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.
Rebecka 
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.
DennyThere definitely are big cats in Warren and Sussex Counties. I have never seen one personally but I know people who have.
Calico696 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.
GC 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.
PREDATOR 
Lisa 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.
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.
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.
jenninjgirl Okay we know what to do when we encounter a bear, what should we do when we encounter a big cat?
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.
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..
Just Asking You can find a Cougar at any local bar ? Who wants a Cougar ? I am looking for a Kitten between 21 & 22 years old.
I haven't seen any cougars around here lately but I did notice a Fairlane rounding the corner of East Ave by IHOP!
Casey 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!
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.
Bessie 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.
Firefly Concerned....Predator is an exterminator. Your observation may have been skewed without the facts.
I know these big "cats" have been seen in Blairstown also!
LMAO about the Cougars !!!!
Mommyof2 
Jay 
Deep Thought 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.
pumpkin43 concerned...PREDATOR is the name of my pest control business...I think most people here know that .
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.
fyrdog 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
Clyde Potts 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.
fyrdog
becarefull out there in the woods i hear that the dear are setting up hunter cams and have been tampering with tree stands
CagedAnimal 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.
CJ 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.
HHS Student Mountain Lions, Mountain Lion Pictures, Mountain Lion Facts ...
Mountain Lions are known as "big cats" which is not a scientific classification.
Birdie 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.
Bobcats and Lynxes were also part of the felis genus but were changed out because of there size.
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.
Steve Jobs Steve Jobs: Good grief! That cat looks even bigger than mine. How much does he/she weigh?
cbel 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".
ianimal 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.
Michele Cameron 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?
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.
Leslie 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.
Me 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.
realitycheck 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...
frustrated 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
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).
if 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...
hack 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! :)
Sunshine 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.
Steve,
Cat? Wow! Are you sure that's not a toddler in a really good Halloween costume?
Lori...since '73 Here is some info on the woman holding the big cat.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/bigcat2.asp#photo
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 
Has 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.
LoneWolf If you confuse a fox as a cat, you better get glasses Alice, better get glasses.
crabbydaddy 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?
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.
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
Bryan 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.
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.
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.
localmom 
If you see this big, bad cat anywhere near your local football field, be afraid... be VERY afraid...
The pic is a hoax. See link below.
http://www.buckmanager.com/2009/05/21/mountain-lion-really-killed-this-whitetail/
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!!
yogel 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.
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.
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.
kelleo22 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.
Crystal 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.
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?
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???
Hunter 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.
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.asp?a=458&q=163663
Calico696 NJ Coyote info.....never stocked of introduced here either.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm
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.
"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.
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.
If mountain lions are what it takes to get rid of those damned Canada Geese, I say go for it...
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 ?
here 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...
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/
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.
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
shotgun red 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.
redneck 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...
deansangie I would say the huge growling I heard was blood ccurdling, that pretty much wraps it up.
LoneJenna 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.
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?????
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.
wenj530 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.
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.
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...
A 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.
M & K 
Someone 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.
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
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.
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
Here is a link to an article in the Daily Record
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20091106/COMMUNITIES/91105112/1203/Reclusive-bobcat-caught-on-camera-in-Water-Gap-park
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.
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!
A friend recently sent me some pics taken in Montague, NJ, off Clove Rd. after snowfall last week.
Here's just one of them.
lola 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.
That would be a pic circulating saying it was in any State you're in... check Snopes before forwarding this kind of info! :-)
So Rebecka, the picture of the 3 of them is not from around here. I fell for it! I hate when that happens.
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
Shannon P. 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/Chihuahuas.Mountain.Lion.2.1043615.html
Rich Can anyone who has studied nature tell me if that picture wasn't doctored? Mountain lions travel solo, except for mating. True?
http://www.weirdnj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=28
&
http://idflux.typepad.com/idflux/2004/02/jungle_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.
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
dan from netcong 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!
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).
Rebecka 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..
Dana...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
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.
Spring Fever In a recent Weird NJ magazine is an excellent article on the history of the Stuyvestant Estate. Worth a read.
It's Me 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.
MCZ 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?
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.
Bubba 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.
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.
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.
"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?
the dean 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.
fishmaker 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.
I'm all for the wild cat roaming. WE took the animals land. We have to reap teh ramifications of it.
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.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6158349&syndicate=syndicate§ion
"Cougar cover up"
White township near Yellow Rock Horse Ranch we spoted a large cat which could have been a young mountain lion was not a bob cat
Makes sense, saw 1 bow-hunting last week by High Rock headed towards swamp.
What will the insurance companies bring in next? Caught by farmer 25 years ago dumping dog-like creatures from cages by Cross-Roads farms, Cronic Wasting Disease, Mt. lions, Whats next to save car vs. deer crashes
I've lived in Blairstown my whole life and last year moved to hackettstown. When I wasyounger my mom had always warned me about being outside when it was getting dark or dark out because of mountain lions, but I scoffed at her. Last year, almost exactly a year ago this month my dad was walking me out through the garage when we heard a terrible sound just outside the house that could only be described as a high pitched scream.
I have not heard it since, but tonight, lying in bed I heard six screams in a row- almost like a panicked child, only they were abrupt and shrill. I threw on the spotlights outside and saw nothing.
Its not a hoax, there are mountains lions in this area, my neighbors have all shared stories about hearing and seeing them and now I have heard it more than once. I heard that the state is releasing these animals to minimize the amount of deer roaming the area, though I'm not sure how true that is. Either way, I'm scared because my parents live alone and these creatures are not to be messed around with.
bTownNative Chances are the "screams" you heard were fox or raccoons in the throes of passion. Both are very much like a "Child screaming" and while people normally associate the sound with spring, both these animals are capable of mating several times a year.
It is also possible you just heard two cats in a fight or maybe with it being Halloween a few kids pulling a prank.
Mountain Lions are very unlikely in NJ, and the idea of them being "released" by authorities nothing short of paranoia. F&G as an organization has been gutted and doesn't have resources or a desire to do anything that foolish. By the way deer populations in Warren County are actually relatively thin, compared to places like Maplewood or Watchung, where the hunting them is impractical but the large suburban lots allow them to flourish.
There is always the possibility of bobcats, I know a few folks that trapped them back in the 1960's and there have been some effort to track them in NJ.
Agust I know unquestionably that there are moutain lions in New Jersey.
I live in Andover Township, NJ, in Sussex County and I have been an avid backpacker and hiker for most of my life. I have seen a lot of wildlife and have had quite a few experiences seeing bears, coyotes, foxes, and even a bobcat on many of my trips. But, my relationship to the outdoors has changed within the last few years. I don't go hiking much anymore and if I do, it is in the middle of the day.
About 4 years ago, I came home from food shopping just before dusk and I had my senior citizen dog with me. My driveway is about 30 feet long. I opened the garage door and spent the next few minutes unloading groceries and bringing them into the house. While I unloaded the food, my almost deaf and old dog with health issues rested in the grass near my car on the side of the driveway. After I was done, I went out to my mailbox by the road while she remainedl lying in the grass between the road and my garage. I took the mail out of my box and was shuffling through it when I heard this scratching sound directly behind me in the road. I immediately turned toward this sound I couldn't identify. As I turned around, this lightning fast mountain lion veered off and bounded into the neighbor's yard when I had turned to face it! The sound I heard was the cats claws on the pavement. I was so shaken, I immediately got my dog and went inside and then called my neighbors to let them know. I also called the park near my home and a lady who didn't seem surprised at all gave me a number to call. When I called, nobody answered, but I left a message that was never returned.
I know that what I saw was NOT a bobcat. It was definitely a mountain lion. I will tell you that it was really fast, and even if I had had a camera in my hands and I was aiming it, I would have never been able to get a photo of it. It was at least the size of my friend's 80 pound golden retriever, but catlike. When it bounded off it jumped incredibly far.
What really bothers me. and why I have been really shaken up about this since it happened was because of my close proximity to that cat. It would have been much better for me if I seen it away from me in wooded area, or even in the field across the street from my house, but because I experienced it that close to me, it really bothers me. When I play it out in my mind, I cannot think of why that lion was so close to me unless it was going after me or my dog that was about 20 feet away. It bothers me that I would have not had any warning if it didn't make that unusual sound on the road with its paws. I know that that was a very rare experience, and that even if there was a healthy population of mountain lions in New Jersey, that I probably would never see one again in my entire lifetime. But I cannot get over having a little uneasiness , now, when I am outside, especially with when my young children are outside. It was also a little strange that officials really weren't interested in my story at all, and that they were either completely in disbelief or that they didn't need to investigate because they didn't question what I had seen.
JD I was researching to see if anyone in the Cumberland County area of South Jersey has seen any large cats. A few years ago I took my dog out for a walk along the back evergreens. I heard a rumble sound that made me turn and run as fast as I could back to the house. The sound was at least a few feet away on the other side of the evergreens. The only way i can describe the sound is the way lions make that rumbling sound....not a full blown roar, but a rumble. It scared me so bad and I am still nervous taking my dog out at night, and it is years later. I Honestly believe it could have been a lion. I do not think it is farfetched to believe that Large Cats can be living in our forests. There are lots of people with Exotic animals and who is to say how many have gotten loose and not reported. I know what I heard was not a domesticated animal. I have only heard that same sound when watching a show about lions. This was in Millville N.J. several years ago.
BK I know folks who live on the border of port murray and washington, they have spotted one, their chickens dissapeered shortly after. One was spotted a few years ago in long valley along rhe rr bed near middle valley.
I think they like to attack from above so they can get their claws around the neck of their prey and break the neck. Sooo, look down for snakes, straight for bears and up for cats!
sandy t I saw one about 10 years ago in Hunterdon County, not too far from the Morris Co. line, south of Long Valley. It was crossing the road in the area of the wildlife sanctuary (no joke). I saw the mid-body and hindquarters. perfectly, as it walked into the woods. It's gait, hip, and tail are unmistakable. The hips and tail looked exactly like this: http://www.mountainlion.org/09_images/Mountain%20Lion%20Biology%20and%20Behavior_0002.jpg
I lived in that area for years. Never saw another sign of it, but I *know* they are in NJ, though I don't know if it's naturally or due to jerks who let them go as "pets" they couldn't keep. But they are around.
you people need to get your eyes checked don't you think with the 1000's of Trail Camera's hunters put out each yr that someone would get a pic of one
I think it is funny some people dont believe there could be these animals around. Most of the time they know a human is around way before you could even get close. Most wild animals are like that.
no sandy most wild animals are not like that most are ez to get close to go out in the woods and stand still for an hr most will walk right by you but 1 the hardest animal in nj to get close to is a wild turkey
I've hunted in NJ for 20 years and never saw a mountain lion or any signs of them. I think people are mistakenly identifying bobcats or other types of wild cats that are native to NJ as mountain lions.
shotgunred: I have three wild turkeys that come down and visit my bird feeding area on a daily basis for the past month. They eat eat the corn kernels that are thrown on the ground out of the feeders by the other birds. They are usually in no hurry to leave even when we make noise inside the house.
your inside the house go outside and see how close thay get turkeys have the best Eyesight in the woods unlike deer and most wild animals turkey are not color-blind if you stand still and don't move a deer will walk right by you even if you have bright color Clothes on but even with the best camo on if you move to fast or at the wrong time a turkey will see you
Federal researchers declare eastern cougar extinct
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/ap_on_sc/us_eastern_cougar
Yeah I saw that article the other day. People must be mistaking them for other animals. There would be evidence of them if they were around here.
I respectfully disagree. There are too many people, who know what they are talking
about, who have seen them up close and in woods behind their homes right here in
the Hackettstown/ warren county area.
Yeah and thousands of people have supposedly seen bigfoot over the years too. Yet there is no scientific evidence of its existence. Until someone shoots a mountain lion or someone is attacked or other physical evidence is found, then it's hard to prove they are here. This is the most densely populated state in the country. It should be easy to find evidence here. There are no gigantic forests here.
ok Spring Fever let's see the proof NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! one ever get's a pic of the mountain lion or even a track or a pic of a track
I think all this snow we had helped confirm this for them, since there sure would be tracks somewhere.
There is also a wolf on the prawl, escaped from his enclosure a few days ago in Warren county.
Snoopy the wolf escaped in Pennsylvania...near Portland...and the owners have reason to believe the wolf will be re-captured
The wolf escaped 30 minutes from Hackettstown. It is apparently sticking around its home.
http://articles.mcall.com/2011-03-02/news/mc-mount-bethel-wolf-seen-not-caught-20110302_1_wolf-dart-gun-slips
Just spotted a cougar crossing White Lake Rd in Sparta. Big cat. flat nose, long tail, real long legs, yup that was a cougar. In your face State authorities.
catfish
Robert Aitchison Just saw on the CBS 11PM news that someone had a blurry photo of a mountain lion running around the suburbs of Greenwich, Conn. Supposed to be a paw print confirming it. Guess one never knows. Probably someone could not afford a couple of pounds of cat food a day any more and relesed their illegal pet.
fishmaker1 here is a link to the news story...
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/06/09/turns-out-there-is-a-mountain-lion-in-greenwich/
ldash 
iJay Robert, that is where my job is located. I posted on the "Please be careful, this is very real" thread back in May that my co-worker saw a mountain lion over there. It was right after we had a BBQ. Came walking through the parking lot. We are on White Lake Rd.
A Jo I heard this story on the news. The wildlife guy said, 'if you see it, please get a picture. With cell phones, everyone always has a camera."
maja 
Looks like the Mouintain Lion was hit by a car and killed. http://www.wpix.com/news/hc-milford-car-vs-mountain-lion-0612-20110611,0,2930602.story
I hope they will be doing an autopsy to see what it had been living on.
If it was let go by someone, it was only a matter of time until it met an untimely death.
I'm just glad there have been no reports of an attack on a human.
I saw a beautiful mountain lion cross in front of me on Musconetcong River Rd just up the mountain from Port Murray in 2006. Then I saw a black panther on our farm at the top of Point Mountain in 2009. Having grown up on a wild life preserve in central Florida, and have seen many of these animals in their natural habitat, I have confidence beyond a doubt that there are mountain lions on this mountain.
Bo 
Swampy http://poststar.com/news/blotter/dec-confirms-wild-mountain-lion-in-lake-george/article_f70da502-ca83-11e0-b0bf-001cc4c03286.html
I live in the woods in upstate NY, DEC claims no mountain lions here. (by the way, mt. lions, cougars, pumas, panthers...all the same animal)
I have seen these tracks in my backyard a few times in last few years. I have also seen bobcat tracks. Matter of fact, have seen the bobcat quite a few times.
Fact is, a mountain lion is a big, dangerous cat. More so in NJ which is more densely populated than the Adirondack Park.
I do not doubt that there are Mountain Lion here, some rangers will admit to it off the record. They are not too much as a problem here, they have the space to hide and the prey they need to survive.
I would suggest if you do see a mountain lion in NJ to steer clear, don't run, and report it. This animal that was hit by a car traveled over 1000 miles to get where he was, but the fact is if he did, others may also. If you are positive you have seen a mountain lion, keep an eye on the kids and pets and not leave garbage cans outside. Which, by the way, is also a prudent idea concidering the bear problems you folks are having.
lgresident 
Metsman This is for all the nay sayers, doubting Wildlife officials, DEC people...
and
to quote a famous Hackettstownian saying from the 60's..."No kidding, Dick Tracy!"
Metsman,
I give you credit for your statement. The evidence sure helped in proving the case for those inclined not to believe all of the eye witnesses over the years.
My comment was aimed at those in official positions in the various states because they have heard these 'rumors' for decades and stuck their collective heads in the sand to the many who have stated what they saw and heard.
It's not like anyone was talking about a Bigfoot, Jersey Devil, Sasquatch that was reported to be seen. They were talking about known animals that were living and thriving in the area in the 1800's. Why would it be so shocking to find that a small strand of these wild animals were still living in the area?
Heather I just saw a huge cat, or mountain lion last night about 9:00!!!!!! I also heard one! We have big cats in sussex county
I saw a big black cat (cougar) here in Pa. The first time I refused to tell anyone because I didn't think anyone would believe me. Then 2 months ago, I saw it again...this was at 5:30 a.m. I grabbed my camera and ran to the truck (still in my pajamas) and drove down the lane to the field where it was standing. I was so nervous I took pictures of the dashboard. It ran into the corn field and I snapped 2 pics. You can't really see the form...when I zoom the pic in..it gets distorted. This all happened right outside of Ft. Indiantown Gap. I just ran into an older couple today that also seen this cat right about at the same time.
Pollyann Haines I was driving on Waterloo rd in allamuchy mtn park between hackettstown and byram on sunday and a mountain lion crossed the road in front of me. it was about 1pm crossing from whatever that steam is. It was less than a mile from my house, which is off Waterloo in west brookwood, byram. I didn't even think to report it until I posted it on facebook and everyone was asking so many questions. Anyway, that prompted me to do a little search and I found this page. Do I need to report it somewhere? If so please email me and I will. Jcle1500@gmail.com
Julie Lucente @ Heather-- cracking up right now. Mattars...haha.
Not to take away from the sightings though... we've seen them in PV.
katievits24 @katievits24 - I believe it. I still want to see pics, but I totally believe they're in PV.
I've been carrying my phone w/ me now when I walk my dog so I can take a pic! Promise if I see one I'll post! :)
My one doubt is, NJ is so densely populated with a maze of highways... If we had mountain lions, someone would have hit one by now you would think. They may have found a dead one in CT, but how do we know other mountain lions did what that one did and crossed the country... It could have just been a freak thing. We need to find evidence, like photos, feces, paw prints, hair, etc. A study needs to be done to see how far reaching this is.
Very well put Metsman. Show some proof and make a believer out of me.
Some day I might see proof that ghosts really do exist and then I'll believe in them too.
At this point there should be no doubt that mountain lions are living in nj, no matter how many times the state claims otherwise, and continues to give that same old and tired party line that these are escaped pets. After this many sightings over at least the last ten years, this is perfectly ludicrous. Big cats need three things, plenty of habitat (both of which northwest nj, and the pine barrens have-and where the majority of sightings have occured), significant numbers of large prey (nj has a burgeoning white tail deer population), and alot of water (the pine barrens has numerous lakes, and waterways). Mountain lions are generally nocturnal and exceedingly clever animals, therefore quite capable of going undetected most of the time.
As far as them being dangerous, you've probably got a better chance of being hit by lighting, than being attacked by a puma. Certainly a much better chance of being mauled by a black bear. Just check the stats if you have any doubts. Most attacks (and they are rare!) are considered by biologists to be habituated animals. So enjoy nature; your very safe. The only animals you need to be wary of are people!!
Douglass "At this point there should be no doubt that mountain lions are living in nj,"
So no non-scientist has ever confused animals and the world is perfect. You can start with an immutable conclusion first and then figure it's been proven by conjecture because the wrong animal has been identified as many times as you'd like. A native habitat bobcat is a far cry from a western mountain lion or extinct animals. Learn to know the difference as just "undetected" or just not correctly identified.
Well there is documentation out there.
... for instance ...
Vernon Township Police Officer Shaun Fitzgerald;
Expert research scientist Dave Mattson;
New Jersey SPCA officer Laurie Walsh;
Why do people find it so hard to believe that big cats are on the move?
"So no non-scientist has ever confused animals and the world is perfect".
Certainly laypeople and scientists alike make erroneous conclusions; because people aren't perfect, let alone the world.
It's not an immutable point (that's why I posted it for discussion-perhaps I should have said little, instead of no), but rather my opinion, based on the reading and research that I have done over the past 10 years. It's certainly not conjecture that numerous people who are trained to observe and report; i.e., rangers, policemen, animal control officers, as well as biologists, have seen these animals (not to mention many hunters who know the difference in species very well). Again if you doubt this, just check the information out there.
Finally it's pretty difficult to misidentify, even for a "non-scientist", a large tan cat with a very long tail, for a "native habitat bobcat" with a decidedly short one!
Enough said!
John C ....... LOL ??
A few years ago Shaun & his wife heard loud shrieks in their backyard. They went out and a few feet away from them in their backyard was a female mountain lion and her cub. They had killed 3 of Fitzgerald's cats. They reported it to the State Department of Environmental Protection.
There's no confirmed populations east of the Mississippi River except in Michigan and Florida. Don't you think places like Ohio and Pennsylvania would have populations before they came here? There's a lot more open woods in those states than here. And if lions have been here for 10 years or more, don't you think there would be substantial populations by now? Even the most elusive animals leave signs of their existence. You don't have to see them in order to find paw prints, torn up deer (their favorite meal), feces, or hair. Mountain lions are big animals. There would be plenty of evidence if they are here. Next month is pheasant season. People enter the woods in armies. If there were mountain lions, someone would kick one up.
I agree with Metsman. New Jersey does not exist in a vacuum. How could wild mountain lions could exist here without scientific or official confirmation, at least in neighboring states? I'm 99.9% sure it cannot be.
jerseydutchman2 Eventually they will make their way here. Male lions command territories about 100 square miles. They chase away competition or kill other males. So this requires mountain lions to spread out.
Happy Girl.
If this is true, then it is newsworthy and with it happening right in Sussex County I will have to turn this into our news desk at the Herald when I go in to night. They will call NJDEP for a copy of the report and then the Vernon Police and speak with Shawn. If it really happened the way you say, it might make tomorrows edition. Thanks for the tip!
John C....no need to go to all that trouble. Read the 6th response on this thread by Calico.
It was already reported on ABC News, Dec. 5, 2006, reporter Anne Keane-Ross.
John C,
It was reported on abc news in 2006. You can find it if you google Shaun's name along with mountain lion.
Shaun said it took the investigators more than a week to respond ---- to quote:
"The state's slow response is evidence that the state does not want to admit there are mountain lions in NJ."
Happy Girl
If you don't wish to say anything more here, you may e-mail me at:
jcovert@njherald.com
Thanks again for the tip!
Here's the article.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2700121&page=1
As you will see as you read it, nothing was confirmed.
Do ya think the lack of confirmation could have been because they waited more than a week before getting in touch with Shaun? Just sayin....
Even though it's old news, I called the news desk and they contacted Shawn at Vernon Police Headquarters. Very possible that this was the same animal killed in Conn. this year. He also stated it was very dark and he didn't really get a good look at the animal so he's not 100% sure that it was not a bobcat. Shaun stated on the phone that he waited one week to report it, ABC News was in error.
A call to NJDEP has not been returned as of yet.
I read that now they're saying the one killed in CT was let loose by someone. Who knows what to believe.
For those interested, you can get full autopsy and genetic testing results on the Connecticut Mt. Lion by going to:
www.ct.gov
and then to Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection, July 26, 2011.
It sheds a lot of light on the topic.
More directions...the write up is a little difficult to get to, but here's the way I did it...
www.ct.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
then to "In the News"
then
scroll down to New Releases
click on July
4th article down "Genetic Testing Reveals..."
Hope that helps!
Possible Mountain Lion Sighting in D.C.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Search-for-Mountain-Lion-in-DC-132773978.html?dr
Joe M i live in a small community in northwest nj. have spotted a big cat that i know was a
mountain lion (cougar). been in the woods for most of my life, hunting, fishing and
scouting. no one when i see it.
don't know the sex of the cat, did not got that close, but it was healthy looking and right at home. some of my neighbors have seen it in the wee hours when walking their dog
through the fields around my home.
johnc This may be the first conclusive evidence of Mountain Lions being back.
http://mobile.nj.com/advnj/pm_31087/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=JQDRXVbB
Here's a better link.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/01/clinton_township_couple_believ.html
I saw the story on News 12 last night. State officials won't confirm that it's a mountain lion...
3wbdwnj Just to be clear there is a difference between "won't confirm" and "can't confirm". without DNA or remains from a kill, confirming that its a mountain lion is not possible. Also while the photo may be of a lion, there is no "proof" it is not from a camera in say Wyoming or California.
I do not doubt we will see one in NJ at some point. But until we have hard proof, I remain a skeptic.
They don't even have breeding populations in Ohio or PA yet. So it's a long shot that we do here. They are slowing moving east. There have been some in Iowa and Illinois.
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