For those of you "Doubting Thomases", there absolutely are mountain lions living in the wilds of PA ... whether the PGC wants to admit it or not.

A few years ago, there was one photographed, documented and tracked in the Chester County area near White Clay Creek which is a suburban area very close to Philadelphia. Numerous people saw it, and PGC officials confirmed the tracks were definitely a mountain lion (although there was no way to prove whether it was a wild one, or whether it was one that had reverted to a wild state after having been released.) The woman whom first saw it was watching her bird feeder when it burst out and snatched a dove out of the air within a few feet of her window.

I know of the following additionally confirmed sightings by friends and family memebers:

1.My uncle has pictures of one that he photographedin the Benezette area of the state. While returning from a fishing trip, it crossed the road right in front of his pick-up before stopping when he snapped the shot. He and his friend both clearly identified it as a mountain lion. (His photois not a digital photo, but I will try to get a scan of the original print & post it up here.)

2. About 15 years ago,a family friend observed onein pasture near their house justoutside of Williamsport in Lycoming County.When she saw it, she called her husband ( a gunsmith)whom also watched it for at least 30 minute before it crossed the field and re-entered the woods.

3. My uncle and his son found one sleeping on a large rock in Potter County between Galeton and Coudersport during deer season about 10 years ago. When they couldn't identify the animal from a distance,they stalkedup closer andgot within 40 yards before it woke, lept up, and slunk away.

There may not be a lot of them, but they are definitely out there.

It is only a matter of time until someone either shoots or traps one ... even though it is technically illegal.

- Gr8ful Deer