevans4867]

Thanks!

[@debbiehills2928]

❤wow.. New series!😊

[@Rednecksofthenorth]

Ive seen mountain lions and so has my father but that in remote areas in northern pa

[@kathygalloway2990]

I know we have Black Panthers and Bob Cat's in Alabama, I don't think we have Mountain Lions, thanks Cliff enjoy all of your video's

[@R.C.1161]

Yup. For sure. Sniffing a roadkill deer alongside Rt 81 Pa. Exit 124a in 1997 @ 13:30(ish).

[@patriciajacobs7957]

I'm looking forward to this series. Very interesting.

[@justsmitty1709]

1980 Kettle Creek Lake. I spotted a mountain lion on the far shore prowling the tree line. My brother and I both had binoculars on it for at least 15 minutes. Traffic even stopped, and we let several people use the glasses. We all agreed that without a doubt, it was a mountain lion. Like someone mentioned the Pa. Game Commission told us we didn't have any coyotes for years. Why they did that is a mystery to me. Would the PGC do the same with lions?

[@willmorrisusa]

👍 Too many people know the difference between a Bobcat & Mountain Lion ! Theyr'e in Pennsylvania ! Just how many is the question !

[@debbiegares7459]

My friend has a photo of a mountain lion,taken on her trail cam. We live in Monroe pa. We do know the difference. I think their population has grown a lot even since this video was first posted.

[@pittsburghmcconnell]

Black cat...2/3 of the 376's lane crossed in front of me. It was 2/3 of the next lane too...no mistaking it. Looked like a halloween cut out...big cat. Mile marker 29.2. During that first march of Covid.

[@heden1460]

That was interesting. Thank you.

[@m.rakovan3782]

Well I do believe it is possible . Pa. forest have grown back since the 20's and there are large area's of wilderness though modern, no towns for miles, a cabin or home here and there. And now we have state forest that are well, just woods. I spent time in the wooded area's that if break down you have to walk 5 miles or better to get help. ( before cell phones) I see tons of deer , turkey a bobcat once in awhile , bear, hawks & eagles, oh coyotes too so I have no doubt that there could be mountain lions in Pa.

[@DebraGill]

My uncle seen one at his farm up near Heislers dairy bar in the sixties even though the game warden said there wasn’t any. Of course the cougar on my avatar was my best friend’s years ago.

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

It is confirmed that Mountain lions are expanding there range back to the eastern forest. Me and my parents did see a mountain lion kitten sitting along an Overlook on the Shenandoah skyline drive in the early 70s and we talked to Park rangers who told us they see Mountain lions very often in Shenandoah national Park.

[@Johnna-xk8tz]

The bobcat moved into my mountain community in Western Maryland three years ago. All the groundhog, raccoons and many deer are gone. I wake up at 2-3 a.m. to the sound of screaming death. Something is being hunted and killed on my property. 4 years ago, I found a very large (palm size) large cat foot print in the sand at the edge of a stream made only hours earlier. Not a dog or bear, but a cat print. No doubt. I did see a wolf up here 20 years ago. They move very different from a domestic dog. They were likely passing through.

[@wbrown351]

Yeah I'm with you about they pass through Pa. All the stories my Aunts cousins nephew saw one well take a picture I know nobody these days leaves the house without a cell phone.

[@gerardmcaveney332]

About fifteen years ago I was talking with a relative that told me he new a person in the Pa. Game Commission that told him the Game Commission had introduced I believe it was six pair of mountain lion in the state .

[@mikemiller8170]

Well done, Cliff. Very fair and balanced.

[@jeffrey1841]

A few years back I seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania it was at zoo America in Hersheypark 😂😂😂😂

[@dian1711]

My husbands family was on the pa game commission. My mother in law had a bob cat in the house. My brother in law had cougars, on a wild animal reabilation farm. They were bred by hand and sent to zoo's around the US. Some animals were used in commercials. She was located in Lebanon county PA. The animals are beautiful, but they are still wild. She had a kids sand box in the living room as a kitty litter box. At 120 days old the cubs front paws are stronger than both of my arms together. I loved playing tug of war with them. But had to stop because you couldn't let them know they were stronger than you. My sister in law had her senior pictures with her pet cougar Nikki. Yes there is cougars that go through up state PA.

[@user-David-Alan]

Should be a cool series. Thanks. Stay well and safe.

[@rebeccagharis-gallo8155]

I'm at once hopeful and terrified about mt lions being back in PA. I think they are incredibly beautiful and extremely scary.

[@scotto6314]

Great subject Cliff. Thanks for sharing

[@evanmagness7346]

Ive seen mountain lions in the pa wilds my whole life. Cats are good at hiding.

[@AppalachianHistoryDetectives]

Hey Cliff i enjoyed the video. Ive always wondered if they hung on somewhere but they didnt. However the Florida Panther is related to the Eastern Cougar so technically those are not the western lion. One was killed in Kentucky and one in TN but both were westwrn lions. You are right, its possible to see a juvenile western cougar back here.

[@awadventures6230]

Bobcats also uave markings, cougars do not except when they're babies

[@Edward-wr4dk]

I want to relate a personal incident. My wife and I were traveling from Kinzua Bridge State Park to Smethport early summer 2018, I was driving and due to oncoming traffic I only got a glance of it but my wife got a good look at a lion crossing a side road at a distance of about 50yds. on a clear sunny day fully out in the open.She said I wouldn't believe her but she knows what she saw. I would like to add that I was a contractor at a plant in Farmers Valley Pa. in 2004 which is nearby, many of the plant workers were avid hunters and outdoorsmen. Many of them insist that they had indeed seen lions or evidence of them all around McKean, Potter and Elk Counties. They laugh at the reports from Pennsylvania DCNR that insist there are no mountain lions in the state.

[@rustbeltwilds837]

Bottom line short tail..... bobcat..........long tail Cougar......how much more difficult can it be THERE HERE. 100pct😅😅😅😅😅

[@RicArmstrong]

Here in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, mountain lions are spotted on the rare occasion. A few years ago one was captured on a trail cam. But that was in an extremely remote area.

[@Reneelwaring]

In the Lewistown area about 10 years back a woman's horse was attacked from behind by a mountain lion. Long scratches on both sides of the horse. The state kept it quiet. My dad and mom lived in that area, and he said he saw one sitting in his driveway crying one early morning. He knows what they sound like, because they used to have them back on the family farm.

[@thecleverkeystoner]

This is very interesting. Personally, I believe that I have observed a mountain lion twice in my life while driving. I saw the long tail. I believe that there are a small number of mountain lions in PA that exist, but that they did not originate here. Perhaps they traveled far like you explained or escaped captivity somehow. All I know is that I did not see a bobcat at two different locations several years apart. One animal I saw close up because it crossed in front of my vehicle and I almost hit it. The other animal was standing on a rocky cliff, as I was driving by. I wish I had been able to get pictures, but in each instance, I was not afforded the opportunity. I used to think that there were no mountain lions in PA, but what I saw tells me otherwise. I look forward to your series because maybe you will see something too.

[@jackmyers1631]

There were excellent sightings, including one by a police officer, in Delaware County back in the 1990s. I believe there was even some video footage taken, and deer kills were found. The story is covered in my book The Delco Files. I had heard a rumor this was a pet that was let go by someone in an outlaw biker gang.

[@ri0t-Rick]

Neighbor claims theirs a mountain lion she seen, warned me to watch metal detecting alone. Never seen one myself tho. Cambria county near somerset county.

[@my2cents945]

You may have just opened Pandora's box. The PA Game Commission claims they don't exist in PA. As far as I know the last recorded attack happened in 1976 in NorthWestern PA when one entered a home. Personally, the only one I've ever seen is a full mount at the Buckhorn plaza rest area on Rt80. I don't believe or disbelieve. I have seen multiple bobcats in the Poconos.

[@robertVirtue-mc2yw]

I was driving west on Rt 249 just west of Middlebury Center, going around a curve had a large cat hop over the guardrail . It had a long tail Been told some Bobcats have long tails.Just a glance so not sure what it was. People claim Insurance Companies have released MT Lions to thin the deer population. Back about 1959 my Mom and others left our camp on Rte 44 west of Haneyville , went for a ride and had a huge black cat cross the road right in front of them.

[@randomisland2872]

I can tell you that we had a mountain lion in the south part of Omaha, Ne last summer. That was quite the news story here. Also there are a lot of sightings east of Omaha in south west Iowa. Of course the DNR from both states discount the sightings. From this area they probably travel east

[@patrickgrippo]

Please inervie the locals at athems,p.,near the old blue goose mine,north of kitanning,pa this ,in the 1970s was a veritable hot bed of mtn. Lion sightings and middle of the night yowling.

[@marygreen5461]

nice looking forward to whatever you catch on the cam .back in 2015 we did a 3day backpack hike in Shawnee State Forest in Jefferson County. Oh.,. was told a ranger had spotted a Mt. lion in late summer 2014, we kept a look out but didn't see or hear one. maybe it went over to the Wayne National Forest area

[@PAPilot53]

Very interesting, especially the stuff about the mountain lions from the Black Hills! I lived near a canyon in southern California for a while and there were periodic sightings of them in the canyon. I never saw one but was always aware that they were around. Saw bobcats often and they are easy to distinguish from mountain lions.

[@smitty6518]

Released in 2021 the NY game announced success of 20 year cougar stocking.

[@CliffordReinhart]

I had a mountain lion right in my back yard. I was sitting in my room and all of a sudden my dog started barking and carrying on her hair was standing up on her back. So I went to look and I see this huge muscular animal rolling around in the yard I thought it was a big dog until I seen the tail now I'm a hunter I know my animals and this definitely wasn't a dog or house cat once I seen the tail I knew it was a mountain lion I could believe my own eyes. Now I was in my house looking out the door it was maybe 20 yards away from me under a street light but I think it was an escaped cat because a guy in Franklin township used to own a couple mountain lions. And I remember on my dad's scanner it came over that people were seeing a lion over in Franklin township but people were saying it was an African lion now what I seen wasn't that big. I lived in Lehighton Pennsylvania at that time.

[@Grinchy123]

Well my sighting in 1970 in central PA was not a bobcat, if anyone here is old enough to remember the old Ford, Lincoln, Mercury commercials we new the difference.

[@smd482000]

and I seen bob cats but the mt. loin have tails your right

[@kerrygrim7934]

Cliff, my thoughts on mountain lions match yours exactly. I know you had talked about Panther Spring in the past where a lion was killed. This is the write-up by Early L. Pool 1932 in his publication "A Survey of The Mammals of Berks County Pennsylvania." Extirpated. Adirondack Cougar; Mountain Lion; Panther-Felis couguar (Kerr) The numerous ledges along the Blue Mountain doubtless formed ideal retreats for this largest of our Pennsylvania beasts of prey. Rhoads, in his “Mammals of Pennsylvania and New Jersey” gives an extract from a letter published in “Field and Stream” in 1974, to the effect that “Last Wednesday,” a panther was killed in Albany Township in the Blue Mountains by Thomas Anson. Weight, 146 pounds; length, 4 feet 5½ inches, plus two feet of tail. Mr. Pfleger was also in the party. Signed O. D. S., Hamburg, Berks County, August 10, 1874. I have been unable to verify the foregoing, although Col. H.W. Shoemaker was apparently more successful during a visit in 1914, when he added the following to the facts as already stated: “We stopped at Panther Spring where in August, 1874, two coal burners, Thomas Anson and Jacob Pfleger, had killed a mammoth Pennsylvania lion. The animal was first observed at Indiantown Gap, near Jonestown, and a party of thirty hunters were in pursuit. It eluded them, however, only to be brought to earth by the two intrepid nimrods on the Pinnacle.” I might add that the given weight and body length of this cougar are those of a large specimen, and are convincing, although the tail would be short, and may have been mutilated in some manner.

[@Reneelwaring]

My family have lived in PA since 1810, and I can tell you the stories that have been passed down, and Puma's that have been seen in recent years, and horses that have been attacked in the past 10 years. We have a newspaper clipping of my Great Grandfather and the side of his barn which was taken in the 1880-1890's and it is COVERED in black panther pelts so don't anyone give me some BS that we never had black panther's in PA. He was Frank Bowman Waring, and he allegedly killed the last black panther in PA. The state doesn't WANT you to know they are still here because they don't want hunters going after them. As to coyote, yes, I personally have seen one, but the poor thing looked like it was starving, possibly it was sick, and I know what one looks like because we had them around when I was living in Indiana. You can find a copy of the newspaper article with the side of his barn at Penn State University Library in the "Waring Family" section. My great aunt Martha donated the information to them.

[@nancymann5351]

Hey,we had 2 or 3 alligators in the Kiski river here in western Pa, so why not mountain lions.😊😊

[@tdhawk167]

They are here in the Catskills... Did not see it, it was pitch dark and was near my car when heard a big group of vocalizing coyotes heading my way up the ridge from the direction of the back yard and as I turned to go inside, my hand on the door knob, when one screamed at me from near the end of the house. Scared the heck out of me...got in that door fast! My friend was standing right inside the door cuz he had jumped up when he heard it, and his eyes were huge. I calmly said " THAT was NOT a coyote!". Worked with some mountain lions (and other wild cats) , I know what they sound like. They don't like to say they are here, because it would limit what they can develope.. they would have to do special studies, and it's very difficult to see any evidence of any cats...they cover scat and if any not covered, the scat can disappear in a day or so (bugs and scavengers) same with any uneaten prey.

[@joanneworley8120]

Not long ago while in the parking lot of the local grocery store in Wellsboro, PA a mountain lion walked past my vehicle. My husband felt the need to roll down the window to growl at it. The cat turned around and stared at him before running off into the neighborhood.

[@edc6333]

Always have to show them who's the boss! Aahaha

[@cherylcobern4483]

They WILL stalk ppl.. just do a search for mountain lion attacks.. admittedly, you wont find many, if any, east of the Mississippi, but they do DO that.

[@703am]

very interesting series coming up. I've heard some locals say they saw a mountain lion but that's just talk, who knows? no real proof yet

[@patrickwentz8413]

I have only seen one mountain lion in the wild, and it was in Kansas! I could not believe my eyes. I talked to a game warden, and he says the juvenile males leave Colorado for Kansas so they do not get killed by the older Mountain Lions. Still can't believe how big that thing was.

[@jackkeebler2252]

One time on trail camera my dad got a bobcat with a tail a couple pictures actually which was clearly a bobcat patterns face everything shape of the body but it had a tail we got the scat tested cus my dad is friends with some game commission guys and it was totally a bobcat

[@celticcoach4823]

Nature finds a way.

[@Thatgirlkathie]

We still have elk. Just go to St Mary's or Benzette both located in Elk county.

[@m.rakovan3782]

Those are not true Pa. elk. Game Commission imported them from out west to re-iintroduce them back in Pa. in1913

[@lynnmor2101]

About 20 years ago I rode my snowmobile out of Foote Rest Campground and saw a very large, long tailed black cat. Residents at the campground claim that a mountain lion has been regularly seen taking the tame rabbits that are all over the campground. I don’t know if mountain lions can be that dark but for sure it was much larger than a domestic cat. I have ridden snowmobiles extensively and have closeup photos of Canadian Lynx in Maine that locals were not aware of, I only wish that I would have been able to get a photo of the black cat.

[@manumuskin]

Yes Mountain Lions can be black.It's called a melanistic phase.When black they are commonly referred to as panthers though real panthers are in Asia.

[@5.56Media]

I can tell you for a FACT ... mountain lions do travel in and through PA. My wife, stepson and I were confronted by one in Michaux while hiking. PA and MD DNR both deny their existence. I shared the experience with blogs/creators that keep track of this exact issue. It's real. And yes, bobcats have a bobbed tail ... hence the name. Mountain lions have long tails. Also -- hikers beware -- they will stalk you. Most that are seen in PA/MD is because they have a long range.

[@robinmaderich6745]

I saw one last year (a juvenile, which prompted me to make a call) and spoke to the PA Game Commission. They said the official position is there are none in PA, but that mountain lions do travel in search of food, and also certain people have been granted permits to have them and then decide they can't care for them anymore... It was left to me to figure out what that meant, but I think it was obvious?

[@cherylcobern4483]

Yes, they DO stalk humans. There are some videos online showing ppl being stalked by one.

[@suewarner1781]

I live not too far from Michaux and there was one in my front yard about 10 - 12 years ago.

[@suewarner1781]

And, I do know the difference between a puma(mountain lion) and a bob cat.

[@5.56Media]

@@suewarner1781 No doubt! Thanks for your input on this topic. It's crazy how many people don't realize they are out there.

[@lynnwilson4205]

I have seen photos from a guy who got two adult mountain lions outside his truck. They were definitely mountain lions, were they taken in our area( northern Pennsylvania) or somewhere else? Couldn’t tell you. But have heard many people say they have seen them locally. Until I see one for myself it is not a positive confirmation for me.

[@DavidJohnston-v3s]

There here i seen three with no cage

[@jessicaduda2863]

I live about 15 miles from the Connecticut location. There has been a lot of sightings around here the past few weeks. There's also some security camera footage that's questionable, some are definitely bobcats

[@jacobmiller1157]

I've seen my lions in Pa at least 30 times...was a big male that visited my grandmother's farm by Beech creak,Pa...my whole family saw him many many times...had a mother and cubs visit Brian Truetts cabin in horse valley daily for many months...these were def not bobcats..they were 120 lb plus cats ..I am a lifetime guerilla cannabis growers...I've spent more time in the Pa wood than you and everyone you know combined...believe that

[@Campingandfishingwithandy]

We just had one on the news not long ago. It was actually hit by a car in the Twin Cities

[@manumuskin]

If your going to set up Trail Cams there are ways of attracting cats to a specific spot.Forget bait,they like to kill their prey and bait may be illegal.hang a feather over an open spot that will twirl in the breeze also maybe a device that will play occasional sounds like rabbit squeals or fawn bleats,these will attract all predators but the feather maybe eight ft off the ground will attract cats.Also spray some cat piss on nearby stumps.Just afew ideas to attract cats to your camera