The Chesterfield, Massachusetts Animal Control confirmed the sighting of a mountain lion in the town of Goshen. According to a Facebook post from the organization, the mountain lion was spotted on South Chesterfield Rd. Residents are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to call 911 if they’re in need of assistance.
“For those of you asking if this person knew it was for sure a mountain lion, yes, it was. As someone who is educated in animals and wildlife, I can confirm that I, myself, have seen mountain lions on our property in Chesterfield.” – Chesterfield, MA Animal Control
According to MassWildlife, mountain lion sightings in the state are exceedingly rare and there is no evidence of a reproducing mountain lion population in the state. That doesn’t mean a sighting is impossible, though. Two sightings, one in 2011 and one in 1997, have been confirmed in Massachusetts.
In 1997, an experienced tracker found scat next to a beaver carcass at the Quabbin Reservation that was later confirmed to be from a mountain lion by two separate labs. In 2011, a track trail photographed in snow by the gate 8 boat launch area of Quabbin Reservoir was confirmed to be created by a mountain lion by several tracking experts. The 2011 mountain lion may have been the same one killed by a vehicle near Greenwich, Connecticut in June of that year.
However MassWildlife is very hesitant to confirm sightings without real hard evidence. Mistaken reports of mountain lions are often just bobcat sightings (Massachusetts has a healthy bobcat population), coyotes, and a surprising number of house cats. Additionally nearly every photo submitted to the organization of a mountain lion has proven to be from out of state.
“Evidence could include the body of a dead mountain lion or a live wild-captured animal; photos or video, in which a mountain lion can be identified and MassWildlife can confirm the location; DNA evidence from hair, scat, etc.; track sets or photos of track sets; other tangible physical evidence verified by qualified professionals.” – Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
We may never know whether or not this supposed sighting in Goshen is real, but it’s always good to understand what to do in a mountain lion sighting just in case.
