Mountain Lion Sightings Raise Eyebrows in Connecticut

If mountain lions are supposed to be extinct in our state why are there so many sightings?

The official word is that mountain lions were declared extinct in Connecticut back in the late 1800s but sightings have become much more prevalent. Bobcats are plentiful across Connecticut and are between 18 and 35 pounds. Mountain lions, on the other hand, weigh in at between 130 to 150 pounds for males and between 65 and 90 pounds for females.

According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), there are simply no mountain lions in Connecticut but many people would disagree. Mountain lions, also known as cougars, are very quiet as they hunt and are sometimes known as ghosts of the forest according to connecticutmag.com.

A wildlife biologist with DEEP, Paul Rego told Connecticut Magazine that many of the so-called sightings are misidentified because we frequently overestimate the size of animals we see in the forest especially those we are most afraid of.

There are even some conspiracy theories going around that say DEEP officials know there are mountain lions in the state but cover up their existence because they don't want people freaking out. Another theory is that DEEP is actually bringing them into the state via helicopter to help control the deer population. If you'd like a much longer and in-depth explanation about mountain lions in Connecticut, click on connecticutmag.com.

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