Gene Mueller The Washington Times - September 25, 2008, 01:00PM. But Whiteleys mother, Kimberly Spruill, says no dog lived there. According to state officials, Massachusetts has no need to update its current forest management practices to make the habitat more attractive to cougars. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. Cougars have been extinct in the state for about a century, and there havent been any confirmed sightings for decades. About 3,000 cats . A debate ensued over whether the animal was a rare and incredible sighting of a cougar (either an extinct eastern cougar or western . No indication of a captive animal. If that were true, it might be a sign of western mountain lions settling in the region. He was especially intrigued by the lack of lion tracks in the sandy soil. The only exception is for landowners who can kill a mountain lion on their property, but only if they have a depredation permit and the big cat has killed or injured their pets or livestock. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. Video of a mountain lion taken by a game camera. I dont know what point of reference theyre going off of other than it would be like an elk being killed or a deer., (In fact, Jim Vaught, a trapper from New Mexico who is among the few to have investigated a fatal mountain lion attack on a human, told Gwinn that he was sure that Whiteley had not been killed by a mountain lion. However, this news is not yet confirmed by the states Game and Fish Department. Continued investigation revealed mountain lion tracks, scat deposits and an additional cache of an elk calf. The following month, on January 25, Roe delivered her final autopsy to the sheriffs office. Height: 3 ft. Max. Landowners may also take down a depredating cougar without the need for a permit. In two locations, I identified tracks of a mid-sized dog, Bodenchuk wrote. Ten mountain lion sightings have now been confirmed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2021, according to the DNR. See Alex Hunter's Sigma Delta Chi award-winning editorial cartoons. Mountain lions kill their prey by stalking it, and then attacking from behind. 75. Genetic analyses were unable to determine the sex or population of orign of the individual. For instance, keep your jacket open or stay shoulder-to-shoulder with your hiking buddy. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. South Dakotas small population of cougars counts between 200 and 300 animals. Illustration by Texas Monthly; portrait: courtesy of Kimberly Spruill; brush: Texas Parks and Wildlife; mountain lion: Getty. Genetic analysis revealed the propbable population of origin was the Black Hills of South Dakota. Behavior indicates it may have been captive at one time. In fact, the last genuine sighting of a puma within the state borders was recorded in 1967. With one of the largest cougar populations, Oregon is one of the states to go if you want to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. However, they might as well be western mountain lions. mountain lion, a permit must be obtained from the State Dept. LCRT confirmed using video and other sign. Genetic analyses indicate the individual was a male with a probable population of origin in the Black Hills of Wyoming, South Dakota, and NW Nebraska. The park remains closed due to an uptick in mountain lion activity . Sleek and graceful, cougars ( Puma concolor ) are solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in the wild. An approximately 1.5 year old male was killed in a vehicle collision. Cougars have gone extinct in Oklahoma a long time ago, but seldom sightings have been documented back to 1852. Are they not? Almost all the cats present in this area can be traced to the Western Dakotas. The only confirmed . Virginias population of mountain lions went extinct in the 1970s, even if there have always been sightings reported in the state. If you do find yourself face-to-face with a mountain lion: James has had a lifelong passion for animals and nature, tracing back to his childhood where he first began fostering intimate knowledge and connection with pet frogs and snakes. Moreover, farmers in the state are also allowed to take down mountain lions without a permit or prior notice if they find the predator stalking, killing, or consuming their livestock. A conservation agent recorded video of a mountain lion with a deer carcass. With the money he earned, he finally bought the car he always wanted: a $500 Chevy Blazer, with a new motor and windshield that cost another $500. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. APPEARANCE. . On Tuesday, a woman reported seeing a mountain lion at a Maryland park. Hunting mountain lions in Arizona is legal year-round, but hunting areas close when the years quota is reached. what exactly happened, after going over the scene. They dont want to spend the time, he told me. Bodenchuk concluded that an animal may very well have killed Whiteley, but it was no lion. MLRT confirmed the tracks were those of a mountain lion. Their territories are smaller, they dont need to go as far and theres not as much competition for range or area as there is with males.. Updated: May 12, 2021 / 08:44 AM CDT. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. No indication of a captive animal. As to why Whiteley was shirtless? LCRT confirmed using photos and location of the sighting in close proximity with Report 95. Adult, male mountain lion killed in a vehicle collision. Does it mean cougars are returning to the state? The cougar sighting was confirmed Monday by Eric Kilburg, a senior wildlife biologist for the Department of Natural Resources in Washington and Ozaukee counties. The 2020 wildfires that ravaged California also affected mountain lion populations, killing an estimated 300 to 600 of them. Around 9 a.m., he grabbed his blue and white backpack and walked out the door of his girlfriends house near Lipan, an unincorporated town of about five hundred in rural Hood County, about an hours drive southwest of Fort Worth. They used to roam the entire continent, but have become extinct in most US states. They are illegal to hunt, but can be taken down to protect human life, pets, livestock, real property, or motor vehicles. Whiteleys throat, from under one ear to the other, was torn open. With a lions small but powerful jaw, the bite marks are almost daintytypically two puncture marks on each side of the throat with minimal blood. Thus, there could be breeding cougars in Michigan. Sheriff Deeds, whos lived in the area since 1987, says he has heard stories from ranchers [that] theres mountain lions out there. He also told Texas Monthly that he and some locals had seen evidence that a mountain lion attacked a horse in Morgan Mill, near Lipan, not long before Whiteleys death. Why were investigators so quick to jump to a conclusion about the cause of her sons death? The species is now extinct, but western mountain lions may still wander through the state. They are not an indicator of population density and are intended to use as a reference only. Even though sightings are rare, there have been at least eight confirmed reports in the past years. This makes it a safe destination for hiking and camping. All three men said that it was more likely that Whiteley fell or crawled into the brush where his body was found. Those numbers might have changed, and some experts believe that there are actually fewer mountain lions, so the lower limit of the range could be more accurate. Rose contends that the hairs came from a dog that stayed at the house of his girlfriend, Tylor Messina, who declined to be interviewed. . Genetic analysis revealed the propbable population of origin was Central Montana. Louisiana, like other eastern states, was home to the now extinct subspecies of eastern mountain lions. Yet, statistics show that hunters harvest between 400 and 600 cougars yearly. Purported mountain lion sighting causes stir FALLING WATERS Fliers and a plywood sign warning of purported sightings of a mountain lion near the area where two miniature horses and a donkey were killed in recent animal attacks caused a stir for local residents Tuesday, but authorities say there's no definitive indication such an animal is in the area. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Legal Status. . But What Is It? The most recent sighting of a mountain lion in a Randallstown field Tuesday has revived claims that cougars aren't extinct in Maryland. Mountain lions are about 30 inches tall at the shoulder and between 3.25 and 5.25 feet long. Without a request to collect DNA, the Tarrant County medical examiners followed standard procedure, washing the body shortly after the autopsy, effectively eliminating potential DNA evidence. Jeff Mulhollem. Gwinn said she wishes there wouldve been further investigation by the sheriffs office, but I cant do their job for them., The sheriffs office is quick to point out that because fatal mountain lion attacks are so rare, there are few people who have firsthand experience investigating them. While Nevadas population of mountain lions is about 36 times larger than Nebraskas, the number of cougars in the state is still low compared to other predators. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. LCRT confirmed using photos and other sign. A mountain lion was spotted on Bobby Trujillo's trail camera north of Gibbon. Like most predators, cougars are opportunistic and may target livestock. In an article in the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, Therres mentions that reports of cougar sightings come from every sector in the state as if were overrun with the big cats. Though Deeds and his deputies already suspected that a lion had killed Whiteley, the medical examiners preliminary autopsy report prompted them to go public with the theory. Bill Betty of Matunuck, a mountain lion expert who spoke at the South Kingstown Land Trust barn Oct. 30, thinks there is ample evidence pointing to the existence of a mountain lion in Matunuck. LINCOLN, Neb. A debate ensued over whether the animal was a rare and incredible sighting of a cougar (either an extinct eastern cougar or western cougar that traveled a great distance outside of their known range) or just a large domestic house cat that appeared larger than it was due to the weather conditions and perspective. Betty lectures across the country about big cat sightings. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Give the animal a wide berth, even more so if youre encountering a female with kittens. Dense brush where Christopher Whiteleys body was found, outside Lipan. And what better way to do that than with a prop? return to Inside Outside. The next step was to go to the scene. While sightings are rare only three credible reports were filed since 2008 experts say that there are big cats in the state. of Agriculture. racist or sexually-oriented language. The Lone Star State has the loosest regulations as far as cougar management is concerned. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Thus, landowners and their immediate family or employees are allowed to shoot at cougars threatening their domestic animals or property. The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. On February 12, 2020 an elk carcass was found which showed sign indicative of mountain lion predation. February 12. If Nebraska continues to follow this trend, mountain lions may soon become extirpated. Yet, there is a stable population of mountain lions in western North Dakota, counting around 80 breeding animals. Since 2004, there have been 59 verified cougar sightings and the numbers are not yet in for the last year. Christopher Allen Whiteley never learned to drive. In fact, the population of mountain lions in California is one of the largest in the United States around 4,000 to 6,000 individuals. I was surprised that they would do this so quickly given that the cause of death was yet to be determined, he wrote in his report. Evanss summary report recalls a phone call among himself, Bodenchuk, Gwinn, and Vaught. Always face the cougar, hold your ground, talk loudly, and ensure it has a way out. Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. While this isnt a huge number, cougars are classified as non-game mammals, similar to coyotes, bobcats, and other nuisance animals. According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, 13 people have been . In 1996 MDC established a Mountain Lion Response Team (MLRT) with specially trained staff to investigate reports and evidence of mountain lions. The mountain lion/cougar probably occurred throughout most of the state originally, but nowhere in great numbers. On the subject of large wild cats, you should know that Maryland and neighboring states like West Virginia, Virginia, or Pennsylvania, are definitely home to thriving populations of bobcats. Glenn Therres, a biologist and wildlife specialist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says, We receive a dozen or two dozen reports a year from citizens who see, hear or find signs of cougars. Formally, there is no population of mountain lions in New Jersey. Spruill isnt sure shell ever learn the answers. Video of mountain lion taken by home security camera. The table below shows the estimated number of mountain lions in each state: *Census data in the table was sourced from Game and Fish Departments, studies, research papers, news outlets, and other official sources, they are correct as of January 2023 and intended to use as a reference only. Mountain lions are permanent residents in only a small portion of the northernmost North America. In West Virginia, too, the population of eastern mountain lions that once roamed the hills and hollows of the state is long gone. The video that confirmed the mountain lion sighting in Wichita was caught by Cristin Boyle Ring doorbell early . We have documented at least 32 mountain lions killed by vehicles in our study area since 2002. . Federal authorities fined each hunter $2,000. MLRT collected genetic samples and estimated it at ~2 years old. Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Both Deeds and Rose told me they accept the medical examiners determination; however, they both maintain that a mountain lion is the likely culprit. According to the Hood County Sheriffs Office, that morning he took a shortcut through dense brush to get to Howell Road, a narrow country lane where he planned to thumb a ride to his job painting houses. They can be harvested with no limit and at any given time, as long as the hunter has a valid hunting license. Report a sighting Report a cougar observation. DNA testing could have given better insight into this question, but no test was ordered by the sheriffs office. That test came back negative. MDC received an eye-witness report supplemented with hair samples. Rags to riches: Stars who were once homeless, Nowhere to hide: US military's portable anti-material weapons, Semper Fi: Famous people you didnt know were U.S. Marines, Fire from the clouds: US military close air support, Beauty and brains: Smartest female celebrities, Fastest combat planes in the US Air Force, Vaccines dont work, masks dont work: Everything government told us about COVID-19 was wrong, Americas remnant: Only 4% now hold biblical worldview. There are no mountain lions in Georgia, at least no confirmed breeding population. Western Prince William Chatter. Your email address will not be published. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community. Nevertheless, the quotas are high compared to the actual number of animals. Nestled between Nevada and Colorado, Utah is another state with a seemingly large population of mountain lions. Youd think that with the distinctive white head and tail of adult eagles no one could foul up on it, but Therres says, We receive reports of bald eagles that turn out to be ospreys, hawks, black-backed gulls and even pigeons.. We'll push great photos to the front page. Photo of a mountain lion taken by a game camera. Mountain lion struck and injured in a vehicle collision. Citizen submitted photos of tracks in a muddy creekbed. Most presences are attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Stuckey installed game cameras around the site in the hopes of capturing the culprit on film, but the cameras yielded nothing more than photos of cows, deer, hogs, and a bobcat. 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