A Sodus man, Clifford Mayo, sparked concern after capturing a blurry trail camera image of what he believed to be a cougar near his property. With several recent deer kills and large paw prints in the area, Mayo feared for the safety of his community, particularly with children nearby, according to reporting by WHEC-TV.
Mayo, an experienced hunter, noted seeing paw prints as large as five inches in diameter, adding to his worry. However, after an investigation, the state DEC determined the sighting was a case of mistaken identity.
In a statement, the DEC confirmed that the animal was likely a coyote, citing the track size and presence of claw marks as key evidence. New York State has not had a confirmed wild cougar population since the late 1800s.
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