Despite persistent rumors and unconfirmed sightings, there is no evidence of a wild, breeding mountain lion population in Pennsylvania. Any mountain lions observed are likely transient individuals that have escaped captivity or traveled long distances from established populations.
Current Status in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) receives numerous reports of mountain lion sightings annually. However, investigators determine that the vast majority are misidentifications of other animals. These reports often lack verifiable biological evidence such as scat, tracks, den sites, or confirmed photographs and videos that would substantiate a wild population. For example, a recent sighting in Lehigh County that prompted a police warning was later confirmed by a PGC biologist to be a house cat.
Any mountain lions rarely observed in Pennsylvania are typically escaped exotic pets or transient individuals dispersing from western states. These animals are not indicative of a resident breeding population.
Historical Presence in the Region
Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, were historically native to Pennsylvania and the eastern United States. However, due to extensive habitat loss, reduced prey availability, and unregulated hunting, mountain lions were largely extirpated from the state.
This extirpation occurred by the late 1800s or early 1900s. The last known wild mountain lion in Pennsylvania was reportedly killed in Berks County in 1874. The Eastern cougar subspecies was officially declared extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2011, with researchers believing it had likely disappeared by the 1930s.
Mistaken Identity for Other Wildlife
Many reported mountain lion sightings in Pennsylvania are instances of misidentification, often due to the secretive nature of actual mountain lions and the presence of other similar-looking wildlife. Bobcats are frequently mistaken for mountain lions. Bobcats are significantly smaller, typically weighing 15 to 35 pounds and measuring 18 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder, with a short, “bobbed” tail. In contrast, mountain lions are much larger, weighing 90 to 160 pounds and standing 24 to 35 inches tall, possessing a long, thick tail. Bobcats have spotted coats, while mountain lions have a uniform tan or tawny coat.
Coyotes can also be confused with mountain lions. However, coyote tracks are more oval and typically show claw marks, whereas mountain lion tracks are more rounded and usually do not show claws due to their retractable nature. Mountain lion tracks are also notably larger, up to 4 inches in length and 4.5 inches in width, compared to coyote tracks.
Large domestic cats or dogs are also common sources of misidentification. Even black bears, which are much larger (250-600 pounds) than mountain lions (100-150 pounds), can occasionally be mistaken, though their appearance and behavior are distinct. Fishers, while much smaller, have been part of less common misidentifications.