However, over the years there have been a few isolated sightings. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says mountain lions have been absent from New York state since the late 1800s. Also known as a cougar, puma or panther, these mountain lions are not native to New York state. 1. On the other hand, reports of mountain lion sightings persist throughout the state and the eastern Rensselaer County region. New York State paid its last bounty on a mountain lion killed in Hamilton County in 1894; just over 150 state and county mountain lion bounties were paid between 1860 and 1894. I would have to say that YES there are mountain lions living in New York State. Unconfirmed sightings are rare but routine, and speculation is often fueled by photos from other parts of the country passed off as local proof of mountain lions. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) states emphatically that mountain lions do not exist in the wild in New York State in a self-sustaining population and that any random individuals that may have been encountered were escaped captive creatures. But New York says it has no plans at present to do so. Right now as a permanently residing and breeding population ? "They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. Not only have I heard them but I have also had one chase me out … NO 2. If you ask people who have seen them,people that have seen tracks or that have heard them then yes there are mountain lions back in New York… The photos I have seen are of “mountain lions,” to be more precise. I take “cougar,” “puma,” and “mountain lion” as interchangeable based on general usage and preference. Another sighting involved a wild cougar that traveled through New York as it trekked nearly 1,800 miles east from its native population in South Dakota. Right now as a permanently residing and breeding population ? Kohol said it definitely looked like a mountain lion. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, “mountain lions do not have a native, self-sustaining population in New York State. Posted by Rocco Marinelli January 6, 2020 January 6, 2020 Posted in Rocco's Rants Tags: Adirondacks, cougar, mountain lion, New York Eastern cougars, or mountain lions, are wild felines that resemble the common bobcat, but cougars are bigger in both size and stature. A true panther could be a leopard or jaguar, neither of which is alleged to be in Alabama, if I understand these posts. A couple of sightings involved captive mountain lions that escaped from licensed facilities in New York State. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. Cougars should be reintroduced to the wild in New York and other eastern states, advocates say. Rosenbach said the agency doesn't have any mountain lion experts on staff, "because we don't have mountain lions in New York." 1. Before he died in 1849, professional hunter Thomas Meacham is believed to have killed 77 mountain lions. NO 2. This needs two answers. This needs two answers. Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have taken on a near mythic status in the eastern US. It depends on WHO you ask! Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. An Upstate New York town is using social media to warn its residents about reports of what some are calling a mountain lion in the area. According to the town, residents have reported sightings of the rare animal in the area of Coons Crossing.