Maine Bobcat, Mountain Lion or some strange yet to be identified hybrid? The two photos below depict a Bobcat and a Mountain Lion. In examining the two photos and comparing them to both my original and enlarged game camera picture you can begin to see why many hunters swear they have sighted Mountain Lions in the Maine woods. At quick glance, the coloration, movements and even many physical attributes of these feline predators are similar. A closer examination, however, reveals a number of differences including tail length, spotted coat and size . . . look closely and make your own decision . . . Bobcat or Mountain Lion!
Want to Find a Maine Mt. Lion?
Read Hiking for Maine Mt. Lions
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| Bobcat Photo |
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| Mountain Lion Photo |
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| Original Game Camera Photo |
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| Enlarged Game Camera Photo |
There is quite a resemblance. I can honestly see the confusion.
ReplyDeleteWhitetail Woods Blog / Muzzleloader Testing
Some lady here in VT claimed she saw a catamount recently. Had a pic that looked like a bobcat. Who knows. Hybrids??? Hmmmm.. Interesting..
ReplyDeleteBobcat with a reddish summer coat. The white patches are unmistakeable.
ReplyDeleteOh wow…something else for me to worry about on the fishing trail. I think I have more chance of getting eaten by a mountain lion more than anything else. Great find on the photo…I must have looked at this thing for over an hour.
ReplyDeleteI saw a moutain lion in broad daylight in an open field in Acworth New Hampshire in NOV. 2009. Myself and a friend were on our way back to our hunting camp after checking in his deer in Alstead.While driving up a steep winding paved road at about 9:30 A.M. on a beautiful sunny sunday morning I looked out the right side up into a steep mowed rolling field with two prominent fruit trees in the middle of it,and the woodline about 60 yards beyond.I saw the cougar broadside probably 60 to 70 yards away from our position just casually strolling along just about to go behind the fruit trees.Now let there be no mistake that when you see this creature with high muscular shoulders and a tail as long as its body you know what it is.I exclaimed to my friend "what the hell is that?" His response was "I,t looks like a giant blankn cat!" To this I responded "It,s a moutain lion!" It bears mentioning that I had made no effort to influence his comment about the "giant cat" which is already what i knew I was looking at.
ReplyDeleteMay 9 2012. Friends are posting a photo on FB of a mountain lion dragging a deer. Purportedly from a trail cam in Langdon or Acworth NH. Googled, and all I found was this posting, no more info anywhere.
DeleteALNorth, Interesting report. Please keep me posted. I hadn't heard of that sighting. Keep up the digging and thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteMy son Gray says there was a picture in the news this week of a mountain lion dragging a full grown buck across the road near the Acworth - Lempster NH line. Same cat?
DeleteMeredith Tenney
Acworth, NH
Just found this about the same photo...looks like an Urgan Legend and it apparently happened in Texas. http://barringer.bowhuntingroad.com/2011/11/25/mountain-lion-and-buck-urban-legend/
DeleteAHHHHH HA! That looks like it is a LOOOOONG way from NH! Thanks for posting Kate!
DeleteI saw, what I believe to be, an immature mountain lion today outside of penobscot county, Maine. After researching online different photos, I am certain.
ReplyDeleteGroup,
ReplyDeleteThe search continues but despite several deployed game cameras and a large bait pile on the back of my property, I have still yet to photograph a Maine Mt. Lion!
Interesting that on my recent trip to Florida Osceola hunting I had my turkey decoy stalked by a Florida panther!
Mainers if you think you are seeing a Mt. Lion I encourage you to set a game camera out in the spot. Just make sure the "cat" you photograph has a long tail!
I have seen print poff and photos of one in Maine. I've been told the warden service will not confirm the sightings because of "paperwork and costs" associated with onfirming the existance of moutian lions in states the are no longer supposed to be in. There are wovles here as well. For some reason neither species goes through the Canadian customs check points...
ReplyDelete7/22/2011, 19:40 Hrs. Byron, Maine. Aprox. 2 miles north of Coos Canyon crossing the road (Route 17) to the Swift river Spotted what at first I thought was a Bobcat then REALIZED IT was much bigger than a Bobcat, I would guess about the size of my German Shepherd. Tail was 1/2 the size of the cat's body. We were very excited to see this rarity.
ReplyDeleteTom Bordeau & family. Rumford, Maine
Go into Nesowdahunk Campground off the Telos Road and in the store they have a picture taken by one of the seasonals there of a mountain lion walking along the shore.They ARE here and if you look at the mammels of Maine on the IF&W website,they are now listed as a Maine animal.Also,the Red Roof store has a picture on their wall that someone in Monmouth got of a cougar aka mountain lion on their game camera..there is no doubt .I looked at your "cat" in pictures and there is no doubt what type of "cat" it was.the ears and tail gave it away:-)
ReplyDeleteTom and Anon. Thanks a ton for taking the time to comment. It is much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stories. If anyone happens to have a photo of the Nesowahunk Mt lion I would love to see it.
Perhaps next time you are there snap a digital photo of the picture and send it to me?
I beleive as well as the comment on 6/2/11 8:32 PM that I saw a mt lion possibly in penobscot county on rt 159 headed into baxter...it crossed the road in front of my car.. wish I had had my camera ready!!
ReplyDeleteI know of several people in Somerville around Rt. 105 that swear they have seen one. I keep saying you gotta get the picture! I do know of a confirmed sighting in Cape Elizabeth. A ranger friend tells me that Maine won't admit they exist because then they wold have to protect them and the large habitat. Actually there was a photo in the Kennebec Journal in the 80s where a woman photographed one in her back yard in Farmingdale.
ReplyDeleteKilgor, I have a pending blog post that provides a map to all of the Mt. Lion sightings in the past several years. THere have been many sightings both confirmed and unconfirmed. My post will provide links to hiking areas where a lucky backpacker might chance to see one. The post should be up before the end of the month.
DeleteThere are a lot of bobcats around the Washington Waldoboro area. David Spahr
ReplyDeleteKilgor, There are a lot of bobcats around everywhere. They are smart and secretive and not an animal that is frequently seen. I had a HUGE cat of 30 lbs out in back of the house that I had seen on my game camera. That cat now rest on a log in my basement, the product of a thrilling predator hunt gone right and year long taxidermy project.
DeleteAt about 11:25 this morning I was heading home and as I was passing a telephone pole... in the middle, before the next pole crossed a mountain lion. As I stopped my car i was right next to it as it entered the woods over a down tree... I have an 85lb lab mix and it was bigger than he is... I was probably 15 feet from it initially as it was walking briskly away... It was solid in color a med to darkish brown and it's tail was probably 2.5-3 feet long... I was shaking in disbelief... when it initially crossed the road, it did so in two leaps... it leaped from the right landing right near the center yellow line and then with one more leap it was on the woodline... It was absolutly amazing! It was paralleling power lines by probably 50 yards out... This was in Wells, ME
ReplyDeleteThey are around. We are in central Massachusetts and had a mountain lion in the backyard this morning. NO mistaking the "giant cat" and 4 foot long tail. For all you naysayers, I have it on video! Amazing animal, quite a site.
ReplyDeleteAnon . . . video link required. No teasing allowed on my blog. :)
DeleteNot sure if you did get that link to the Acworth cat dragging the deer.. Here it is.. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=199536070168159&set=a.111708112284289.14759.100003353034487&type=1 I got here by googling as well.
ReplyDeleteBodynsoil, I did manage to get the cat picture but a few other internet aficionados have determined that the cat dragging the deer by the feeder pic was really taken in Texas.
DeleteMore at this link: http://barringer.bowhuntingroad.com/2011/11/25/mountain-lion-and-buck-urban-legend/
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I checked out your website and now have an overwhelming desire to begin weening myself off my love of corned beef hash, PBR and deep fat friend bacon wrapped cheese dogs! Take Care!