The Department of Environmental Conservation gets dozens of calls about strange animals every year. In this case, they say the animal in question, a cougar, was part of a prank that went too far.

The cougar is seen on video looming in the distance, a caller telling the DEC that he took this video in his Newark backyard.

"I wouldn't categorically say that there are no cougars in New York State, but there are no wild cougars in New York State," said Lt. David Baker, DEC supervisor.

Indeed, the DEC says the supposed cougar was the product of a tall tale, allegedly drummed up by 27 year old Newark resident Trenton Barry. The DEC says this video is actually from a web site, but that Trenton called it his own and sent it around town via cell phone, saying the cougar was a threat.

"It certainly seemed to get far beyond the scope that he originally intended it to, but it got sent out to one person, who sent it out to five people who sent it out to five more people,” said Baker.

The DEC says they get calls every week from people who honestly think they saw something. The calls can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to sort out. When animals are involved, things can get emotional.

"I've seen over the years that people often see what it is that they would like to see. They will see something that they can't explain, and their mind will fill in the gaps to make it what it is they hoped they would see," said Baker.

In this case, Barry's story wound up in a local paper, which later had to print a retraction, when Barry's alleged story came tumbling down under police interrogation.

"This is the most extravagant hoax related to cougars that I have ever seen," said Baker.
Police tell us the video was originally shot by someone in Wayne in 2007. Police say the animal on it was not a cougar, because it was too short. Barry was charged with falsely reporting an incident. He is scheduled to appear in the town of Arcadia court on August 26th. Calls to his house were not returned.