Is That a Mountain Lion I See Wandering New Jersey?

I have received inquiries over the years of writing this blog about sightings in New Jersey of moose, elk, reindeer, and wolves. None of them inhabit our state. But the most common sighting of a species that, according to state wildlife officials, does not exist in NJ is the mountain lion. 

This post has been updated multiple times and remains one of the most popular and the most commented-on post on the site. 

There have been several articles online about "sightings" of a "large cat." One in Camden County, near the Winslow Hammonton border by Route 73 was reported to be a mountain lion. In Morris County, a family in Montville Township claimed to have seen a mountain lion twice in their backyard. The witness described the animal as large, tan, with a long tail and muscular build. Although he reported the sighting to the police, there's no concrete evidence to support the claim.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the state's Fish and Wildlife Division have not confirmed any mountain lion sightings. They suggest that reports are often due to mistaken identity, with bobcats or coyotes being mistaken for mountain lions. Wildlife experts believe that while it's possible for a mountain lion to wander into New Jersey from other states, it's extremely rare. The nearest known mountain lion population is hundreds of miles away, making it unlikely for them to be present in the state.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife sometimes receives evidence and investigates, and their verdict has always been that these big cats are NOT mountain lions.

New Jersey's largest cat is officially the bobcat, but these reports to animal control officers are saying this is not a bobcat but a mountain lion (AKA cougar or puma). There is a significant difference between a domestic cat, a bobcat, and a mountain lion, and they really shouldn't be confused. The evidence so far is just some grainy video and a fuzzy photograph taken with a hunter's game camera.

Bobcat - Photo: Public Domain, via commons.wikimedia.org

Bobcats live in New Jersey and are considered endangered by the NJDEP. A bobcat is a medium-sized cat, about two feet tall. Though they are larger than a house cat, they are much smaller than a mountain lion. Adult bobcat females in NJ generally weigh between 18 and 25 lbs., and adult males can weigh as much as 35 lbs.

A camera trap image of a cougar in Saguaro National Park - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

Although cougars somewhat resemble the domestic cat, they are much larger - about the same size as an adult human. Their size and their long, smooth tail are the obvious identifiers.

Did mountain lions ever live in our state? According to mountainlion.org, "Before European settlement, mountain lions once occurred throughout New Jersey and moved between New Jersey and neighboring states. Ideal habitat would have occurred in the forests, hills, and along the timbered streams, but mountain lions could have persisted anywhere there was ample prey. Direct persecution, conversion of wildlands to agriculture and human development, roads and highways, and other forms of habitat loss all contributed to the decline and ultimate extirpation of mountain lions in New Jersey."

In other words - No Mountain Lions in NJ. And yet, reports keep coming in. There was a report of one in Ewing Township back in 2018 that inspired the original version of this post.  Check the comments on this post below, and you'll see that since it was originally posted, regular sightings continue to come in. 

Mountain lions, which once lived in this area, are believed to have been extirpated long ago. The Eastern cougar or eastern puma (Puma concolor couguar) is the name given to the extirpated cougars that once lived in northeastern North America. They were part of the subspecies of the North American cougar that is considered gone from the east coast by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) evaluation in 2011.

We are still waiting for good video footage, physical evidence, and confirmation from NJ Fish & Wildlife. For now, the cougar's status in New Jersey is still just a notch above the existence of the Jersey Devil.

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Press Coverage in NJ of Sightings
pressofatlanticcity.com
nj.com/camden

About Reported Cougar Sightings in the East
wsj.com/articles/eastern-mountain-lions-may-be-extinct-but-locals-still-see-them
nationalgeographic.com/
blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/eastern-mountain-lion-mystery/

The Bear Hunting Season in NJ

More black bear information this weekend...

Hunting black bears in New Jersey is controversial but has been deemed necessary by the state due to population growth. The fact is that there are more bears than the crowded states seem to be able to handle without nuisance, damaging and potentially dangerous human and pet encounters. But the fact is that there is a hunting season in our state for bears, and it opens this Monday, October 13.

This website is primarily focused on the threatened and endangered wildlife of our state, and also with some of its recreational aspects. Since wildlife interactions occur when we are out in nature, things like hunting and fishing do play a role in management and recreation.

Here are some points pro and con on a hunting season for black bears in New Jersey:

Pro-Hunting Season:

Population Management: Hunting can help control the bear population, reducing the risk of human-bear conflicts and maintaining a balance with the ecosystem.

Property Damage: Allowing hunting can help mitigate property damage caused by bears, such as crop damage, property destruction, and livestock losses.

Public Safety: Hunting can help reduce the number of bears in areas where humans and bears interact, potentially decreasing the risk of bear attacks on humans.

Wildlife Health: Hunting can help remove sick or weak bears from the population, promoting overall wildlife health.

Revenue: Hunting and fishing licenses and permits provide a major source of revenue to programs beyond hunting and fishing.

Anti-Hunting Season:

Conservation Concerns: Overhunting can threaten the long-term sustainability of the bear population, especially if numbers are already low or declining.

Ethical Concerns: Some people object to hunting for sport or recreation, particularly if they see bears as intelligent, social animals that deserve protection.

Human Safety Concerns: Hunting can increase the risk of accidents, including hunting-related injuries or fatalities, particularly if hunters mistake other animals or humans for bears.

Alternative Methods: Some argue that non-lethal methods, such as education, outreach, and wildlife management practices (e.g., securing trash and pet food), can effectively mitigate human-bear conflicts without hunting.

For more about this topic, see dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/bears/

2025 Black Bear Season Dates

Segment A 
October 13 – 18, 2025, Archery ONLY
October 16 – 18, 2025, Archery OR Muzzleloader (Muzzleloader rifle legal during the last three days of Segment A plus all of Segment B)

Segment B
December 8 – 13, 2025, Shotgun/Muzzleloader ONLY

Hunting Hours: Legal hunting hours for black bears shall be ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

Season Changes: Following the start of the black bear season, the Assistant Commissioner of NJDEP Fish and Wildlife may announce closure of the entire season or extension of Segment B of the season based upon harvest data.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Fish and Wildlife Division, a total of 473 black bears were harvested during the 2024 hunting season in New Jersey.

By county, the harvest breakdown is as follows:
Sussex County: 238 bears
Warren County: 124 bears
Morris County: 73 bears
Passaic County: 26 bears
Bergen County: 3 bears
Hunterdon County: 7 bears
Somerset County: 1 bear
Mercer County: 0 bears

Black Bear Encounters All Year

What is the largest land mammal in New Jersey? It is the black bear. Continuing with our "black bears weekend" as we enter autumn weather...

There are myths about many species of wildlife in our state - bats, snakes, and bears included. For example, black bears (what you will encounter in New Jersey) are not true hibernators and may be active throughout the year. Many people assume that in winter, they won't see any bears. They are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.

Since the 1980s, the Garden State’s black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving, and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties.

In autumn, many New Jerseyans and visitors will be camping, birding, hiking, hunting or fishing in areas frequented by black bears. The mere presence of a black bear is not considered a problem. In general, bears tend to be wary of people. 

Here are some guidelines for bear safety.

Wary as they may be, black bears learn very quickly. Bears that are fed intentionally or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage while camping, hiking or fishing will learn to associate people with food. Like birds at your feeder, once black bears learn of an easily accessible food source, like a cooler at a campground, they may lose their wariness of people and return to a location in search of more available food sources. These bears can become a nuisance or aggressive and may have to be trapped and relocated or destroyed. 

For more on staying safe in bear country, see Bear Encounters.

Bear Facts for Autumn

 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife reminds the public to reduce the potential for encounters with black bears this fall by taking measures to properly store garbage and eliminate access to other sources of food around their yards or while outdoors. 

Autumn brings a period of heightened black bear activity as the animals must consume large amounts of food in preparation for the winter denning season.

“Black bears are opportunistic feeders and will consume whatever food is available,” said NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner David Golden. “They have a keen sense of smell and will investigate all potential food sources – natural or unnatural, including garbage. Property owners, hikers and campers can reduce the likelihood of unwanted encounters with bears by removing or properly securing any potential food sources.”

It is important for people to never feed black bears. Bears attracted to neighborhoods may learn to associate people with food. These animals may then become nuisance bears that cause property damage, seek handouts from people or become dangerous. Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000.

Most of New Jersey’s black bears are found in the northwestern portion of the state, particularly Morris, Sussex, Warren and northern Passaic counties, as well as portions of Hunterdon, Somerset, and Bergen counties. However, black bears have been reported in all 21 counties.

Throughout the fall, black bears need to eat more than 20,000 calories worth of food a day to bolster their fat reserves in preparation for the winter denning season. Their natural diet is comprised of plants, berries, fruit, nuts, insects, bird eggs, small mammals, and carrion. However, black bears are opportunistic feeders with an extremely keen sense of smell and are attracted by odors from potential food sources created by people from long distances. Carefully controlling these sources of food, such as improperly stored trash, can help prevent black bears from being attracted to homes and into backyards and campgrounds, and associating people with food.

• Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food such as pet food bowls, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue left on barbecue grills. Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before. 
• Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
• Do not place meat, dairy or any sweet foods in compost piles.
• Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution and watch out for bears that may be near or on roadways. If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking or camping, follow these safety tips:

• Remain calm. Easier said than done, but never run from a bear, as this may trigger its predatory instinct. Instead, slowly back away. Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Make sure the bear has an escape route. 
• To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans, or blowing an air horn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head. 
• Make bears aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises. If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known through loud talking or clapping of hands. 
• If a bear utters a series of huffs, makes popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws or swats the ground, these are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact. Do not run.
• If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually non-threatening behavior. 
• Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, slowly back away, and do not run. 
• If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area, such as a vehicle or a building.

Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.

Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.

Report black bear damage or aggressive bears to your local police department or to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife by calling 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).