Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion Evidence from an Independent Wildlife Biologist

Mt Lion – Courtesy of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

An Interview with Biologist Rick Van de Poll, Ph.D. by Wayne King

Read these brief reports of sightings and see if you don’t become a believer yourself.

What was your first encounter with signs that Mt. Lions might exist in NH?

Between September 1999 and December 2003 I conducted natural resource inventories of approximately 8,000 acres in the Ossipee Mountains for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. In October of 1999 I came across my first positive sign of a mountain lion in the form of an old scat on the top of Larcom Mountain. I sent the sample off to the Wildlife Conservation Society, who had it DNA tested at the National Institute of Health laboratories in Washington, D.C. This sample was too degraded to provided any results, either positive or negative. During that same month, however, I obtained a plaster cast sample of a track, at the base of the mountain, which appeared to be mountain lion.

A year later in December, in the same locale, I obtained a very fresh sample of a scat which had a distinct, cat-like odor and was the standard size for mountain lion (which I recognized immediately having collected several samples from the western United States). This time I contacted the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Federation, who agreed to test the sample along with a sample I took from the Squam Range in Holderness. Both samples were sent to the Wyoming Fish and Game Commission, and both samples were tested along with several Upper Peninsula Michigan cougar scats. Both samples were identified through nuclear satellite DNA testing to contain “no appreciable difference” in their array signature from mountain lion scat arrays that the WFGC had on file from western states. Because there were no existing arrays from New England bobcats, lynxes or mountain lions to compare them with, they did not have any secondary confirmation information with which to certify their findings. The gentleman in Michigan, however, who received the shipment through overnight delivery, stated that this scat was unequivocally mountain lion, and that he would be willing to stand by his opinion, based on several years of scat analysis he has conducted on the (now confirmed) resident population in Michigan.

Did you contact NH Fish and Game about this?

All of the above data has been related to the NH Fish & Game Department. In fact, I contacted them initially to determine if they had any DNA testing facilities in the state. I have forwarded them my own list of 32 sightings in the Lakes Region that I have gathered from area residents since 1999. I also testified at a hearing about the DNA results and had Wyoming Fish & Game Commission forward their letter of results directly to Mike Marchand at NH Fish & Game. In spite of this report, they still consider the finding insufficient to confirm active presence of mountain lion in New Hampshire.

Is there a good reason for being this skeptical on their part?

As a wildlife biologist with 30 years experience, I am inclined to be skeptical of hearsay evidence on wildlife species that are rare. I can respect the opinions of the NH Fish & Game biologists, whose public relations tasks would become more onerous should they admit that we have a federally endangered predator present in this state. However, when the preponderance of evidence points to the active presence of (likely) a few individual mountain lions in this state, it would behoove the state to begin the necessary task of gathering information that informs its population of citizens about mountain lions rather than contributing to the myth that they do not exist.

Dr. Rick Van de Poll is a principle in Ecosystem Management Consultants of Center Sandwich, NH.

I Believe T-Shirt from Moosewood Communications

About the Author

Wayne King is a recovering politician, nature writer and political commentator and President of Moosewood Communicaions in Rumney, NH. He blogs from his space in the Blogosphere, Greener Minds: GreenerMinds.Blogspot.com where he advocates for a sustainable planet; and from the Moosewood Communications Blog MoosewoodCommunications.blogspot.com.
King holds a BS Degree in Earth Sciences and a Masters Degree in Earth & Space Science Education from the University of New Hampshire, Durham. King is also an accomplished photographer. His images can be found in galleries from Maine to California. His images are a celebration of life, blending the real and the surreal to achieve a sense of place or time that reaches beyond the moment into a dreamlike quintessentialism designed to spark an emotional response. Using digital enhancement, handcrafting, painting, and sometimes even straight photography, King takes the viewer to a place that is beyond simple truth to where truth meets passion, hope and dreams. His photoblog is Photoexpressionist.blogspot.com.

Mountain Lion

American Expedition 24-Ounce Thermal Mug These 24-Ounce Plastic Thermal Mugs are perfect for accompanying the modern day explorer on any outdoor adventure. The double-walled construction and spill-proof lid helps keep hot beverages hot, and cold beverages cold while working or playing outdoors. Each mug includes a booklet of illustrations and information profiling the product’s featured animal….

American Expedition Wildlife 18-Ounce Ceramic Mug These popular Stoneware coffee mugs have become a gift industry staple. This attractive, large mug has a capacity of 18-ounces. Each mug is packaged in an attractive sturdy gift box and includes a booklet featuring illustrations and information profiling the product’s featured animal….

American Expedition Wildlife Steel Travel Mug (Mountain Lion) $9.39 This American Expedition insulated steel travel mug has been created with passion and careful attention to detail. It is the reflection of the modern day explorer’s love of nature and wildlife in America and a tribute to their desire to share their experiences with others. When you receive this special travel mug it will represent a unique aspect of America’s outdoors. Our hope is that it will eva…

Down from the Mountain (The O Brother, Where Art Thou? Concert) $6.95 Capturing one of the most extraordinary concerts in the history of traditional American music Down from the Mountain goes onstage and backstage with the acclaimed soundtrack artists of the Coen Brothers’ hit film O Brother Where Art Thou? Filmed by the Academy Award nominated creators of The War Room this fascinating documentary features behind-the-scenes encounters and dazzling performances from…

The Lion King [VHS] $4.02 Anybody who struts around with Simba’s hard-won authority deserves this royal DVD read-along from Disney. Kids can recoil at Uncle Scar’s dastardly deeds en español and discover that “hakuna matata” sounds pretty much the same in Spanish, French, Italian, or German. And should the dynamic storytelling fail to thrill your 4- to 12-year-old fan, a flurry of other interactive options await. Tog…

Barney: The Best of Barney $7.18 Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 09/09/2008 Run time: 59 minutes Rating: Nr…

Aladdin [VHS] $3.03 Product Details Actors: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements Writers: Brian Pimental, Burny Mattinson, Chris Sanders, Daan Jippes, Darrell Rooney Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, HiFi Sound Rated: G (General Audience) Number of tapes: 1 Studio: Walt Disney Home Video VHS Release Date: September 29, 1…

Saturday Night Live – The Best of Chris Farley [VHS] $0.01 The Best of Chris Farley blasts through 68 minutes of the wildly hilarious characters the comic actor created while with Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s. Farley was a comedic gem–not only because he created such bizarre, repulsively funny characters, such as Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker, or Lori Davis, cosmetics infomercial queen, but because he lived completely inside the character, d…

Nite Guard Solar NG-001 Predator Control Light, Single Pack $16.67 The Nite Guard solar-powered night predator light is a maintenance-free unit that keeps nocturnal predators away from your birds, livestock and property. Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 3 x 1 x 2, Removal Of: Nocturnal predators, Single, Pair, or Set: Single, Power Source: Solar, Indoor/Outdoor Use: Outdoor, Material Type: Sealed temperature resistant plastic, Includes: Auto on/off…

Schrade Old Timer Sharpfinger Knife Fixed Blade $13.63 Skinning blade. Leather sheath. Stainless steel blade. Sure grip unbreakable sawcut handles. Overall length 7.1”. Handle length 3.7”. Blade length 3.3”. 100% hand inspected. Limited lifetime warranty. Boxed packaging….