Is It A Deer? Is It A Bobcat?
A Mountain Lion, Perhaps
FLY CREEK VALLEY – Visiting his parents from Saigon, where he’s now living, Jan Kuzminski Monday, Aug. 21, was taking a walk at dusk on Donlon Road when he observed a deer-colored creature crossing the road ahead.
But the animal loped like a cat, and as it vanished into the underbrush, Kuzminski saw a 2-foot-long tail with a black tip, his mother, Antoinette, confirmed a few minutes ago.
From time to time, there are reports of mountain lions in the vicinity, although when contacted, state conservation officers usually say they are probably bobcats. However, bobcats – as their names indicate – have bobbed tails, said the mother, a retired physician.
“We’re aware there are spottings,” she continued, including elsewhere in the Town of Otsego a couple of years ago. “But they aren’t established.” That means the population is insufficient to reproduce, she said.
Jan Kuzminski had a cellphone, but it happened so quickly he was unable to snap an image, his mother said.
I, too, saw a mountain lion dashing across Rt 80 between Fly Creek and Oaksville early this spring, around dusk. Such a graceful animal, such a long tail!
Been spotted for years in various areas of Otsego county
My wife has seen Bobcats in the Pierstown area, but not a Mountain Lion.
Saw one in Milford area and it had a youngster two people saw it it was not a bob cat or deer .
I have also spotted one on 3 occasions on Pritchard rd West Winfield in Otsego County. Im positive of what i saw, once in broad daylight and also at night. I had a good 15 second view of one sitting in the ditch hiding from me after it had just crossed the road in front of me.
People have been spotting them for decades and the FDC always denies it….
Buzz Hesse. August 28th 2017
Four years ago buzzat my home in the village of Otego I saw a full grown a mountain Lion off my back poarch. Our property is at the edge of the village with a vista of both wild & cultivated land. Looking at the animal with binoculars there was no doubt it was a Mountain Lion. I grew up in a hunting & fishing family & thanks to my Gramps & Dad I learned about most wild animals – they would have been thrilled as I was to see this magnificent cat !
2 miles south of Hartwick off 205 I heard a roar through my back screen door which sounded amplified. I had never heard anything roar before and really didn’t know what to expect. I walked to the back yard and there on the stone wall at the tree line were 2 mountain lion cubs, long tails and all, seemingly calling out for their mother. They walked calmly across the hillside some 30 yards away, ‘roaring’ alternately, stopped and faced me, turned and walked slowly into the brush up the hillside. The whole episode happened in bright 4th of July sunshine sometime around 1999, at around 8 AM and lasted less than 2 minutes. I can close my eyes and see (and hear) the moment to this day. They looked to be maybe a foot and a half tall. R Brockway had already been writing about sightings so I distinctly looked for the tail and lanky body when they walked. It was a gift.
Four years ago I saw a full grown mountain lion from my poarch in the village of Otego. It was about a thousand yards from my house and as it moved I saw a head on & complete broad side view. Thru my binoculars I was able to confirm with no doubt it was a mature mountain lion.
Why does the state authorities deny the existence of these top of the line predators? Because they, the state, released them into the upstate counties to try to control the deer population, and God forbid one of them figures out people are easier prey.
Why doesn’t NY State deny the existence of these top of the line predators? Well, what would happen if these things figure out people are a lot easier prey than deer? The state has been reintroducing these cats into the upstate counties for awhile, so if they admit it, are they liable if someone gets killed.?Happens out west. One cat started going after joggers and bicyclists. I’m sure there are more instances.
Too many responsible people have seen them in our area. Massachusetts admits they have them in the nearby Berkshires so I think NY should own up to the fact that they are here as well.
anonymous, please. Last summer there were two sittings on Wileytown Road by two different individuals. They are here and the DEC does not want to acknowledge them! WHY?
Two days ago I witnessed a wild cat about midnight in Westford NY. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing but after looking here on this site I am sure it WAS a mountain lion, a long tail running toward me taking off to the right, it was light tannish in color. Now I know what I seen. Amazing, it was not huge, seemed young and fluffy yet. Thanks you this site .