abarof...no pics???..any hoo...DEC never denied the existence..pumas,cougars, panthers, mt. lions..( all the same animal called by these various names) have been inNY forever..The originalindigenous peoplesof NY called them "cauter" or 'katter"., which roughly is translated to cat.. The solitary nature of this animal and its habitatlends to its seemingly invisibility...after all whogoes up 4 - 8000ft up mountains daily to actually seeone???? Except hunters without cameras or residents without cameras..like Abarsoap's kin.....