Do wild mountain lions really inhabit Maine?

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Mountain-lion sightings in the Pine Tree State have made big news this summer, which has heightened speculations as to whether the world's fourth largest cat inhabits Maine or not. The topic creates controversy galore as people roll out compelling arguments for or against the possibility of this state supporting at least a tiny population.

During the mid-1980s, I spotted two, separate mountain lions within two months of one another -- the first one along Route 15/6 south of Greenville and the other in Lexington Flats east of Kingfield. My experiences proved nothing, as I shall explain, but they may offer insight into most of the reports that the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has received through the decades.

My first encounter occurred on a rainy, foggy morning in mid-June. My ex-wife and I were heading home from the Greenville area and were traveling a remote, forested section of Route 15/6 -- that stretch where the highway hits a series of huge, steep ridges at a perpendicular angle, making the highway rise and then plunge like a gigantic rollercoaster.

On a long, downhill stretch, a "mountain lion" loped across the road about one-quarter mile from my truck. The tawny animal had a long, club-like tail and cougar gait, and even in fog and rain, it showed up well enough.

"Look," I hollered, "a mountain lion!"

By the time we had approached the spot where the critter had crossed, I had slowed to a near stop and looked up an old, overgrown tote road. Twenty-five yards away sat a half-exhausted, blocky-headed, yellow Labrador retriever, panting heavily.

Had the Lab run into the woods without stopping, I would have sworn to this day that we had seen a mountain lion. And, just for the record, I have shot photos of mountain lions in game preserves so am more acquainted with the species than most folks. I still made the mistake.

Two months later in Lexington Flats, on a cloudless, sun-splashed morning with all the light a day could offer, I was driving down a gravel road that parallels the Long Falls Dam Road. Before the turn-off to Hutchinson Mountain, a small cougar half-walked and half-trotted across the road, pausing twice to gawk at me, before it disappeared into pines with firs and spruce, growing in the shaded area under the canopy.

One thing about the cougar struck me instantly. The cat had moved slowly with no fear of my truck, even stopped twice to watch me and its eyes exuded no wariness. It looked as calm as pet dog, so in my mind, this mountain lion was an escaped pet.

That August morning, I immediately pulled my truck over and walked into the woods where it had disappeared. Much to my surprise, the mountain lion had stopped just a short ways from the road edge and hid behind dense conifers. It made rustling sounds as it slowly moved deeper into the forest.

If an average cougar weighs 100 to 120 pounds, then this one would go 60 to 70 pounds.ÊA cat of this size is huge compared to most cat species, but mountain lions can grow to 275 pounds. That's a lot of kitty!

My two sightings obviously make me question most mountain-lion reports in Maine. However, with that said, I see no reason why mountain lions would not inhabit one of the country's least populated, most forested states in the nation. In fact, it would surprise me if a handful of mountain lions didn't live in Maine, but some veteran woodsmen doubt their existence here and offer logical reasons.

n Trappers would inadvertently catch a mountain lion in a trap or snare.

n Bobcat hunters with hounds would tree one.Ê(Two acquaintances of mine who have hunted mountain lions in the West have told me this predator trees easily.

n A driver would have a collision with one; an autopsy and DNA analysis would prove whether it was wild or not.

n A wildlife professional, say a biologist, would see one. These guys spend an inordinate amount of time in the woods.

Folks who think this lion roams the state often use the following arguments to support their case:

n Common, plentiful animals live among us in developed areas, and the vast majority of folks never see them. Star-nosed moles and flying squirrels pop to mind, and the mole looks like a creature right out Star Wars. About the only people who have seem this curious critter are folks who own house cats that have good hunting skills.

n How many people reading this column have seen a fisher or martin, which are clearly plentiful enough for us to have a trapping season on them?

n If Maine indeed has mountain lions, the population would be sparse, insuring darned few would be sighted.

My two mountain lions were surely bogus, but Tom Seymour, of Waldo, as honest a man as I have ever met, did see a mountain lion while he was ice-fishing in February 1989. The cougar frightened Tom's Lab, Benny, half to death. It was no pet cougar for sure.

Seymour thinks it takes a lot of personal courage to admit to seeing a Maine mountain lion, and Oscar Cronk, of Wiscasset, agrees. Cronk has cataloged as many Maine cougar sightings as he can.

As a general rule, folks are indeed reluctant to come forward. I have never told my Lexington Flats story much and wouldn't have told it here if it were not for my caveat of it being an escaped pet.

Ken Allen, of Belgrade Lakes, is a writer, editor and photographer. To reach him, send e-mail to KAllyn800@aol.com