Is a mountain lion really roaming the streets in this upstate NY city? What we know now

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is investigating aft a viral video showing what appears to beryllium a ample chaotic feline roaming a Rochester, New York, vicinity took galore by astonishment this week.

Here’s the latest connected whether a ample feline is really escaped successful the metropolis — and what authorities are doing astir it.

Could a upland lion truly beryllium successful Rochester?

According to DEC officials, based connected the doorbell camera video and measurements taken astatine the country Thursday, the carnal could perchance beryllium a cougar (also known arsenic a upland lion) — if the footage hasn’t been altered.

“If this is really a cougar, fixed the determination wrong metropolis limits, it is astir apt not a chaotic feline that arrived to the portion connected its own, but alternatively a feline that was antecedently captive, perchance arsenic an amerciable pet,” DEC officials said Thursday.

How does the DEC analyse chaotic carnal sightings?

DEC lone investigates reports that see carnal grounds specified arsenic tracks, droppings (scat), fur, oregon photographs. If determination is nary specified evidence, the study is filed but cannot beryllium verified.

What we cognize astir the Rochester sighting

At astir 4 a.m. connected Wednesday, July 9, a Ring information camera captured a ample carnal walking done a gait adjacent East Main Street and Culver Road. The video, shared by nonmigratory Stephany Baez, rapidly went viral — with implicit 250,000 views and 1,100 shares connected Facebook wrong hours.

“It doesn’t look similar a mean cat,” Baez wrote successful her post. “It is thing scary and I don’t privation anyone to get hurt.”

DEC officials visited the determination connected Thursday, July 10, and took measurements and photos that suggest the carnal could beryllium a ample cat. However, a hunt of the surrounding vicinity turned up nary tracks, scat, fur, oregon different carnal clues.

Multiple sightings reported — but unconfirmed

Following the video’s release, Rochester Police received respective 911 calls reporting akin sightings crossed the city, according to Lt. Anthony DelVecchio. But truthful far, nary further images oregon carnal grounds person been found.

“None of these reports person been substantiated,” DelVecchio said. “Until the validity of the archetypal video tin beryllium confirmed, RPD urges the nationalist to stay vigilant. If anyone observes a ample chaotic animal, they are advised to spell indoors instantly and telephone 911.”

Mountain lions successful New York: What does DEC say?

According to the DEC, determination is no native, self-sustaining colonisation of upland lions (also called cougars oregon eastbound cougars) successful New York. They erstwhile roamed the authorities — particularly the Adirondacks — but were wiped retired by the aboriginal 1900s owed to situation loss, hunting, and nutrient scarcity.

Occasional sightings successful caller decades person typically involved:

• Captive animals that escaped oregon were released

• Mistaken individuality (bobcats, coyotes, ample home cats, oregon adjacent deer)

• One confirmed chaotic cougar that passed done from South Dakota during a 1,800-mile migration

How to place a cougar

According to the DEC, big cougars are:

• Up to 8 feet agelong (nose to tail)

• About 3 feet gangly astatine the shoulder

• Around 140 pounds connected average

• They have:

• Long, slender bodies

• Short, rounded ears

• Brownish-red to airy brownish fur

• Creamy achromatic underbellies

• Black markings connected the extremity of the tail, ears, and basal of the whiskers

Think you saw a cougar? Here’s what to do

DEC volition lone analyse if there's carnal grounds oregon a confirmed flight of a captive animal. If you deliberation you've spotted a upland lion:

• Look for signs: tracks, scat, oregon fur

• Take photos of the carnal and immoderate carnal grounds — only if harmless to bash so

• Keep your distance: Back distant dilatory and dainty it similar immoderate unsafe chaotic carnal oregon chartless dog

Report sightings to instrumentality enforcement oregon DEC officials immediately.

How to study a sighting to the DEC

If you deliberation you've seen a cougar successful occidental New York:

• Weekdays: Contact the DEC’s determination wildlife bureau astatine (585) 226-5380 oregon email [email protected]

• After-hours oregon weekends: Call the DEC Environmental Conservation Officer dispatch astatine 844-332-3267

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Video whitethorn amusement captive upland lion escaped successful Rochester NY, DEC says