Hiker Rescued After Reporting a Mt Lion Encounter in Catskills

Mountain Lions in New York State?

Mountain lions in New York might be one of the state's most hotly debated topics. Mention one in the Adirondacks or Catskills, and you'll hear plenty of hunters, hikers, and longtime residents insist they've seen one.

Ask the New York State DEC, though, and you'll get a very different answer, and that debate is heating up again after a late-night rescue a few weeks back in Greene County.

According to the DEC, a 23-year-old hiker called 911 just before 11 PM on Wednesday, July 8th, while hiking Devil's Path in Lexington, which is about an hour south of Albany in the Catskills.

Was He Being Followed by a Mt Lion?

According to the report, he believed a mountain lion was following him through the woods. Forest Rangers, New York State Police, and the Greene County Sheriff's Office hiked in and safely escorted him out by around 3 AM.

No injuries were reported.

After reviewing the incident, DEC wildlife officials said the animal was most likely a coyote based on the behavior the hiker described.

Most Likely a Coyote

The agency maintains there is no native, self-sustaining mountain lion population in New York, noting the animals disappeared from the state more than a century ago.

While there have been a handful of verified cougar sightings over the years, including escaped captive animals and one famous cougar that wandered nearly 1,800 miles from South Dakota. But the DEC says most reported sightings are of bobcats, fishers, dogs, or even large house cats.

Still, stories like this always spark passionate debate. Much like the ongoing UFO/UAP conversation, there are plenty of eyewitness accounts but very little physical evidence such as trail camera photos, tracks, hair, or scat to settle the argument once and for all.

So...what do you think? Have you ever seen something in the Adirondacks or Catskills that made you believe mountain lions really are out there?

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