Mountain lion in CT

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So I was canoeing, not biking, but this was still pretty cool. We put in at Heron Cove park in Willington. Just before we went under one of the train bridges between there and Plains Road in Eagleville, I saw what I first thought was a dog padding across the bridge, and pointed it out to my brother. It was at least 60, probably more like 70 pounds, and orange/copper like a setter, with some white markings in the ears. Just before it jumped into the woods at the end of the bridge, it looked right at us, and was unmistakenly a feline.

I have three Maine Coon cats, with the largest at 24 pounds. This thing dwarfed it. No way it was a bobcat.

Add this to the 'not officially confirmed' sighting. It was a true privilege. I just wish I had the camera...

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[wings]

Was that you and another guy that put at 74 around 2pm.I was there w/ 4 other kayaks and a green canoe.All I saw was kids jumping off the bridges.Was a fun,fast ride,'rescued' 2 women in our group.

steve..cape cod/brooklyn,ct

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We put in at noon. We hopscotched cars and didn't want to leave the canoe unattended, so my brother drove my car back to his Mazda Tribute that we used to shuttle the canoe. We'd have seen your car near the launch at 3 or so. We lost a blue tie-down, so lemme know if you saw that!

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[Jisch]

I'd love to see a cougar/mountain lion in CT. I've looked around at the "evidence" posted on line and there really isn't anything definitive that's been presented (or posted anyway) proving that they are here. The realists want to see DNA evidence from scat or hair.

I've seen a bobcat before and they are definitely not mountain lion sized but a bobcat definitely looks like a really big house cat - yes bigger than James.

John

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The kicker was the long tail, drooping down to the ground and curling up again. Neither bobcats nor dogs have that. My brother and I reacted in the same way at the same time; there was no mistaking it when it looked right at us.

The trip, BTW, was awesome. Nice high water. It would have been a pain with any less. Lots of rocks to keep things interesting, and a few whitewater spots that would have been nothing in a kayak but good for a thrill in an open canoe.

There was one submerged log with no 'goaround' that I thought for sure was going to tip us, but we got over and somehow under the immediately following low tree without tipping. I recommend the the Willimantic River highly, especially while the water is high.

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[Jisch]

Sounds like a good deal. I haven't taken the kayaks down from hanging in the garage all summer. 3 hour paddle?

John

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Put in a Heron Cove, took out at Plains Road, never working too hard at the paddling,
2.6 hours. You can start lots higher up or add the full leg to Willimantic to make any trip length you want. There's a dam/portage in Willi, but they made that new white water park there so it's probably pretty simple. Good guide info here: http://www.willimanticriver.org/recreation/paddling.html

I hope to buy a kayak soon, so maybe we can hook up. Still working on that bike thing.

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