This young male cougar was found to . Mountain Lions:They can have similar coloring and their tails can look alike, which has lead to some house cats being mistaken for them, even though mountain lions are much, much bigger. In the decades that followed, many cougar enthusiasts came to share Wrights conclusions, at least at first. Hawley: Wildlife biologists across the United States know where the current mountain lion range is. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. Emaileditor@connecticutmag.com, or contact usonFacebook@connecticutmagazine orTwitter@connecticutmag. Weve had coyotes misidentified. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book, Abbott, of the Housatonic Valley Association, is equally skeptical of the vast majority of mountain lion sightings. 5:00 PM. In Florida, where mountain lions are known as panthers, dozens are killed each year by cars. Even in parts of the country where there are documented breeding populations of mountain lions, there are still many false reports. Hawley: That animal was documented. (My wife didnt get a look at the tail.) Wright, however, didnt agree with his mentor and began writing publicly about mountain lions in the East. TPWD Confirmed Mountain Lions. It is the only confirmed presence of a cougar in recent years. Since May 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the Chubbuck and Pocatello areas and one in Inkom. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. Its a cool story with how far that animal walked. Report a new sighting Sightings List 1 2 Most mountain lion sightings are reported without any evidence other than eyewitness descriptions. To date, no footage of a mountain lion has surfaced. Hawley, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, says data dont support a breeding population of mountain lions in Connecticut. Give users the ability to create and share their own custom maps and use zoom, pinch, rotate, and tilt to explore maps in more detail. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. The police department decided to put out a warning to those in town. McEnroe: It is an uphill challenge. When you look at a state like Connecticut, with all the people we have here, all the trail cameras we have in the woods, all the cars we have driving you can imagine if we had an established population here in Connecticut, we would know about it pretty quickly. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, mountain lions became extinct in Connecticut in the 1800s, and bobcats are the only large wild cats found in the state. Bobcats top out at about 40 pounds (most are much lighter than that) and are only. It was found, though, that this particular big cat had traveled all the way from South Dakota a distance of 1,500 miles. Abbott believes it is possible that more mountain lions such as the one that was killed in Milford in 2011 could migrate here. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. As I rushed to meet her in the woods, she told me what she had seen. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. However, lions are unpredictable and can be dangerous. While he might feel like that well known movie character who was doubted at first, Bachelder is confident it was a cougar. Wait a minute--there was a sighting in New London County a few years back, and my wife read an article about a mountain lion or cougar being struck by a vehicle in Milford a few years back. I reported it to the DEP and they said they dont exist, he said. And Im assuming whatever were doing right now, its not working. The journey is chronicled in the 2016 book Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cats Walk Across America by William Stolzenburg. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. The main habitat requirement for mountain lions is stalking cover to successfully hunt prey. Bobcats: They are are the only wild cat found in the state and the most common in North America. Sometimes referred to as the ghosts of the forest, mountain lions or cougars are stealthy hunters that are hard to spot, even in areas they are known to inhabit. 3. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. While there is currently not much safety training being done in the state for the extinct animal, Betty predicts that cougar safety will eventually be as common in New England as it is in California. Bobcats, also, only hunt small prey. Hawley: Yeah. This young adult, male Mountain Lion was struck and killed by a SUV in Milford, Connecticut on June 11, 2012. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Since then, there have been no confirmed cases here, with the state saying: People very often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. Adult females typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and measure from 28 to 32 inches in length. It is also the most common wild cat found in North America. Seeing a wild cat can be both frightening and exciting, and its common for people to make mistakes in identification, as all most people are used to seeing is the common housecat. "Mountain lions are considered extinct in the northeast." Bobcats are not uncommon in Connecticut, according to the state, although their population is limited throughout the state, with the. Massachusetts and several other New England states have bear hunting, or harvest, seasons, which proponents say help control populations. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by DEEP. The only types of lynx that are indigenous to New England are the Canada Lynx and the Lynx rufus (bobcat). I always hold out the possibility of a sighting to be genuine, but at the same time, over decades of experience, we know that the vast majority are misidentifications and a small number are actually hoaxes, he says. But what might be his most compelling argument is that since this is Connecticut, the budget is too limited. DEEP says Connecticut does not have a mountain lion population. A young male was hit and killed by a car several years ago, but. and last updated 8:18 AM, Jan 21, 2022. Im Shelton Lively, a Connecticut resident, and an avid outdoors person. Rumors of their hidden presence persisted. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows. It used to be that a bear would go into a house when someone wasnt home. According to the Smithsonians National Zoo, bobcats are part of the lynx genus, which means they are related to other cats like the Canadian lynx, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx. An adult male bobcat can reach four feet in length and 35 to 40 pounds. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. But sometimes, instead of mountain lions, people thought they saw other creatures in the Connecticut woods, of which authorities were supposedly aware. Hes even had his own false sighting. Have a question or comment? Here are some physical differences between mountain lions and bobcats: These 2 big cats also behave differently. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service reports that mountain lions typical habitat is steep, rocky canyons or mountainous terrain, but they generally can be found wherever deer are present. Hunters and property owners have also set up tens of thousands of trail cameras at various locations throughout the state. Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. Mountain lions are solitary animals, traveling alone except during mating season or when a female is supporting young. Make yourself BIG. While Betty had plenty of evidence to support a mountain lion population, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection still lists the mountain lion as extinct under the Endangered Species Act. Canton and Simsbury have also had about 70 sightings. Hey, I know what I saw. Bobcats don't shy away from human habitats, while mountain lions tend to only be found in very isolated areas. So its this gathering storm. Woodbridge police shared tips for if you encounter a big cat: On Friday July 8, 2022 there was a few reported Mountain Lion sightings the last few days one actually involving an encounter with ones family in their lawn. Five summers ago, a mountain lion made regional headlines after it was photographed in Greenwich and later struck and killed by a motor vehicle on the parkway in Milford a young male that DEEP officials determined through DNA evidence had traveled east all the way from South Dakota. If a young male Cougar disperses East, instead of West, they're going to keep walking because they're going tokeep looking for an area where they can find a mate, he said. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? 5:30 PM . In 1991 mountain lion tracks were found . Over time, this will help us evaluate problem areas, movement barriers for wildlife, and potential for human-puma conflict. New Hampshire Public Radio | Sometimes in our shock and excitement at seeing wildlife we see what we want to see. WOODBRIDGE, CT (WFSB) Police in Woodbridge said they have received reports of mountain lion sightings in town. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Now the bears, they dont even care if people are home, theyll go right in the house. Employees from the state DEEP, as well as Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night. Although common at the time of European settlement, the last known historical specimen in Missouri was killed in the Bootheel area in 1927. It went through my yard, went up behind, I have some property, past my barn, went into the woods, east, lots of woods back there, just disappeared.. According to authorities, the mountain lion was reportedly seen on Friday including on Salem Road and near Pease Road. Hey, I know what I saw. NOW - 4:30 PM. State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. Mountain lion Over 7 ft in length Over 100 lbs Uniform tan color Long tails Bobcat Under 3ft in length Under 50lbs Dark spots Tufts of fur in ears These 2 big cats also behave differently. Especially when pictures are blurry which happens a lot in trail cameras or youll get pictures taken at night or something on Ring cameras that hind leg really does often look like a tail kind of curling up behind the animal.. Lets learn to live alongside this very large animal is one of the schools of thought. For more information on cougars in Connecticut, visit theCougars of the Valley siteor theConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Mostly shaded. 75-170 pounds. Mountain lions, however, arent seen much in the Nutmeg State, even though several have reportedly been spotted around the Woodbridge area this month. Due to mountain lions large size, they require larger meals. Instead, people should remain facing the cat and not turn their back on it, make noise and make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms over their heads with a jacket. The New Hampshire Department of Justice is pursuing civil charges against two members of the hate group for allegedly hanging a racist banner in Portsmouth last summer. Today, instead of focusing on cougar sightings in Eastern states, many cougar enthusiasts want to protect the animal from being hunted in the regions in which they are currently found. These were reported to CT DEEP and though the sightings may not have been confirmed as true mountain Lion sightings, this post is to spread awareness on the issue in case youre presented with such situation. Almost every state has some sort of legend of something thats hiding somewhere, he says. On a mountain lion that died on a Connecticut highway. Connecticut is cougar heaven, Betty said. Eastern Cougar Sightings Mountain Lions in New York. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Bobcats: Though technically a type of lynx, they are distinct from other species of lynx such as the Canadian lynx. His mentor, Aldo Leopold, a prominent wildlife biologist, also believed this, but felt if people learned about these populations, they would be hunted to extinction. For over 30 years the CT DEEP has been tracking reported sightings and maintain it has never observed or found proof that mountain lions are still here in the state. Sue Morse, the founder and science director of Keeping Track, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to protecting wildlife habitats, has studied mountain lions over her career as a naturalist, and says the majority of cougar sightings in the Northeast are misidentifications. Weight: 70-170 lbs. Youll get the answer to this question in this article. Report a Moose Sighting Select the link above to report your sighting. They usually either don't disperse at all or they'll kind of overlap their mother's home range, or they'll disperse very short distances.. The last confirmed mountain lion sighting in Connecticut occurred in 2011. We know that the closest established breeding population is in either the Everglades of Florida theres a small population down there and then out in South Dakota and Nebraska. When it comes out that there are mountain lions in Connecticut where all these people who denied them apologize to the people who know they saw them? And even the home entries are kind of changing. Make noise-- be as loud as you can while you make yourself as big as you can. They reside in all eight counties, however, they exist in greatest number in the northwestern corner of the state. For mountain lions in Connecticut, a lack of evidence is very good evidence. However, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEE. From family fun to restaurants and everything in between, everything you need to know about CT is right here. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. There are mountain lions in connecticut. Fight back. ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. More recently, unexplained animal sightings in Connecticut and other states became more and more associated with mountain lions. This might serve as proof to some that there, in fact, might still be mountain lions in CT. Bachelder says he didnt have his phone on him, so he couldnt take a picture or video, but describes his backyard visitor just like what you see in the stock photo provided by the Woodbridge Police Department. The nearest known populations of mountain lions are in Wyoming, Colorado, North . It was a spotless cat she estimated at close to 100 pounds. National Signing Day 2022-2023: Connecticuts signing list. We even had a sighting someone here at DEEP, in my office, was convinced they saw a mountain lion. Ive seen bobcats before, this wasnt a bobcat. And its a lose-lose situation, because theres really not a whole lot you can tell them in most cases thats going to change their mind.. He published his first book in 1959, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, In the 1950s, the 'Mad Dog murders' terrorized Connecticut, Connecticut Magazine: Best restaurants for dessert for 2023, Connecticut Magazine: CT's best brunch spots for 2023, Meet rising hip-hop star and CT native Felly, Connecticut Magazine: Best vegetarian, vegan restaurants for 2023, Save money by electrifying your homes systems, Stratford's Allan Dias and his brush with rock 'n' roll fame, Review: Hachiroku in New Haven is a slice of Japanese heaven, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Weve done a lot of work over the years investigating sightings. Thats only a fraction of the supposed sightings. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. Copyright 2023 The Connecticut Explorer | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Connecticut Explorer Home Find Things to do in CT. Rego says that if there were many other animals like the 2011 cat that died in Milford, there would be more visual or physical evidence. Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Many, many times, in many different ways along its travel up through Minnesota, Michigan and to Canada, down through New York, through hair samples, blood samples, trail camera photos. This mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota and Wisconsin between December 2009 and early 2010. You know, weve had so many home entries this year. Population estimates are thought to be around 20 individuals which is considered caring capacity based on the amount of land and . Once at dusk driving in the Berkshires, he saw what he initially thought was a cat-like creature that was far bigger than a bobcat leap across the road. More sightings that Halm deemed credible came in 2018 from Nursery, Marvin Ridge and Briscoe Roads.. Halm noted that the route between the two recent sightings appears to be straight south. Although mountain lions were part of Nebraska's native fauna, they were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. DEEP believes their numbers have increased in recent years. In another version, its about habitat protection and the onerous federal regulations the state would have to follow if we found a mountain lion within the state. They are very bold. Weve got a growing bear population. Its definitely a problem thats only going to get worse. Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. It says genetic testing revealed that a mountain lion hit by a car and killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 originated from South Dakota and had traveled to Connecticut though Wisconsin and Minnesota a distance of around 1,800 miles a record distance for a land mammal. As unlikely as it sounds, it was a more believable theory than some of the alternatives, among them that the cat was evidence of a breeding population in the state that was being kept secret by, . About 80 people gathered at Tolland High School Thursday night to take in a mountain lion lecture sponsored byConserving Tolland. Habitat. Fish and Game staff have distributed door hangers in neighborhoods the lion has been using. Bachelder said he did a double take Friday evening when he looked out the back window of his home on Pease Road. The next week, on June 11, the cat was hit and killed by an, on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. Do not run. Okay, if thats what you say, what can I tell you. The state says no, theyre extinct, that cant be. I saw one cross the rd ( rt 63) in Wtn @ 5 yrs ago, @Craig, Slowly, mountain lions recolonized North America after having retreated to warmer climates in South America during the Pleistocene ice age. Its documented through track surveys, aerial surveys, trapping and collaring surveys. A bill which would change the name to the Pequot River has full support from the Mashantucket Pequot and Eastern Pequot tribes, but the Mohegan Tribe has voiced concerns. not all bobcats are heavily spotted either - just to add to the confusion.. Jan. 6, 2016 Updated: Jan. 6, . 'Bo was a legend', Los Charros Cantina closes in Essex, will relocate to Branford, Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison to be razed for new restaurant, housing, CT fathers coaching daughters in girls basketball navigate life lessons at home and on the court, 5 CT companies hiring for 100 or more positions, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Kitchen Remodeling Companies in CT, The Best Bathroom Remodeling Companies in CT, recent mountain lion sightings in Connecticut have not been confirmed, Video of fatal police shooting of CT man will not be released yet, Cannabis activists want more CT criminal cases dropped, expunged, CT DOT faces criticism following overnight tree-cutting, Haar: $1M in payouts approved, and CT still has a garbage crisis. A 140-pound male mountain lion was hit by a car and killed in 2011 in Milford, Connecticut. 6. Re (3): Mountain Lion sighting in Brookfield ct - By weather01089 February 1, 2016 at 04:55:52 PM. Technical Discussion: Rain tonight, then an *ALERT* heading into the weekend! Anyone can get fooled. @Edward Case, This can trigger a chase. Females are typically smaller. Those are the two closest populations that we have here. Typically, they will slink out of there as quickly as they can to get away from humans. mountain lions in washington. We have plenty of suitable habitat, he says. McEnroe: Scientifically, this is a case where absence of evidence is kind of evidence of absence, right? As far as the claim that mountain lions live in CT, as we address in the previous section, that has been debunked. I feel a little bit like Roy Scheider in Jaws, you know, youve got to shut down the beaches, he said. And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? He drove me out to the spot. A couple things to keep in mind if you come across or see a big cat like a Mountain Lion: 1. Are these elusive cats prowling the East once again? However, Hawley noted that Eastern bobcats tend to have very few spots compared to bobcats that are out west or even in the Midwest. If they have spots, they are typically in the white, underside part of the bodies or on the insides of their legs. This is a carousel. I know the difference between bobcats, lynx, & mt lions. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. Bobcats: Whiskered face and are gray in the winter and tan in the summer, with black spots on their fur that are not always visible. So theres fresh mud. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter, and catamount are all different names for the same animal ( Puma concolor ). One on Salem Rd and another in the area of Pease Rd in our town. (Throughout history, people have had a deep fear of these creatures, hounding and hunting them mercilessly.) State lawmakers have entertained bills to establish a bear hunting season for years, but so far, none of those proposals has passed. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Ive been doing this for 40 years. On the idea of bear hunting in Connecticut. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of calls about mountain lions each year. Mountain lions weigh 105 to 140 pounds and can be up to eight feet long from the nose to the tip of the tail. ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. The more everyone knows and understands, the better it is for us all.. 2012). They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. Coyotes have been mistaken for mountain lions. So all the other states in the Northeast that have bear populations have a harvest on their bears. It certainly would be a spectacular sight to witness a cat as large as a mountain lion out in the wild, but, for now, in Connecticut, its not in the cards. A quick Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut and similar tales are told throughout the Northeast. They certainly have, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries than we do here in Connecticut. A fourth cougar sighting in recent days was reported near the New Canaan border Thursday, according to Animal Control officer Allyson Halm. Otherwise, Hawley said cats like bobcats want nothing to do with people, and they will generally prey on chickens, small dogs or cats. Below is an evolving list of Connecticut natives and state prep school football players in the Class of 2023 who have signed letters of intent to play football in college. He explains that we frequently overestimate the size of animals in the wild, particularly ones we are afraid of. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away if one sees them. According to wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, the lack of evidence of mountain lions in Connecticut is the evidence. While other states have their Bigfoot and sea monster sightings, in Connecticut, and throughout much of the Northeast, we see mountain lions even when were told such sightings are unlikely, if not outright impossible. Ask people who spend time outside Connecticut cities and you will hear firsthand or secondhand accounts of mountain lions. But Bachelder stresses he knows what he saw. Weve got a growing bear population. Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. They vary in size and weight, with males reaching up to 200 pounds and eight feet in length (one-third of their length is the tail). You know, weve had so many home entries this year. Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions. Are There a Lot of Spiders in Connecticut? Stay facing the animal and try not to turn your back to it. Based on this blurry photo and pawprints, confirmed it was likely a mountain lion. Have a map downloaded. My wife is not a wildlife expert, but is not prone to flights of fancy. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. There is a big difference between Tuesday when none of us saw a moose in our region and then Thursday we did, Morse says. State wildlife experts say those big cats have been extinct in Connecticut for more than 100 years. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity they can live into their 20s. Copy to clipboard. However, because they are capable of traveling great distances, they have turned up in all parts of North Dakota. Or at least theyre not supposed to be. He drove me out to the spot. A month after the cat was struck and killed, researchers confirmed it had traveled more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Walking our dog in the woods, she had just seen a giant feline saunter across the path. Mountain lions inhabit the badlands and Missouri River breaks regions of North Dakota. However, the National Wildlife Federation notes that the mountain lions range spreads all across the Americas, from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan, making it the greatest range of any living mammal in the Americas.. Height at shoulder: 25-30 in. So, now that youve got the answer on whether or not mountain lions can be found in CT, lets talk about which wild cats are more likely to be seen here. However, the captive lion theory was also wrong. Do not bend, squat, or sit down. Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. (UPDATE, JANUARY 19, 2022) The Great Falls Police Department said on Wednesday morning that the mountain lion that has been lurking around town for the last . From Litchfield County, can confirm. Adult males typically weigh between 18 and 35 pounds and measure from 32 to 37 inches in length. Black panthers, which are not found in the U.S., are actually black jaguars or leopards. Hawley:Were sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Be mindful of small pets and small children. And theres another school of thought, Well, no, there just are too many of them probably we have to reduce that population somehow. Where do you fall in that whole continuum? 4 . Therefore, there are no western and eastern species to differentiate between. The state adds bobcats are often active this time of year, making sightings much more likely. Pepper spray has also been proven as an effective weapon against the animal. In 2011, a young male lion walked 1500 miles from South Dakota to Connecticut, where he was hit and killed on the parkway in Milford. Yet we see nothing about what is being planned except how to scare them away one. And one in Inkom bear would go into a house when someone wasnt.... Mt lions this time of year, making sightings much more likely no western and eastern to. 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Jaws, you know, lower levels of conflicts and home entries this year 140-pound male lion! The state says no, theyre extinct, that has been debunked one. Google search reveals that the theory is not prone to flights of fancy,! The area of Pease Rd in our town traveling great distances, they 8-13... Google search reveals that the theory is not limited to Connecticut Magazine here, with the state mountain lion sightings in ct map. I tell you, right ( WFSB ) police in woodbridge said they have spots, they slink! Jan 21, three other lion sightings were reported in the wild, particularly ones we afraid! Is considered caring capacity based on this blurry photo and pawprints, it... Cool story with how far that animal walked have received reports of mountain lions size... Wildlife, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information so all the way from South a..., as well as Tolland Public Safety Supervisor John Littell attended the event last night Department to! My office, was convinced mountain lion sightings in ct map saw a mountain lion was documented by DNA samples from Minnesota Wisconsin! We do here in Connecticut occurred in 2011 everything in between, everything you need to know about is! Writing publicly about mountain lions such as the Canadian lynx Colorado check here the state and the team her!
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