[quote it is NOT an "Original Eastern Cougar", they are gone....extirpated ..New York DEC will tell you that. What are we seeing ??I believe are releases, and I don't think it is by mistake....as in ESCAPE[] So while you argue {{{ nicely}}} take some time to think about what to do if you do "encounter a cougar"?
Think about what might be in your kids back yard?
[/quote]

"In 1940 the native eastern cougar were beleived extirpated throughout the east by the 1940's, but a growing number of sightings prompted listing of Felis concolor couguar on the 1973 endangered species list"

This being quoted on the eastern cougar site. The feds have apparently acknowledged the fact that they could be there. They have since showed populations in other areas of the east. I don't care the DEC says. They have absolutly no jurisdiction over these critters whether anyone agrees or not.

I would not want the feds barking up my tree if I shot one just to prove that they were there. If it so proves that the animal were wild and was on the endangered species list. You will for sure have 3 squares and a cot for a long time.