Big Cat Sighting in Pennsylvania

For all my readers who have been reporting and speculating on there being mountain lions in New Jersey, comes this news item from nearby PA.

A mysterious big cat has been documented in eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County, leading some to speculate a species long believed locally extinct has returned. Pennsylvania State Police say photos of the creature were taken Sunday, Oct. 15, in Lower Macungie Township (near Allentown).

“Upon further investigation it was determined that the image captured a large feline, possibly a mountain lion, in the fields behind Hanover Drive. If seen, do not approach. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been alerted," police said.

Lower Macungie Township is about 30 miles west of Frenchtown, NJ.

Mountain lions, also known as cougars, panthers and pumas, are considered extinct in Pennsylvania, as well as in New Jersey.

Endangered NJ has inquired with psp.pa.gov about the photos that were taken.

via Twitter

Troopers responded to @LowerMacungie and confirmed a large feline was seen in the fields behind Hanover Dr. If seen, do not approach, contact PSP Fogelsville or @PAGameComm. @69News @mcall @lehighvalley @LVNewsdotcom pic.twitter.com/6QAZuJu0Z0

— Trooper Branosky @PSPTroopMPIO October 15, 2023

USFWS file photo - not taken in Pennsylvania

Fracking, Forests, and Endangered Species in Nearby Pennsylvania

The Sierra Club Allegheny Group has put out an alert for concerned citizens in Pennsylvania and neighbors to contact your state representatives and senators if you are opposed to the bills HB 1576 and SB 1047.

These bills are part of the push to drill in the Marcellus Shale area. this includes county parks and state forests.

A recent NPR interview talks about our neighbors in Pennsylvania and the effect on forests due to drilling activity, new roads, and pipelines. Of particular concern is the disturbance of the rare areas of ‘core forests’ deep in the woods. Now the gas industry is seeking to remove restrictions on where they may drill in the forests.

These two bills - HB 1576 and SB 1047 - would move the responsibility of entries on the state endangered Species list from the independent biologists of Game and the Fish and Boat Commissions, to members of the legislature.

Conservationists are also concerned that the bill has a provision to allow environmental permits to be given without consideration of the impact on endangered species.