IF they are here, odds of an encounter are slim- made slimmer by the fact they would have no interest in us. MassWildlife uses evidence-based criteria for confirming Mountain Lion reports. Today, Mountain Lions are found in the mountainous regions of the West. Despite numerous reports, the NH Fish and Game Department continues to have no physical evidence of mountain lion presence in the state. It is also known as cougar, panther, mountain lion, and puma, though catamount is the preferred regional vernacular. There is also a small population in southern Florida. A Mountain Lion Cover Up ? On the outside chance that there are mountain lions or wolves here in Massachusetts, it drives me crazy when these reports enhance peoples fears of the woods. endstream endobj 98 0 obj <> endobj 99 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 432.0 630.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 100 0 obj <>stream CHELMSFORD -- A mysterious creature is afoot in town, and some residents believe it to be a mountain lion, roaming the area. The USDA's Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory found that the animal came from South Dakota. None of the rumors are true. Mountain lion in Massachusetts? All other reports of Mountain Lions in Massachusetts have turned out to be other animals. 122 0 obj <>stream There are always rumors about what state fish and wildlife agencies in the eastern United States know about Mountain Lions. In his Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine article, "Mountain Lions in Massachusetts," Dr. Tom French relates, "Seeing the real thing is always possible, but a sighting of a genuine mountain lion in New England is so rare that it is the wildlife equivalent of winning a jackpot in the Mega Millions jackpot." Some of these photos have taken on urban legend status. MassWildlife recognizes two classes of Mountain Lion confirmation: Class 1 Confirmations - evidence requirements: 1. The body of a dead mountain Lion, or a live wild-captured animal, is available for examination. MassWildlife cannot investigate or confirm Mountain Lion reports without any evidence. H�\�݊�@��. Many people do not realize how large a grown Bobcat is. This is a list of known or suspected fatal cougar attacks that occurred in North America by decade in chronological order.The cougar is also commonly known as mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, or panther.The sub-population in Florida is known as the Florida panther.. A total of 125 attacks, 27 of which are fatal, have been documented in North America in the past 100 years. In March 2011, DCR forester Steve Ward photographed a track trail in the snow near the Gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir. “And we’ve had two confirmed reports of mountain lions: one from DNA evidence in scat in 1997 and one from tracks in 2011.” When a young adult male mountain lion was struck and killed by an SUV in Milford, Conn., in 2011, DNA analysis showed the animal had traveled 1,800 miles, raising speculation that it might have left the tracks found in Massachusetts a few months earlier. 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