Maybe they're protected because all wildlife in PA is protected. That means unless there is a specific season for any species of wildlife, that species cannot legally be killed.

USP must now be convinced panthers exist in PA, since they mentioned them at least twice in their latest version of the PGC lawsuit. Once inconjunction with all them nasty predators that are or could bedecimating our deer herds and once where they demand a PGC investigation into surging panther sightings.

Since there is no "concrete evidence", .......WHY PROTECT THEM???

It seems that everyone thinks it is so laughable to even think they exist in PA then why care if there is a small population? Most people feel that they are already extinct in PA.

Killing the last few, shouldn't matter. People feel that Pennsylvania doesn't have the right amount or proper habitat to support such an animal anyway.

So if they think the habitat is so unsuitable for them to exist, then maybe they should be exterminated. After all, this habitat we have in PA wouldn't be able to support such a large cat.

In one breath, some people say they don't exist and the habitat in Pa wouldn't support such an animal, then in the next breath they cry that we shouldn't kill them if there is small population. Well.........if the habitat is so poor....then maybe it shouldn't be supporting them if they are found to exist.

All wild animals in Pa are protected.Many of our animals can be taken in season. Any not mentioned in the seasons are not legal to take ever. English sparrows and European starlings are specifically mentioned under the small game section. They are protected but there is currently no closed season. Theopen season is 365 days long

Where on my site do I call blurry pictures of BOBCATS .......Cougars?? We show some of the best pictures of Bobcats, and call them BOBCATS!!
Horses caught in barbed wire? Don't go there, you don't know what you are talking about, actually your entire post, you do Not know what you are talking about!

These cats, non listed mountain lion sub species are considered by US Fish and Wildlife "Extinct"

as for protection in Pa. they are NOT listed as a Big Game animal.

Kittens mean there is breeding and population taking place. Huge to me means more than 1 or two to you!......

Cougardaville

Now I seesome areoffering thetheory that since eastern cougars must be extinct, then they should be allowed to shootany cougars foundin PA,since they can't meet endangered species criteria.

If the game commission decided that it was legal for anyone to shoot mountain lions in PA, any estimate as to how many yahoos would blast the firstbobcat they saw and rush off to show someone their mountain lion?

Probabaly quite a few.........[]

It is very possible that people would shoot Bobcats as Mountain Lions. I got a really nice picture of a bobcat on my trail camera last winter. I have shown it to Many people and 95% of them, the first thing they say is WOW a mountain lion! Or, "and they say there are none of those in NY". I quickly point out to them that it is a picture of a bobcat and show the tail. I also say that there are many of them in NY as we can hunt them where I live and always could as long as I have been hunting this area. The Other 5% say "awe such a cute little kitty", then they often come back with "did I ever tell you about the mountain lion I saw?"

Cougardaville,I never said you had pictures of blurry bobcats and claimed they were mountain lions.However,I've seen at least three different posts on this website where people claimed these bobcats were proof that mountain lions existed in Pa.I've looked at your site many times and never saw any type of concrete evidence that mountain lions exidted in Pa or NY.There certainly was no evidence of a wild breeding population.You claim there's a huge population without proof of one animal.Even if there were a few,that would hardly constitute a huge population.You also claim that the DEC or some other organization is releasing cougars.That's nothing more than slander.Every year there's stories of cattletrucks loaded with coyotes and mountain lions being released in Pa.Some stories even involve black helicopters.I can't believe people could be so gullible.

Will mountain lionms ever show up around here?I have no idea butI do know that no state organization will be illegally stocking them.Besides,getting a wild breeding population to take off is extremely hard to do.You'd have to stock a whole bunch to keep the population from inbreeding.Your website is certainly entertaining but it's hardly proof that mountain lions exist.Show me a dead body and I'll be convinced.Until then,be a little more responsible with what you post for the public to read.

I have horses of my own and Iknow what a barbed wire fence can do to them,that's why I would never consider putting the stuff up.I went out to feed them at lunch time yesterday and I noticed my mare had two small gashes on her one hindquarter.I have no idea how the got there because there's nothing in that pasture that she should have been cut by.The horses occassionally nip at eah other but this didn't look like a bite mark from another horse.Either way,I doubt it wasa mountain lion attack or any other predator for that matter.

Please expound on whatyou feel was wrong in my last post or howI don't know what I'm talking about.You obviously don't know what the law states in Pawith regards to hunting.You also apparently have no clue what it takes to get a law changed in Pa.The PGC could not act on it's own and institute a season on mountain lions.Besides,Why would they?They don't exist unless there's a fewescaped pets out there.You talk about proof on your website but you don't provide any.Adead horse that was partially eaten by another animal doesn't prove a thing.Did they find any mountain lion hair on the animal or on the scene?

We have close to a million hunters roaming the woods during the fall and winter.No mountain lions have ever been shot.None have ever been picked up on the road.If there was a huge population,tracks would certainly be popping up all over and be easily verified.Unfortunately for you,you have zip.I hunt in Coloradoin an area with a heavy concentration of cats.their sign is seen all over the place.The guys that I hunt with have lived there their whole lives and only ever saw a live cat one time.How come people continue to see them all over the northeast but no one can confirm their existence.I admire your tenacity on the subject but you need a dose of reality and some concrete proof.

I live in Montgomery county. We just had 2 spottings in Willow Grove/Huntingdon Valley of a big cat. Its roaming around pennypack watershed. Supposedly someone had it as a pet and let it out

DougE....
I am not sure why you have taken on such an attack towards me and my web site? You claim you have spent time there, well you missed a few words I have written. I really don't want to debate this entire post, but I will answer a few questions. [/align][/align]To be certain that we all get it the same way I will cut n paste directly from my site. [/align][/align]But let me say this to you DougE...I am not here to argue with you or any one else reading. Ranting is not my style. My site is a place for information to be collected, NOT PROVEN. [/align]I do not bash DEC or PGC EVER. If anything I advocate on their behalf. I do not believe they are stocking predators, do I think someone is? YES...WHY?? The cougars that we see are NOT like theWILD cats you and your friends see in Colorado. We are told over and over by all the Eastern states these are "escapes or releases" I believe that to be true.[/align][/align]This is cut from my site I wrote this last September. This was to answer some of the questions people have:








Researching cougar sightings in New York is laborious, challenging, and fascinating. Many questions concerning this predator remain unanswered. In search of information, we seek out individuals involved with the study and knowledge of this large carnivore. We have come to some conclusions and concerns we want to share. One is that whether or not you previously believed that cougars exist in New York State, you should know that cougars are here now. And they are being seen in larger numbers. Second, cougars are a threat to humans, livestock, pets, and wildlife.











At this point in our research, we want to make you aware of your surroundings. We are going to show you where cougars have been seen. Some sightings may be wrong, with dogs, coyotes or other animals being mistaken for cougars. Investigating the credibility of the people making the reports and following up on these sightings, we feel most reports represent true cougar sightings.

Please keep in mind when you look at the map that Cougars have been seen in front yards, farms, roads, school yards, and parking lots— not just in the forest. Safety is our main goal. Look back to our home page under the links of what to do if you encounter a cougar. Several of the links describe the actions the cougar displays in relation to the threat it poses to you.

We made a visit to our New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Many of the questions and rumors we have heard need to be addressed and we need answers. The Endangered Species Unit welcomed us, and we enjoyed a long visit with Allen Hicks.

The DEC web site says, “There are no Eastern Cougars, they are extirpated.”

What is this cougar that is said to be extirpated? That is one of our unanswered questions. We are not the only state in the United States asking this. Every state in the US now claims to be seeing cougars. In the western states where a population of wild cougars is known to exist, they now claim the population has risen dramatically.

The DEC does receive many reports of sightings, but does not investigate without other evidence to go along with the sighting, such as a track or an animal killed in a way suggestive of a cougar. When the DEC accepts a cougar report, they believe the cougar was one release intentionally, or unintentionally, by people and not a wild cougar.

If the DEC is to be believed, these cats were once someone’s pet. We think this is an even more dangerous situation than if the cougars were from the wild. These animals have been imprinted on humans and have lost the fear of humans. Imprinting on wild animals is irreversible. Releasing animals lacking appropriate survival skills can be deadly to humans and to the released animals.

We have heard many times that folks witnessed cougars and wolves being released into the wild. Many claim the DEC had released cougars. We also visited the Law Enforcement of DEC. They were very assertive in telling us the DEC would never release cougars. I believe those who have seen animals released, so we need to also try to identify the people and the vehicles releasing the animals. Should you see someone releasing an animal report it immediately to the proper authorities.

Many organizations and people believe the cougar should be allowed to roam the Eastern states. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that does not mean it is a correct decision for the people of New York or for the cougar trying to make its home here.

Cougardaville

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