A Mountain Lion Joins Bears In Reported Sightings

By Kendra Bobowick

Pauline Goncalves was enjoying a pedicure at Simply Nail & Spa on Church Hill Road in early August when she saw something that one wildlife biologist later explained as unlikely.

“It was a large animal — about 70 pounds, tan, no stripes, with a solid, long tail and it was prowling; it came out of the woods,” she said. Ms Goncalves believes she saw a mountain lion or, the “Cat of One Color,” according to the Mountain Lion Foundation, MountainLion.org. The predator, which is known to avoid humans, is also called by many names including cougar, puma, mountain lion, catamount, and even panther, according to foundation information.

A mountain lion in Connecticut is “highly unlikely” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Wildlife Division Biologist Paul Rego. His department can receive reports of between 50 and 100 sightings a year.

“It is an interesting phenomenon that we get so many, yet none turn out to be verified,” he said, adding, “If we had a small population it is likely we would see an individual [mountain lion] hit by a car.

“We’ve never confirmed a mountain lion in Connecticut except for the few cases of captive animals that were loose,” he said.

Ms Goncalves also contacted the DEP and the local police, she said.

“They said it’s rare,” she explained after her conversation with the DEP. “They explained that a bobcat was more likely, but I looked, and it was not at all.” Ms Goncalves researched bobcats, which she said do not resemble what she saw.

Ms Goncalves echoed Mr Rego’s words when she wondered aloud, “There may be another possibility … people have them as pets and they get too big and outgrow the household.”

 

Familiar Ground

The DEP has often investigated claims of mountain lions Mr Rego said.

“We have had the opportunity dozens of times and we go to the sites where they are reported,” he said. “The two most common mistakes are coyotes and bobcats.” Footprints are other signs that are investigated at the scenes.

“Every time we have an opportunity to determine what people have seen it turns out to be another species,” said Mr Rego. Considering the case in Newtown, he said, “That is most likely.”

He also indicated that Florida is most likely the closest mountain lion habitat.

Despite the regularity of reports coming into the DEP, “we have never received confirmation,” he said. He feels that a mountain lion population in this state would leave more traces including accidents involving a mountain lion, or the animal’s tracks.

Newtown Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason named a variety of wildlife sightings that have prompted calls. She said, “We have two bobcats,” and also mentioned the bears seen in town. The Bee has featured bear photos submitted by residents in the past year.

Ms Goncalves speculates that development may be encroaching on wildlife habitat.

“With all the building going on they’re losing their open space,” she said.

 

Reading The Signs

According to the Mountain Lion Foundation’s website, the mountain lion has a tan-colored coat, much like the African lion.

The most recognizable feature of the animal is its long and heavy tail, which measures almost two-thirds the length of the head and body. Male lions typically weigh 110 to 180 pounds, while the females are slightly smaller, weighing 80 to 130 pounds. The mountain lion should not be confused with its cousin, the bobcat (a smaller cat of about 22 pounds), recognizable by its spotted coat, pointed ears and short tail.

According to additional information found at AnimalDiversity.ummz.umich.edu, mountain lions historically had the most extensive distribution of all American terrestrial mammals. They ranged from coast to coast in North America, and from southern Argentina and Chile to southeastern Alaska.

Extermination efforts, hunting pressure, and habitat destruction have restricted their range to relatively mountainous, unpopulated areas. Populations in eastern North America were entirely exterminated, except for a small population of Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi).

In recent years populations have begun to expand into areas of human habitation, especially in the western United States. Mountain lions are now fairly common in suburban areas of California and have recently been sighted as far east as urban Kansas City, Mo., where several have been hit by cars.

Mountain lion sightings in eastern North America, outside of southern Florida, are still more likely to be escaped or abandoned “pet” mountain lions or other large cats.