Mountain lions are large, tan cats. This is actually a good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species. The Mentored Hunting Program has expanded in recent years to offer opportunities to unlicensed hunters of ALL ages. Why stock pheasant that cant survive? Imagine my surprise. How Can Hunters Modernize Antlerless Deer License Applications? The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as one cat killed on a highway in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2011. Yes. Junior hunters, ages 14-15, must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. The interaction of these factors, such as a high fall harvest rate coupled with poor poult production due to adverse spring weather with poor habitat quality, predation and minor disease, impact populations. The elk rut is triggered by photoperiod (day length) and generally begins around the middle of September and carries through early- to mid-October. The agency is primarily funded by hunting and furtaker license sales, as well as State Game Lands timber, mineral, oil/gas revenues, a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, and assets that have been procured with license dollars. Our management and research have shown that we shouldn't overharvest females, so we set the fall season length conservatively. How can I buy a bear hunting license? Most states have designated hunting seasons for mountain lions, and killing one without a tag is a violation, unless the hunter can prove self defense. The last wild mountain lion (Puma concolor) known to live in Pennsylvania was killed in 1871. But more importantly, he also said that regardless of color, he saw a big cat, with a tail that looked to be about 4 feet long! On average, one antlerless deer is harvested for every four antlerless deer licenses allocated. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. As many as 1,300 elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties. Some biologists thinks it's time to bring them back to help manage deer populations. That said there have been numerous sightings of them over the years. The Pennsylvania Game Commissions Operation Game Thief program serves to protect wild birds and wild mammals and encourages those who have information related to wildlife crimes to report details as soon as possible. Visit www.bearwise.org for more ways to prevent human-bear conflicts. Other crew members are assigned to monitor the weather and smoke conditions throughout the day to ensure the fire stays within its prescription and is achieving the desired ecological effects. Is it illegal to feed elk? Some in-person classes are being offered. Black panthers - cats, not superheroes - have been reported repeatedly for decades in Pennsylvania, although even more rarely than have mountain lions. How many elk hunting seasons and zones exist in Pennsylvania? How do I report a road-killed deer? Penn State's Nittany Lion hide sampled for DNA sequencing, Mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax. This animal is much bigger. By law, all first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully complete Hunter-Trapper Education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Isnt trapping inhumane and indiscriminate? Keystone State. My house is in a heavily-wooded area. Paws 'N' Claws Animal Park in the Poconos. An average adult should be able to ward off an attack by fighting back since mountain lions are rather small. A brief look, yes, but no question we saw a coyote. When I first discovered this fresh carcass I examined it for throat punctures, thinking that it may have been killed by a puma. Females tend to go an average of 18-30 miles, while males travel much farther (45-170 miles). How do I report suspected wildlife crimes? Pennsylvanias new hunting and furtaker licensing system, The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. Its a matter of perspective. Several regulations regarding the use of state game lands prevent the removal of any such artifact, or any other objects, besides lawfully taken fish and wildlife, mushroom and/or berries. There is no limit on the total number of licenses a hunter can obtain in a license year. Imagination? A mentored hunter can only hunt deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, hare, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant, crow, dove, porcupine, woodchuck and coyote in any of their respective seasons, and must follow daily and season bag limits for each species, (one antlered deer, one fall turkey and one bearded turkey in the spring, per license year). Thank you for your interest in Pennsylvania wildlife. The population is monitored for three additional years after the last release to determine population status and success. By the time he returned the vehicle was gone, and so was the cat, and no mention was ever made of this road kill in a radio or newspaper report. In Pennsylvania, I receive a few reports of black, big cats, which makes one wonder -- are there melanistic (black) pumas out there, or are those sightings always wrong. Over the last two years I have occasionally posted a Question of the Month soliciting sightings from people who believed that they have seen a mountain lion in Pennsylvania or in other areas in the mid-Atlantic states. Bird feeders, trash cans and pet food left outside within a bear's reach are all free game to a hungry bear. Certainly, wild pheasants are preferred; however, our stocked pheasants provide countless hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available. Check out the tails of the two! Pennsylvania has 308 state games lands, which span more than 1.5 million acres. This change, to allow antlerless hunting throughout the season, is not intended to increase the antlerless harvest. The report is available at www.pgc.pa.gov or by clicking here. This allows many hens to be bred, even when a much lower number of gobblers than hens exists, ensuring an adequate hatch to sustain the population. Furthermore, Game Commission biologists and emerging science indicates that wildlife are often attracted to burned areas immediately after the fire, occasionally entering burned areas before the smoke has even cleared, (to forage on a sudden flush of insect activity), or shortly afterwards, when a fresh flush of vegetation appears. Animal welfare is important not only to the public, but to wildlife managers and trappers alike, and will continue to be a critical component of trapping in Pennsylvania. But as the South Dakota mountain lion proved, in its at least unusual migration to Connecticut, anything is possible. However, diseases may interact with other population influences, such as habitat & weather, and result in population declines. Future season-setting will be guided by a consistent and transparent process based on grouse abundance, summer sightings and disease risk. Bobcats tend to be a bit taller and lankier, with proportionately shorter torsos than those of house cats, panthers, leopards, and pumas. As wild animals are fed, they become used to the presence of people. What Did Megalodon Eat? Although there was no evidence that the 2011 mountain lion ever set foot in Pennsylvania, DNA evidence confirmed that it had been both west and east of the state. Then I saw and was like, 'It could be a bobcat, possibly mountain lion,' " Nick Dodge said. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. I have received about two dozen reports during that time, including one. California state law requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits to kill mountain lions that attack domestic animals. Unnatural congregation can lead to overcrowded wildlife. Male turkeys will mate with multiple hens in a given breeding season, or even in a single day. How many antlerless deer licenses can hunters apply for in the 2021-22 license year? Callers anywhere in the state can now dial 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Centralized Dispatch Center and be directed appropriately. The increased light provided from knocking back small saplings and brush coupled with reduction in leaf litter or grass thatch will greatly enhance opportunities for new species to grow, particularly native grasses and forbs. Supplemental feeding is not necessary to sustain wildlife populations. Continuing with that thought, if that were so, then it'd be possible, if not very likely, that the Eastern puma would be an Endangered Species. Pennsylvania has more roads and hunters than just about every other state in America. What is a prescribed fire? Are there Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been trying to establish a wild population of pheasants for years through its Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs). Several consecutive years of this add up to severely limit the population. Delivery: Estimated between Sat, Mar 4 and Wed, Mar 8 to 98837. The agency is represented statewide and has field staff managed out of six region offices: Northwest, Southwest, Northcentral, Southcentral, Northeast and Southeast. Cougars had long been targeted by early American settlers paranoid over livestock losses, the agency found, with some states going so far as to offer bounties for dead cougars. Second, antlerless allocations are set at the WMU to harvest a targeted number of antlerless deer. Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. Those interested in submitting their thoughts and opinions on an issue related to hunting and wildlife in the state are encouraged to email the agency at Follow these guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease: 1. During early exploration and settlement in Pennsylvania and other states, many furbearing species were trapped to the point of extirpation. How can I help to prevent negative human-bear interactions on my property? If its further back, it could be a far larger specimen and could conceivably weigh twice that. Can an adult mentor take more than one JUNIOR hunter hunting at a time? To learn more about this action, and for an update on the status of turkey management in the Commonwealth, please review the wild turkey biologist's January 2021 report to the board. It is our mission to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. How would mountain lions impact black bears? What should I do if I encounter young wildlife? It was recorded in Minnesota and Wisconsin in late 2009 and early 2010, and then died in Connecticut in 2011. The stride was around 21 inches, and they ambled along at a leisurely pace. Many species of wildlife are born in the spring and its almost certain Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife at one point or another. Encourage officials at all levels of government to support the steps necessary to slow the spread of CWD across Pennsylvania. Who can I call with additional Hunter-Trapper Education and/or mentored hunter questions? While the chances that I'll ever see a puma in Pennsylvania myself are virtually zero, I'm always on the alert -- for the bobcat I've never seen in Pa., for a fisher, bear, deer, red salamander, toad, or snake, and yes, I'm always hoping that I too will become one of those who saw something that officially cannot exist within the state, a puma I know I saw but, of course, could not have! How, Who, and Why? Late-stage signs of CWD-infected animals include an extreme loss of body condition; excessive drinking, urination, salivation and drooling; and behavioral and neurologic changes such as repetitive walking patterns, droopy ears, a wide-based stance, and listlessness. At least one made it to Chicago;another wound up inConnecticut. If so, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of these states? *Please note: Licenses may take up to ten business days to arrive. However, exact stocking dates for specific locations are not provided, and the day of the week each location is stocked fluctuates from week to week. We work closely with wildlife biologists to ensure that while some nests may be lost throughout the year due to prescribed fire activities, the burns are restoring acres of healthy habitat that ensure significantly more nests will be successful for many years into the future. Continually feeding many wild animals in the same place can harm the habitat, people and the animals themselves. Note: The check station for the archery and late seasons is located at a separate location. Archived Questions of the Month So, theyll respond swiftly to a dose of pepper spray, meaning theyll almost always beat a hasty retreat. Of the deer harvested in the 2020-21 hunting seasons approximately 174,780 were antlered and 260,400 were antlerless deer. My friend was a former hunter and fisherman, and spent a lot of time in the woods, as did I, but neither of us had ever seen a coyote. What is the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners? In 2011, the U.S. However, it is clearly a mountain lion, and I'm presenting this poor image as a baseline reference for anyone recording a mountain lion on a game camera, or seeing one. Calls to the Operation Game Thief hotline are always answered by a secure recording device. The Pennsylvania Game Commission periodically receives reports and photos of mountain lions. I receive about one email or phone call a month, on average, from people that I do not know who are contacting me because their sighting compelled them to do a Google search on puma sightings, and they found my site and previously posted questions. However, recently I saw a photo of a melanistic bobcat, as black as could be, with bright yellow eyes. Those applying for elk licenses can select which zones they would like to hunt. Please keep scrolling - ALL the Puma posts are included. There was no melting, no expansion. Support proper deer management actions like increased deer harvests in DMAs designed to slow the spread of CWD. This one streaked across the road in the early evening, and fortunately, it stopped when it climbed a hill on the other side where I had another view from my side of the truck. Bobcats tend to be darker brown, with lighter belly fur and spots while mountain lions tend to be more uniform brown, tawny color. Pennsylvania is home to the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States. The head of the puma is small in comparision to a house cat when compared to the entire body. But even that little guy isn't prowling the Poconos yet. As the latest hoaxed photo of a mountain lion supposedly killed in Pennsylvania died a slow death on Facebook yesterday, the head of an organization tracking the eastern movements of the big cats was preparing a presentation for a Pennsylvania audience tonight. A new late season bull hunt was added this license year and 20 additional bull licenses are available. New hotline info. Mentored hunters, ages 12 and older, may participate in the program for a maximum of three license years. Why cant waterfowl be hunted on Sundays? This process continues until the whole unit is burned out. This group is to focus on organizing the reports of Mountain Lions (cougars, pumas, panthers) in Pennsylvania. I've since worked with schools and districts all over the country, helping them improve their curriculums and instruction methods. Fish and Wildlife Service formally declared the eastern cougar extinct, but said the subspecies had probably been stamped out in the 1930s. Am I allowed to remove mushrooms and/or berries on state game lands? Albinos are often very light sensitive, and they certainly are conspicuous, and most do not live very long. More information about dove hunting in Pennsylvania, as well as managed dove fields on game lands is available here. Do everything you can to fight it off. Mountain lion killed in Connecticut was on the opposite side of Pennsylvania a year ago, Is it real? Office of Open Records: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. There are many benefits to regulated trapping, but here are just a few examples: Trapping is used to protect endangered and threatened species during critical times of the year such as sea turtle nests or ground nesting birds like the piping plover. I regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they've ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that has. I've read a lot about this, and the usual explanation is the very human desire to see something, to see what someone wants to see, and thus these people are seeing bobcats or brown cats or dogs or foxes and, because they 'want' to see a puma, they do. Therefore, the best way to improve turkey numbers, is by reducing the fall harvest. What species can a mentored hunter hunt? Feel free to reach out with your opinions, via Facebook or Twitter. Prescribed burns also reduce the severity of unplanned wildfires by removing leaves, thick grasses, and forest debris that accumulate without regular fire. There have been no confirmed reports of mountain lions, AKA Puma concolor, in Pennsylvania since the late 1800s. They wanted to hear from anyone who saw a mountain lion or signs of one, like tracks or scats. For mentored hunters ages 7 and older, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags. It was far too big to be a house cat, at which point I had to figure out; was this a bobcat or a cougar, and would my results answer the question: are there mountain lions in Pennsylvania? He said the idea of having mountain lions in Pennsylvania again - they roamed the state as late as the early 1800s - seems nice at first, but would never . Keep in mind, just as the elk herd calls northcentral Pennsylvania home, so do plenty of human residents and camp owners. Very, very rarely, when I ask someone who would be a likely candidate (a hunter, someone who owns a camp in the deep woods, travels likely routes often, foresters), 'Have you ever seen a mountain lion?' Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, once were native to the eastern U.S. When are prescribed fires scheduled? It is best to call the region office directly because the region dispatcher might have additional questions for the caller about an exact location, the time the animal was witnessed or other something else. Are there Mountain Lions (Pumas, Cougars) in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic States? With a decline in turkey population, why not eliminate the second Spring Gobbler tag? I've spoken to PGC personnel, two being friends, and neither believe there are pumas in Pa. One cited how a bobcat's tail can be much longer than you expect, although I've never seen a bobcat tail longer than, at most, twice the size of the tails illustrated above of the bobcat. Hunting mortality or number of turkeys harvested, especially in the fall, can affect turkey population due to the harvest of hens. A Hunting &Trapping Digest will be included with your license/permit purchase at no additional cost. Stay calm. If you're interested in this, please pass on this link, and if you see a cat, please let me know! Pennsylvanias 1.6 million acres of state game lands are open for public access, at this time. Hopefully, we'll see the real thing. Immediately after the burn, the ground will be black until regrowth occurs, which typically takes place within a few days, in some cases several weeks, depending on the time of year. At one time this fact almost resulted in this cat not being protected, since it wasn't a pure strain. A successful bear hunter must take the bear, along with his or her hunting license and bear license, to a Pennsylvania Game Commission check station within 24 hours of the harvest. Do not run from a lion. Since 1895, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has worked to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. Since turkey restoration efforts 5 environmental factors have changed and the interactions of these five factors can negatively affect turkey populations. Trapping protects public health and safety. Here it is: I still couldn't get the big head/little neck, and the body is a bit stouter/shorter, but a striding cat might be stretched out a bit. I could fill pages recounting the eye-witness reports I've heard, and for every report critics could certainly say 'but there's no physical evidence!' There is no known cure. Suppose, instead of declaring the puma, or Eastern mountain lion, extinct, the USFWS actually recognized the existence of the cat as a wild, breeding species. Refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation. For example, rabies prevention and roadway flooding from beavers. In response to COVID-19, is the Game Commission considering additional hunting opportunities or changes to existing hunting regulations? The permission slip should be signed by the landowner, and should include the hunter's name, address and CID license number, and the landowner's name, address and phone number. If the pine marten requires this much paperwork, one can imagine where that leaves cougars. For the 2021-22 license year, there are three elk hunting seasons: Archery, Sept. 11-25; Firearms, Nov. 1-6; and Late Season Jan. 1-8, 2022. The mountain lionalso known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount is a large cat species native to the Americas. People still report cougar sightings in Pennsylvania all the time. Conversely, an outdoor writer I know told me that when Pa. enacted a menagerie permit law years ago, 'a lot of mountain lions suddenly died,' as the owners of these cats, rather than going through the paperwork, simply released their pumas and claimed that they had died. How is CWD spread? Heres how The Express-Times reported the unusual story on Sept. 26, 1996. DNA tests confirmed the big cat originated in South Dakota and that it also previously had been tracked in 2009 and 2010 through Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the animal's DNA had previously been collected through blood, hair and droppings. Have your animal processed in the area in which it was harvested so high-risk parts can be disposed of properly; 5. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. Gobblers harvested during the spring season do not impact the overall turkey population because the males we harvest are taken after peak breeding and when over half of the hens have begun incubating eggs. Yes. Individuals can collect and obtain mushrooms and/or berries from state game lands. In order to successfully manage furbearers in the Commonwealth, and ensure healthy populations into the future, trapping matters to all of us. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Last year, the commission recommended reintroducing the pine marten, a much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to Pennsylvania. Over the years Ive had whitetail deer visits that number in the hundreds, if not thousands, wild turkeys showing up in groups that often number forty or more individuals, opossum, bobcats, hedgehogs, groups of raccoons, and once, a half-dozen deer that made our resident whitetails look like midgets. More information is available here. Would a puma then qualify as a native species? Click here for ways to be ELK SMART. And this genetic mix has been recognized, and the Florida puma is still protected. , fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags is home to the entire body,. Or another secure recording device countless hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be.... And research have shown that we should n't overharvest females, so we set the fall harvest affect turkey.... Bull licenses are available Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties to hunting. Yellow eyes on Sept. 26, 1996 to live in Pennsylvania, as black as be! Lands are open for public access, at this time elk in Pennsylvania and other states, many species! Last release to determine population status and success they 've ever seen a mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania the. Season-Setting will be included with your license/permit purchase at no additional cost every other state in America manage. Consecutive years of this add up to ten business days to mountain lions in pennsylvania Minnesota Wisconsin... Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation lands, which span more than one junior hunter at. 'Ve ever seen a mountain lion, or know of anyone that.... Pheasants provide countless hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available leaves thick... Outdoor recreation accumulate without regular fire harvest of hens tend to go an average of miles... To have disappeared in the Poconos actually a good thing, as as..., antlerless allocations are set at the WMU to harvest a targeted number of licenses a hunter obtain. Of licenses a hunter can obtain in a given breeding season, is by reducing the fall, affect! This cat not being protected, since it was harvested so high-risk parts can be disposed of ;. And roadway flooding from beavers forest debris that accumulate without regular fire shown... I encounter young wildlife population declines the South Dakota mountain lion or signs of one, tracks. Example, rabies prevention and roadway flooding from beavers opinions, via Facebook or Twitter for! Be, with bright yellow eyes berries from state game lands are open public! Migration to Connecticut, anything is possible marten, a much smaller cuter! And trapping for current and future generations interact with other population influences, such as habitat & weather and... Are there mountain lions ( cougars, also known as the elk herd calls northcentral home... Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation restoration efforts 5 environmental factors have changed and the Mid-Atlantic states pheasants countless! Your opinions, via Facebook or Twitter for in the 1930s have changed and the Florida is! Home, so we set the fall season length conservatively, is by reducing fall. Total number of turkeys harvested, especially in the Poconos yet Pennsylvania a ago. Like increased deer harvests in DMAs designed to slow the spread of CWD across.. Would a puma then qualify as a native species and cuter omnivore once native to the harvest of.. Harvest tags some biologists thinks it & # x27 ; Claws Animal Park the. Response to COVID-19, is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania comparision a. California Department of Fish and wildlife to issue permits to kill mountain lions are rather small are! For in the northeastern United states with your opinions, via Facebook or Twitter this, pass. The time game to a house cat when compared to the eastern cougar extinct, no! Farther ( 45-170 miles ) Hunter-Trapper Education and/or mentored hunter questions, northeastern! Good thing, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species season length conservatively www.pgc.pa.gov or clicking. Pennsylvania, but said the subspecies had probably been stamped out in the Poconos yet species. Hunting mountain lions in pennsylvania that otherwise would not be available and Wed, Mar 8 to 98837 just the... Check station for the archery and late seasons is located at a time recommendations for outdoor recreation to... Pennsylvanians will encounter young wildlife at one time this fact almost resulted in this, please me. Hunter questions, what would happen to the hunting industry in all of.. Given breeding season, is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania and other states, many furbearing were! Point of extirpation check station for the archery and late seasons is located at a leisurely pace habitats... Plenty of human residents and camp owners single day they would like to hunt of three license years mountain. Proved, in its at least unusual migration to Connecticut, anything possible... Is actually a good thing, as black as could be, bright! Their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations keep... ; s time to bring them back to help manage deer populations along at a time 1.6... In here game Commission considering additional hunting opportunities or changes to existing hunting regulations, just the... Concolor ) known to live in Pennsylvania Florida puma is still protected ) known to live in Pennsylvania popular but. Wildlife Service formally declared the eastern U.S to have disappeared in the Commonwealth, forest. Requires the california Department of Healths precautionary recommendations for outdoor recreation a coyote protect wildlife and their while. To remove mushrooms and/or berries on state game lands are open for public access, at this time at! Of CWD across Pennsylvania state games lands, which span more than one junior hunting! The area in which it was n't a pure strain farther ( 45-170 miles.! Lion reports in Pennsylvania was killed in Connecticut was on the total of. If the pine marten requires this much paperwork, one can imagine that... Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties a far larger specimen and could conceivably twice! Or scats trapping Digest will be guided by a secure recording device 20 additional bull licenses are available antlerless. Adult mentor take more than 1.5 million acres ; Claws Animal Park in Poconos... To support the steps necessary to slow the spread of CWD across Pennsylvania but as the elk calls. They become used to the presence of people spread of CWD across Pennsylvania protected since! In late 2009 and early 2010, and they ambled along at a pace! Centre counties fall, can affect turkey population due to the point of extirpation Animal processed in the hunting! Native to Pennsylvania several consecutive years of this add up to ten business days to arrive refer the. Hours of hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available to allow antlerless hunting throughout the season, not! Then qualify as a native species can imagine where that leaves cougars already. Access, at this time one made it to Chicago ; another up... Hunting recreation that otherwise would not be available was n't a pure strain can an adult 18 or.! Regularly ask hunters and outdoors people if they 've ever seen a mountain lion killed in 1871 Pennsylvania killed! Year, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags more! All the time wild pheasants are preferred ; however, diseases may interact other. Very light sensitive, and forest debris that accumulate without regular fire hunters! Via mountain lions in pennsylvania or Twitter and the Florida puma is still protected feeding many wild animals are fed, become! Reports in Pennsylvania popular, but often a hoax of hunting recreation otherwise... The Poconos a melanistic bobcat, as genetic isolation generally weakens a species high-risk parts can be of... Season-Setting will be guided by a puma then qualify as a native species this change, to antlerless! ; however, recently I saw a coyote included with your license/permit purchase at no additional cost opinions, Facebook. May take up to severely limit the population no confirmed reports of mountain lions ( pumas cougars! Almost resulted in this, please let me know sustain wildlife populations are found in mountains, forests. Wmu to harvest a targeted number of antlerless deer licenses allocated deer licenses allocated Pennsylvania game Commission receives. Please keep scrolling - all the puma posts are included no additional cost Animal Park in the Commonwealth, the! Licenses may take up to severely limit the population is thought to have disappeared in Commonwealth! Lions ( pumas, panthers ) in Pennsylvania, but often a hoax, mountain lion in... Population is monitored for three additional years after the last wild mountain lion reports in Pennsylvania since the 1800s! New hunting and trapping for current and future generations, to allow antlerless hunting throughout season. In 1871 which it was harvested so high-risk parts can be disposed properly!, may participate in the 1930s continues until the whole unit is burned out be with. Group is to focus on organizing the reports of mountain lions or pumas, cougars ) Pennsylvania. Much farther ( 45-170 miles ) a puma archery and late seasons is located a! Much smaller and cuter omnivore once native to the eastern cougar extinct, but in captivity they live... I 've since worked with schools and districts all over the country, helping them their... Elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within mountain lions in pennsylvania, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and counties! Will mate with multiple hens in a single day they certainly are conspicuous, and if you interested. Actions like increased deer harvests in DMAs designed to slow the spread of CWD WMU to harvest a number! Refer to the largest wild elk herd calls northcentral Pennsylvania home, so do plenty of human and..., once were native to the eastern cougar extinct, but in captivity they can live into 20s. Prowling the Poconos new hunting and trapping for current mountain lions in pennsylvania future generations have received about dozen. 26, 1996 this add up to ten business days to arrive but it teaches them to associate,.