I live in Center County PA and im almost convinced that we DO have Mountain Lions here in the state. In fact there is a mounted one on the PSU campus that was shot in this very county. I do agree that most of the " Wild Cats " people see in the woods are mostly escaped pet Mt Lions or releases. But I have many family and friend reports of Mountain Lions around here. In fact my buddys uncle who is an AG teacher around here and my other friend and his dad were all at this camp. This game commision truck pulls up through their camp going up the mountain with a trailer on the back. And what is in the trailer you ask....a friggin Mt Lion thats what. The thing was snarlin and screamin. About half an hour latter the truck comes back down the mountain, trailer and all but nooo Lion in the back. The one thing they say is that the game commision releases Mt.lions to help control the deer populations. And another event that occured not far from here was my aunt was out in her veggi garden picking peas. They live very very far from anyone else. But my aunt lived there with her daughter. Her daughter heard a growl/screach come from outside. She then heard my aunt screaming. She walked outside and there standing not more than 5yds from my aunt was a Mountain Lion and I know for a fact this story is true. My aunt might be old but she knows her animals and her daughter saw it as well. Luckily my aunt made her way into the out building and my aunts daughter through kitchen ware at the animal from the window. I know alot of people are skeptics when it comes to this. And I was tooo for the longest time. But after hearing these stories from people I know who know what they are talking about and also the countless sightings. I do believe we have Mountain Lions here in PA.
I just cant wait to I see one for myself.