Rochester, New York’s Beechwood neighborhood has video evidence from an early July 9, 2025, Ring doorbell camera of a large, shadowy cat walking down Grand Avenue. The 30-second video, which captures an animal by its extraordinarily long, heavy tail, raised speculation immediately: could there be a mountain lion on the loose inside the city? The video that immediately went viral, and came with a good eyewitness account, has prompted an investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and left residents intrigued and on the lookout.
Curtis Jones, a Rochester local, was walking near Rauber Street late that Wednesday night, heading to grab snacks, when chaos unfolded.
“I’m on the side over here and I just see people running and stuff. I’m like, what’s going on?”
Jones recounted to WHAM. Then he saw it—a large, imposing creature.
“After I see the people run, I just see some big shit just walking just right over there, right over there. I swear, I promise you it was right over there. And it said ‘rawr,’ and I just kept walking. I seen it see me see it. So in my head, I’m like, ‘Nah, I got to go, man. I’m out.’”
Gripping his child’s baseball bat for protection, Jones’ vivid account, now viewed over 3 million times, has become a social media sensation, blending fear with a touch of humor.
The Rochester Police Department (RPD) responded swiftly, issuing a brief shelter-in-place order near North Clinton Avenue and Rauber Street after multiple 911 calls reported similar sightings. The order was lifted when no animal was found. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deployed drones, while the DEC conducted a site visit on July 10, taking measurements from the doorbell footage. The DEC noted the animal’s size and J-shaped tail suggest it could be a cougar if the video is unaltered. However, no tracks, fur, or scat have been found, leaving the case open. Seneca Park Zoo confirmed all its big cats, including lions and tigers, remain secure, ruling out an escape.
The DEC emphasizes that eastern cougars, once native to New York, have been extinct since 2011, with no self-sustaining population since the 1800s. While a wild cougar traveled from South Dakota through New York in 2011, experts believe this Rochester cat is more likely an escaped pet. Environmental professor Brad Gibson, analyzing the footage, noted,
“It’s pretty tubular, it doesn’t taper like a dog or coyote.”
The sighting has ignited Rochester’s online scene, with memes placing the “mountain lion” at Wegmans or ROC Cinema. Social media posts, like one from @chap42chap joking about the cat teaching “friendship,” reflect the city’s mix of humor and unease. A persistent myth that the DEC releases cougars to control deer was debunked by the agency, which confirms no such program exists. The viral video’s 388,000+ Facebook views underscore the public’s fascination, but authorities urge skepticism until physical evidence emerges.
The DEC advises treating any large cat like a dangerous animal: keep your distance, back away slowly, and report sightings to 585-226-5380 or 911 if urgent. While the Rochester cat remains unconfirmed, the investigation continues, with officials seeking tracks or more footage. For now, Jones’ bat stays close, and residents are keeping pets indoors, wondering if a cougar truly prowled their streets or if the night played tricks on the camera.
