Cougars on the Fenton Traditional Cache
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Cougars on the Fenton
One of the most common wildlife rumors discussed is whether or not cougars still exist in Connecticut. Many folks in these parts all seem to have seen one or know someone who has seen one. At one time, cougars did roam all over New England. The United States Fish and Wildlife Services states that the possibility of cougars still roaming New England today is still being argued and that this story is still open. The Connecticut DEP however makes no such open-ended statement and declares that the cougar is extinct within this state's boundaries.
A cougar can grow to a length of 7 to 9 feet and leap 15 feet in height to climb a tree. It can drop from a height of 40 feet and run away uninjured. Cougars stand about 2+1/2 feet high and weigh 150-200 pounds. The tracks of the cougar are cat-like with no claw marks showing and measure over 3 inches in length. Females den in caves, rock crevices, brush piles, etc.
The last authenticated cougar kill in New England was shot by Alexander Crowell near Barnard, VT in 1881. Yet sightings of these creatures persist to present day such as this one reported in the Daily Campus 10/4/2006:
"When a local woman went hiking on the Nipmuck trail near campus, she and her friend spotted a mountain lion 50 yards ahead of them. 'We saw a cougar, it was right on the trail with the Fenton River off of Gurleyville Road. It went across the trail from the riverside into the brush'"
Adventuresmart.com offers this advice to hikers that come upon a cougar: "Stand tall and slowly back away while talking in a confident tone. Never run away, make yourself look larger than life, and pick up small children and pets. If the cougar attacks, fight back with everything you've got."
Enjoy your pursuit of this cache alongside the peaceful Fenton River. Odds are very good that you won't find a mountain lion on your hike. If you do, mind what you have read, save you, it can. Oh and please take a picture of the darn thing so we can put this rumor to rest once and for all!
For the first person to brave the cougar path there is an unactivated geocoin as your FTF prize inside the hidden ammo can which also contains a logbook and other goodies. We averaged 40 readings on our Garmin and had an accuracy of 23 feet due to the foliage overhead.
Ample parking for this cache is available on Gurleyville Road at the bridge over the Fenton River. There is a trailhead marker right there to point you in the right direction. [Note: Please do not use the "side street" off of Gurleyville Road that is in the area to reach this cache as it is not a public road and we do not have permission to use it. That road and that bridge are private property and the owner only has an arrangement with the University for its use.]
references:
-Mysterious New England, Austin Stevens
-Daily Campus October 4, 2006
-Adventuresmart.com
-Snopes.com
-Easterncougar.org
-fieldguide.mt.gov
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