The sightings may be accurate and authentic but there are no known populations of native mountain lions in Kentucky. Email information from ODNR -Xenia Office regarding Mountain Lion Sighting on Tuesday night, July 29. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. And I guess they were right because that was eight years ago. "It's going to be hard on the dog population and cat population." While the mountain lion killed in Kentucky was a long way from home, it isn't the farthest one has traveled from South Dakota. According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the nearest wild population of mountain lions resides in Nebraska, more than 900 miles away from the Bluegrass State. As you may be aware, there was a mountain lion sighting in Jefferson County last night. Habitat fragmentation Each year there are numerous sighting with no known confirmations.". Wildlife Officers as well as local law enforcement are in the area and the wildlife district three office is taking reports of any sightings. Keep it Clean. We hope that you enjoy our free content. that is degrading to another person. Security camera video of a possible cougar or mountain lion in Harlan County, Kentucky. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. The mountain lion has a wide distribution, from Canada to South America. Kentucky ends mountain lion investigation. Below you’ll find information about the sighting, mountain lions in general, and a link with very informative national information. And a few years later, there were several reports in the Murray area. Dave Baker, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said then, "Except for pets or zoos, Kentucky hasn't played host to these big cats for well over a century. Thank you for reading! 211 0. ... Cougars (pumas, mountain lions) can be black although it is relatively rare. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long ago named for panthers or the colloquial term “painters,” both common names in this part of the country for the cougar. ", The website CougarFund.org says, "Cougars are officially classified as extinct in the state of Kentucky. Thread starter harvey_birdman; Start date Apr 1, 2012; 1; 2; 3 … Go to page. Pretty basic really. : Head and body: 42 to 52 inches, tail 30 to 36 inches, height at shoulder 26 to 31 inches. To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. We'd love to hear eyewitness Mountain lions prefer live prey and they're very good at killing live prey. Low around 25F. So according to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, there's no mountain lions here in the state. Hard freeze expected. But the fish and wildlife folks said that was highly unlikely. A small population also exists in southern Florida. While reports of sightings have gone up, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife believes this is due to people actually seeing bobcats, which are increasing in population throughout Kentucky. Report. 4:52. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. CFAES COVID-19 Resources:   Safe and Healthy Buckeyes   |   COVID-19 Hub   |   CFAES Calendar, (Photo: Courtesy: US Fish and Wildlife Service.). Currently, the nearest wild population of mountain lions resides in Nebraska, … Click on the front page to read today's edition of the Kentucky New Era. Go. Similar reports have continued to come in through the years. Many people have spotted mountain lions in Kentucky and heard them. Effective 2005, a ban on the private possession of tigers, lions, monkeys, bears, venomous reptiles, and other dangerous wildlife has been enacted in Kentucky. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. More: Alligators, sharks, mountain lions and other predators are making a comeback Conservation officers and wildlife biologists found no tracks or other evidence at the site to support the reports. The nearest wild populations are also many hundreds of miles away in Nebraska and Florida. Like I said eight years ago, if you see one, let me know. The mountain lion goes by several names—puma, cougar, catamount, and panther—and is a powerful and feared predator. Be Proactive. Hard freeze expected. 1 of 6 Go to page. So far, most of the mountain lion reports are coming from around the Jerrico Lake area. At least three additional mountain lion sightings were reported since the attack on the boy and the killing of a goat. is it possible that we have mountain lions . The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says on their website, “Mountain lions are easy to distinguish from other large cats in North America by their large body and long tail. At this time, details about this animal are unknown. However, statistics show that on average, there are only 4 attacks and 1 death each year in all of the US and Canada. Of those reports, only two have been confirmed. Cougar, puma, mountain lion, catamount, painter and panther are all common names for the same majestic animal that once roamed most of North America. I cannot believe the naivete of these idiots. Mountain lions have been known to attack humans. Mar 17, 2006 Morning View, Ky. Clear skies. A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife officer reportedly shot and killed a mountain lion on a Bourbon County farm this week, marking the first confirmed sighting of a mountain lion … That is crazy though. Weight range: 70 to 170 pounds. Home→Wild Cat Species→Puma→black mountain lion→ Black Cats in Kentucky. I have seen the picture and believe me if it is a Bobcat its the biggest one i have ever seen. When you stock mountain lions within an area....you usually see more mountain lions in that particular area. If you're a human, not so much. Mountain lions are the largest cats found in … Another was captured in Owen County last year. When I first saw the bright eyes, I thought it was a cat sitting on the post but later realized the eyes were too far apart. Many residents feel the lion -- or lions -- are using that area as a home base and venturing out for food. Until around 1990, reports of mountain lions in the Midwest and East were highly influenced by the "Bigfoot factor", according to Mark Dowling, co-founder of the Eastern Cougar Network. Next Last. State Web Site. “Lions are opportunistic, preying on a wide range of animals. Others have also seen black panthers. If you took humans out of the picture then the cougar would thrive. Where’s that one dude who was going to try … Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Clear skies. It crossed the road about 10 yards in front of me. The mountain lion goes by several names—puma, cougar, catamount, and panther—and is a powerful and feared predator. The Cougar Network, working with state agencies, have documented multiple mountain lions as far east as Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan in recent years, as well as that cat killed on a … kybowhunter64, Jan 9, 2007. kybowhunter64, Jan 9, 2007 #5. accounts, the history behind an article. Playing next. Be Nice. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. The short, tawny brown fur that covers most of their body easily blends with most surroundings. Mountain Lions in Kentucky! Though the closest breeding area for Mountain Lions exists 900 miles away, it is not uncommon for young males to branch out and travel long distances. More info as well as maps of national confirmed sightings can be found here, College of Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/2014/12/16/first-puma-found-kentucky-since-civil-war/20487277/, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 4 Answers. ", He said at the time, "We get these reports from all over the state. Mountain lion in Eastern Kentucky? Are there still mountain lions in Kentucky? Be Truthful. Safety tips were sent to local schools for distribution to athletic and cross country teams. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. A mountain lion investigates a pile of apples in this trail-camera photo captured by Casey Komarek of Two Harbors on Sept. 20. Generally mountain lions are solitary with exception of mom and her cubs. A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife officer killed a mountain lion on a Bourbon County farm (near Paris KY) on Monday, marking the first confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in KY since before the Civil War. So, do we still have cougars and/or panthers in the area? Panther Creek got its name from a panther that reportedly attacked explorers along the Green River in 1776. An advisory was sent to local media last night, and the sighting was posted on Facebook. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Sgt. Aleta Vest Oliver February 10, 2020. Cougars, also known as mountain lions, were once common here and they have left a legacy of place names throughout the state— indeed, the entire Southeast. It's rare, but there were other mountain lion sightings in Kentucky last year. You have permission to edit this article. The mountain lion is essentially a carnivore with a primary diet including birds, white-tailed deer fawns, and rodents. 3 years ago | 53 views. If this animal is wild, biologists indicate that it could be a young male that is moving through the area. It is difficult to evaluate size at a distance and when glancing at … Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. person will not be tolerated. Joined Jan 9, 2011 Messages 928 Likes 27 Location Kentucky. The mountain top removal method of coal mining, in which entire mountain tops are removed, is currently threatening vast areas and ecosystems of the Appalachian Mountain region. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. 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