Pennsylvania’s wilderness often sparks curiosity about its large predators. A common question is whether mountain lions still inhabit the state, a topic of fascination for many.
The Official Answer
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), the state agency responsible for wildlife management, maintains a clear stance regarding mountain lions. They assert there is no scientific evidence of a wild, breeding population of mountain lions (also known as cougars or pumas) in Pennsylvania. While the PGC periodically receives reports and photos, investigations consistently show most sightings are misidentifications of other animals like bobcats or feral cats. Confirmed mountain lion sightings are almost always escaped captive animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officially declared the eastern cougar subspecies extinct in 2011, confirming native breeding populations were eradicated from the eastern United States over a century ago.
Historical Presence in Pennsylvania
Mountain lions once roamed throughout Pennsylvania before European settlement. Known scientifically as Puma concolor, they were widespread across North America. Their decline in Pennsylvania began with increased human population, leading to habitat destruction, extensive hunting, and bounty programs aimed at their extermination. This sustained pressure resulted in their extirpation from the state. The last known wild eastern mountain lion in Pennsylvania was reportedly killed in Berks County in 1874, leading to their local extinction by the early 20th century, with the eastern cougar subspecies vanishing entirely by the 1930s.
Explaining Modern Sightings
Despite their official absence, reports of mountain lion sightings in Pennsylvania continue to surface. A primary reason for these persistent accounts is misidentification of other common wildlife. Animals like bobcats, coyotes, large domestic dogs, and feral cats are often mistaken for mountain lions due to size, color, or fleeting appearances. The Pennsylvania Game Commission receives hundreds of such reports annually, most proving misidentifications.
Confirmed mountain lion sightings in the eastern United States occasionally involve escaped captive animals. Ownership of exotic pets like mountain lions is illegal in Pennsylvania without proper permits, and escapes can lead to brief, localized presence. In rare cases, a mountain lion may disperse from western states, traveling vast distances. One notable instance involved a mountain lion that migrated from South Dakota to Connecticut in 2011. However, such transient individuals do not signify the establishment of a wild, breeding population in Pennsylvania.
Distinguishing Mountain Lions from Other Wildlife
Accurate identification of wildlife is crucial to understanding the true presence of species like the mountain lion. Mountain lions are notably large and muscular felines, typically displaying a uniform tan or tawny coat, which gives them their scientific name, Puma concolor, meaning “cat of one color.” Their long, thick tail, two to three feet in length, aids balance. Adult males can measure up to eight feet long from nose to tail and weigh between 100 and 150 pounds, while females are slightly smaller.
Animals frequently mistaken for mountain lions in Pennsylvania possess distinct characteristics. Bobcats, for example, are significantly smaller, typically weighing 12 to 20 pounds and standing about two feet tall. They have a much shorter, “bobbed” tail, usually around five inches long, and their fur is often spotted. Coyotes, which are canines rather than felines, have a dog-like appearance with a bushy tail, pointed snout, and typically grey or brown fur. Their size is comparable to a German Shepherd, but they lack the robust build and long, thick tail of a mountain lion.