ORIGINAL: NY Outdoors
ORIGINAL: Phade
ORIGINAL: bigbadmoosegal
Read it and weep.....The burden of proof is on you.
Funny, but that site proves absolutely nothing.
#1 it comes from a site that purposely believes cougars exsist here in natural state with a breeding population (ie not just releases).
#2 I see no evidence whatsoever in that page that shows scientific results. All it does is talk, talk, talk talk, with no proof. Show the analysis sheets by the agencies, etc. for real proof. Or even compliment that with a quote from one of the staff members who worked on the cases.
#3 I liken this site to sites that try to persuade others about alien invasions, etc. Tons of evidence that is purposely left out, or tweaked to make it believeable without direct proof. Like calling the sightings CONFIRMATIONS.... If it were a confirmed event, the site would have much better evidence that proved their case, and yet again, I see none of that.
I agree that releases from pet/animal owners may have happened, but having a natural living wild poulation is absurd without better indicating proof.
I suppose the fact they use state officials and scientific testing not to mention actual carcases and pictures of the caracses as well as state police being involved in many of those sightings and test ....... ya they are just big foot hunter for sure. All them scientists, police, and state official must be lying. Boy the conspiracy thickens. Funny how some people can't take the time to be burdened with science and authority
That's my whole point, rarely do you see the name of the official, or the actual results of the test. The picture of the carcass in the NYS case clearly indicates if it was a lion, it was an escaped animal. It is the same tactics used by people who want you to believe in ghosts, UFO's, etc.
They say the DNR, or DEC did this or had results from that...but there is no quote from the state officials, nor is there a results sheet etc. that would accompany something of this magnitude.
The concept of a free-ranging natural population is illogical, but the best part is that there is no proof of one exsisting. Take any one of those so called "confirmations" and get me into contact with the state official in charge of the "confirmation" or show me a results sheet from DNA/hair/etc, tests from a reputable scientist not on the cougar network payroll.
Like I said before escaped animals are certainly possible, but not a natural population that has not had official acknowledgement from government agencies (ie a press release, etc.).
Here, read this... the DEC's website:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/d...ec/eacofs.html
Oh, by the way...the eastern cougar is officialy considered extirpated. Look up that word....
There's your counter proof.
It's released by the Endangered Species Unit, the very same unit that dealt with the cougar sighting listed in your so called cougar network...
And they came to the same conclusion Bill, myself and many others did....