The Mountain Lion Population In Each State They Inhabit & Their Future

[@deborahross9974]

I live in Kansas and in a rural area. About fifteen years or so ago, I was driving to the county seat to renew my driver's license. Heading south through some farm land I saw two pumas walking across the road in front of me (several yards away). They didn't look my way or stop, just continued on across the road and disappeared in the field.. My sister was with me and she thought I had seen two dogs. I told her no that they were pumas because I could tell by the way they walked like huge house cats and by their color. I had been reading in the local newspaper that people had seen some. I'll never forget that sighting because they were so beautiful. God bless.

[@bradoncampbell2626]

I grew up in Wamego. Small town in Kansas. I watched a mountain lion walk across the dam of our pond in the late 90s.

[@deborahross9974]

@bradoncampbell2626 I live in LaCygne Ks in Linn county. God.bless.

[@willhorting5317]

I grew up in Ottawa county. And have been an active hunter since the early 1970s. I knew several people in the 1970s and 1980s who swore to seeing the occasional cougar throughout the county. I had no reason to doubt them, as I knew they were all experienced hunters, that wouldn't confuse a bobcat, coyote or dog with a cougar. Then, while calling coyotes along Salt Creek (in the northern part of the county) in January 2006...I actually had a decent sized cougar respond to my calling!! When I first seen it, it was about 65 yards away. I was in such shock that I simply stopped using my call and just sat there unsure of what to do. As I contemplated my next move, it slowly stalked towards my hiding place until it was 30 yards from me. (Yes, I measured it afterwards.) I decided that unless it attacked me, I wouldn't shoot it, because I wasn't sure how the game warden would react. So the cat and I looked at each other for maybe another minute, and it turned and retreated the way it had came. With no dead cat, no camera for pictures of the cat or the tracks it left in the muddy creek bank...no one has ever believed my story. Mainly because the KDWPT has always insisted that there are no resident cougars... only a handful that MIGHT travel through the state once in a blue moon. But I have always known what I seen. Hunted coyotes and bobcats too long to be confused. Besides, back in the 1980s, when he was born, I nicknamed one of my sons "Cougar". I KNOW what one looks like. Hahaha

[@deborahross9974]

@willhorting5317 I believe you. God bless.

[@willhorting5317]

@@deborahross9974 thanks. And same to you.

[@Sailor376also]

I have been stalked by lions twice. The one is a funny story. Already in my tent 30 minutes after sunset,,laying there reading a paperback at the end of the day. Utah, 2016, I had been out for nearly 4 weeks at that point, same clothes,, I stunk. I got the impression the lion thought so too. Six or so feet away outside the tent, the lion got a sniff,, and sneezed,, just like a house cat just two octaves lower. A sneeze to get my stink out of its nose. I swear, I could almost hear the cat say, "I'm not putting THAT in my mouth."

[@georgetterobin7122]

haha: good story!

[@michaelsmith2733]

Me two twice in the Blue Mts. of WA. State.

[@Sailor376also]

@@michaelsmith2733 Are cougars (the cat kind) becoming more common? It is only the last few years that I have been encountering them,, and they ARE hungry. If this keeps up I am going to begin carrying. Three encounters and two were serious about it.

[@michaelsmith2733]

@@Sailor376also Ya, one I had scream at me from three ft. away right after I got a shot and missed a deer on the river. Fortunately I had two other bow hunters walking back to camp with me right at dark. I thought the critter was going to leap on one of us.

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

I was woods walking one time, in rare primitive growth in Texas when I stumbled on 3 15-30 poundish bobcats wrestling around. I was young so stopped and watched them a bit wondering if they were mating or fighting or what. At some point it dawned on me they all had long tails...didn't know we had mountain lions in the state until then. Made a quick, unpanicked exit and did some research. Sure enough, Texas has mountain lions all over it! This was 25 years ago.

[@rustyknott-W.D]

I live in AZ and have lived in lion country all my life. There are lions within 2 miles of my front door. That being said, I'm 72 and have only seen 6 lions in my life. The last one was in southern CO 5 years ago. Even though I've only seen 6, I'm sure I've been seen by more than 6 of them!

[@michaelhays7282]

Amen rusty.

[@frankenz66]

I guarantee you have been seen by more , Haha. Same in Arkansas. You tell a game and fish office you saw a mountain lion here and they just look at you funny. They don't WANT to know there are mountain lions, red wolves, hyenas, and such here in the highlands ( they actually set the last animal in the list out to control coyotes). The public gets too scared.

[@andynaz5631]

In AZ, I have seen two. One crossed the road in desert mountains around Globe, and the other was dead on the side of the road in the same area 30 years later.

[@Patrick-ih4oe]

@@andynaz5631 Here in Prescott Valley, Az. I have seen two cats and have heard of two black bears . one bear was shot as he was consuming a human and the other bear was captured by Roberts station on HWY.69.

[@maxpinson5002]

​@@frankenz66 There's plenty of big cats in Ark Ok, La, Texas, New M. Black bears again now in e Texas from Ark and La. They don't admit it because they don't want to pay off for killed livestock claims. Big cat down the road rode the back of a grown beef through several fences and against the side of a house basically destroying the side of the house with many witnesses. It's a myth that predators only eat rodents or sick animals from the woods. They'll kill and eat pets, livestock, small children or grownups or whatever is too slow and tasty looking. One can read the accounts of the early settlements here and learn of how destructive wolves and bears and cats and such were long ago. They didn't offer all those bounties for no reason

[@donyoung6463]

They are in Michigan as well, my wife saw one in the central lower peninsula about 20 years ago and many have been seen in the UP over the last 20 years, the state fought the the fact they were here( they would have had to run a expensive study) but have finally admitted that they are here in michigan.

[@johnhartman8086]

I saw a mountain lion way back in late 60s. It was very close to a weir at a fish hatchery in the upper Peninsula. It was running from the weir area and crossed the small gravel road ahead of us. The long curled tail was very distinct. Writers and State Game people said this would be impossible. Well it has been proven that there are some mountain lions in Michigan.

[@donyoung6463]

@johnhartman8086 trail cams don't lie, there every where in the UP

[@gonefishn365]

One on camera in Bath Michigan just outside of Lansing about 4 or 5 years ago.

[@donyoung6463]

@gonefishn365 the one my wife saw was up in Harrison, walked in front of her and friend when they were out trail riding, I had my doubts, even mention it to one of my neighbors up there, a guy active in trail maintained in the area and he said she probably did see one, at that time they had multiple sightings around Roscommon.

[@johnhartman8086]

@@gonefishn365 I have been in and around Bath several times. I can easily see that it would support a Mountain lion in that area.

[@qthemusiq4461]

They are here in Minnesota also. My great uncle found one sleeping in his hay loft.

[@joshuacrow9495]

Saying Arkansas doesn’t have a stable population is laughable. We helped Game and Fish trap one in Pine Bluff around 1990. They said It had to be one someone let loose. It was killing a lot of deer, so it had to be a wild animal. Now that we have game cameras you will see hundreds of cats from different game cameras around deer season. Not sure why nobody wants to admit we have Mountain Lions and Black Bear that are roaming around.

[@davidkottman3440]

Missouri officially had no mountain lions until that stance prevented them from enforcing their hunting regulations 😂

[@mybaddadventures144]

We can harvest up to 500 black bear a year, but yea i see them on my camera in Independence County

[@joshuacrow9495]

@ I live in Johnson County now. But when I lived in Pope County I called the cops for someone attempting to break in thru a window and killing our cat. The cops came and took a report. I realized my neighbor had several cameras. We lived in a cul-de-sac and he like to know if anyone was near his house. His camera showed a black bear swiping my cat off the window seal. I’m guessing it wanted the cat’s food. Called AGFC and they said there are no bears in that area by the nuke plant. So I sent video. Then they put out a statement on our community facebook page to watch for a bear and don’t leave food or trash out.

[@brucegordon9007]

All the state F+G Debt's are way behind local folks in the country. They live in a city as well as work there so are uninformed plus they think you are a liar, you have to shove a photo in their face then they will say it's the only one.

[@frankenz66]

I saw a mountain lion eating on a deer just off the interstate between Pine Bluff and Little Rock in July 2004 it was predawn twilight. They don't want to know that there are populations of mountain lions in Arkansas. I have seen and heard of people seeing and hearing them occasionally since the 1970's .There are also Black Puma cats here in the highlands.

[@timsampson6559]

Wisconsin Minnesota and Michigan all have pumas as well

[@packerjh2]

Also confirmed in indiana

[@sharinaross1865]

Gosh, I love mountain animals. They are such a beautiful species.

[@philOKC]

I personally saw a Mountain Lion in Oklahoma back in 1977 while deer hunting in Pawnee County. There have been several sightings reported over the years in Oklahoma. It is believed these are male Lions just crossing the state looking for females, of which there are apparently none in Oklahoma. Nevertheless, it hasn't been that many years ago that a sighting of a black bear in Oklahoma was a rarity. Now they have grown into legally huntable numbers. Same with Elk, Mule Deer and Pronghorn Antelope. Oklahoma has a diverse flora and fauna.

[@dominicd7610]

There here man I live in Pawnee co on the river,and my neighbor had one on camera many years in a row

[@dwilson540]

I saw a mountain lion in Shawnee county, Kansas this summer. Driving close to Topeka. Called it into Wildlife Dept. I’m a 75 year old Eagle Scout and rapidly ran through what I saw in front of my car, dog? No. Bobcat? No. …. Mountain Lion? Yes.

[@deborahross9974]

@@dwilson540 I saw a bobcat once when heading north on 69 highway toward Louisburg Ks. That cat sure ran across the highway in a hurry. God bless

[@amishpat5201]

Used to do sales from St. Louis to Kansas City, Mo to Wichita to Little Rock to Memphis to Nashville to Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. I saw big cats, clear as a bell. Many times, in the 80's. Always dismissed as "wandering males". Saw many wolves, not coydogs, not large coyotes, not malmutes, not sheperds....full on wolves. " have been extirpated since.....double ott blah, blah"

[@davidsnyder2423]

Pennsylvania has a population but the PGC has denied this on every level . Though numerous resident hunters as well as fishermen have witnessed the big cat in areas a high amount of people do not get to . Thank you

[@tmurph247]

Grew up in WV, DNR says the same thing there, although myself and numerous others have personally seen these cats.

[@BoozeandNewswithTimandDut]

I just wrote that.. we have them in Pa. I live in Potter County and they're been seen many times here..but PGC denies it

[@pamelacoles7140]

When I lived on the north side of Peter's Mountain in Powell's Valley people would call each other to warn them to keep their pets indoors at night. They would say, lion on the ridge or cat on the mountain. If you ever hear them, it is eerie and you will never forget that distinct sound.

[@johnbatzel8818]

I’m in the northeast corner of PA on the Pike/Monroe line and we find tracks regularly and at least a couple trail cam pictures surface every year….but yes, the game commission denies with every bit of their being that there are lions roaming our hills.

[@rootsrocksfeathers1975]

We have them here in the N. GA mountains, found prints next to my chicken coop and verified them with a friend who used to live in Oregon where they commonly walked through her yard. Others who live near us actually spotted the cat. They say they aren't here, but they also say many species are extinct that have been discovered recently inhabiting their former region.

[@randyblackburn9765]

They have been in Tennessee for at least 25 years but authorities were slow to acknowledge

[@russellkeeling4387]

I have been a resident of southern Colorado all my 71 years. I've spent most of my life outdoors which means I spent more hours per day outside than I did inside. There are many more lions in my area now than there ever were before, and I mean many. In my area there are local lion hunters that harvest them and as this video says, the hunting is highly regulated but they don't have any trouble harvesting large male lions. Due to the large deer populations inside town limits the lions have moved in around human populated areas but so far pets go missing now and then but no problems have occurred with humans, other than being startled by lions walking past them in the daytime.

[@Howard-bj1jq]

I saw a lion print at about 14,000' elevation when I was mineral collecting at top of Mt. Antero in the 1970s.

[@theredflannelchannel7820]

I’m from Antonito

[@jimfrazier1929]

I live in colorado, and had a encounter with one in camp, while hunting, he was a young Tom, and not aggressive. I was by myself and very isolated in the Wilderness, and I scared him away. I've spent alot of time in the back country while bow hunting elk and deer, and have only seen one lion, but, I've seen alot of tracks. I conclude that there's no way any one knows how many lions exist. They are nocturnal, and very stealthy. The division likes to pretend like they know the numbers for all the animals in the state, and there's no way that they know, especially for the Lion. Its the same for the Bobcats and Lynxes too, the black bear is also very nocturnal. They just guess at how many there are. Elk are mostly nocturnal, the deer are some what that way, as are the coyotes and recently reintroduced Wolves. Sheep and Goats are the only ones out in the day time. One thing is for sure, as man developes and builds in the valleys, there by eliminating the winter habitat for the wild animals, they will vanish, and only will be found in zoos. But the cats will last the longest. Colorado has alot of mountain ranges for the lion, I think theres 2 or 3 times more lions here than you say, but, trust me, when it comes to the number of cats left in this country, nobody knows, they're too elusive to count.

[@williamweirjr9749]

@@jimfrazier1929 I think if they get hungry enough they will take a child quickly

[@OkieSketcher1949]

In the late 1980’s I saw one about ten miles SE of Ada, OK. Around 2am I was driving back to a drilling rig I was watching. The cat was starting to cross the highway when it stopped and looked at me. At first I thought it was a female African lion, but as I got closer I could easily see it was a large mountain lion. I stopped and it continued across the highway and into the woods. It acted as if it had no fear of me whatsoever. Later that morning I spoke with the farmer on whose land we were drilling and told him what I had seen. He chuckled and stated they see them ever so often around the barns and corrals on their farms.

[@rugeryeti460]

We had one at my grandpas farm near Davis Ok. About 20 minutes from Ada

[@michaelm9211]

I saw one in Osage county off highway 20 near skiatook lake. I still have a hard time believing how big it was. If that got hold of you, you are dead.

[@Bellthorian]

There are plenty of Mountain Lions in West Virginia, it is kept pretty quiet by fish and wildlife. Mountain Lions have also been seen in Maryland.

[@amishpat5201]

Fish and Game does not want the paperwork. Been there for decades in small numbers, just like Pennsylvania.

[@477BravoJuliet]

@@amishpat5201 How do you know?

[@martyyoung3611]

They're in Kentucky, too.

[@JoshuaCaudell-fy6ev]

They are making their way to virginia once again, and in coastal souther US Atlantic, these big cats are known as pumas, just like in Latin America.

[@donyoung6463]

@@Bellthorian that's the same in Michigan, the state didn't want to admit to a couger population because they then would have to have a study and come up with a plan to protect them as they are endangered.

[@eyes_of_madness3203]

NC here,I’ve seen trail cam pics of some lions in the Asheville and surrounding areas

[@redfearnteal6896]

Back in 1995, my young sons and I were backpacking along the Art Loeb trail in the mountains of NC, up around Shining Rock we saw a large male couger, he walked across a small meadow in front of us, the wind was in our face and we were quiet so he never saw us.

[@ly-leekonopasek5146]

Im in southern Iowa.. we have female producing kittens in my area.. she has been seen many times.. and so have the kittens. During shot gun deer season, every year the hunters tree one. The hunters take pictures on their phones and let it go. Neighbor has one on his trail cam.

[@Kal-o9c]

I live in Vermont and have seen mountain lions

[@Franklin-x2o]

If your from Vermont you wouldn't know the difference between a mountain lion and a ground squirrel.

[@Kal-o9c]

I whould pal

[@mikep2219]

They are in VT, I had a friend who saw one cross the road in rural western MA. as well.

[@650gringo]

Arizona here. I saw a large pair getting a drink at the edge of a pond. On a mountain bike I came around a corner on a fire road and a lion jumped into the road right in front of me and snarled loudly. I was going too fast to stop. At the last second the cat jumped out of the way. Never saw him again. Coolest thing was I watched a young lion stalk a coyote in the pines on Pinal Mtn.

[@jtakayama6294]

I live in the foothills of the White Mountains in Maine, right on the New Hampshire border. Driving at dusk on a rainy night, a very large cat crossed right in front of us in 2-3 bounds. Way too big for a bobcat or lynx. Called the game warden the next day to report what we'd seen. He said there have been numerous unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions in the White Mountains in recent years.

[@morrisfarms2285]

Ohio also has some. There has been sightings of normal colored as well as several sightings of a black cougar in the southeast hill (Appalachia) area.

[@WARS187]

We have a lion on a trail trailcam DNR don't want to acknowledge that mountain lions live in ohio.. Even though we have some of the biggest whitetail deer in America crazy Also black bear have been reported plenty but denial is something 😕

[@BoozeandNewswithTimandDut]

We have them in Pa too. We have stories of black ones here ,hence why our school mascot is a black panther ...but panthers are not black. Jaguars are the cat that has a certain black color in rare cases.. kinda like a black Squirrel isn't a species.. but no black mountain lion has ever been killed.. but I digress because every year people claim to see black mountain lions here

[@1973vegas]

There are mountain lions all over Oklahoma. They’ve been sighted and captured regularly for years all over the state.

[@jaedenlyons]

There is also at least one breeding population of mountain lions in the upper peninsula of Michigan where I live. When I was younger my father saw a mountain lion cub in our driveway. Meaning it’s mother was likely close by. And over the years there have been sightings of cougars with crystal clear pictures too. I keep that in mind whenever I’m out in the woods, especially after dark…

[@shadowdawg04]

Apparently no one told you that the mountians of east Kentucky have more than a few...

[@williamsporing1500]

I’m in northern Kentucky, and a friend of mine had one on his trail camera. We’re talking 30 miles south of Cincinnati

[@scottbehl216]

You didn't mention Wisconsin. I'll bet there's a big population of them here. I've seen a couple just in a small area !!

[@billwenzel2161]

As a fellow Wisconsinite, I was going to comment the same. I'm not sure I'd say there is a big population but sightings and trail cam pics prove they are here.

[@WisGuy4]

The Wisconsin DNR appears to be more credible than those of many other states in the eastern half of the country, as the “mammals of Wisconsin“ portion of the WDNR website includes cougars. That webpage shows a number of trail, cam photos, and one of a treed cougar all found within the state. However, they do state that there does not appear to be a breeding population within Wisconsin and the ones seen in the Dairy State are presumed to be young males wandering in search of new territory and females coming from the Dakotas. I saw one in about 2018 crossing interstate 94 a bit north of Black River Falls. Although it was at night, it was as tall as but longer than a coyote, moved in a feline fashion, but had a long tail so it was not a bobcat.

[@scottbehl216]

@WisGuy4 I'LL say there's a bigger population than they're saying. After all they tried to hide a killing of a horse and said it was a bear. A yr or 2 later they admitted it was a Cougar and paid the owner $ 30,000. Don't trust them.

[@winstonelston5743]

I was fortunate to see a Florida panther in the wild near Winter Haven in 1987. It was crouched over the centerline of the road nibbling on a road kill, its tail over the edge of the pavement. I remarked to my stoker (this was on a tandem bicycle rally), "That's the biggest house cat I've ever seen!" "That's not a house cat!" The cat saw the bike heading his direction and spooked, disappearing into the grove. We rode that same stretch of road the next day and when we checked the sand by the shoulder there were paw prints the size of my hand.

[@loquat4440]

We have mountain lions in Northwest Florida and the State of Florida will not admit that they are present in northern parts of florida. These are likely more similar to the lions that are found in nearby Alabama and Georgia. But no one has done any DNA because officially these cats in NW FL do not exist.

[@weary1]

If you search “Florida Panther Corkscrew Swamp,” you’ll see another one! The video is from 2016 and the cat is acting like he owns the boardwalk through the swamp-which, if you think about it, I guess he does! 😂 He looses control of his backend trying to make a turn after passing the couple making the video. I’m from Pennsylvania, but have been to Corkscrew a few times over the years. I would love to have experienced this if-as in this case-he blew right by me. This couple saw him coming on the boardwalk through the vegetation, therefore they had time to be frightened…lol. OMG! OMG!

[@davidbennett5601]

In 1991 to 2002 a Couger was on my parents farm in Port Penn Delaware. A video was taken at the school. My brother and I heard on that spoke it's wisdom in my ears after deer hunting. They are everywhere

[@brendasears9650]

Great presentation! I believe Fish and Wildlife is prone to sweeping sightings in some other states under the rug. Luckily the cats are secretive and proof of sightings may be difficult to come by.

[@edbetsworth2772]

Iowa has mountain lions. The population in the black hills area of South Dakota is growing and they are migrating to unpopulated areas. Several have been killed by car drivers and hunters.

[@brucegordon9007]

The Missouri River is a natural corridor for lions entry into Iowa.

[@ericstevens8744]

Every one I see during deer season with a bow will go thwack” During gun season they will go Boom”

[@nukelaloosh4795]

@@ericstevens8744 🤡

[@patrickwentz8413]

I saw a mountain lion climbing over a fence in Kansas. I then talked to a ranger and he said young males often come out of the West to escape bigger males until they are big enough to return and establish their own territory.

[@justintrimm624]

I live in Trussville Al. About 10-12 years ago I was in traffic in a pretty crowded part of town. But there’s a slim section of a ridge close to where I was. He crossed right in front of me and I was shocked to see it. But I’m confident it was a mountain lion

[@MrBjseales]

Yes Justin, Trussville does have a few. Mostly sightings have been about Cahaba Cove to the river.

[@kd8199]

Here in the Dallas Fort Worth area, just this past few weeks, a cougar has been caught on video, in 3 different areas in the DFW metroplex. One was filmed just 6 miles from my home here in Dallas. Texas Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that the videos are legitimate and are of cougars.

[@jeffinphx517]

Be careful, DFW Cougars spread herpes and gonorrhea.

[@tladnier4324]

Another one spotted last week in Farmers Branch

[@jeffinphx517]

@kd8199 Make sure you have condoms. Cougars don't give AF.

[@johnbrohl1709]

I know there's been confirmed sightings of mountain lions in Michigan but DNR saying they don't know if there is a breeding population yet

[@1LSWilliam]

What is your problem. The Eastern Mountain Lion is making a huge return, from Maine to Georgia.

[@janemarkham4133]

THANK YOU ! YOU ARE SO RITE !!

[@nightowlme]

I have seen them in Ga.

[@joevogliardo3131]

Don't get so upset over it.

[@markdawson8946]

What’s your problem bro. First of all you’re talking about cougars not lions. There all over the place and some a super hot. Don’t tell the Mrs., but I messed around with one a few days ago while my better half was at a Tupperware party. She had nearly 10 years on me but she was the second best I ever had. FYI……… just don’t be mad anymore 😜😈👍🐯

[@nightowlme]

@@markdawson8946 🤣😂🤣😂 I married one.

[@tyrrellroach5872]

U left out Iowa. There was a mountain lion shot and killed just south of Des Moines this year and another being monitored in west Des Moines. Two years ago a mature male was spotted in Hiawatha Iowa and another w5-10 years ago was known to be located around Harlan Iowa. On a Separate note in the early 2000’s I was fallowed into a timber by a very large cat that had paws bigger than the largest dogs. Found the tracks in snow while bow hunting north west Missouri. Talked to the local game warden and he dismissed my claim as a big dog. It wasn’t a dog the tracks were wider than long and there were no claw marks. I was creepy find on my uncle’s cattle farm.

[@tonyagrestic]

My Friend took a picture of one by Davenport Iowa. They are in Iowa.

[@stephenfletcher1579]

A correction on the subject at hand. A mountain lion is known for stalking it's favorite prey ,deer. A cougar hunts in urban areas looking for young bucks, big difference.

[@ShonnMorris]

Good video. Mountain Lions aren't just in the wild areas in California. They are well known for inhabiting our cities especially Los Angeles but have been seen in San Diego and even in downtown San Francisco. Reading the comments here, I think a lot of people don't understand the difference between seeing them in their state and that state having an established stable population.

[@stevebradley7721]

Here in Illinois we have had confirmed sightings. We’ve had a few killed by getting hit with cars.

[@Steve-d1d9f]

I'm from the south east central il. I seen one on the way to my stand one morning. Clark county.

[@SirCharles12357]

I saw a mountain lion while training in the early early morning at Ft. Sill, OK. They're there. I think it is due to the huge increase of the deer population.

[@douglasw2077]

Although many deny it, there are Mountain Lions in Alabama also. Many people have seen them and I have as well. Even a State Game Warden I knew verified that these big cats do live here.

[@jimyost2585]

I saw one here in Alabama (Paint Rock River Valley) about seven years ago while I was mowing my lawn (big lawn) at near dusk on a hot summer day. At first I thought he was a big dog, but as I got closer to him I could see what he was. I stopped the forward motion of my riding mower to get a good look at him, and he stopped walking and stood there looking at me like he wasn't afraid of me at all. When I saw that my asashole drew up. He stood there looking at me for about fifteen seconds and then he slowly walked off into the woods that adjoin my property. He didn't run off like he was scared, he just slowly walked off. I never saw him again, but the old lady who lives behind me saw him two or three times around that time. He was tall and skinny and it looked like his head was too small for his body. He was brindle colored. His tail was as long as his whole body.

[@lauramaskell1653]

New York also has Mountain Lions.

[@kirkwaggoner7328]

My ex used to be on nights at Wal Mart near Brooklyn, CT. One night a customer who was friendly with local LEOs came in and told her to keep the folks away from the wooded edges of the parking lot. A cop had just shown him a breeding pair in his spotlight in a field a few hundred yards down the road. I know we have black bears here in Eastern CT so it would not surprise me that mountain lions are here too.

[@Steven-rn2bu]

I saw one in CT in broad daylight. Unmistakable with that 2-1/2 foot tail and distinct facial markings. DEEP will not acknowledge their existence here, even after a few very public instances.

[@bruceaeschlimann7833]

They’re here in small numbers. State doesn’t want to admit it because they would have to close the state parks down.

[@jc-pj3nh]

Seen one in Oakville, CT. Could not mistake it for any other animal. I was 200 ft away from it. Now I never go outside without a pistol in my pocket.

[@robertstone9875]

I live in Western Massachusetts and saw a mountain crossing a secondary road about 1p years ago. Also, local hunters say they have seen them and even caught them on trail cams but environmental and federal fish and game deny it.

[@JackHyland-d1u]

There are small but viable populations of Mountain Lions in many Midwestern states and also in upstate New York and some New England states. Many have been spotted in Eastern Canada as well, such as in Central Quebec and Ontario. So much for ''Wildlife Facts''.

[@477BravoJuliet]

Besides the U.S. mountain lions also live in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Paraguay, Uruguay and French Guiana. Only the leopard has a larger natural range than mountain lions.

[@sheldon740]

Mountain Lions are in Ohio also, I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Telling officials you witnessed them, they deny it, and pretty much laughed in my face.

[@WARS187]

Yup I understand .. We we're told it was a rare occasion even though we have proof. Mountain Lions Reside in Ohio ❤

[@Valo6161]

They're also present and have been proven via trailcams to be in Tennessee also. My mother also saw one not far from where we were living on her way to work. Good to know these creatures are still around and are making a comeback, they're a very valuable asset to the ecosystem and need to be protected.

[@RobertGoodner-b2z]

Don’t forget Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Saw one crossing the parkway road while riding a motorcycle

[@jeffinphx517]

@RobertGoodner-b2z A cougar riding a motorcycle, was she hot?

[@kevinkeeler2764]

The Adirondacks of New York has had a few sightings also.

[@Arkansas1989]

I've seen three of them here in Arkansas throughout my lifetime two brown ones and a black one

[@robertdouglas8895]

I live in N. Idaho. When the timber is cut, cougars come to human inhabited areas looking for a new range. They don't stay long but it has been long enough to take out a couple pairs of my domestic cats.

[@RandomPrecisionMotors]

Most of New England has been seeing them for about the past 2 decades...

[@martykroenecke4273]

There have been regular sightings in Iowa for the past 10 years. Especially in southern and southwestern counties.

[@jayceisking]

I once got a trail camera photo on my uncles property in Florida of a Panther. They are super rare. Never seen one in person in the wild.

[@dominicd7610]

We have quite a few in Oklahoma.Ive seen them on the Red River and the Arkansas river

[@robbywilliams4601]

They are in Alabama as well, although wildlife biologists refuse to acknowledge it. Many people, including me, have seen these cats firsthand. They have been sighted on numerous trail cams. The cats that are sighted are not bobcats, as some suppose; most of us know what bobcats look like. These are MUCH bigger that bobcats and have a long thick tail, unlike bobcats. I think these cats are probably in most, if not all, states; but due to their lower population in some areas as well as their natural elusiveness, they are thought to not exist in some areas

[@marksaint2936]

I saw one cross the road in front of me in Marshall County back in the late 80’s. I’ve heard 2 on my farm over the last 20 years. I know what bobcats sound like. This was not a Bobcat. We do have plenty of bobcats in Marshall/Blount county.

[@markking2038]

@@marksaint2936 Same for Louisiana, the wildlife fish division finally admitted we have a few here. Probably moved in from Texas.

[@ronaldreid486]

I live in south Cullman county along the Mulberry river have seen 3 in the past 40 years

[@rockie307]

The reason they will probably never see them admit to it is because there is not large enough wilderness areas left to support the lions. They would have to change the way they log and everything else. Alabama puts money and growth over everything that's why so many animals were wiped out and considered extinct in Alabama. Alabama is just too developed at this point to sustain a healthy breeding population of lions. I do believe there still are a few in most states but lions travel hundreds of miles on a regular basis, so who knows where they are going or came from.

[@joebirdwell5071]

I had one in my back yard. Neighbor has it on trail cam. South of Knoxville TN

[@jamesnapier107]

They are in southeastern Kentucky too!

[@williamsporing1500]

Northern Kentucky too

[@frankenz66]

I have seen mountain lions and heard of people seeing mountain lions in Arkansas since the late 1970's. The first one I ever saw was in spring of 1980 when me, my brother, and Dad were heading home and one was in our neighbor's pasture and it was just racing down a fairly steep hill . When he saw us, it swung around, without stopping, and ran right back up that steep hill as quickly as he was running down it. A magnificent sight!

[@dfb788dennis2]

I saw a huge puma walking beside a stone fence when I was driving from Tulsa to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I have wondered what would have happened if I was walking beside the fence headed toward the lion.

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

I saw 1 in standing stone state park in tennessee in oct 2024.

[@tonykrejci]

You forgot Minnesota! In 1966 we had one behind our lake home in Frazee Minnesota. Sightings have been reported in Northern Minnesota.

[@gss7289]

Alabama has a small population of Mountain Lions

[@GeorgeWHaydukeiii6396]

yep, I know. Those are what they call inbred mountain lions.

[@TrentFoutch-ob1re]

I saw a pair in Mississippi 35 years ago when they supposedly were not in the area

[@kingbaldwiniv5409]

We hunt Oklahoma and have had family there since before 1900. I have seen extensive mountain lion sign along the Red River for decades. Although I am primarily in the western half of the state, the eastern part of the state has a much higher population. I am very suspicious of suggested lion numbers because DNR authorities claim there are no stable populations in many states where I know there are and have been over a long period of time. Counting numbers of the cats is difficult in states with inaccessible or difficult to traverse territory. I don't buy the numbers at all, as most are based on projections from very small and inconclusive sample sizes.

[@prof113]

We see mountain lions in Michigan. My buddies farm had prints all over his farm....and the he came around the corner of his house and ran right into it.

[@jasschoob8726]

Wisconsin has em too. My neighbors trailcams set up for deer hunting has several great captures. Very healthy looking animals

[@SonoftheAmericanRevolution]

100% true. I hunt in Vilas Co. and have friends that have taken pictures of them walking right under their stand. The U.P. too. They are doing very well in the Superior Uplands.

[@ClarkHerkes]

I have a Friend who’s Mom has 268 Acres in west central Wisconsin. And yes there is one that has been on the property. Has trail cam pictures of it .

[@DogWhoFilms]

My K9 lives for smelling out those Mountain Kitty Cats… I have a large male English Labrador retriever (110lbs).. there is a large female who calls our local canyon home.. I know over the 6 years of us adventure Dog’n in her territory that she has watched my Lowkey grow up from 1-7 years… FunFact, she has had kittens from 3 birthing cycles that has repopulated central Utah. (I live 10 miles north of downtown Salt Lake City)

[@janemarkham4133]

COOL !

[@WayneMacLean-lj8lb]

I see a few mountain lions on my property over the years in the mountains of Montana. Beautiful looking animals. I never had a problem with any going after my horse or coming after me when I came up on one crouched down on a path that deer take. I know there are stories how they have attacked some people or live stock. But its not as common as humans killing other humans daily. Running by one or from one could be a problem because it can set the cat off. Like if you run with a dog it gets excited and runs after you. Many hunting animals go on the fear of the pray they are after. I believe standing your ground and yelling and acting like your out of control is something a mountain lion is not going to see as easy prey.

[@charlesbrandt5205]

I live in Arizona. I saw a Mountain Lion sunning itself while I was camping at Oak Flats Campground which is between Superior and Miami.

[@kennethgoin628]

I have personally encountered a mountain lion in WI, and people in MN report sightings as well. Some hang around, some pass through and have been tracked as far as PA. WI DNR is quite hushed over the topic, but they've also expressed interest in reintroducing the animals and supporting a small populous of them.

[@smsmoof8128]

Yea, the DNR dont want to talk about their little pet projects and the trouble they create ...

[@adamchamberlain8339]

A kid I went to school with in upstate ny had one on trailcam for a couple years. His dad saw it while deer hunting and shot it. Ny DEC denied the state had lions so he asked what if I said I shot one and had the animal, they said something about making him surrender the animal and paying fines. He just hung up and looked up how to tan the hide and they did all that themselves and kept the pelt

[@tmurph247]

NY DEC more concerned about euthanizing pet squirrels than worrying about a wild cat.

[@Howard-bj1jq]

Thanks, very interesting. NC and VA also have low numbers on lions. I have spoken to a person that saw one in the mountains in VA. There are miles and miles of isolated, wooded areas in both states. I am surprised that no lions are noted in the NA - ME, NH, Vermont, NY and PA! Thanks.

[@johnpenny2906]

I live in n.h... local bank teller got one on her security camera pointed at her garage about ten years ago. She showed me a picture...a little grainy, but a very distinctive body and tail shape! Absolutely unmistakable.

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

I saw one in Homewood, Pennsylvania two summers ago. I was on a train and it just crossed the tracks in front of us like it owned the place. People try to tell me I saw a bobcat, but I know the difference. Bobcats are small and only have a stubby tail. What I wmsaw was the size of a coyote and had a long tail with that classic curve.

[@tonyg1958]

I saw one in broad daylight a few years ago in eastern NC. A number of friends who are hunters have seen them on multiple occasions as well.

[@janemarkham4133]

YES, YOU 'RE RITE , THEY ARE IN Va. & NORTH CAROLINA!!!!

[@philwistrom9200]

I saw one live while coyote hunting in Iowa last spring. I also saw one in Florida several years back also while turkey hunting.

[@verymerry893]

Iowa has a small population of mountain lions. A few years back one was shot around 30 miles west of Iowa City. I am friends with someone who saw one crossing a road. I also know someone else else who had a donkey which was attacked, as evidenced by claw marks it received. There are rumors that the Iowa DNR, though the deny it and claim there is no population in Iowa, is reintroducing them into the state.

[@gwenwheeler1248]

Ive personal seen them twice in upstate ny! By the looks of the comment section they are in all states!

[@aidenelliott6509]

I live in Montana and In the news there was a small town in the mountains with a population of like 50 people and a mountain lion was spotted on the school grounds of that town and almost attacked someone.

[@ssippilandelta4365]

Wow

[@terrybaird3122]

The populations of Mountain Lions in Kentucky and Illinois are undoubtedly small but greater than zero. There have been too many very solid sightings to discount. I am speaking specifically of western Kentucky and southern Illinois.

[@williamsporing1500]

I’m in campbell county Kentucky, and a friend of mine showed me one he picked up on his trail camera.

[@slydale]

These cats are everywhere. They're just crazy elusive. I have seen them in Louisiana as far back as 20 years ago. And even seen a black one maybe 8 years ago. They're out there. Keeping to themselves. Probly keeping small numbers except out west. It'll blow your mind seeing one, not being used to it.

[@ssippilandelta4365]

Wow I believe you I’m from the Delta

[@gunnermac]

Last winter one of my cameras got a picture of one less than 500 yards from my camp. About 4 months a trail camera got a picture of a large male about 3 miles from the picture on my place, same one? unknown. These photos were taken in N.E. Georgia

[@tmurph247]

I've lived near dalton since 2005. A couple yrs ago my wife and I were taking a late night drive through the cohutta wilderness on the forest svc roads and I'm pretty sure we saw one while heading up the road towards Lake Murray and Lake Conasauga. So not too far from you.

[@davidmoore2699]

We've had several mountain lion sightings in the city of Seattle this year

[@jeffreyparks2371]

When I was a kid in the 70’s, my dad and myself were deer hunting out by Deep Creek Lake in western MD. Dusk was coming and we were walking to the car parked off an old fire trail. Imagine our surprise to see a big mountain lion actually sitting on the hood of the car! It jumped off and ran into the woods. There were paw prints all over the car. I’m not sure any survive there today, but they definitely did back then.

[@artawhirler]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@BrianLawrence-vk3pu]

Growing up in Kentucky, I never saw a Mountain Lion but I have seen large blackish/gray cats on a couple occasions and many I know have too. The assumption is a black panther but Fish and Game will not confirm. I have also found a pile of quarter sized, dark colored hairballs. And my Mom also found four inch wide cat prints in front of their bedroom window.

[@aldeureaux5184]

There are lions in Louisiana as well, at least as far back as 1990. I had two experiences with one myself. I have spoken to others that have had sightings in Louisiana and Mississippi.

[@ssippilandelta4365]

I’ve seen a hit cub in Mississippi

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

I've found them in North Texas, Grayson County and central Texas, Williamson county.

[@davidstinnett8340]

There are sightings here in east Tennesse. I’ve have seen one myself as well as other friends having seen them too.

[@runningman1156]

You can be 100 % sure that they have been introduced into norther NY, but NO ONE in conservation will admit this. There are very few, but they have been spotted on trail cameras. Also, the Red Timber wolf, for a fact has been released here also. I might add with NO warning to the citizens in these areas.

[@tmurph247]

We have red wolves all over east TN and North GA, they pose 0 threat to people, livestock and pets on the other hand.

[@carolmartin2503]

...... kinda expected it ! can't help but wonder if they released the extremely annoying coyotes too !!!

[@claw1952]

Dont know how many total Louisiana has but i know there is at least 3 cause ive seen 3 different cats. They are not black and are not brown but a mixed blackish brown or brennel color.

[@jerryware5749]

Yep. Have been caught on game cams too.

[@miked9824]

I spotted them in west virginia

[@ronniecoburn6772]

There have been a couple spotted in West Virginia, but that was more than ten years ago. At the time, I thought I would love to see the numbers increase, but of course, that would be up to the Folks who manage the game and wild preserves.

[@tmurph247]

Grew up in preston county, saw a couple in the late 90's early 2000's on the family farm. More recently when I was back visiting family (2023) heard what I'm 99% sure was one screaming up on the mountain behind the farm.

[@janemarkham4133]

YOURE RITE, THEY CAN IMATATE A CRYING BABY AS WELL AS OTHER SOUNDS !! THEY SEE YOU & MOST OF THE TIME YOU NEVER SEE THEM !!!! BLUE RIDGE RUNNER HERE Y'ALL !!!!@@tmurph247

[@robertmintz63]

I am from Ontario Canada in 1972 I was hunting east of North Bay & we saw cat tracks & even heard one scream & an old Indian man up there said don’t tell anybody !

[@janemarkham4133]

THE INDIAN KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT BROTHERMAN!!!! LEAVE THEM ALONE !

[@andrewkelso3532]

Do you think there would be a population in Mississippi?

[@brianmoore1164]

You think there are only 200 of them out there in those Florida swamps?? Guess again.

[@ginnychibbaor4578]

Are the python snakes hurting the population in FL?

[@brianmoore1164]

@ginnychibbaor4578 No, and thankfully the gators are learning to eat python.

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Remember, alligators were once endangered in Florida. Now, people are endangered.

[@GeorgeWHaydukeiii6396]

That's a really dumb comment. Do you have any more dumb things to say?

[@ShonnMorris]

You are misusing the word endangered.

[@WeldonSmith-h6i]

Do you have any idea how many people are on this planet?

[@johnestes31]

@@ShonnMorris Yes, you are indeed.

[@johnestes31]

@@WeldonSmith-h6i He's talking about Florida.

[@todpalmer2545]

They've been captured on trail cams in Kansas as well.

[@willhorting5317]

Yep

[@GatesCompton-c4d]

Texas has been shipping cats to Florida for years that’s why their numbers are up.🇺🇸🤠

[@bobsmith6544]

One's that illegally crossed the border?

[@davidnikodym4672]

Oklahoma has a viable and reproducing population of Mountain Lions.

[@SaraSarvis]

Plenty of them in Maine I've seen them for over 45years old Smart one

[@brucegordon9007]

Western Nebraska has plenty of Lion reproduction due to large Deer and Turkey population thanks to productive Agriculture. A land owner and I walked two canyons close together , he found 4 cubs following a mom, I found 1 cub following mom plus two seprate lone adult lion tracks. Finding deer kills is common, they love Porkupines and have reduced them to almost nothing in that ares as shown by Game cam's and scared trees.