🦁 The Empire State's Ghost Cat: Are There Mountain Lions in Upstate New York? The Truth is Wilder Than a Backyard BBQ!
Hold onto your hats, folks, because we're diving deep into one of the spiciest wildlife mysteries in the entire Northeast: the legendary, the elusive, the possibly-just-a-really-big-housecat known as the Upstate New York Mountain Lion. Are these magnificent beasts — also known as cougars, pumas, or catamounts, because one name simply wasn't extra enough— out there roaming the Adirondacks and Catskills? Or is this just a classic case of mistaken identity, where a bobcat has had way too much coffee and is moving too fast for the human eye?
The official word from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is that the native Eastern Cougar population is, well, kaput. Extirpated, gone, a ghost of the 19th century when hunting bounties made them about as popular as a skunk at a garden party. They’re federally listed as extinct. But let's be real, people love a good conspiracy, and in Upstate New York, the "DEC is hiding the cougars" theory is right up there with "Is that really maple syrup or just corn syrup?"
This ain't just a simple yes or no. This is a multi-step investigation, a deep-fried journey into sightings, scat, and serious science. Get ready to put on your detective hat—the one with the fluffy earmuffs—because we're breaking down the steps to understanding this New York enigma.
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| Are There Mountain Lions In Upstate New York |
Step 1: The Historical Huddle – Where Did All the Cool Cats Go?
To figure out what's currently lurking in those dark, spooky parts of the forest, we gotta check the history books. And let me tell you, the story of the Eastern Cougar in New York is a total bummer.
1.1 The Good Old Days (Spoiler: They Weren't)
Back in the day, before all the highways and big box stores, mountain lions were absolutely crushing it in New York. They were apex predators, the boss hogs of the food chain, keeping the deer population in check and probably judging the fashion choices of the local bears. They were common, especially in the rugged Catskill Mountains. Life was good for the Puma concolor cougar.
QuickTip: Read actively, not passively.
1.2 The Great Extirpation and the Bounty Bonanza
Then, the 1800s hit. Humans decided these majestic felines were a major inconvenience, especially to livestock. Suddenly, a mountain lion was worth more dead than alive. States, including New York, slapped sizable bounties on their heads. It was open season, a wild-west style hunt. By the 1930s, it was officially confirmed: the native Eastern Cougar was hunted into oblivion. Poof. Gone. It’s a tragic tale, like that time you accidentally left your favorite pizza slice in the oven overnight.
Step 2: The Modern Mystery – What are People Actually Seeing?
Now for the juicy stuff. Despite the DEC saying "Nah, they're not here," folks in places like the Adirondacks, Western New York, and the Hudson Valley are swearing on their grandmother's apple pie that they've seen a mountain lion.
2.1 The Confirmed 'Un-New-Yorker' Cougar
Here’s the deal: the DEC has confirmed a few sightings over the years, but they always come with a massive asterisk. These are almost always:
Escaped Pets: Believe it or not, some folks think a mountain lion is a totally chill house pet. When the inevitable happens and "Whiskers" bolts, that's a confirmed sighting of an animal that is not part of a native, reproducing population. It's a runaway.
The Big Migrator: The most famous case involved a young male cougar who took the longest road trip in history. This ambitious dude walked 1,800 miles from a population in South Dakota, through New York, and ended up in Connecticut, where, sadly, he was hit by a car. The DNA confirmed his epic journey, proving that while a wild cougar can pass through, they don't stay for the potluck.
2.2 Mistaken Identity Madness: The DEC Debunking
For every confirmed sighting, there are dozens that get sent to the DEC that turn out to be something else entirely. It's an honest mistake! When you're driving down a dark road and a large, stealthy creature crosses your path, your brain goes straight to "Mountain Lion!" But the truth is often less dramatic:
QuickTip: Repeat difficult lines until they’re clear.
The Chunky House Cat: Sometimes, trail camera footage of a "cougar" is debunked by the DEC in hilarious ways—like placing a life-sized plywood cutout of a real mountain lion at the site and proving the filmed critter was, in fact, just a very, very large and bossy domestic cat. Seriously, they use cutouts. That’s dedication!
Bobcats, Coyotes, and Fishers, Oh My! The most common culprits are animals that are actually totally native. A bobcat, especially a healthy one, can look pretty big. A coyote can look long and slinky. A fisher, a type of weasel, can look like a furry torpedo. They're all trying to live their best life, but they keep getting blamed for a crime they didn't commit.
Step 3: So, How Do I Prove I Saw the Real Deal? A Step-by-Step Guide for a Wildlife Detective
You are convinced. You saw the tail, the size, the sheer, unbelievable power. You think you've seen the legendary Empire State Ghost Cat. If you want the DEC to take you seriously—and not just chalk it up to a lack of coffee—you need evidence.
3.1 Get That Snap (Safely, You Crazy Diamond!)
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First things first: Do not approach the animal. This ain't a petting zoo, and a mountain lion is a serious predator. If you can get a picture or video from a safe distance (like from inside your car or house), do it! Focus on capturing its tail. Mountain lions have a long, thick, cylindrical tail (often a third of their total body length) with a black tip. Bobcats have a stubby little thing. The tail is the smoking gun.
3.2 Track It Down – The Footprint File
If the animal is long gone, look for tracks. This is where the detective work gets muddy, literally.
Four Toes, No Claw Marks: Mountain lion tracks have four toes on both front and back feet, and you generally won't see claw marks. Why? Because they're retractable, like a retractable keychain for their murder-mittens. Dogs and coyotes have non-retractable claws, so you'll see those claw indentations in their tracks.
The Size Factor: An adult cougar track is generally at least 3 to 3.5 inches wide. That’s a good size.
The Ruler Rule: If you find a print, place an object of known size next to it—a ruler, a coin, or even a dollar bill. Snap a photo! This is non-negotiable proof of scale that the DEC needs to assess the size.
3.3 The Scat Scoop (Don’t Touch!)
QuickTip: Look for patterns as you read.
Yep, we're talking about poop. Scat. Fecal matter. A mountain lion's scat is usually segmented, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, and often contains hair and bone fragments from their last meal (probably deer). Again, photograph it with a ruler for scale. Do not, under any circumstances, pick it up unless you're a trained professional, and even then, ew.
3.4 Call in the Pros (The DEC)
Once you have your evidence—a clear photo/video, track measurements, or scat photos—it's time to officially report your sighting to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They are the folks with the training and the plywood cutouts to confirm if you saw a ghost or just a really portly housecat. They might even send someone out to investigate. Don't be shy; you might be a part of history!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to Tell the Difference Between a Bobcat and a Cougar?
A bobcat is much smaller (think a large, muscular house cat up to about 40 lbs), has a short, "bobbed" tail, and usually has spots. A mountain lion is larger (100+ lbs, often), has a long, thick tail with a black tip, and is generally a uniform tan or tawny color.
What is the DEC's official status on mountain lions in New York?
Tip: Focus more on ideas, less on words.
The DEC's official position is that there is no native, breeding population of mountain lions in New York State. The native Eastern Cougar is considered extirpated (locally extinct), and the occasional confirmed animal is a transient migrant or an escaped captive pet.
Are the rumors about the DEC secretly releasing mountain lions true?
Absolutely not. The DEC vehemently and repeatedly denies any rumors that they have secretly released mountain lions (or wolves!) to manage the deer population. This is a persistent urban legend, or as we call it, a total myth.
What should I do if I see a mountain lion in person?
The general advice is to never run, as that can trigger their chase instinct. Make yourself look as large as possible (raise your arms, open your jacket), maintain eye contact, and speak firmly in a loud voice. Slowly back away, giving the animal an escape route.
How often do mountain lions actually attack humans in the Northeast?
Attacks are exceedingly rare. Because the animals that are seen in the Northeast are typically non-native, transient, or escaped pets, they are generally skittish and avoid human contact. The risk is incredibly low, but it's always smart to be wildlife aware.
Would you like to know more about what the DEC recommends for deterring wild animals from your property?
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