After Cat Sightings, Greenwich Private School Limits Access [Update]

Update, 3:13 p.m., Wednesday:

Brunswick School has limited access to its King Street campus to faculty and staff and closed its cross country trails, as environmental officials investigate three reports of what has been described as a mountain lion lurking on school grounds.

Since May 31, there have been three sightings of a large cat-like animal with a long tail at the King Street campus, which abuts the Westchester County Airport complex and Rye Lake Drive. A Greenwich Emergency Medical Service crew was among those to report seeing the large cat between May 31 and June 5, according to Greenwich Police.

Whether it was a mountain lion remains unclear as they have been extinct along the Eastern Seaboard for more than a century, according to Greenwich Conservation Director Denise Savageau. The only East Coast habitat for the wild felines is in Florida, according to Savageau. If the animal wasn’t a coyote or a bobcat, Savageau a mountain lion in Connecticut could only be the result of someone illegally owning it and letting it return to the wild or it escaped from captivity.

Greenwich Police said they have not received any reports of missing wild animals held by private farms and foundations in the the backcountry area.

Until there is a determination of what the animal is, school spokeswoman Bonni Brodnick said, “Brunswick has decided to take the following precautions which will take effect immediately - The King Street Campus will be closed except for faculty and staff. All scheduled camps and summer programs will proceed as planned. The Cross Country Trails are closed to all, and have been so posted.”

Classes at the campus that houses the Pre, Lower and Middle schools, ended June 7.

"On Monday morning, we met with the Greenwich Police Department and a representative of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection,” Brodnick said in an e-mail.

“We are at this time, awaiting confirmation from the DEP as to the identity of this animal. As a result of this incident, Brunswick has begun to take steps to mitigate this issue with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department and the Department of Environmental Protection," said Mike DeAngelo, Brunswick School Director of Safety & Security.

According to the website mountainlion.org, “The mountain lion is tan in color, with black tipped ears and tail. Adults weigh 80 to 180 pounds and stand two to three feet high at the shoulders. The length of an adult lion is 6 to 8 feet from the nose to the tip of the tail. The tail measures one-third of the lion’s length.”

Greenwich Police have very blurry copies of photos of the animal near a rock outcropping and what is believed to be its scat in gravel and dirt. They are being evaluated by Connecticut DEP officials.

Savageau said if anyone happens upon a suspected mountain lion, or a coyote or black bear, they should “act large.  Stand up tall, wave your arms and make noises. Don’t freeze. You don’t want to act like a bunny.” By acting large and making noise, the large animal more than likely will not view a human as prey, Savageau said.

She also advised residents to remove any food sources including bird feeders and garbage cans.

If the feline is spotted, Savageau said residents should exercise caution in trying to photograph, preferably from the confines of a building or car.

Update: 4:45 p.m., June 7:

Greenwich Conservation Director Denise Savageau said the mountain lion has been extinct along the Eastern seaboard and is only found in Florida.

“The reports were of a large cat with a long tail,” Savageau told Patch Tuesday afternoon. “In many instances we will find that they are actually coyotes or bobcats; that is one of the things we’re trying to determine.”

So it remains unclear whether a mountain lion was indeed spotted on the King Street campus of the Brunswick School, adjacent to the Westchester County Airport. There have been three reported sightings made to Greenwich Police since May 31, the latest being Sunday.

If there is a mountain lion in the area, Savageau said, “Chances are it is a cat that was illegally captive and let go or it escaped.”

If there is a mountain lion, coyote, bobcat or bear are spotted, Savageau urged residents to “act large.  Stand up tall, wave your arms and make noises. Don’t freeze. You don’t want to act like a bunny.” By acting large and making noise, the large animal more than likely will not view a human as prey.

“It is most important for people not to feed their pets outside or the birds. Now that the weather is warmer, take in the bird feeders. Coyotes and black bears love birdseed and they love the rodents who love to feed on the birdseed,” Savageau also said.

“Eliminate the food sources,” she said.

Savageau said that Greenwich Police showed her “some blurry photos” of the animal spotted on the King Street school campus. “…but they were unable to confirm with me or the state DEP if it was a mountain lion, Savageau said.

She also said that if someone does see a large animal near their home or in their neighborhood, “remember it’s safety first” before pulling out the camera or cellphone to capture an image.

The only naturally occurring large, wild cat in Connecticut is the bobcat. Once rare, bobcats are now found statewide.
 
“Healthy wild animals are rarely aggressive toward humans,” said Rick Jacobson, Director of the DEP Wildlife Division. Jacobson added, “we simply recommend residents remain vigilant in supervising children and pets when outdoors.”

Savageau said because of the mountain lion extinction in Connecticut, there aren't many fact sheets available on dealing with the large cats. Greenwich Police issued a link to a safety and fact sheet offered by Colorado wildlife officials which can be viewed here.

A message seeking comment from school officials was not immediately answered.

Original story:

The Greenwich Police Department has had three reported sightings of a large cat in the King Street in the northwest corner area of town since May 31.

On Sunday evening, several Brunswick School faculty members observed what they described as a mountain lion on the King Street Campus, which abuts the Westchester County Airport and Rye Lake Drive.  The large cat was observed near the wooded area and walked off into the heavy brush. The cat also was observed by a crew from GEMS.

Police said that the animal did not approach any humans or domestic animals.

In a statement, police said the sightings are being investigated by wildlife and conservation experts and they urge residents to be extra vigilant in dealing with large wildlife.