that is degrading to another person. “What we’re looking for, of course, is evidence: tracks, scat, photographs, videos, anything that will help us identify the animal.”. Tracking is also difficult; very few people are confident in photographing cougar tracks in the snow.”. There have been other unconfirmed reported sightings along this gas pipeline also. Reports of mountain lion sitings in Matunuck and the Great Swamp Management Area date back to at least 2004, but have never been confirmed by state officials. Seems reasonable! “There’s a bunch of people here tonight who have seen them. European settlers, meanwhile, eliminated them from most of their former territory in the East centuries ago. A warden for 28 years, DiPietro has heard of occasional sightings in Rhode Island of cougars, or mountain lions as they're also called. For example, paw prints are asymmetrical, with about 4-inch front paws and 3.5-inch back paws. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Clair Ellis' trail cam east of the deer fence above Providence showed a cougar. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. GLOCESTER, R.I. (AP) — An animal rescue expert has removed a pet mountain lion from a Rhode Island home for relocation to Florida. Maybe we should have re-elected Jim O'Neill{. Scott Lope, director of operations for the nonprofit Big Cat Rescue, removed the female mountain lion from the home in Glocester on Thursday morning. The map from that publication is shown below, with the current mountain lion range in green and confirmed mountain lion locations as black dots. But other than the one killed by a motor vehicle on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 — the only confirmed presence of a mountain lion in Connecticut in recent times — none of myriad other reports have any tangible evidence to show that mountain lions actually roam our … He said a DNA trace of the mountain lion killed in Connecticut showed its migration path came from other areas including New York state and North Dakota. Don't Threaten. But like scores of sightings around New Indigenous people called them cougars, pumas, shadow cats or ghost walkers. Betty said they have been known to fish, but primarily prey on deer, skunks, racoons and porcupine. But Stowik said the animal seen Monday was far too big to be a house cat. ... Rhode Island. Many claim the wild feline is a mountain lion -- even as the photographer and state wildlife officials insist it's a bobcat. -By Joe April 23, 2019 at 07:38:32 AM After three deer were killed on his property in March, Matunuck resident Abel Collins found what he suspected might be a mountain lion track nearby. “The state is not actively collecting evidence; they’re doing the opposite,” Betty said. Bull! Don't knowingly lie about anyone Skeptic here: We do have bobcat in Rhode Island and in low light situations they and coyotes can be mistaken for a mountain lion. There was a problem saving your notification. In April 2011, a Rhode Island Division of Environmental Management police officer reported possible mountain lion sightings in South Kingston. Betty lectures across the country about big cat sightings. He said he wasn’t surprised that the state agency is again downplaying the claimed existence of mountain lions in the area, saying state officials did the same thing when they were shown yard cam video footage of a similar animal last year near Hines Road and Indiana Avenue. Re(1): 110% Mountain Lion Sighting 15 minutes outside UMass Amherst! Mountains can grow between two and three feet tall, measure six feet long, and weigh between 60 and 200 pounds. The animals are elusive, which makes it hard for humans to capture them on film. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. A blog to share information about mountain lions in Rhode Island. High 53F. If that happened, Betty said it would allow New England states to hunt and manage all cougars, including the western subspecies of cougar, which is not endangered. The Rhode Island resident, who said he has seen 14 mountain lions in the last 40 years, lectured on the subject at Audubon Greenwich four years ago. CUMBERLAND – Residents in the Berkeley section of Cumberland say they saw what appeared to be a mountain lion there late Monday morning. Frank Stowik, who provided it to The Breeze. Do you believe RI should mandate the use of body cameras for police officers? I have been interested in this topic ever since 1972, when I was running with a friend in Swansea, Mass, along some power… The Milford cat was from South Dakota and appears to have actually migrated. Although a few people over the years have reported sighting mountain lions in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) doesn’t provide any information about them and treats these reports as unverified. Back To Main Menu Close. Data from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management shows that as of last week, there have been 75 reported sightings in the state, including 35 documented with a … Reports of mountain lion sitings in Matunuck and the Great Swamp Management Area date back to at least 2004, but have never been confirmed by state officials. The last mountain lion in the state was shot in 1847 in West Greenwich and is preserved at Harvard University. Especially at a quick glance. Gotcha, so the Deep State is suppressing mountain lion news in order to prop up New Hampshire tourism? According to the U.S. I cannot believe that DEM wildlife biologists and enforcement personnel are colluding to hide the truth from the public. The young adult male was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2011. “It’s an unprecedented example for a … In previous large cat sightings, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management officials have pointed out the short tail to say that the animals are bobcats. “If I worked for them, I’d be doing the same thing.”. On Oct. 30, Betty gave a presentation about the presence of mountain lions in New England at the Land Trust Barn in Matunuck. 2012). Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Fire Killed About 80 Birds At A Bird Sanctuary In Hopkinton, Rhode Island CBS Boston. Some people make the leap that because [mountain lions] eat deer, and we have deer here in Rhode Island, then we must have mountain lions. Its distinctive feature—the one that sets it apart from other North American wild cats—is its tail, which is thick and often as long as its body. A deer carcass was found at that time, but DEM officials reviewed it and denied claims it was killed by a mountain lion. Cougar. If enacted, the legislation could run the state as much as $3 million a year to set up and maintain the system, Wordell said in a story on WJAR, You have permission to edit this article. These are the slides, included in a slide show on mountain lion sightings in New Hampshire. I wish I had a camera with me, incredibly beautiful and pissed off mountain lion momma gave us the "I'll kill you without breaking stride" look before running up the pipeline trail further. “Any animal can look like something else,” he said at the time. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. A few passing clouds. Johnston residents worry about steer's future after its capture. Let us know in this week's poll question below. UP NEXT. But in some parts of Canada they survived. It is also known as cougar, panther, mountain lion, and puma, though catamount is the preferred regional vernacular. A member of the Lynch family passed along a photo of the large cat to others, including Highway Supt. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. They’re known to drag their prey and don’t eat intestines. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Residents in Berkeley say this animal seen there Monday morning looks like a mountain lion, but a representative from the Rhode Island Department of … “It looks like a freakin’ mountain lion,” said Stowik. We'd love to hear eyewitness The Connecticut Mountain Lion is the best documented wild Mountain Lion in New England. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, catamount, panther — whatever name you choose to call this extremely rare, elusive "ghost cat," so many questions remain. People saw a large tan cat … About Rhode Island Mountain Lion I started this blog to report on sightings and other reports of mountain lions in Rhode Island. Mountain lions can eat deer or smaller animals. It is not that far-fetched to believe that mountain lions are in the region, he said, considering the confirmed killing of one by a driver in Connecticut back in 2011 and the growing population of turkeys and other animals locally. “They sleep in the daytime and find shelter in thickets,” Betty said. Current mountain lion ranges in the western portion of the U.S., meanwhile, stretch from Texas to the Canadian border, with the only confirmed population in the East found in Florida. They are here. People report sightings in Georgia every year, however the state is not considered to have a population and it is believed most of these sightings are a case of “mistaken identity”. Wildcat. Clark County Animal Control captures rogue mountain lion, last seen in Summerlin KSNV – Las Vegas; As part of the talk, Betty reviewed several distinctive signs of the big cats. “They primarily hunt near edge habitat, and they seek cover in the woods.”. “Stalking relies on surprise, so they never follow regular, predictable patterns. Keep it Clean. | 6 Blackstone Valley Place, Suite 204, Lincoln, RI 02865 | Top of Page. Betty said it is rare for a cougar to be aggressive toward humans, but if confronted with one, an individual should not approach the animal, nor run away. Skip to Article. Bill Betty of Matunuck, a mountain lion expert who spoke at the South Kingstown Land Trust barn Oct. 30, thinks there is ample evidence pointing to the existence of a mountain lion in Matunuck. The animal in the photo Monday appears to have a long tail. ... Bill Betty, a national figure in the cougar controversy, who lives in Rhode Island, received an email from a friend of his in the UK, directing him to last Sunday's Naturewatch. “There is no credible, verifiable evidence that we are aware of that would suggest mountain lions occur in Rhode Island,” said RIDEM spokeswoman Gail Mastrati. “We get calls about mountain lions all the time, but they turn out to be unprovable,” Brown told the Independent in March. Brown told The Breeze in 2016 that a cat seen in Scituate was likely a bobcat and not a mountain lion as suggested by residents there, adding that he thought the bobcat population had been growing. “We have to go from our current status of benign neglect into some kind of active protection of the animal. There is no native mountain lion population … We could do it the same way they’re managed in California. “In the past, it was kind of ‘we’ll keep it a secret,’ but now people in towns are seeing these,” Betty said. “Hopefully Rhode Island’s management of mountain lions won’t be limited to those with metal jackets,” Betty said. Brown said then that the RIDEM had heard reported sightings of mountain lions, but had never had any “substantive, conclusive evidence.”. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — When a young mountain lion clamped its jaws onto Travis Kauffman's wrist and clawed at his face, he screamed a … The woman says she was roaming the woods in Middletown near Green Lane when she saw the large feline. Bill Betty, a Rhode Island resident who researches and records mountain lion sightings, spoke at Greenwich Audubon Friday, March 23, 2012. In short, conspiracies theories are BS until proven otherwise. Set weather. Threats of harming another “It’s very difficult to find photos. He provides similar lectures to local land trusts, environmental and nature centers, schools and public libraries in order to educate the public about the mountain lion, known by several other names such as the puma and cougar. © 2021 Breeze Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. “The expectations people have are incorrect,” Betty continued. Do you believe this issue should be regulated at a statewide level? This makes Matunuck a prime spot for a mountain lion to live, Betty said. Be Proactive. Georgia. Plentiful sunshine. Catamount. “We’re watching this cat in Matunuck like a hawk,” Betty said. I've seen a mother and cub mountain lion in NW NJ along a gas pipeline trail. Charlie Brown, of the RIDEM, checked out the photo Tuesday and said he believes it shows nothing more than a house cat. For starters, part … or anything. In 2011, the agency declared the animal extinct and recommended it be removed from the endangered species list. Share with Us. Puma. Imagine what it takes for crowd of three or four to keep a secret. Blanchard explained that biologically, while there are mountain lions in other parts of the country, it would not be expected to find one in Rhode Island. Herald Journal reader Clair Ellis sent in this video of a mountain lion spotted on a motion-activated trail camera a couple hundred yards east of the Deer Fence in Providence. In 2017, a hunter in Levant said she saw a mountain lion, then shot a deer that the mountain lion had mauled. Brown said he hasn't seen any credible evidence of mountain lions in Rhode Island. 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So if you see a mountain lion in your backyard and say ‘I’m going to put a camera out,’ you might have to wait for another year until it comes back. For many decades, hosts of individuals have reported seeing mountain lions in Connecticut. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, catamount, panther — whatever name you choose to call this extremely rare, elusive "ghost cat," so many questions remain. Residents in Berkeley say this animal seen there Monday morning looks like a mountain lion, but a representative from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management rejects that assertion. According to Stowik, a Lynch family member had come across it after coming out of their house. 110% Mountain Lion Sighting 15 minutes outside UMass Amherst! In the photo, the cat is crouched in the brush off Whipple Street near the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island after it had reportedly been spooked. Be Truthful. Brown said the last confirmed record of a mountain lion in Rhode Island was in 1847. Instead, an individual should “look big” by standing tall with hands in the air and yelling. This week, Sidney Wordell, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association, said his group is working together with Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office on a proposal that would mandate the use of body cameras or dash cameras for police officers statewide. Be Nice. Betty’s talk addressed some of what he called “misinformation” surrounding the mountain lion, such as the claim they don’t like water. racist or sexually-oriented language. -By Sandra Trapani June 7, 2018 at 02:42:17 PM. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Animals that are a problem are removed. person will not be tolerated. Indigenous people called them cougars, pumas, shadow cats or ghost walkers. Use the 'Report' link on The Matunuck mountain lion exists, expert says. Mountain lions are not coming to South Kingstown; they’re already here. They’re also known to scavenge. Would you prefer it were left to local government officials to make their own policies on these cameras? And shame, shame, shame on Abel Collins. Now imagine that scenario across dozens of individuals. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Mountain lions have been dispersing away from these population areas, and researchers recently mapped all confirmed mountain lion observations from 1990-2008 (LaRue et al. According to the state wildlife division, there have only been 3 credible mountain lion sightings in the last 25 years. If they’re not a problem, leave them alone.”. “[Mountain lions] use their eyes and ears to hunt, not scents,” Betty said. Its closest living relative is the cheetah. They are most active at dusk, daybreak and nighttime and most sightings take place at road crossings, leaving little time for people to take a picture. The person who took the photo could not be reached this week. The publication further discusses how mountain lions often prey on deer. Mountain lions. It’s not a secret anymore.”. Mountain lion. Most of the rest of the New England sightings are either hoaxes or released "pets" after they grow too large. Many claim the wild feline is a mountain lion -- even as the photographer and state wildlife officials insist it's a bobcat. People saw a large tan cat … Set weather. In his talks, he covers all aspects of mountain lion behavior, tracking and sightings. Rhode Island game warden Michael DiPietro pulled into Meyer's driveway off Matunuck School House Road late in the afternoon of April 9, 2011. If you have seen a mountain lion in Rhode Island, please Leave a Comment with as much information here as you can. In 2011, several Matunuck residents reported a sighting to the state Department of Environmental Management. ... Bill Betty, a national figure in the cougar controversy, who lives in Rhode Island, received an email from a friend of his in the UK, directing him to last Sunday's Naturewatch. That is the opinion of Matunuck resident Bill Betty, who believes there is at least one big cat living in Matunuck. The US Census Bureau lists Rhode Island as occupying a land area of 1,044.93 square miles. Scat is large and extremely foul smelling, Betty said, and the cats leave scent markings. Cranston market, … Betty said there is one confirmed mountain lion in South Kingstown from a 2011 sighting, and many other probable cats throughout Rhode Island. Earlier this year, DEM Wildlife Biologist Charles Brown told the Independent the last confirmed record of a mountain lion in Rhode Island was in 1847. Someone photographed the animal at the Brunswick School on Greenwich, Connecticut about 40 miles away on June 5th. Fish and Wildlife Service, the eastern cougar subspecies was declared endangered in 1973. 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