The loud roar that echoed through Rochester startled many residents, getting uncomfortably close to homes.
This week, reports of potential mountain lion sightings in upstate New York have set off alarms among local officials, leaving residents anxious and prompting shelter orders in affected areas.
On Wednesday, Curtis Jones encountered what he believed to be the elusive big cat, last spotted in New York in 2011, while out for a walk.
“It just kind of growled, and I kept on walking,” he recounted. “I mean, I looked at it, it looked at me, and my brain was like, ‘This isn’t happening. I went outside for a nice stroll.’
The Rochester police caught wind of various social media videos that seemed to depict this large feline. Officers also received calls from concerned residents claiming they spotted it.
A shelter-in-place order was quickly issued but was later rescinded when police couldn’t confirm the animal’s presence.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office even deployed drones in the area for further investigation, but they came up empty.
Meanwhile, Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester confirmed that no animals had escaped from their facilities.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is looking into the situation as well, stating that initial assessments suggest the animal likely resembles a mountain lion based on doorbell footage and other metrics taken from the site.
“We’re actively investigating reports of large cats around Rochester to ascertain if there’s any verification for the images,” the DEC noted in a statement. “More updates will be shared as we learn more. It’s important to remind the public to maintain distance from any potentially dangerous wildlife or unfamiliar dogs.”
They also advised: “Back away slowly, snap any photos from a safe distance, and report what you see to law enforcement promptly.”
