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The mountain lion spotted in Greenwich and later killed by a car on the Wilbur Cross Parkway had traveled more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota since 2009, according to genetic tests from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The confirmation of a wild mountain lion in our state was the first recorded in more than 100 years, DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said at a Tuesday news conference. "There is still no evidence indicating that there is a native population of mountain lions in Connecticut."
The genetic tests, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service Wildlife Genetics Laboratory in Missoula, Mont., show that tissue from the mountain lion seen in Greenwich matches the genetic structure of the mountain lion population in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.
DNA samples collected from the mountain lion also match with DNA collected from a cougar whose movements were tracked in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where it was nicknamed the St. Croix cougar from late 2009 through early 2010.
The mountain lion was killed June 11, just days after many sightings were reported throughout the Greenwich area. A 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV hit the cougar near Exit 55 on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford.
The necropsy of the lion was performed at DEEPs Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington. It showed that the young 140-pound male mountain lion was not neutered or declawed, which Esty said shows the animal was not bred in captivity or kept as an exotic pet.
The distance between the first documentation of the cougar in Minnesota and the spot where the animal was killed is nearly 1,000 miles, nearly double the longest previously recorded journey of 640 miles, according to DEEP wildlife biologist Paul Rego. If the cougar was from South Dakota, as suspected, his travel was likely 1,500 to 1,800 miles.
Esty said this was the first evidence of a mountain lion making its way to Connecticut from Western states and said there was no evidence of a native population of cougars in Connecticut.
A mountain lion on the streets of Connecticut, traveling through out state, is certainly an unusual event, said Esty. It is, however, a strong symbol of what we all hope for that wilderness areas and biological diversity can be preserved and protected.
The last verified sighting of the mountain lion was June 5 at the Brunswick School in Greenwich. Previous testing of the animal's scat confirmed it to be the same animal killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
Were satisfied from a public safety standpoint that theres nothing else to be concerned about right now, said Lt. Kraig Gray, spokesman for the Greenwich Police Department.
DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette said the results were convincing, but the department plans to continue genetic and isotope testing to determine how the animal got from Wisconsin to Connecticut. I wish it were here to interview so it could help figure that part out, she said. We also want to try and understand just what this animal subsisted on during its time in the wild.
Can you believe the mountain lions epic journey? Comment below or send responses to ahelhoski@thedailygreenwich.com
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