Mountain Lions in the Laurel Highlands

My girlfriend almost hit a mount lion crossing towards the top section of 3 mile hill as it crossed into the bear rocks area. She slammed on the breaks and it came about 10 feet from the hood and was fully lit by the headlights. Size wise it was about the size of a decent deer. Oviously it sounds crazy but it clearly wasn't a housecat and couldn't bobcat as we've both seen those before in the mountains. This was tan, short haired with a long tail. I know tracks were seen in the somerset boyscout camp years back, and i thought i seen one near 7 springs on county line when i was younger. They're supposedly seen somewhat frequently in WV, that mountain ridge is one chain right up through SW PA, they could easily migrate. When i would spend time in Bear Rocks with my buddy he claimed there were mountain loins feeding of deer and had a den in the area. Hmmm....

My family was just up in Benezette a few weekends ago at their camp. Spotting for elk and deer the one night, they spotted eyes. Stopped to see and it was a Mountain Lion. It jumped up onto a rock. I wasn't there so I wont swear by it but, I believe them. The Game Comm. will tell you that they aren't here but, they are full of it.

Gary Alt stocked them.  sam

My dad owned a saw mill and timbering business when I was growing up, and several guys on the timbering crew said they saw Mt. Lions while working in the Pine Creek Valley in north central PA.

this is definitely one of my favorite pennsylvania outdoors topics.  
 
the truth is out there.

I believe they are here. Not in large numbers but they are. Black bears are around but, how often do we see them. I have seen one here near Smithton. At the cabin I was talking about, there is a picture of one standing on a dirt path that was taken in Emporium. I say leave them alone and they won't bother anyone.

delete this post duplicate

http://blog.pennlive.com/...lvania_a_year_ago.html

No problem. Somebody will shoot them.

Proof can't be obtained.  yes it indeed can - dens found with kittens and DNA verification. 
 
I find it hard to believe that a cat can escape and the public not be notified.  Wouldn't they want more eyes looking for the thing so that it can be captured more quickly?  most are in captivity illegally - when the cats escape "they" have no desire to either report it or go after it.

I've never seen one myself or know anyone trustful enough that has.  But what proof do we have that they CAN'T exist in the mountains of PA?  they certainly can exist in the PA wilds - it's just that no evidence of breeding pairs has been produced - yet.  given that one cat was found to have traveled from SD to new England it may occur in the future. 

The Mountain Lions are spawning. Leave them alone! This message has been brought to you by your local armchair biologist. You're welcome.
 

Just wanna fish, In the late 1960s The PGC did absolutly deny that there were Coyotes in this part of the state even though the yotes were killing sheep in the New Alex. area. There was a lot less known about them then & when the farmers reported seeing a pack of them, they were told that they were seeing dogs that were running loose. Only after someone shot one & had picts did the PGC admit that there were a few around. As far a Mt. Lions go there were reports of them forever. My question is so what? From what I have read about them they travel quite a bit,so it would not surprize me if they were around. Personaly I would like to see one. I don't think that the PGC is llying about them,but I learned a long time ago that you should never say never.  sam

Proof can't be obtained.  yes it indeed can - dens found with kittens and DNA verification.

 
DNA verification?  How?

Its not like it was struggling to drag it, it hadn't quite picked it up yet. It got startled before it could and dropped it and took off, and it didn't seem full grown either, more of a adolescent.

bcain

... Black bears are around but, how often do we see them. ...

ever been to the sears at pittsburgh mills?