ALTOONA, PA – The question of whether mountain lions roam Pennsylvania’s wilds is one that ignites curiosity and debate among residents.
Known by various names such as cougar, puma, and catamount, the mountain lion is a creature steeped in mystery and speculation.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the history of lions in Pennsylvania dates back to before European settlement, when Indigenous peoples, including the Lenape, coexisted with these majestic animals, referring to them as Kwèn’shùkwënay.
Early European explorers and settlers often described encounters with mountain lions in their journals, highlighting the animal’s once-prevalent presence in the region.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, as settlers pushed into Pennsylvania’s wilderness, they hunted these predators, viewing them as threats to livestock and agricultural development. By the 1870s, mountain lions were largely eradicated from the state.
Despite their supposed extinction, stories of mountain lions persist. Residents occasionally encounter these big cats in captivity, as they have been bred in zoos and private collections.