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Mountain lion or bobcat? What are area residents really seeing?

BELMONT — Officials throughout Belmont County have been receiving reports of sightings of what people believe to be a mountain lion, or a cougar, as the animal is commonly called.

In one instance, a security officer at a well pad called the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department saying the animal was outside the guard shack near Belmont, preventing him from being able to leave. Others have said they have spotted the cougar at the edge of wooded areas in different parts of the county.

There has been no word from officials yet that they have seen an actual mountain lion roaming Belmont County.

The closest confirmed sighting of a cougar in recent years was in Chicago, where police officers were forced to shoot and kill the animal.

According to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor Chris Smith, the ODNR is not aware of any confirmed cougar sightings in Ohio. Smith added he is not discrediting anyone who claims to have seen one, but he believes it may be more likely they are seeing a bobcat. Bobcats have become numerous in parts of the Buckeye State in the last few years, according to Smith.

“We use reports and different data to quantify the population,” Smith said, “and there is much more hard proof of bobcats than there is mountain lions.”

In recent months, one sighting of a bobcat was reported not far from the well pad guard shack near the entrance to the Barkcamp dam. A dead bobcat was photographed lying along state Route 147 just west of Bethesda.

Although bobcats are large enough to be intimidating if encountered in person, Smith said if a person sees a cougar, they will know it.

“Mountain lions are no small creature, much larger than a bobcat,” Smith said.

Cougars are large — males weigh between 120 and 220 pounds, and females range from 64-140 pounds. An adult bobcat only gets to about 30 pounds.

Smith said it is easy to see one thing but think it’s another. He added the ODNR receives pictures from people all the time saying the images show a bobcat, but the subject actually turns out to be a common house cat.

According to the ODNR Division of Wildlife website, there were more than 500 bobcat sightings in Ohio last year. Of those reports, 53 occurred in nearby Guernsey County and 38 in Noble County. Those sightings were verified with trail cameras or carcasses on roadsides.

Smith said whether an animal is a cougar or a bobcat, if it is healthy, it will run and try to avoid human contact just like any wildlife animal would.

“Do not try and go up to it, no matter what kind of animal it is,” Smith said. “Don’t try and pet it, don’t corner it, do not follow it. Call authorities right away and just leave it be.”

Area residents are advised to dial 911 if they spot a large cat. The proper authorities will respond.

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