Big Cat Sighting

I just read on the Backyard Wildlife post that a lady in Mansfield saw a big, panther-like cat.

If anyone sees any big cats, they should IMMEDIATELY call:

1) NJDEP at 888-WARN-DEP, and then:
2) Mick Valent NJDEP wild/large cat expert (mostly deals with bobcats): 908.638.4127.

There have been several sightings and reports of a big cat in our area. I know, because I filed one. The State refuses to believe there are big cats in NJ, because they don't want to have to spend the money to investigate. But there is at least one around, and they need to receive any reports of an actual sighting, so that they take action and investigate this seriously.

A mountain lion is an extremely dangerous animal. Give me bears, coyotes, whatever, any day. A mountain lion is a different story.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Jul '09

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Rebecka. I heard this story second hand from a lady at shop-rite and didnt know if it was a hoax or not. What a beautiful creature. I hope the puddy cat can be caught and put in the wild somewhere.

No Avatar Denny
Jul '09

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There definitely are big cats in Warren and Sussex Counties. I have never seen one personally but I know people who have.

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Jul '09

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I do know that we have big cats in our areas. However, first it's "Watters Road", then it's "Mansfield" and sounds like a real life event instead of just repeated from a different post. Next post it will be someone asking what they're doing with the white elephant captured in Long Valley as if it's all confirmed and in the news somewhere.

Am I the only one that sees it sounds awfully suspiciously like the two big black cat statues on Petersburg Road (ie Water Street)?? I'd say someone is getting their leg pulled.

Gravatar for GC GC Message GC
Jul '09

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There is a large cat near thr Hopatcong/Roxbury border...that runs along the train tracks...heard this from a reliable source who deals with animals professionally.

Gravatar for PREDATOR PREDATOR Message PREDATOR
Jul '09

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Where do they come from? Have they always been in this area?

No Avatar Hackettstown1991
Jul '09

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That article is from Dec 2006

Gravatar for Lisa Lisa Message Lisa
Jul '09

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I had heard there were theories about the coyotes that numbers had grown up in the Adirondacks and Catskills and some of them have migrated south into NJ. Perhaps the big cats have similar theories about what's going on with them.

Gravatar for GC GC Message GC
Jul '09

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I've heard about cougar/mountain lion/panther sighting near mooney mountain by a cop in roxbury.

They say people keep these animals for pets but let em go free when they get too big.

I thought I saw a 'big cat' once in my neighborhood in htown, walking through a driveway, near a big lawn and a long fence, I thought for sure he was a big cat but once he got closer to the fence it gave me something to compare his size to and he looked like a house cat. Just a strange perception thing I guess.

No Avatar deansangie
Jul '09

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I have seen big cats several times but i am not in town, i live in Hope. We saw a mountain lion on several occasions in my parents backyard in Hope, and have also seen bobcats, anywhere btw Hope, blairstown & hardwick area and up by crater lake.

I was also told (by a forest ranger) that ppl get these animals as pets an let them go free when they get to big or cannot control them.

Gravatar for jenninjgirl jenninjgirl Message jenninjgirl
Jul '09

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Okay we know what to do when we encounter a bear, what should we do when we encounter a big cat?

No Avatar Hackettstown1991
Jul '09

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You can find Cougars at any local bar

No Avatar Clyde Potts
Jul '09

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According to NJ DEP, a big cat in our area would be one that was kept as a pet, and then released. They aren't breeding in NJ, in other words, according to the State.

The linked article is from 2006; this does not preclude there being a cat in our area at present.

If you encounter a cat, whatever you do, do not run - the cat's prey drive would kick in. Try to make some loud noise, make yourself look bigger (arms up in the air) and slowly back away. Mountain lions do not generally attack humans unless they are jogging or on bikes (as happens in California). In our area, mountain lions would be overly-well fed -- their favorite dish is venison, so they aren't going to attack a human to eat.

Interestingly, there are many names for the 'Felis concolor': mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, catamount and painter. They're all the same cat.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Jul '09

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You can find Cougars at any local bar

Clyde Potts
Jul 1, 09 1:57 pm · Link

Clyde - dont tell everyone where I hang out..

Gravatar for Just Asking Just Asking Message Just Asking
Jul '09

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You can find a Cougar at any local bar ? Who wants a Cougar ? I am looking for a Kitten between 21 & 22 years old.

Gravatar for PREDATOR PREDATOR Message PREDATOR
Jul '09

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I haven't seen any cougars around here lately but I did notice a Fairlane rounding the corner of East Ave by IHOP!

No Avatar Bobby
Jul '09

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Meow ;)

Gravatar for Casey Casey Message Casey
Jul '09

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Hey, leave some kitties for me....

Gravatar for Tigger Tigger Message Tigger
Jul '09

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sick to have the name "predator" I'm sorry it just is.

No Avatar concerned
Aug '09

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Was driving past the entrance to Waterloo Village about 4 am this morning when I had to stop for an animal crossing the road. Only when it stopped that I realized I was about 20' away from a Bobcat! First time I ever saw one in the wild. Really neat!

Gravatar for John C John C Message John C
Aug '09

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We saw a Coyote crossing the road on Waterloo Rd yesterday..first time I've ever seen on up that close. After it crossed, we stopped the car and it just stood on the side of the road looking at us. Now I'm going to look for a bobcat there.

Gravatar for Bessie Bessie Message Bessie
Aug '09

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Is that the same animal as a mountain lion? I saw one in my backyard a few years ago in PA. It is pretty cool and unexpected too.

Gravatar for Firefly Firefly Message Firefly
Aug '09

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Concerned....Predator is an exterminator. Your observation may have been skewed without the facts.

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Aug '09

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I know these big "cats" have been seen in Blairstown also!


LMAO about the Cougars !!!!

Gravatar for Mommyof2 Mommyof2 Message Mommyof2
Aug '09

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Shi!, a ton of cougars in corporate America today!

Gravatar for Jay Jay Message Jay
Aug '09

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Did someone mention big cats???

Gravatar for Deep Thought Deep Thought Message Deep Thought
Aug '09

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I have seen 2 bob cat looking animals in the panther valley area....luckily I was in the car both times. They are so beautiful but not to be messed with.

Gravatar for pumpkin43 pumpkin43 Message pumpkin43
Aug '09

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concerned...PREDATOR is the name of my pest control business...I think most people here know that .

Gravatar for PREDATOR PREDATOR Message PREDATOR
Aug '09

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I've got a pic of a black feline thats been trailing deer in the woods around Monroeville, NJ. I caught the pic on a trail cam that I had set up to watch the deer. I got 2 pics, one only caught the tail end, the other the whole cat, All black, size is hard to determine because the background gives no scale. From the trees and the pics of the deer, I can say that if its a house cat, then its a really big house cat. I need to set up markers to help scale this feline. I'll get back to you with what I find.

Gravatar for fyrdog fyrdog Message fyrdog
Sep '09

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sick to have the name "predator" I'm sorry it just is.
concerned


Concerned? about things that you have the complete facts I hope lol

Gravatar for Clyde Potts Clyde Potts Message Clyde Potts
Sep '09

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fyrdog - Can you email me the pics!? I'm dying to see, and the State wildlife people would defintely want to know that someone finally caught a big cat with a tree cam.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Sep '09

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fyrdog
becarefull out there in the woods i hear that the dear are setting up hunter cams and have been tampering with tree stands

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Sep '09

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A few years back PA State Game Commission denied the exsitance of Mountain Lions in the commonwealth and would only admit to bob cats as being around. Well the State of NY said that they had quiet a few Mountain Lions and alot were being tracked near the PA / NY boarder. It wasn't until a Farmer from Wyoming County PA took pictures of a Mountain lion that killed a few of his chickens Then public understood that the state was still lieing. The PA state game Commission still denied it until the Farmer Shot it and called the news station before the Game Commission.

You will never know what it rally is until you catch it.

Gravatar for CJ CJ Message CJ
Sep '09

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Scientifically a Mountain Lion is a little cat, not a big cat. They meow, not roar. Our area was known for cats in the past, especially Allamuchy. Panther Vally and Cats Swamp were named after them. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next two years the people living on the Petersburg side of Independence start seeing them. All we have around here is woods and farms.

Gravatar for HHS Student HHS Student Message HHS Student
Sep '09

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Mountain Lions, Mountain Lion Pictures, Mountain Lion Facts ...

Mountain Lions are known as "big cats" which is not a scientific classification.

Gravatar for Birdie Birdie Message Birdie
Sep '09

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Meow...

Gravatar for Deep Thought Deep Thought Message Deep Thought
Sep '09

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Cats from the genus panthera are known as big cats. Mountain Lions are not of this genus. Up until recently they were part of the felis genus, or small wild cats. Pumas come from the same ancestors of bobcats, lynxes, ocelots, and wildcats. They were changed out of the genus along with the jaguarundi and ocelots because of there size. So they are now the middle cats. But back when I got my zoobooks they were small cats.

Gravatar for HHS Student HHS Student Message HHS Student
Sep '09

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Bobcats and Lynxes were also part of the felis genus but were changed out because of there size.

Gravatar for HHS Student HHS Student Message HHS Student
Sep '09

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Copy and Paste.

Gravatar for CJ CJ Message CJ
Sep '09

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CJ, If you think he copy-pasted it, why don't you try copy-pasting it into Google and seeing what turns up? I couldn't find anything.

No Avatar Anne Onimous
Sep '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingWas it fluffy?

Gravatar for Steve Jobs Steve Jobs Message Steve Jobs
Sep '09

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Steve Jobs: Good grief! That cat looks even bigger than mine. How much does he/she weigh?

Gravatar for cbel cbel Message cbel
Sep '09

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That cat looks exactly like my Raskolnikov... it might be bigger, though. It's hard to tell... the woman in the photo might be 4'-10".

Gravatar for ianimal ianimal Message ianimal
Sep '09

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I live on Rockport Road in Port Murray. And I've never seen the cat but I've heard it a few times. Last Saturday night I was out by our fire pit late and I heard that cry coming from the mountain across the street.

Gravatar for Michele Cameron Michele Cameron Message Michele Cameron
Sep '09

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Now that is big.... holy cat!

My bulldogs would have some with that one.

& I used to think my barn cat was big .... What breed is it?

Also is that a breed Ian or the name of your cat?

No Avatar Begin Again Finnigan
Sep '09

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BAF, the "breed" is technically a domestic longhair but the markings are that of a Norwegian Forest cat. I don't think cats are pedigreed by breed in the USA like dogs are...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Forest_Cat

"Raskolnikov" is a character from a Russian novel, Crime and Punishment... we call him Rascal for short and boy, does he live up to his name, lol.

Gravatar for ianimal ianimal Message ianimal
Sep '09

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Wow! I love that picture! How long is that cat? Too funny!!

Gravatar for Leslie Leslie Message Leslie
Sep '09

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My fiance and I were leaving High Point Mountain in Sussex County approximately 2 months ago when we saw a coyote running across the road. I have no doubt that Warren County probably has them too and some big cats as well.

Gravatar for Me Me Message Me
Sep '09

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rebecka - thanks for the phone numbers you listed at the start of this post - i just called them! last night driving east on route 57 by what used to be Custer's Last Stand there was a huge cat - i'm certain it was a mountain lion - standing in the west bound lane. it just stood there with its tail slowly wagging, waiting for me to pass, then quickly crossed the road behind my car. i passed 5 feet from this thing. oh if i could have snapped a picture but the whole thing lasted 5 seconds. so i just talked with mike valent and he said there is no proof of mountain lions in nj, and very politely suggested it was a coyote with mange. no way. again, thanks for the phone numbers.

Gravatar for realitycheck realitycheck Message realitycheck
Sep '09

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Yes, they have been here for a long time!! I remember one time when a group of hhs classmates were at the "pit" on the hill and a cat let out a roar - boy did we scatter!! That was 1964 or 65! Not sure if it Jr. or Sr. year!!
I live here now and we hear bob cats frequently - I have also seen coyotes - no actual big cat seen just the Bob cat. If i see anything larger, I may actually get nervous and see about removal to a more open area. I love the wildlife -turkeys, bears, deer, bobcats, coyotes, beautiful birds, etc...

Gravatar for frustrated frustrated Message frustrated
Sep '09

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There are a lot of cats along the river in the area by the state park would watch Bob cats come to the river to drink at night was a sweet sight

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Sep '09

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If enough people call Mike when they actually see a mountain lion, he's eventually going to realize there is one in our area! :-) The State does just not want to acknowledge there is one, because then they have to deal with it (notices, I guess... not sure what else they would do).

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Sep '09

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Steve Job - holy cow. I'm calling the DEP now! lol - that is one HUGE animal!

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Sep '09

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Re: Big Cat Sightingif you leave the large cats alone... they will leave you alone they are very shy...you will almost never see one in the light of day...there are coyotes as well as red foxes in this area... and we get bears also...whats next... ground hog alerts...i just came back from feeding apples to some deer in my yard...get used to wildlife...

Gravatar for hack hack Message hack
Sep '09

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Besides alerting the public to be careful of bobcats what else would the state need to do? :)


Steve Jobs,
Big and beautiful is what that cat is! :)

Gravatar for Sunshine Sunshine Message Sunshine
Sep '09

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Hack - sorry, you're wrong on this one. A mountain lion is a dangerous animal, and unlike any of the other animals in our area, will attack humans. If there is one in our area, the public needs to know about it. I live on the top of a mountain with tens of bears that I see regularly, fox that I photograph, coyotes that I hear at night, and the animals and I and everyone in my household all live in harmony. A mountain lion is quite a different animal, literally and figuratively. I am a wildlife lover, rehabber and photographer. I think your entire post, and your "get used to wildlife" line are dismissive comments by someone who knows very little about wildlife.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Sep '09

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Steve,

Cat? Wow! Are you sure that's not a toddler in a really good Halloween costume?

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
Sep '09

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Here is some info on the woman holding the big cat.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals...gcat2.asp#photo

No Avatar Another Joe
Sep '09

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mountain lion in blairstown, no doubt. received a pic on my phone from a good friend. it was taken by a nite cam the other day. mountain lion with a six pt. buck in his mouth!

Gravatar for maio cesario maio cesario Message maio cesario
Sep '09

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Maio Cesario, would you mind posting that pic. I am sure everyone would like to see it.

Gravatar for Me Me Message Me
Sep '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingHas anyone considered that the "cat" may, in fact, have been a fox? There are several in the area, and to the uninformed, they can be confused with large cats. Just recently, I watched a very large fox walk right down the road in front of my house--in Brook Hollow. It was as big as a mid-size dog.

Gravatar for LoneWolf LoneWolf Message LoneWolf
Sep '09

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If you confuse a fox as a cat, you better get glasses Alice, better get glasses.

Gravatar for crabbydaddy crabbydaddy Message crabbydaddy
Sep '09

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mountain lion in blairstown, no doubt. received a pic on my phone from a good friend. it was taken by a nite cam the other day. mountain lion with a six pt. buck in his mouth! maio cesario

WHAT? a 6 pt buck?

Gravatar for Firefly Firefly Message Firefly
Sep '09

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I saw this picture a bunch of times this weekend from different people on their cells. Definitely a mountain lion with a buck deer in its mouth. Big question is where was the picture from and who has the original. Picture of this nature went around a couple of years ago and the pic ended up being from out west.

No Avatar fishmaker
Sep '09

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This is probably the pic everyone is talking about. It was on FB. According to the caption: "was taken with a hunters motion sensor camera on the Jersey side of the Delaware near the Dingmans Bridge."

http://i34.tinypic.com/291ox29.jpg

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Sep '09

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If the big cats are leaving us alone, then we should leave them alone too. Just because you see one it does not mean they are going to attack you. Of course we all need to be watchful and make sure we don't do things to attract them but let's leave nature alone.

Gravatar for pumpkin43 pumpkin43 Message pumpkin43
Sep '09

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Bryan -- what is the "FB," and where did you see that caption? If the location is true, this is quite something, but as a skeptic, I'm wondering if the pic is from out West, for example.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Sep '09

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FB=Facebook

Gravatar for Christine Christine Message Christine
Sep '09

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Pumpkin - Couldn't have said it any better myself. Hopefully that will be the case.

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Sep '09

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Thanks for the picture Bryan. Maybe the cats are here for the good eats! The deer population has grown too large in NJ. Why else would hunting now be legal on Sundays in NJ....and cross bows, legalized.

Gravatar for localmom localmom Message localmom
Sep '09

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If u see a big cat it means the cat is hunting u

No Avatar Joe
Sep '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingIf you see this big, bad cat anywhere near your local football field, be afraid... be VERY afraid...

Gravatar for ianimal ianimal Message ianimal
Sep '09

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The pic is a hoax. See link below.

http://www.buckmanager.com/2009/05/21/mou...this-whitetail/

No Avatar fishmaker
Sep '09

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Picture is from a trial camera in TX. Not from around here.

No Avatar fishmaker
Sep '09

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Ianimal , thanks for putting sidney (it was suzy)when D.D.went there(class of 05) she loved every day of her four years and still calls herself a stateliner.And your right,after the showing they made Fri.night,BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!.Are they on their way to another state championship?maybe!!

Gravatar for yogel yogel Message yogel
Sep '09

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yogel, it should never have been anything BUT Suzy... if some guy wants to dress up like a female feline, he should be man enough to wear her name with pride.

They've definitely got a tough row to hoe this year as the smallest Group 4 team in the state. Most of their schedule is against Group 3 schools, so with the power points setup, even making the playoffs will be a challenge... they'll need at least 6 and possibly 7 wins in 8 games to get in.

Gravatar for ianimal ianimal Message ianimal
Sep '09

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Ianimal, Our tough day is thanksgiving,D.D.lived with the x and went to P.H.S. D.S.lived with me and went to E.H.S.We all go to the game every year together.But then they bicker all season anyway ,she`s an eagles fan and he is diehard dallas,only time they get together is to razz me cause I`m a Green Bay fan.Yea on T`day I wish H`Town still played Roxbury so I`d have somebody to root for to win the thanksgiving day game,lol.

Gravatar for yogel yogel Message yogel
Sep '09

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Wanna hear something funny??? I just got this pic from my neighbor who got it sent via cellphone that the "cat" pic was taken on Hill Road in Lebanon....nice to know it is fake, but I wish there were some big cats out there killing more deer.

Gravatar for kelleo22 kelleo22 Message kelleo22
Sep '09

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I just got this same pic on my cell. It states this was taken by a hunter on Route 57 in Mansfield Twsp..
However, in 1979 I did see a bobcat out my bathroom window on Rt. 57 walking out of bushes at the farm across the street.

Gravatar for Crystal Crystal Message Crystal
Oct '09

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I spotted a coyote crossing my road the other day up in Independence, looked like a medium size dog. Also I have heard thru a friend that 3 pairs of Mountain Lions were released into the wild to try to control the deep population.

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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We already established that the mtn lion pic is not from around here. And releasing mtn lions to control the deer population? Around here? You don't actually believe that do you?

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Oct '09

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According to Fish and Game there are NO Mountain Lions in New Jersey and told me if I see one to shoot it. There are pictures circulating on the Hunting Sites which are NOT taken in New Jersey. Don't believe what you hear???

Gravatar for Hunter Hunter Message Hunter
Oct '09

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Not to sure what to believe, who really knows the truth, none of us. Do you really believe if they did release big cats they would tell us?? come on lets think about this. All I can tell you is I live up here in the woods and my cat has been attacked by something, that tried to rip her leg off, she was outside at night and came in bleeding and I don't mean just drops of blood I mean blood pouring out of her leg. also I have had Canadian Geese attacked, not to get graphic, but there heads were ripped off, gross!! and I am not joking either these things really happened, so whatever it was it would have to be extremely fast number 1, and pretty strong, number 2. Also very late at night coming from the back of my house towards the mountain, I have heard some strange growling noises. I know one thing, once it gets dark up here, I won't walk outside, and I know everyone will make fun of me for this, but it is the truth.

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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Most people say that it's coyote not mountain lion being stocked and released to cull the deer herd. This is very untrue. I wasn't able to find a NJ article (still looking) but here is one from the PA Game Commission.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.a...58&q=163663

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Oct '09

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NJ Coyote info.....never stocked of introduced here either.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Oct '09

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I have no way of confirming it Calico but i know someone from Monmouth county who i trust who said the coyotes were released there to cull the deer herd. Only problem is they didn't release only one sex like they were supposed to and now deny doing it to cover themselves. It seems like a stretch to me that coyotes would suddenly be appearing in Monmouth cty otherwise.

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Oct '09

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You know the State never lies Byran ;-)

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Oct '09

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"Do you really believe if they did release big cats they would tell us??"
chrisb

Chris -- the State is definitely not releasing big cats to control the deer population, or for any other reason. What happens is, people buy them as pets, and release them illegally.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Oct '09

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Rebecka, where do you even buy a Mountain Lion?? LOL I do love all animals, but I must say awful strange to have 2 Canadian Geese in my front yard with there heads missing, also whatever attacked my cat really did almost rip her leg off, and the funny thing is I didn't know it till I took her to the vet and they shaved her leg and the entire leg was bitten up and black and blue. So werid really, and if I saw a Mountain Lion in my yard I would run like hell. Screaming, brave aren't I? I don't know whats out there but i sure wish I did really.

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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If mountain lions are what it takes to get rid of those damned Canada Geese, I say go for it...

Gravatar for ianimal ianimal Message ianimal
Oct '09

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ianimal, LOL

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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chrish most likely a raccoon or fox beat up yout puddy cat. If it were a mountain lion do you really think there would be anything left ?

No Avatar Joey Buttafucco
Oct '09

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Joey, your right, would be nothing left..

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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Re: Big Cat Sightinghere is the mountain lion picture from blairstown...from what i heard this was taken from a deer stand camera way out in the woods... i have seen a mountain lion on cat swamp road... in allamuchy twp...and mountain lion foot prints have been recorded in long valley...foxes and coyotes are very common place compared to mountain lions...

Gravatar for waybill waybill Message waybill
Oct '09

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See my earlier post. The picture is from a trail camera in TX. Not from around here

See link below:

http://www.buckmanager.com/2009/05/21/mou...this-whitetail/

No Avatar fishmaker
Oct '09

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Of course there are wildcats in NJ... hence Wildcat Ridge in Rockaway Township.

No Avatar ML Laker
Oct '09

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waybill, I live one road over from Catswamp Rd. out in the woods. There is 22 acres in front of me, and between Catswamp Rd. and my road, it is land locked with alot of acreage, I also have 6 acres of woods, and a pond on my property. The mountain is in back of my house. So i will keep a lookout, and let everyone know if I see or hear anything. Like that loud growling noise I heard one night that woke me out of my sleep.

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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waybill that picture is not from around here. read the rest of the messages above.

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Oct '09

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NJ Coyote info.....never stocked bull s#$t yes the state did stock Coyote's i hunted for 30yrs and never seen 1 and in a 1 weeks time i seen 8 back in the 90's

Gravatar for shotgun red shotgun red Message shotgun red
Oct '09

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Years ago someone found a dead bear on Alphano road and I remember my grandfather telling me that in all his years of hunting in the area, he had never seen a bear. I've heard rumors of the state releasing bears, mountain lions, and coyotes all for deer control. It wouldn't surprise me if they did. They are kind of dumb like that in Trenton.

Gravatar for redneck redneck Message redneck
Oct '09

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the picture was debunked...but i have personally seen a mountain lion dragging a kill just like this picture......and i had two very large bobcats/mountain lions engage in a 45 minute fight on my property at 4:30 in the morning...during this summer...i have heard house cats fight...the screams from the large cat fight were blood curdling...you could hear them thrashing around in the brush...it was like a fight to the death...

Gravatar for waybill waybill Message waybill
Oct '09

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coyotes can have a pretty awful 'scream'. Rabbit too.

Gravatar for deansangie deansangie Message deansangie
Oct '09

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I would say the huge growling I heard was blood ccurdling, that pretty much wraps it up.

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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why are bobcats called bobcats? :)

Gravatar for Sunshine Sunshine Message Sunshine
Oct '09

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i saw a t-rex walking through the parking lot of the high school

Gravatar for LoneJenna LoneJenna Message LoneJenna
Oct '09

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sorry that would be curdling

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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about the bobcat:
With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face, and black-tufted ears, the Bobcat resembles the other species of the mid-sized Lynx genus. It is smaller than the Canadian Lynx, with which it shares parts of its range, but is about twice as large as the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name.

Gravatar for yogel yogel Message yogel
Oct '09

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Thanks yogel :)

Gravatar for Sunshine Sunshine Message Sunshine
Oct '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingHere's the bobcat...cute kitty :)

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Oct '09

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I received an email about a mountain lion in Mansfield around Cherry Tree Bend. I called a friend that lives in that area. She said that her sister, who just moved to long valley, received the same email that the mountain lion in her area. They said it was a hoax, that it is coming from Canada. Don't know if it's true or not?????

No Avatar mansfieldparent
Oct '09

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I am told that recently several children and adults spotted a mountain lion dragging a dead deer in the area of Peterson Field in Rockaway Twp. I also heard that one was spotted in the White Meadow Lake area a few weeks back. I however have not had the "pleasure" of seeing them myself.

I'm near the fleetwood section, and I've seen coyote in my yard, foxes crossing the street, and a black bear was spotted directly across the street from me over the summer.

Gravatar for wenj530 wenj530 Message wenj530
Oct '09

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All you people are crazy. All these "My neighbors..., A friend of a friends..., and I read online... stories are getting really old. Unless you have picture, that shows that the Mountain Lion is in Northwest New Jersey, stop posting these stories.

Gravatar for HHS Student HHS Student Message HHS Student
Oct '09

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So true HHS Student. There is no way there are this many mtn lions around, if any.

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Oct '09

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HHS Student - nicely put.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Oct '09

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Nice job HHS Student. Mountain lions out west eat things of all sizes, big and small. If they were here there would be evidence. Hawks and owls rip the heads off pheasants, geese just for the fun of killing. Something how hunters, hikers, biologists spend thousands of hours annually in the woods of Northwest NJ and never see any big cats. There are lots of bear, deer, coyotes, and foxes. Enjoy the wildlife and respect it from a safe distance. Watch out for the upcoming deer rut starting now through Thanksgiving. It seems to be starting early this year with this cold snap. I have been seeing lots of deer running across roads the past few days.

No Avatar fishmaker
Oct '09

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as mentioned previously...i have personally seen a mountain lion on catswamp road near the allamuchy twp border...mountain lion footprints were discovered and verified by
rutgers university in long valley several years back...as far as the large cat fight on my property...i have been an outdoorsman my whole life...never ever have i heard the type of commotion that went on during that fight...it was not rabbits...it was not coyotes...it was very large cats...{no not house cats}...thrashing around in the brush in a battle to the death...

Gravatar for waybill waybill Message waybill
Oct '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingA friend of mine sent me a picture of a Bobcat that was struck by a car in Branchville NJ. Supposedly the trooper that responded took this photo. It weighed 58 pounds. Here's a picture.

Gravatar for M & K M & K Message M & K
Oct '09

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M&K, that's such a sad picture... what a beautiful animal that was.

Gravatar for Someone Someone Message Someone
Oct '09

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Poor kitty!

No Avatar chrisb
Oct '09

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that photo looks old

Gravatar for LoneJenna LoneJenna Message LoneJenna
Oct '09

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M&K
Someone sent me the same picture last week. I was going to post it but I couldn't find anything to confirm it. He also said it was from Branchville.

No Avatar Another Joe
Oct '09

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Nice article in Tuesdays NJ Herald..... seems the state estimates put the Bobcat population in Sussex County around 90. The "Roadkill Bobcat" picture was from September 21, the cat was struck by a car around 2 pm near the intersection of Routes 94 and 206 in Hampton Twp (Just north of Newton) Cat only weighed in at 26 lbs. Photo was verified by the Augusta Barracks of the NJ State Police

Gravatar for John C John C Message John C
Nov '09

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I saw a bobcat tonite while sitting in my treestand deer hunting. It came by me around 4:45 pm bouncing from log to log. This is the third time I have seen a bobcat in the same area over the past three years. I made my report to the NJ Fish and Wildlife for their information. Definitely one the coolest animals I have ever encountered. I was in Hardwick Township near White Lake. I estimated it around 15 pounds.

No Avatar fishmaker
Nov '09

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You wabt to see Bobcat at night there are 2 or 3 bobcats that come down to the river on the park side of the river across from the House of the good shepherd they are beautiful animals the flood lights on the buildings light it up nice

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Nov '09

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Look at the front page of this week's Warren Reporter. Really cool Bobcat picture!

Gravatar for Bryan Bryan Message Bryan
Nov '09

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My mom showed me that picture Bryan. Very cool

Gravatar for HHS Student HHS Student Message HHS Student
Nov '09

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Here is a link to an article in the Daily Record

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/200911...-Water-Gap-park

No Avatar Another Joe
Nov '09

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Police officers have spotted Mt Lions in the High Point area on several occations (including a female w/ a cub). This is pretty well documented. A friend of mine (Mt. Olive Police officer) has spotted a mountain lion on two separate occasions. Once while squirrel hunting in Netcong and once while hiking in the Allamuchy State Park. I myself saw one (near 100lbs) off Greenpond Road right before route 23.

No Avatar Frank
Nov '09

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My son is the super at High Point SP Frank. What documentation? What police officers? Plus 2 more sightings? Must be leftover drugs from the 60's! Bigfoots been seen over on Airport Road too LOL!

Gravatar for John C John C Message John C
Nov '09

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Re: Big Cat SightingA friend recently sent me some pics taken in Montague, NJ, off Clove Rd. after snowfall last week.
Here's just one of them.

Gravatar for lola lola Message lola
Feb '10

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Here kitty kitty.....LOL

Gravatar for Calico696 Calico696 Message Calico696
Feb '10

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I just received the same exact picture in e-mail as you did Lola, saying it was taken in Corning NY. Looks like it's a hoax. I believe that same picture was also posted on a Mountain Lion thread on city-data.com.

I really hope it was in Corning NY. I live about 4 miles away from Clove Road in Montague.

Gravatar for M & K M & K Message M & K
Feb '10

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What pretty cats -

No Avatar BLW
Feb '10

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There Beautys love this pic just hope it dose not put the cats at risk

Gravatar for CagedAnimal CagedAnimal Message CagedAnimal
Feb '10

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That would be a pic circulating saying it was in any State you're in... check Snopes before forwarding this kind of info! :-)

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
Feb '10

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So Rebecka, the picture of the 3 of them is not from around here. I fell for it! I hate when that happens.

Gravatar for Bessie Bessie Message Bessie
Feb '10

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Anyone who is a big cat lover like myself may be interested in this site. It is really a reality sock to realize the tragedy that these magnificent animals face in life. It is 100% legit. I visited this past summer and am hoping to go back ASAP. The people there are truly amazing and these cats are treated so well after the hardship they have faced in life. www.bigcatrescue.org

No Avatar htgal
Feb '10

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OMG i would love to see them! so pretty

Gravatar for Shannon P. Shannon P. Message Shannon P.
Feb '10

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Photos were taken in Colorado.

No Avatar fishmaker
Feb '10

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Lola - that picture, among others, was most likely taken in Colorado.
http://easterncougar.org/CougarNews/?p=1392

Now, if anyone does see any Mountain Lions, just sic some Chihuahuas on 'em. :o)

"3 Chihuahuas Corner Angry Mountain Lion In Garage":
http://cbs2.com/local/Chihuahu....2.1043615.html

Gravatar for Rich Rich Message Rich
Feb '10

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Can anyone who has studied nature tell me if that picture wasn't doctored? Mountain lions travel solo, except for mating. True?

No Avatar PAM
Feb '10

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http://www.weirdnj.com/index.php?opti...7&Itemid=28
&
http://idflux.typepad.com/idflux/2004/02...le_habitat.html

I thought Jungle Habitat tied in nicely due to the way it was shut down and how it was run in general. Closing on this place was well documented and I myself have seen a mtn.lion back in '94 on Alphano Rd. for several minutes on a stonerow facing the house; looked to be interested in my elderly neighbor mowing the lawn, it wasnt till I banged some pots that the thing took off. You dont have to believe me, not many do, but I have no doubt they're there. Be alert and conscious and youll be ok, I always carry a whistle on me when I hike in case of emergency or if the dog runs off..cheap, easy to carry, and effective.

No Avatar 74Ike!
Feb '10

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Its been about 2 years but as I was riding home from work
I was heading north on rt 206 coming down the hill into flanders
and right by the metro eatery I seen a large cat run across 206
it was lightning fast but the look I got is like a picture in my mind..and there is not a doubt it was a mt. lion, cougar what ever you want to call it. It was the size of a med. sized dog all golden with a black spot on its tail. I have seen bob cats but there is no way it was a bob cat or dog or coyote.
bigs cats are in new jersey if any wants to beleive it or not

Gravatar for dan from netcong dan from netcong Message dan from netcong
May '10

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Has anyone been seeing these magnificent creatures again? I would really like to know; I am one of the biggest cat (that includes other animals too) freaks at my school! I have a little story about the naming of Panther Valley, if anyone wants to hear it.
In the early 1900's, there used to be a man (sorry, don't know his name) who lived in the Panther Valley area. He was VERY, and I mean VERY rich. As people know, hunting animals for fun was popular back then. One time he ordered a panther. Once he unloaded it, it took off, and was never to be seen again.
Who knows, maybe that very panther has descendants roaming around now!

No Avatar Dana
June 24th

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Dan, I for one believe you. People keep them as pets and release them into the wild when they can no longer care for them (according to the NJDEP).

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
June 24th

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A friend of mine was recently jogging on the Paulinskill Trail in B'town and came across 2 big cats. I'll have to check with her to see what they were. I don't remember..

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
June 25th

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They were mountain lions

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
June 25th

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Re: Big Cat SightingDana...the place you speak of was Stuyvesant Park near what is now Panther Valley...the man was very rich and imported animals from all over the world...he had a private menagerie...of animals...here is a picture taken during that era

Gravatar for drew drew Message drew
June 27th

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Oh wow! So that story was true. Thanks, Drew.

No Avatar Dana
3 weeks ago

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Drew - wasn't there a fire at the Stuyvestant Estate in the 40's or 50's?
My father was a Fireman at the time and I vaguely remember him going to a fire there, I think, but what did they do with the animals before or after that fire?
My father was a friend of the Stuyvesants and spoke of those animals often.

Gravatar for Spring Fever Spring Fever Message Spring Fever
3 weeks ago

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In a recent Weird NJ magazine is an excellent article on the history of the Stuyvestant Estate. Worth a read.

Gravatar for It's Me It's Me Message It's Me
3 weeks ago

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Sunday we saw a big cat coming out of the woods belonging to the Fish Hatchery behind Hackettstown High School. At first we thought it was a dog, but it was definately some kind of cat. Oddly, it was black with a white chest, a very long black tail and pointy ears. It must be a domestic cat. It moved like a cougar though. (crossbreed??) It was about the size of our 35 pound Spaniel. Biggest cat I ever saw, not including lions, tigers, cougars, etc.

Gravatar for MCZ MCZ Message MCZ
3 weeks ago

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Do you know what issue of Weird NJ that story was in? Would love to read it and my dd has all of them (I think). Do you recall if it was a recent issue or an older one?

Gravatar for Bessie Bessie Message Bessie
3 weeks ago

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Bessie,

It says recent :)

Gravatar for Lori...since '73 Lori...since '73 Message Lori...since '73
3 weeks ago

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Duhhh, Lori that's what I get for doing a lot of reading on HL when I'm still on my first cup of coffee. Will have to take a look through the recent ones.

Gravatar for Bessie Bessie Message Bessie
3 weeks ago

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It's probably a Bobcat which is like a big housecat. If I see it I'll shoot it.

Gravatar for Bubba Bubba Message Bubba
3 weeks ago

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This is a mountain lion-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_lion.jpg

This is a Bobcat-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bobcat2.jpg

btw, did you know that there were lions in Europe like the ones in Africa a couple of thousand years ago? The last one survived until 1500 in the east.

Gravatar for Bubba Bubba Message Bubba
3 weeks ago

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Speaking of Panther Valley, there was a guy who had imported animals there. Sometimes these animals escape,breed and survive in the forest. Since the ones born in the wild are wary of humans you may never see one but they're there.
A woman I know claims she saw Bigfoot outside her house in Mansfield.

Gravatar for Bubba Bubba Message Bubba
3 weeks ago

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Anyone who says these cats are not breeding and are just animals that were pets and then let loose when they got too big, doesn't know what she's talking about. Bobcats are native here and can live perfectly well in the wild. In fact, even foreign animals like Tigers could adapt easily.
Some parakeets got loose in Conn. years ago. They were from a cold area of Argentina and they managed to thrive and reproduce well. They build these tremendous nests (like a big condo for birds) and live together. Now, what's even more amazing is that for a 2nd time some parakeets got loose in Conn. but these were tropical birds and you'd think they would die in the cold, without normal food etc but they too survived. Lived near warm generators and found food. Parots and parakeets have a good bite so I guess they could dominate the other native birds.

Gravatar for Bubba Bubba Message Bubba
3 weeks ago

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"Anyone who says these cats are not breeding and are just animals that were pets and then let loose when they got too big, doesn't know what she's talking about. Bobcats are native here and can live perfectly well in the wild. In fact, even foreign animals like Tigers could adapt easily."
proof? references?

Gravatar for the dean the dean Message the dean
3 weeks ago

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I spend 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week around the fish hatchery property and I am offering up two possibilities. I have been in the area for 25 years and until last month had never seen a coyote around the hatchery. I was mowing grass around noon on the College View side and saw a nice 35 pound dark looking coyote jump out of the woods, stop for a second and then continue across the road. That was a one time siteing (sp.).
I have also seen a 10 pound black cat with some white markings hanging around the hatchery for the past couple of months. Never know what you are going to see though these days.

Gravatar for fishmaker fishmaker Message fishmaker
3 weeks ago

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The Dean - it is well-known that cats big and small can survive in the wild very well, even after a life lived exclusively in captivity. In fact, of all our domesticated animals, cats are the best of all at "wilding up" (and becoming feral) after escaping or being let loose. Dogs have a very hard time hunting; cats, not a problem. This is of course assuming they haven't been de-clawed.

Gravatar for Rebecka Rebecka Message Rebecka
3 weeks ago

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I'm all for the wild cat roaming. WE took the animals land. We have to reap teh ramifications of it.

No Avatar dora
3 weeks ago

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Mountain Lions are moving east. Mountain Lions (especially males) will travel 100's of miles in a few days. States are hesitant to acknowledge the presence of wild mt lions because the eastern mountain lion is on the federal endangered species act. Admitting a wild cougar presence would mean big bucks for a conservation plan. Florida was the first and last state to acknowledge the presence of mountain lions (the Florida Panther). A remnant population of mountain lions were found in the everglades back in the early 70's. The population dwindled down to 6 or 7 cats (today the number in Florida is around a 100). It costs the state of Florida hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to protect these animals. There are, at the very least transient cougars in the east (especially along the Appalachians and most definitely PA, NY, MA, ect). Ontario has now recently acknowledged the presence of mountain lions and estimate the number to be at around 550 cats. It has recently been proved without a doubt (through DNA that there are wild, native mountain lions in Michigan). It's going to be interesting what is going to happen with that situation. North-west NJ isn't that far from Michigan or Canada.

No Avatar Frank
4 days ago

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