Do mountain lions live in New York State?

Answer 1

I would have to say that YES there are mountain lions living in New York State. Not only have I heard them but I have also had one chase me out of the Hector National Forest!! To those of you that say "Where's the tracks come winter?".... I ask you this "would you like to sit out in 20 degree weather in the blowing snow trying to find proof of something that could possibly be hungry and decide you look like food?" not me thank you very much!!!

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General guidelines for cougar, in areas where cougars are known to live, is that a cougar is elusive but also very curious and may well follow you for a long distance without your ever noticing it. A cougar who is sighted around populated areas would be an escaped or abandoned 'pet' who has some comfort level with people. There are wildlife biologists who would dearly love to be the one who tracked down the phantom NYS cougar. Established cougar populations have not only tracks, but feces, kills, territorial markings, kittens.... And of course, their own corpses sooner or later.

Most NYS sightings are either bobcat (short tail, tufted ears) or fishers (dark colored giant weasels that have rapidly become more common in the Adirondacks over the last thirty years.)