In what’s being called the longest journey a mountain lion has ever taken in the United States, a cougar , CT, six weeks ago—believed by some to be the same cougar , CT—traveled 1,100 miles from South Dakota to get to New England, Connecticut officials said Tuesday.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, collected analyst data shows that the feline known in South Dakota known as the “St. Croix Cougar” journeyed from that state’s Black Hills, through Minnesota and Wisconsin (see attached map) and across the Midwest—likely southern Ontario, Canada—eventually to Greenwich, where it met its end after colliding with a SUV on the Wilbur Cross parkway in Milford.
“This is an incredible journey, nearly double that of any mountain lion [ever recorded],” Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty said during a press briefing.
Though the first confirmed sighting occurred in Minnesota, officials believe the mountain lion likely was born in South Dakota, meaning a total distance traveled of closer to 1,800 miles is possible.
Scat samples, including those found in Greenwich, as well as sightings across the nation dating back as far as Dec. 2009, snow tracks, photos from trail cameras, tissues collected for genetic testing and the young male’s unmanicured condition, led analysts—including in a lab in Rocky Hill, CT—to the conclusion mountain lion had not been held in captivity, according to Paul Rego, a supervising wildlife biologist with the DEEP.
Esty touted the cougar's ability to traverse so far in the wild as a testament to efforts from conservationists and environmental protection groups.
“Although this is the story of the first recorded example of a mountain lion sighting in Connecticut in more than 100 years, there is no evidence of a mountain lion [in Connecticut] beyond this single individual,” Esty said.
The findings mark the latest chapter in a story that’s captured the attention and imagination of residents throughout Fairfield County and Connecticut—the gregarious “” on Facebook last week notched her 3,000th friend—as a species in the Nutmeg State appeared to have reemerged.
Within days of the mountain lion’s death on a highway in Milford (see photo), state DEEP officials launched an investigation into whether that cougar had been .
In Greenwich and throughout the state, the dual sightings sparked debate over whether mountain lions were present in greater numbers than state officials had acknowledged. In Fairfield, police were given the green light to that couldn’t be contained.
As investigators searched for answers, including in , residents in Greenwich and other Connecticut towns, , began reporting , was found to be inaccurate.
[Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect distances traveled from confirmed sightings versus scientifically believed points of origin.]
I wish this lion - and many others - made it to the Adirondacks and repopulated the area. That's one place humans prematurely snuffed them out where there is enough room for them.
Should we then take your attitude Rory of "stuff dies" and take no responsibility for the role we have created(term used reluctantly)? And if that is your belief then do not call me friend.
What I'm frustrated about is the cougar's death. This will be the 3rd immediate human-caused death that comes to mind when I think of cougar recolonization. Anyone remember the Roscoe Village cougar? A transient male from the Black Hills was taken out by a cop when it posed no public threat to safety on the Northside of Chicago only 3 years ago. This cat also traveled some 1,000 miles (Link: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080417-cougar-shot.html). Then there was the endangered Florida panther (also a cougar - just another name like mountian lion fyi). This guy in Georgia was hunting deer when he spotted a cougar off in the distance. Utilizing the 'shoot first ask questions later' approach, he shot & killed the cougar. This is outrageous, if you're hunting legally for 1 species, like deer, that doesn't give you authority to kill other species, especially when your "intelligent" actions result in the death of an endangered species trying to naturally recolonize it's native range. The guy was not charged for his wildlife crimes (Link: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/05/testing-confirms-panther-shot-hunter-georgia-was-f/).