What started as a typical quiet evening in a Rochester neighborhood quickly turned into something out of a wildlife documentary.
After a blurry video started making the rounds on social media showing what looked like a big cat prowling through suburban streets, panic spread like wildfire—and so did the theories.
Residents were suddenly on high alert. Authorities issued a temporary shelter-in-place order, and the entire neighborhood was buzzing with talk of a possible mountain lion on the loose.
It All Started with a Viral Video and a “Rawr”
The chaos kicked off when a Ring security camera video popped up online, showing a large, mysterious animal slinking between houses.
The footage wasn’t crystal clear, but it was enough to get the Rochester Police Department’s attention.
Before long, 911 lines lit up with calls from concerned residents.
Some even claimed to have seen the creature up close, including Curtis Jones, who was out for a late-night walk when he says he came face-to-face with it.
“I saw something big just walking past like it owned the place,” Jones told 13 WHAM.
“It made a sound—‘rawr’—and I said, nope, I’m out.”
Locals Joke, But the Fear Is Real
Jones tried to keep his cool, even adding a touch of humor to the experience. “I don’t do lions, I don’t do tigers, I don’t do bears. I don’t even do rollercoasters,” he said. But he’s not taking any chances—now patrolling his street with a baseball bat, just in case the big cat decides to return.
While his reaction gave people a laugh, the fear remains real for many. Even with the shelter-in-place order lifted, locals are uneasy. Authorities might not have found anything, but that doesn’t mean everyone feels safe.
Police and Wildlife Officials Step In
The Rochester Police Department, along with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, launched an investigation, using drones to scan the area. No trace of the animal has been found so far. Meanwhile, the Seneca Park Zoo confirmed that none of their animals are missing—so whatever it was, it didn’t escape from them.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has joined the investigation, and they’re taking it seriously. They reviewed the viral video and said the animal could be a cougar—but they also can’t confirm if the footage is real or doctored.
Could It Be Someone’s Illegal Pet?
Officials believe that if the animal is a mountain lion, it probably wasn’t wild to begin with.
Mountain lions aren’t typically found in this part of New York, which means it might have been someone’s illegal exotic pet that managed to escape.
In a statement, the DEC reminded people: “If you come across a big cat or any large animal you don’t recognize, don’t approach it.
Back away slowly and call law enforcement immediately.”
Last Confirmed Cougar Was Over a Decade Ago
The idea of a mountain lion walking down a Rochester sidewalk sounds surreal—but it wouldn’t be the first time a cougar showed up in the Empire State.
The last confirmed sighting was in 2011, when a cougar traveled thousands of miles from South Dakota, passed through Michigan, and made its way across eastern New York into Connecticut. That’s one determined cat.
Still, a sighting this close to home is rare and understandably unsettling.
Officials Ask for Help and Caution
As the investigation continues, authorities are asking the public to stay alert.
If you happen to spot something suspicious—or manage to snap a photo or video—you’re urged to share it with the DEC.
Here’s how to report it:
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Call 585-226-5380
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Email r8wildlife@dec.ny.gov
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For after-hours emergencies: 844-332-3267
For now, Curtis Jones is keeping his bat close and his eyes open.
“They didn’t find it last night, so maybe it’s still out here,” he said.
“It might be hiding in one of these bushes.
You know, a mountain lion be crawling, serious.”
Let’s just hope it was a case of mistaken identity—and not the start of a suburban safari.