MOUNTAIN LIONS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
Help ensure a future for mountain lions in Pennsylvania
Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of Pennsylvania, persecution at the hands of humans has driven them locally extinct in the state. Fear and misinformation were the main forces driving this extirpation. But attitudes have changed since the early 1900s and there's hope for the future.
If we support mountain lion-friendly legislation, open space conservation, and preserve corridors connecting potential habitat, we could reverse this situation and bring mountain lions back home to Pennsylvania.
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Return to the portal page for Pennsylvania.
The status of Puma concolor in Pennsylvania.
State law and regulations affecting cougars.
The history of cougars in Pennsylvania.
Ecosystems and habitat in Pennsylvania.
Cougar science and research in Pennsylvania.
Our library of media, research and reports.
How you can take action to help!
SUMMARY: Cougars in the State of Pennsylvania
For more detail you can explore using the links below.
The status of Puma concolor.
Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of Pennsylvania, persecution at the hands of humans has driven them locally extinct in the state. Fear and misinformation were the main forces driving this extirpation. But attitudes have changed since the early 1900s and there's hope for the future.
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Mountain lion law in Pennsylvania.Here you will find all the governing state statutes, mountain lion legal status, state laws, information about the state legislature, initiative and referendum processes, and the state wildlife agency, mountain lion management plans, mountain lion hunting laws, depredation laws, and other regulations as appropriate. Click here to learn more about law |
The history of lions in the state.
Before European settlement, mountain lions once occurred throughout Pennsylvania, and moved between Pennsylvania 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.
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Lion habitat in Pennsylvania.
Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of Pennsylvania, persecution at the hands of humans drove them locally extinct. If we support open space conservation and preserve corridors connecting potential habitat, we could reverse this situation and bring mountain lions back home to Pennsylvania.
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The science of lions in the state.
Though mountain lions once roamed the great state of Pennsylvania, human persecution has eliminated them from its hills and forests. With no mountain lion population to study, there isn't any current research to report in Pennsylvania.
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Take action for lions.Wild mammals in Pennsylvania not classified as game animals or furbearers, such as mountain lions, are classified as protected mammals. Unfortunately, this does not translate to being listed on the state endangered and threatened species list. To be included there, Pennsylvania law requires the species ranges to include all or part of the state. The last self-sustained population in Pennsylvania was extirpated in the late 1800's, thus precluding the mountain lion from this list. If we join together and let wildlife managers in Pennsylvania know that we support allowing or assisting mountain lions to return to the state, we can ensure a future for them in this great state. Click here to learn more about action |
