Community Corner

DEP: Greenwich Cat is a Mountain Lion [Update]

State agency believes the animal was held in captivity and either escaped or was released.

Update: June 9

Greenwich Police released a photo taken of the elusive mountain lion that was taken June 5 on the King Street campus of Brunswick School.

Original Story

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Based on hazy photographs and pawprints, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) believes in north Greenwich is a mountain lion. In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, the DEP said it is working with Greenwich police to investigate the sightings.

The cat was seen in the vicinity of on King St., near the Westchester County Airport. 

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According to the release, the eastern mountain lion was declared extinct in March by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and there are no native populations of the animal in CT. The closest confirmed population of mountain lions is in Missouri. 

 “Although there is no population of mountain lions in the Northeast, we believe that this animal may very likely be a mountain lion that has been held in captivity and either escaped or was released,” said DEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette.           

Anyone that sees this animal should not approach it and should immediately call and the DEP 24-hour Emergency Phone Line at 860-423-3333. Anyone having knowledge of where the animal may have come from can also anonymously contact the DEP at 860-424-3333 with the information.


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