Author Topic: Mountain lions? (Read 2776 times)

.270 · « **on:** October 12, 2005, 09:55:29 AM »

Have any of you ever heard of anyone seeing a mountain lion in this state? About 15 years ago an man I know was riding his bike home from helping with the milking at a near by farm. He saw what he described at the time as a black panther. He said it ran across the road in front of him. He still says he saw it if you ask about it. He is known as a very truthful person in the area.

A few years ago a farmer had a few of his sheep killed. It was blamed on a black bear that had been seen in the area. I know this farm pretty well and the area the sheep are in has a 5' high fence around it. At that time there where no damaged spots in the fence.

I was talking to friend of mine on the phone the other day and he told me he saw a mountain lion last year in deer season. I know this guy hsa told some tall tales in his life but he says his future father in law and brother in law saw this thing too the same day. I didn't get to talk to them yet but I would sure like to.

buckbeast · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:26:29 PM »

I personally have never seen one, however this is posted in the pennlive forums. See listing 172

http://www.pennlive.com/forums/hunting/

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2005, 07:41:24 AM »

I have had puma's around my house several times, not an experience I'd wish to through again :eek:

.270 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2005, 08:14:39 AM »

I just heard that the local papper had a story about a man who called the game commsion to complain about a mountain lion killing his live stock. He was told he was crazy there are no mountain lions in pa.They never came to check his story out. After awhile he got tired of waiting so he shot the lion himself and put it in his freezer. It turns out this lion had a chip of some kind implanted in it. the commison came to his house and fined him $300 for shooting it. :roll: Funny how they have nothing to do with mountain lions or coyotes for that matter. How can they fine you for shooting something only in out imagination.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2005, 08:23:22 AM »

One word:

UNBELIEVABLE![/b][/color]

tundragriz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2005, 10:25:53 AM »

I started running hounds and trapping in different parts of Susquehanna county in 1980. I also keep in touch with a group of individuals that run hounds and trap (life member PTA) in susquehanna and several surrounding counties. Initially it was primarily for coon, recently I enjoy bobcats and the dogs won't pass on bear. If there are puma running around susq. co. then they must have wings because they never leave tracks even in the snow. These animals don't hibernate, they don't migrate, and the snow is on the ground for a long time around here. There must be tracks somewhere and sign of at least one deer a week being killed.

I lived in California in the 70s and hunt the southwest and Mexico every year. I have no problem finding and recognizing cougar sign on dry ground. You find their tracks and their kills even in areas where every cougar seen is killed.

I just don't know how a group of people that spend so much time in the forest would not eventually run a cougar, catch one in a trap, or eventually come across a single track in the snow. One verifiable digital picture of a track in the snow is all it would take. Find the track, call WNEP, and the big secret will be exposed.

I have caught cougars in coyote traps in Ca. The jaws are usually out of the trap, there is evidence of a single mighty bound, the pad prints from the push-off show even in dry ground. Point being, there "is" evidence that it was a cougar. Surely some trapper somewhere in Pa. has had this happen and recorded the event considering how unusual it would be.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2005, 12:05:17 PM »

Tundra, we're not 30 minutes away from each other! I never woulda thought I'd have another local here on GBO

Joel · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2005, 07:15:19 AM »

I think everyone has read by now of the couger killed outside of Harrisburg either last year or the year before. There were pictures in the paper. A lady at work has pictures of one, which she sent to the game commission, that was outside her house; located outside the town of Tyrone, PA. The game commission now says that there are no signs of MATING pairs of cougers; they no longer deny that they are around.

rocco · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2006, 04:06:03 AM »

I have like many of you have seen and heard stories about Mt.Lions attacks .They are so fast and silent .I think to stand any chance you would have to have a BIG handgun aready in your hand ready to shoot point blank in their head .They talked to people that said the cat had them in their mouth before they knew what happened and was like a mouse to them .And never seen or heard them .I live in Western Pa. and over the years I have heard of poeple claiming they have been seen here .

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2006, 02:12:32 PM »

Ah yes, a little spice for our idillic forays into the forests.
First time I saw a big ( BIG) dog footprint, and no people prints around, OH MY! Now there's Pumas, and Wolves, and even wild pigs in Bedford County! Memories of the movie Jaws, and going to the beach.
A friend told of the experience of being "spoken to" by a momma black bear, about her cubs. He said he understood every word she spoke very clearly! And if I may add personally, a fishin pole ain't much use against a realy vindictive cow. Waders ain't much good either!
It's OK to laugh now, it's good medicine, keep the humor in mind when you're still a ways from the car, and the sun is setting.
And then there's the story of the buffalo that got loose from somewhere, and like the fella said, "there he was, what was I supposed to do"?
Keep yer nose to the wind and stay sharp, fellas.
Woodbutcher

tundragriz · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2006, 07:33:34 PM »

Joel,
Where might someone find this story that everyone has read by now??? How was it killed?

knight0334 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2006, 09:55:17 AM »

Theres a puma the occassionally passes through our farm lands in Munderf, PA - Polk Twp, N/E Jefferson Co. Two of my uncles and a cousin have seen it. There are reports of a couple other neighboring farms having seen it too.

Haven't heard of any livestock being killed or maimed by it though.

grousehunter · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2006, 06:52:26 PM »

I am also from S w pa. AND 35YRS AGO SEEN ONE! AND NOBODY BELIVED IT! I was with my Father headed for town and it was walkimg a small ridge top, we turned around the vehicle to see again, but was to late, that was about the time my father started carrying his camera with him in the car!!!!!

bigbore45colt · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2006, 10:07:25 AM »

I ran across one about 15 years ago just south of State College, PA near Stone Valley.

While attending Penn State, I took an "Outdoor Living Skills" class. Part of the coure required a weekend of camping in the woods so our instructor took us out to a spot he was familiar with for us to camp for the weekend. Our class (~12 people) walked out to this spot and walked up on a mountain lion feeding on something in the leaves. Unmistakable, with its long tail sticking up as it was eating. We stopped and watched it from about 50 yards away until it spotted us and took off. We walked up on the area it was feeding in and discovered a deer carcass buried under a pile of leaves and such.

I will never forget it...

BB45C

buckbeast · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2006, 05:24:06 AM »

another report from this past Sunday's Patriot News (Harrisburg, PA).

http://www.pennlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1154223640262750.xml?pennnews&coll=1

tundragriz · « **Reply #15 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:52:08 PM »

I took these pics just today near the creek on my property. It was a very large cat, a few feet long. I saw it moving in the weeds near my creek and I tried to get closer. It took off but I was able to get these shots. Could this be a young lion?

iez44 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 01, 2006, 01:32:01 PM »

That looks like a dandy bobcat to me. Pumas, aka mt lions, don't have spotted fur. Too bad you didn't get a good look at the tail or face. That would have been a definite give away.

Flash · « **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2006, 02:03:17 PM »

If you capture the pic and zoom in on the tail, it's bobed. Looking at the face, the black lines are barely seen across the cheeks...........aka Bobcat. A mountail lion has a long tail with a black tip, soild colored fur and most likely would be posturing if he seen you. Not too much they're afraid of. Interesting pic though.

tundragriz · « **Reply #18 on:** September 12, 2006, 12:40:06 PM »

And HERE'S the rest of the story!!!

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2006, 01:59:30 PM »

Great pix tundragriz! Nice color fur.
Reminds me, I need some more fur with that color for fly tying.
Ya know, ya don't really have to skin the critter to get some hair. All ya gotta do is set them on your lap and comb them. Get lotsa hair that way.
Here Kitty, Kitty! Woodbutcher

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2006, 02:51:01 AM »

Tundra,

How big would you say that bobcat was? My wife thought she saw a bobcat on the other side of our pond here in Harford (a fair skip, hop and jump away given) during the summer. She saw the pics and was like..."Holy crap, that thing is bigger than I thought!".

Flash · « **Reply #21 on:** September 30, 2006, 07:22:13 AM »

Going off the foliage, I'd say his shoulder was around 18" to 24" tall, which isn't a small cat. They are more afraid of us than we are of them but it still is one formidable opponent when you don't have a firearm. I have a friend that sent me pics last year of a huge dark colored cat up in Tioga county that sneaks up to eat dog food off the deck. I'm going to go through my emails and see if I can find it for posting.