Reported sightings of mountain lions are on the rise in Pennsylvania and once in a while a picture of a mountain lion road kill will surface, claiming it was taken in PA. According to Penn Live, Patriot News reported the last known Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in 1874. If a mountain lion was seen in Pennsylvania, chances are it was brought into the state from somewhere else and released.
Can mountain lions live in Pennsylvania? Do we have any conclusive evidence to support the fact that these cats do live in Pennsylvania? The state actually has a very good terrain and habitat for the survival of these cats. The large deer population is also a positive factor which could contribute to the survival of mountain lions in Pennsylvania. 
The picture on the bottom was emailed to Loggersite on January 28, 2010, from one of our readers. The reader said this picture was taken in Rew, Pennsylvania. It shows what appears to be a mountain lion dragging a large deer. 
Here are 3 more pictures loggersite received on Saturday, February 6 from two different readers. The readers might comment about the pictures so I won’t say anything else about them.
Tags: mountain lions, mountain lions in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania animals
In response to Parvovirus in Dogs, thank you for your suggestion that we need an editor, but since you can’t spell writers (we don’t know what a writter is) we pretty much took it with a grain of salt. Post your spam somewhere else. We would have just deleted it, but it was pretty funny.
A nice simple article but it reads as though the writters first language is not English. An editor would be welcome.
There is NO such thing as a “Black Panther” it is not geneticly possible! Read a book, read wiki, there has and never will be one. Clement I thought your husband prefered to be called a “Conservation Officer” not a Warden. You probably all believe in Bigfoot, UFO’s and Santa Clause, but they are not real just like Mountain Lions in PA. Every photo that you see of PA Mt lions always show up in another state claiming the same thing. Like the picture at the top taken in “Rew” PA, the picture is from Wyoming. Same with the one of the Mt lion looking through the back door, Colorado. The other 3 at the top of the page are clearly Bobcats no doubt about it. Mistake of ID!! I work in the biggest piece of State public land in PA and myself nor anyone I work with have ever seen one, not even a track. We are there all day everyday and never.
we absolutely do have mountain lions in Pa. I have hiked the appalachian trail and am without a doubt have seen them in many different states INCLUDING Pa. lets remember tho that people may not believe that they saw a (mountain lion) . try asking about PUMAS or COUGERS. even know they are all the same animal, different cultures use different names.
Hi, I am an investigator for Ufo research Center of PA. We invesigate Ufo’s ,Ghost and Cryptozoology Sightings. We are very interested in finding out the truth of the Mountain Lions in PA. We are looking for reports and pictures. If anyone has any to share please send them to me timothyheckman@yahoo.com or go on our website and send them to the Ufo Research Center of PA.
We got them critters here too! But our DNR denies it!
And one more thing…not to be rude, but Butters, you’re a complete moron. Mountain lions can live anywhere pretty much…and they can travel long distances in one day. Just for your sake to shut you up, I hope one jumps out in front of you during hunting season and runs away with your prized deer.
Just FYI everyone…I live in Somerset County and my husband is a Deputy Game Warden and we DO have mountain lions in Pa. Most of them are down by the MD line, but they have been after this one that’s been spotted in Somerset County over the last few days near residential areas. Some people argue that we don’t and say they are bobcats. Um, no, I’ve had 2 bobcats jump out in front of me while driving and we all know they have short tails. My uncle and his neighbor 2 summers ago had to shoot a rabid bobcat that got a hold of his neighbor’s goat and it was on the local news….so I don’t want to see any more talk about there are no mountain lions in PA and that they are just probably bobcats….it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the difference between the 2 especially when you’ve seen at least one in close view.
I seen a baby mountain lion the other night just standing along side of the road right before Madera, Pa. I was going to stop and take a picture but I wasn’t about to put myself in that position. On August 21, 2010 in Coalport Pa, a full grown Golden Retriever had been tied out through the night, the family woke up Sunday morning and seen a mountain lion eating their dog, they took pictures of the scene and actually called WTAJ to come take a look but they refused saying that there were no Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania, but I just saw a cub two nights ago.
So I strongly believe if you haven’t ever seen one you have the right to refuse that they roam these mysterious lands but there is no reason for you to argue with someone who has seen them, taken pictures and submitted them. Keep your opinions to yourself or prove to yourself they exist by looking for them, putting up a trail camera, sooner or later you’ll get something to convince you. YOU MAY EVEN SEE BIGFOOT!!! =)) have a good day!
August 27,2010 I always get up early,Today was the same full moon still in the sky at day break so decided to drive to look for Deer seen 9. But now comes the unbelievable what I seen next it was A Black mountian lion ,cougar whatever it was it was 2 1/2′ to 3 feet ‘ high a good for foot long and about a 3′ long tail. I seen tracks a few years earlier and heard there were mountian cats around here. I Live on Georgetown Rd In Polk Pa. can some tell I’m not crazy I know what i saw.
August 27,2010 I always get up early,Today was the same full moon still in the sky at day break so decided to drive to look for Deer seen 9. But now comes the unbelievable what I seen next it was A Black mountian lion ,cougar whatever it was it was 2 1/2′ to 3 feet ‘ high a good for foot long and about a 3′ long tail. I seen tracks a few years earlier and heard there were mountian cats around here. I Live on Georgetown Rd In Polk Pa.
Here again Dale there is NO solid evidence of Mt Lions in PA, NONE! Other than what people say they see. I am confident that they are all mistaken identity. The US Fish and Wildlife Service have done extensive research and have not found them anywhere on the East Coast other than Florida. The only “Cougars” in PA are older women chasing younger men. Again there is no reason for PA to Deny there existence.
i myself saw a mountain loin in lackwanna state part back in 1998 my two brothers where with me
Wow Butters! You seem to have strong arguement about no mountain lions in Pa. but… I lived in eastern Washington state, and never saw one or heard of one being killed on the highways, and trust me they drive alot faster out there. Not saying it never happens but….
As for my sighting six years ago, it crossed the road 40 feet in front of me, was about eighty pounds and my wife who lived in Washington for about 40 years and saw many Cougars turned and said to me “I didn’t know you had cougers in Pennsylvania” I answered “we officially don’t.” or something like that. I believe we do.
99.99 % sure you did not see a mountain lion.
In response to Butters opinion, I would submit that although Mt. Lions are seldom seen the fact is, they are seen. Personally I have seen two in over a thirty year span and know of several other who have seen them as well. As far as the PGC’s denial is concerned I would suggest one reason; If the PGC does in fact acknowledge the existence of Cougars (which are an endangered species) it would in fact taake a very negative effect on all industries that market our natural resources such as timber, mining and oil drilling. The habitat of the Cougars would then have to be protected as with any endangered species. So think about it for a while. In closing it is also my opinon that the PGC is more like the Gestapo than the CIA and it is difficult to put any trust in such an agency.
…today we saw a mountain lion cross in front of our car on Gold Mine Mountain – on the Schuylkill County side. No, it was not a bobcat or a large house cat!!!! It was a LARGE animalo – cat – bushy tail -darker at the tip. Quite large – we stopped the car and believe it was about four feel long (minus the tail) – lt was tan – never seen any thing like it – NO it was not a coyote is was a CAT – have seen Bobcats but this was a mountain lion……no question – amazing thing to see – believe me…….
I find it very hard to believe there are big cats in PA. There has not been one solid piece of evidence supporting this fact. All of the pictures supposedly taken in PA always turn out to be taken out west and turn up in other states claiming the same hoax. Not one person has ever been attacked and if they were it would surely be worthy of front page news, Farmers are not reporting huge losses of livestock, think about it central PA could be an absolute feeding frenzy for a big cat, cattle, sheep, pets, rural elementary school playgrounds yet not ONE solid report of this ever happening. Also I haver heard several reports of “Back Panthers” or Mt Lions, never has there ever been a black Mt Lion in captivity or in the wild ever recorded, not even in states where they are known to exist. The pictures you see of them are Jaguars and Leopards. I am 110% sure if one were ever hit on the road, killed in hunting season it would be reported to an official state organization along with solid proof and a press release due to the controversy of the subject. I know if it were me that hit one I am going to stop right there and call everyone under the sun to report it. The state of PA has no reason to deny their existense here. To think that they are here to control the deer population is rediculous, we as hunters do a good enough job at that already. The PGC is not the CIA they are not a secret society, there are too many people that work for them for that to be kept such a secret, if you were a PGC WCO would you not tell your best friend that you stocked a MT Lion and that friend tell another and another. Do I think that they could survive here?…Absolutely but they are not here!
Three diiferant people reported seeing one at Sayer’s Dam in Central Pa. over the last week. I’ve seen one 6 years before, 35 miles north west of there near Piper. As aways was told they do not excist in Pa.
Is the game/parks commision scared that people will not camp in
Pa. state parks knowing that 80 pound cats are on the prow?
Did a dingo/couger take your baby?
I just watched a Mountain Lion cross the road in front of my on our rural Potter County PA road. It is daylight, and he wasn’t running. A few years ago, one walked through our front yard while we were having dinner guests, it was not dusk yet at that time.
This one today was big, I am not good with pounds… but it was much larger than a german shepherd dog. The penned dogs near by were going crazy.
I have a photo taken 7/15/2010 along Route 49 Just outside of Knoxville, PA…I am interested in finding out what kind of cat this is. It doesn’t look to be a domestic cat.
Thanks for this post mate. hope you have a good day. thanks.
This picture was taken near Rome, NY. It has been around for awhile but according to the DEC it is a fake and taken somewhere out west lol. There are cougars in NY and sure there probably in PA to. The DEC put the ones we have here in NY and now covering it. There is no question these animals can survive and do well here. There is A LOT of wilderness in both NY and PA even though many may not think so. The deer population is so high that is like buffet lol. These animals are here and people should be aware of that.
Didn’t have my camera, can’t prove it, but watched a mountain lion walk through the hay field two days ago. Definitely a mountain lion.
i got that on a text message 3 count them “3″ different times and each one wwas from a different area of pa. one was bedford co. one was somewhere around pittsburg and one was from around elk co. FAKE!!!!!
There is a message floating around on the internet with a photo of a Mountain Lion that was hit by a car allegedly between Ramey and Madera. This is reported to have occurred sometime in mid February. The photo shows a Cougar on a tail gate of a pick up truck but no supporting evidence as to exactly where it was killed or who actually killed it. This appears to me to be one of those reports that is highly questionable, as the photo shows a dog box in the bed of the truck similar to that used by Cat and Coyote hunters I have seen out West. Has anyone else heard of this report?
Lion are cool animals and can help eat bullies and are good pets so catch one when its a baby.
days since any posts???? all i said was i live in the same area……
well guss, i should know you because i live very close to you.
Chris, please carefully read the post with the photos of bigfoot tracks. Read it in its entirety. There you will see the very first paragraph deals with the sighting of the cat near Allemans, and if you read the rest of the story you will discover where I live.
Majik;
AS far as the animals spreading out, we most not assume that the introductions were made in just one locality. Strategic placement of the initial groups would of course be given priority consideration. It would not take that many animals to create a seemingly natural event, just good planning. This could be the resaon the advancement of the animals from the frozen North was not documented, in my opinion it is the only reason. As far as the Elk sighting in Cambria county, think of this for a moment; What would be a better attraction for a State Park like Prince Gallitzin than to have a small herd of Elk to view? Imagine the tourism that it would create, all the while taking pressure of those who are adamantly complainng in the Bennezette area. One of their biggest complaints is the tourist, who park on their lawns, blow the hours at all hours and totally disrupt normal life in that area. We all know that tourism seems to be the focus in revitalization of the so called Rust Belt that we here live in. The Moutain Lions and Coyotes will assist in finishing the job reducing deer populations during periods when the hunter can not. Do not think for a moment that a plan like this is too bizaare for this state government to undertake.
guss, i do agree that the introduction of these animals has had help…. i was only talking about them spreading out.
how bout a lil more info? town maybe?
Same place!
as a matter of fact i did go to mo valley, that must be the problem. where are you from guss?
You must of attended Moshannon Valley High. I do not think the vocabulary used was remarkable, just plain talk.
guss, i read it, i understood it, but holy cow too big of words. too advanced for me.
Chris;
What was it that you did not understand? That is as plain as it gets!
guss, your gonna have to start speaking english, or using smaller words.
Majik, It is hard for me to comprehend that Coyotes have migrated here but it is not impossible. I just do not see what would motivate a reclusive animal to take up residence in an environment that is so disturbing. Sure they do adapt to their surroundings when necessary but all the coyotes I have seen simply do not stick around and let you observe them. I imagine if they are planted in an area they will stick around as long as the food supply is there. But think of this for a moment, if they did in fact migrate from the North, i.e. Canada, NY, New England states, why was their progression South not documented? All of a sudden they show up in the middle of the state with no advance notice and that is why I feel that man had a hand in their re-introduction. Over the past years after the Coyote was confirmed to exist in the Karthus area, we then herd reports of Coyotes in the Western counties. This just does not make sense, how did they get to Karthus without anyone from the North seeing them? This goes for the Elk situation as well, an animal as majestic as a Bull Elk cimply can not travel hundreds of miles through populated areas without being seen. Elk do not fear people like other animals do at least not the Eastern Elk of PA. Coyotes on the other hand are totally different they remian reclusive.
i know that mostly all….. well ALL gvmt is not honest about everything, i know that for a fact but this is such a simple and worthless subject to keep under wraps, we have alot of other protected species out there and logging still goes on, and gas wells are put in everyday. rattlesnakes are protected right? what would be the difference? cant shoot a fisher and they were released. this whole thing seems to be a double standard with you guys, not saying i dont like chatting with you or wanna make enemies but holy crap…..
Chris, have you ever heard of a “non-disclosure” document or clause? ya know, the kind ya sign and will go to jail if you talk about any “sensitive” information…. you really think that former gpc officers are gonna go on the record and speak about anything that the pgc wants kept secret? Now i know what your gonna say, what makes me think that they would have signed anything like that… well, i know that they do! i personally know 2 former pgc wardens and even though they are both FORMER wardens, they still can’t talk about alot of things. And as far as Mt. Lions, all they’ll say when told of a sighting is ” I Don’t Doubt It” …
Interesting point Guss, but it is still possible that they “Might Have” migrated to here. I mean look, there are coyotes living in downtown pittsburgh even… Alot of the animals are looseing all fear of people! and with cats being as stealthy as they are, they can hide prettymuch anywhere! But either way, wether the pgc released them, or they migrated, or they were escapees, the pgc should atleast admit that they are here!
then again, EVERY form of government has it’s secrets! And most people will never know (or believe) anything till it’s seen for themselves!