Mountain Lions in Connecticut: The Argument That Will Never End (2025)

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) states that bobcats are the only large wildcats in the state—meaning there are no mountain lions.

However, if you browse any Connecticut-specific social media group, you'll find plenty of discussions about mountain lions. Here's how it usually unfolds:

1. A Connecticut resident spots a large cat and gets excited.
2. They snap a photo or video of the animal and post it online, often with a caption like, "I saw a Mountain Lion in my backyard!"
3. They get relentlessly mocked for acalendar year by those who know better.

This creates a bit of a dilemma for me. On one hand, I enjoy a good roast, but on the other hand, it’s not a crime to lack expertise on wildlife.

Take, for example, a post in the Connecticut Reddit group in 2022. Someone shared a video of a cat they believed to be a mountain lion.

Mountain Lion in Connecticut
byu/Virtual-Raccoon2248 inConnecticut

The animal was, in fact, a bobcat. The thread exploded with comments like:

• dabasaurus-rex: "I immediately downvoted lol. This must be in the top 10 triggering statements for a Nutmegger."
• RealFlyForARyGuy: "Clearly a Golden Retriever."
• 4Impossible_Guess4: "Someone throw the damn tennis ball before this dog comes to my house and I adopt it! Cool vid."
• karmint1: "Clearly a saber-tooth tiger."
• derekYeeter2go: "We have a Polar Bear on our property. I swear. He's all black and about four feet tall."

You get the idea.

What I find particularly interesting about these threads is how they seem to go on forever. Despite 15-20 Reddit users already pointing out that the cat was a bobcat and not a mountain lion, others still feel the need to reiterate the same point. It seems like getting your screen name next to the "correct" answer holds some value for people.

Fortunately, I don’t have to moderate these discussions, and it’s certainly not my job to explain what the wildlife community says on the matter. When I have questions about Connecticut's wildlife, I reach out to our I-95 Morning Show Wildlife Correspondent, Jen "The Zookeeper." Last year, we asked her for a definitive answer on mountain lion sightings in the Nutmeg State, and here’s what she had to say:

Jen: "Connecticut is a pretty dense state, but it’s also a small state compared to, say, California. It's hard to hide a 120-pound mammal that's a silent predator, hunting everything it can. So, while it’s possible, the last confirmed mountain lion sighting here was in the 1800s or early 1900s. But you never know. It's important to get your information from reliable sources. I don’t believe they’re here, but it's crucial not to spread rumors about what's out there. I actually spoke with someone the other day who said, 'I just saw a mountain lion.' I asked, 'Can we talk for a second? What did you see?' She replied, 'Yes, it was a mountain lion.' I asked her about the tail—mountain lions have these big, bottle-brush tails. She said, 'Oh, it didn’t have a tail.' I told her, 'That was a 30-pound bobcat you saw.' She agreed, 'Yeah, you’re probably right.' So, don't cry wolf—or in this case, a mountain lion—if you’re not seeing one."

In short, Jen believes mountain lions are not in Connecticut, but leaves open the possibility. It's wise not to speak in absolutes when it comes to animals. While she’s confident they aren’t here, she knows better than to entertain arguments from those who are convinced otherwise. Speaking in black-and-white terms only leads to endless debates, something I, as a click-chasing moron, fully understand.

Jen Kotkin is not alone in her view. In August of 2022, NPR spoke to DEEP biologist Jason Hawley, who confirmed that "data doesn't support a breeding population of mountain lions in Connecticut." Hawley added:

People often get very emotional about it. They’ll say, 'Hey, I know what I saw. I’ve seen bobcats before, and this wasn’t a bobcat.' And it’s a lose-lose situation, because there’s not much you can say to change their minds in most cases.

Will people in Connecticut ever stop claiming they’ve seen mountain lions in Connecticut? Will others ever stop berating them? Probably not. This same conversation will continue long after we’re gone. The only thing that will change is the screen names.

More about Jen "The Zookeeper" Kotkin:

Jen has been deeply involved in the conservation and science education field for over 30 years. As the Director of Animal Care at The New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut, she was responsible for the care of native wildlife and birds of prey, while educating the public about the important roles these wild neighbors play. During her time at the Bronx Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo, Jen focused on the care of exotic hoofstock and again worked to teach the public about the delicate balance between humans and habitats. While at a wildlife sanctuary in Half Moon Bay, CA, Jen played a key role in training and handling over 50 exotic species. Her main focus was creating curricula for a variety of programs, including those for at-risk and foster youth. These programs helped vulnerable children develop trust and self-worth through healing relationships with the non-releasable wildlife at the sanctuary.

Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify

Currently, Jen is the owner and sole proprietor of Jen Kotkin Pet Care, where she provides pet care services as well as mental and physical exercise and stimulation for dogs, cats, horses, birds, and more. She continues to develop a range of programs tailored to the needs of various organizations. Jen's passion for teaching others about the natural world is central to her work, and she hopes to inspire that same spark in others, just as it was ignited in her.