BIG CATS: We used to put the existence of mountain lions on a
par with Big Foot, little green men, or the Abominable
Snowman.

No more.

Way too many people have seen these bigs cats in McKean and
neighboring counties – credible people – to deny them any
longer.

Those who follow this subject are well aware that the
Pennsylvania Game Commission adamantly denies there are any
mountain lions – with the possible exception of ones that had been
held in captivity but someone got loose.

When we wrote about a recent sighting, here’s some of the
response:

Greg Davis in Westline called July 25 to report he had seen a
mountain lion while he was bicycling on the Kinzua Valley Trail
near Libby Run a couple weeks before.

“The mountain lion never saw me. I’m glad about that since I was
on a bicycle and didn’t even have a pocket knife with me.

“He was big – about 3 1/2 to 4 feet long with a tail about 2
feet long. He had a puma-shaped face and was tawny colored with a
black tip on his tail.

“It wasn’t a bobcat; I’ve seen bobcats.

“A lot of people out here – and in the state – have seen
mountain lions. The Game Commission just won’t admit it,” Greg
tells us.

We also heard from Bonnie DelGiudice of Jacksonville, Fla.:
“Just wanted you to know I was up there around the end of June the
first part of July staying with my daughter Vonnie Clark on Bordell
Road.”

“She and her husband Jerry saw the mountain lion running past
them about 200 yards from their house on their way home from town.
I tried to tell them before about everyone seeing it in or around
that area. They didn’t believe me ’til they saw for themselves. Now
they pretty much keep an eye out for their son and pets….”

Ralph Compton of Olean, N.Y., had seen a mountain lion about a
year ago in June 2006.

“A friend and I at about 1:30 p.m. were on Rock City Hill before
the Barnum Road. A mountain lion jumped out,” he said. “I almost
wish I’d have hit it,” he added noting that would remove the
skepticism about the sightings.

“There was no doubt in my mind” about what I saw. “I’m a hunter
and I know what I’m talking about.”