When Drew Kohol left his buddy's house earlier this week, he noticed a big animal across the road. At first, he thought it was a deer.
But it wasn't.
The Village of Maybrook resident turned on his car headlights and immediately started filming with his phone camera. Kohol said it definitely looked like a mountain lion.
Also known as a cougar, puma or panther, these mountain lions are not native to New York state. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, they have been absent from NY since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings.
While the DEC receives several reports of mountain lion sightings each year, they are commonly mistaken for wild bobcats, fishers and coyotes, as well as large house cats and dogs.
Kohol said the animal walking along John Street was definitely not a house cat.
"I'm 5'11," Kohol said. "If he stands up, he would be about 6 feet tall, he's definitely older and not a baby."
At one point, the animal stopped and turned its head while noticing Kohol's headlights. Kohol said he immediately got back inside his car.
This Nov. 2014 file photo shows the Griffith Park mountain lion known as P-22 in Los Angeles.
When he posted the video to his Facebook account, within six hours, it got 100 shares. Also, the village mayor and police department contacted him. Kohol said they are reaching out to the DEC.
Kohol said there is a dirt bike trail on that area of John Street. He said a lot of people ride on it and kids often walk there.
When Kohol stopped recording, he noticed the animal getting on its hind legs and saw how big it was.
"I live in the middle of the woods so I always see crazy stuff, " said Kohol.
Maybrook is in Orange County and the area is bounded by Steward State Park. The village is located about 13 miles west of Newburgh and 18 miles east of Middletown.
