More Mountain Lion Sightings Reported

Last week two residents of the gated community, The Chieftains in Greenwich, reported  seeing a mountain lion, aka cougar, on the premises. Greenwich police and officials at the Department of Energy and Environ­mental Protection (DEEP) were notified by the community’s management services.

The community abuts wildlife con­servation areas. Managers warned residents with small children and dogs to be alert, especially walking during dawn or dusk when mountain lions are more active.

In June, a 140 pound mountain lion which left its home in the Black Hills of South Dakota and trekked across country with sightings in Greenwich and two in Monroe, was killed by an SUV on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford.

It was the first wild mountain lion seen in Connecticut and confirmed by authorities in 100 years. The US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory in Missoula, Montana conducted the DNA tests for identification.

According to a press release from DEEP, “There is no native population of mountain lions in Connecticut and the eastern mountain lion has been declared extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”  Consequently, the government agency has no permanent moun­tain lion monitoring stations in the state.  

 Some wildlife experts, however, believe that there could be a small group of mountain lions living in the state. In any event, it’s important that Monroe residents recognize the differences between mountain lions and bobcats to help identify any cats sighted.

 Bobcats are smaller than cougars

 Monroe’s bobcat population has been prowling local woods, and sometimes backyards, for decades. The cats are resilient, territorial and usually travel alone.

 Rabbits are their primary food, but they will prey on insects to small animals when hungry- dogs, domestic cats, woodchucks, squirrels, even, small deer. People are not on their menu. If a human is attacked the cat my have rabies.

 A bobcat usually hunts on the move from three hours before sunset until about midnight. Then again, from before dawn until some three hours after sunrise. Each night it will move from 2 to 7 miles along its habitual route.

A bobcat has a stubby tail only 4 to 7 inches, which has a "bobbed" appearance. Hence, the species’ name bobcat. An adult weighs only 30 to 40 pounds- the size of a medium-sized dog.

The ears are black-tipped and pointed, with short black tufts of hair. Although its coat color may vary from tan to grayish brown with dark streaks on the body for camouflage, it alone of all the large cats has dark bars on its forelegs.

Residents whose property lies within bobcat territory are not in any danger. Watch and enjoy them from afar, but protect pets.

 Mountain Lions are dangerous

 Mountain lions look more like their small relatives, the domestic shorthaired cat. They can’t roar like the “big cats” but hiss, growl and scream. The head is round and the ears erect.

 A cougar’s coat is typically tawny, but ranges to silvery-grey or reddish. Young cats are pale, and may have fading spots on their flanks, as they were born spotted with blue eyes and rings on their tails.

 The back of an adult male is over two feet tall (knee-high to a man) and nose to tail it's some eight feet in length. The tail is long. Average weight is about 140 pounds.  Females are about 100 pounds.

 There is debate about the size of their range or habitual hunting ground, but estimates from different studies put it at from 10 to 500 square miles, with the females ranging half the distance of the males.

 Mountain lions are stalk-and-ambush predators. Their primary source of food is deer, elk, cattle, sheep, bobcats and coyotes. But they will eat anything they can catch. Connecticut has an abundant deer population.

 They are territorial and reclusive, preferring unpopulated areas. They can sprint up to 45 miles an hour, pounce from a standing position 20 to 40 feet, and climb rapidly with an 18-foot vertical leap. Their large front paws with retractable claws make them efficient killing machines.

 Fatal cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. Prey recognition is a learned behavior, according to wildlife experts, and they do not generally recognize humans as prey. Attacks occur much less frequently than fatal snake bites, fatal lightning strikes or fatal bee stings.

 Children, however, are particularly vulnerable especially when walking alone or with other children. Hence, it is important that Monroe residents can identify what they see roaming their woods and yards.

 Wildlife behaviorists say never run from a mountain lion or play dead. Instead yell, wave your arms and throw rocks at it. Make yourself as “big” as possible to scare it away and be ready to fight if attacked.

 Monroe Visitors and sightings

 Over the past week bats flew into a bedroom on Elm St., into a wood stove on Pastors Walk, and into the open door of a house on Osbourn Lane. Animal Control was called in a effort to locate the hiding animals.

 A concerned resident  discovered a baby fox in her yard on Carmen Lane. Mother animals rarely abandon their young. Most often, the mother is not far away. The rule of thumb is leave it alone and give the mother a chance to fetch it.

 A sick raccoon visited a yard on Moose Hill Road. Another was found dead on the back walk of a William Henry Dive residence, and a third was discovered dead in the backyard of a Wheeler Drive homeowner. A sick squirrel was reported in the backyard of a Mon-Tar Drive resident.

 Sick and dead animals which have had no interaction with humans need not be tested for rabies. It's only when people have some contact or are exposed to a sick animal that the animal must be sent to a lab for testing.

On Friday, August 5, a local resident thought he sighted a bobcat near 200 on Route 25  at 8:48 am.

 Deer and dog mishaps

 Two residents took responsibility and called 911 to report that their vehicles had hit deer. The Purdy Hill collision Aug. 9 caused no damage to the vehicle , but killed the deer. The deer hit on Wheeler Road Aug. 10 had to be  put down by Animal Control. The report of a third carcass seen on Fan Hill Road was confirmed and removed.

Aug. 5 a boxer dog on Arrowhead Drive ran out and attacked a jogger’s dog as they ran by. The jogger said it was an ongoing problem.

On Old Hwy Road a German Shepard Dog was reported loose in the neighborhood, and described as a chronic problem.

 Aug 6, a resident on Hammertown Road called into report a roaming black lab with no collar. She was holding the dog  for Animal Control to pick up.

 On the same day Middlesex Hospital in Middletown reported treating a lawn service worker who had been bitten by a dog on Longview Road in Monroe. It had advised the 24-year-old man to file a report with Monroe police.

 Aug. 8, a Still Meadow woman reported finding a small German Shepard Dog on her front porch.

Lost and impounded dogs were released to their owners. Warnings and fines were implemented where warranted.

 Remember. Monroe’s creatures were here first. Respect them. Enjoy them. And if you need help with them, call Officer Ed Risko at Animal Control (203)452-3760. In an emergency call 911.