A Mountain Lion in Western NY?

[Rwalter63]

Alright I know this is a sore topic with some and I am probably opening up a can of worms here but here goes. There has been a report by several hunters in the Hamburg, NY area that they have seen a mountain lion in Hamburg. It appears a large animal also attacked a bow hunters deer deoy. Now I am not saying I believe it or not but here is a copy of the news article reported by television station WKBW Chanel 7  in Buffalo.
More signs of possible mountain lion in southtowns  

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:OjLz7tafsUoJ:www.wkbw.com/Story.aspx%3FNStoryID%3D7559+mountain+lion+hamburg,+ny&hl=en
 


"Nov 11, 2005 - There hasn't been a recent sighting, but there's another sign that something unusual is wondering around in the southtowns - possibly a cougar or a mountain lion.

A deer decoy used for archery target practice in the woods in Hamburg appears to have been attacked by some kind of large animal The Erie County SPCA is investigating and the experts say it certainly appears from all the evidence and sightings so far that some kind of animal not normally seen here has moved in.

“Whatever hit this, hit it really hard, and would probably have had to get up to speed to do it,” said Joel Thomas, a wildlife expert.

Last week a group of hunters claimed they saw a big cat in the woods near the Village Green Nursery in Hamburg. So far no ones been able to positively identify the animal. "


So what have you guys in the southern tier by seeing?

[PETE/NY]

RW- The article you posted was on TV awhile back and lately there was a pic of what sure looked like a mountain lion in a guys yard in the Hamburg area. I know Joel Thomas from the Erie County ASPCA and he is an honest guy and does know animals. As for the cougar in Allegany County-my friend has a camp down there and in a field by his camp, a black cougar has been spotted by quite a few neighbors. od course when the DEC was contacted they knew NOTHING about any cougars or mountain lions. One of the neighbors had a picture and sent it to the DEC and never heard a thing on it. Luckily he still had the original pic.Who knows but when my friend and his Dad said they saw it, I have no reason not to believe them.But to each his own I guess.

[Daveinthebush]

I can remember back when I was a kid in NY of lion reports in NY state.  Unless someone actually kills one, which is illegal unless self-defense, the fact will never be substainialted.  There are even reports of mountain lions in Alaska and Fish and Game says noway.

Back in about 1997-98 an animal rights activist suggested implanting mountain lions on Long Island to control the deer herd.  Sounds like fun.

[NYH1]

I can remember back when I was a kid in NY of lion reports in NY state.  Unless someone actually kills one, which is illegal unless self-defense, the fact will never be substainialted.  There are even reports of mountain lions in Alaska and Fish and Game says noway.

Back in about 1997-98 an animal rights activist suggested implanting mountain lions on Long Island to control the feer herd.  Sounds like fun.

I'm pretty sure it "WOULD NOT" be illegal, and here is why I say this. It is not illegal to hunt/shoot an animal in New York State just because there is no season on that particular animal. Unless of course that animal in protected by the DEC of the federal government. Look at woodchucks there isn't or never use to be a "hunting season" on them and all you need to hunt woodchucks is a valid small game hunting licence. Crows used to be the same way until they put a season on them a few years ago. One more thing about this is a few years ago a bow hunter shot a wild boar while deer hunting. The boar escaped from a near by wild life farm/preserve. The guy that owned the boar wanted the DEC to arrest the guy that shoot the boar. The DEC said they could not arrest the guy because he didn't break any laws. There is no season or restrictions on wild boar in NY, the guy was on state land "not the guy that owned the boar's land" there for the guy could shoot it and there was nothing the DEC could do! This happened in Central New York.

[Horsefeathers]

Back in 1949 or so my brother and I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a Black Couger (Panther?) while hunting in Greene County. Other hunters also claimed to have seen it. Moose and Elk are moving about so why not Cougers?   ...Horsefeathers..

[Daveinthebush]

"Protected Wildlife"

     In New York State nearly all species of wildlife are protected.  Most species, including endangered species, song birds, hawks and owls are fully protected and may not be taken.  The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, wood chuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, monk parakeet and snaping turtle.  Unprotected species may be taken at any time with no limit. A hunting license is required to hunt unprotected wildlife with a bow or firearm.

     Game species may be taken only during their open seasons and as summarized in this Guide. Hunters taking wildlife on licensed shooting preserves must comply with regulations governing those shooting preserves.

New York State Hunting Guide 2004-2005

This is the web page for endangered species in New York State.  And yes, the cougar (aka mountian lion) is listed as endangered.

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/etsclist.html

[NYH1]

Daveinthebush, the cougar would be illegal to kill then. I was going on the "woodchuck" and "wild boar" theory....guess I would have gottin in trouble!!! :eek:

[Daveinthebush]

NYH  Usually introduced species not indiginous to a state have no regulations and do not follow under the rules, such as the boar.  The state does not want them because they are bascially an infestation into the ecosystem.  

The starling came from Europe where it was considered a song bird.  Anyone that has walked down Salina Street or any other street in down town Syracuse has other words for them as they tend to let loose of their droppings as they fly from window sill to sill in the winter.  There are gold fish in Onondaga Lake and Lake Ontario flushed down from toilets in Syracuse too. I used to love shooting the flocks of starlings in the fall.

P.S.  I was born in Crouse Irving Hospital.  So New York was my hunting grounds until I moved up here in 99.  Hunted deer in Bear Swamp last fall and will be back next Thanksgiving to do so again.  

[WNY_Whitetailer]

I still don't know if I believe all the cougar/panther sightings...I'm one of those "have to see it for myself" kinda guys...That being said, if one were to come anywhere near me in the woods it would be history.  I will not put myself in a position that I could be attacked by a hungry animal.  Especially one that may want to hunt me.

[Sgtshultzy1]

I live in Dutchess county in the Pawling/Dover area.  Been hearing of several sightings of Mt Lions in this area.  Some have come from some very reputable people.  I remember a time when people thought you were nuts if you saw a bear or moose in our area.  Been seeing a lot of bear lately, and a moose recently got killed by a car on Rt. 22 in Pawling which I personally saw!.

I think its cool to have them in the area, and a testament to our efforts as conservationists for the rebound of several species that used to be absent and are now proliferating.  And,  considering the amount of roadkill we have here find it highly unlikey one would attack a person because its hungry.  Unfortunately, I am sure someone will kill one just to prove his manhood and come up with the excuse it was going to attack him.

[bigger e]

My wife and I both saw a mountain lio in Delaware County NY about 12 yrs ago. We were in the car with a good set of Nikon binoculars and watched it slowly walk a stonewall about 400 yds away. There was no mistake! We were only about 1 mile from our property. We decided to forgo the ridicule and keep silent about our sighting.
      Two weeks later on a Sunday afternoon our nieghbor shows up out of breath at our front door. "I had a couple of beers , but I ain't drunk" I just saw a mountain lion behind your barn. We assured him we believed him and he was very relieved to hear our story.
      I hunted that mountain throughout deer season and rabbit hunted till February and never crossed a track or heard another word from anyone.
       About a year or a year and a half ago Adirondack Life ran a article in thier magazine called "Mountain Lyin'" basically laughing off reports of pumas in NYS.In the following issue they apologized to thier readers. They said in 50 yrs of publishing they had never recieved more letters on any article than this one. Including several eyewitness reports from DEC officers and State Troopers. Apparantly not all of these people can be delusional.The response was simply overwhelming.