Phil Brown broke a story in the Adirondack Almanack yesterday about an alleged big cat sighting just south of us in Crown Point, New York. The short, grainy video of the “Crown Point Cougar” is exciting, but still unverified. Here’s what we know so far.

[pullquote]It walks like a cougar; it looks like one. The big question is the size…[/pullquote]

A trail camera recently captured video of an animal that may be a cougar sauntering through a backyard in Crown Point… Cara Cowan posted the video on her Facebook page… [showing] a long-tailed tawny animal walking and then trotting through the yard before it disappears while descending into a large bowl-like swale.

John Laundre, a wildlife biologist and author of a book on cougars, said the animal’s coloring, shape, gait, and long tail are consistent with a cougar, but he added that it’s impossible to judge how big the animal is from the video.

“It walks like a cougar; it looks like one. The big question is the size,” said Laundre… If the animal is not a cougar, he said, it’s a housecat. (Source: The Adirondack Almanack)

Brown’s article, “A Cougar In Crown Point? You Be The Judge“, has already elicited almost four dozen comments and a Facebook buzz storm. Essex wildways scout, John Davis, is following the still-developing situation closely and is eagerly awaiting verification. We will continue to update this post with new develops.

Crown Point Cougar on Facebook

We’re seeing lots of interesting comments on Adirondack Almanack’s original Crown Point cougar Facebook post. Here are a few highlights from the discussion so far.

[pullquote]There have been sightings in the Crown Point area for more than 30 years. I do not doubt they are here.[/pullquote]

“Continuously denying a population, even if it’s a migrating one, puts the animal and the public in danger due to misunderstanding. Just admit it, educate about it, and be excited the ecosystem is getting healthier.” ~ Paul D. Varga

“Seems to be going too fast. The gait doesn’t seem like a cougar.” ~ Lisa Hertel

“I think it is likely. And my husband saw one from quite close range in Newcomb about a year ago. They are here.” ~ Susan Cummings Goodspeed

“There have been sightings in the Crown Point area for more than 30 years. I do not doubt they are here.” ~ Angela Nolan

“Absolutely! One crossed in front of my car 3 years ago on the first ridge from 87 towards Keene. Huge tail and body.” ~ Cathie Conway

“Yes. No other domestic cat that large.” ~ Janet Gates

“There’s nothing there to gauge size. With nothing for a size reference, it could just as easily be a housecat.” ~ Ann Carter Bledsoe

“Get the raw video and let’s try again. Aiming a cell phone camera at the computer screen has created a very poor quality video.” ~ Tristram de Lyones

“Looks like a cougar (mountain lion). I wouldn’t be surprised, I’ve seen two before just outside of Malone in upstate ny. DEC still says there aren’t any in NYS but that just isn’t true…. Hard to tell the size of the cat by the video, but by the length of the tail it’s either a house cat or a cougar.” ~ Joe Pitt

“Gate seems wrong along with size for a mountain lion. Not to say there aren’t any around. I just don’t think this is one.” ~ Sam Myers III

“It’s a mountain lion. It doesn’t need to be tagged, managed, hunted, or hounded. Leave it be. We have had mountain lions quietly living and moving through this area ever since I can remember. It is a wild cat and wild means free. Not a specimen for our use. One of god’s beautiful creatures roaming god’s land. Look but don’t touch.” ~ JM Riley

“Tail too short for a mountain lion. I say a coyote?” ~ Eugene Knowlton

“Videos too grainy, but definitely moves like one, tail looks about length.” ~ Joshua Luongo

“Want it to be a mountain lion!” ~ Margaret Dwyer

Is the Crown Point Cougar Really a Cougar?

So, what do you think? Is the “Crown Point cougar” actually a cougar? If you haven’t watched the video (of a video) that was posted on Adirondack Almanack, start there. And then join the conversation.