Saratoga County Residents Claim They ‘Saw A Lion’
"People are saying, literally, they saw a lion," Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen told the Times Union, adding that another resident became alarmed after finding large paw prints.
According to the Times Union, a facebook post that went up Thursday afternoon warned residents in the northern part of Halfmoon that there have been sightings of a mountain lion with a message reading:
"We have received information from residents that there have been sightings of a mountain lion in the (area) of Coons Crossing; the Northern part of Halfmoon. We would just like to alert everyone to please be aware for the safety your families and pets.
Thank you."
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, eastern cougars otherwise known as mountain lions, have been absent from the state since the late 1800's, but there have been sightings of them over the years. It's possible that one was spotted in Saratoga County recently, and today, the town is warning its residents to be careful.
For information on how to avoid conflict with wildlife, dec.ny.gov/animals/89522.html.
To report sightings of rare species in New York, visit dec.ny.gov/animals/91024.html.