RE: mountain lions in ny
not sure why the DEC wouldn't believe it.It was even in the newspaper up there a couple years back. Honesty I don't see it as that big of a deal. If they are in VT they can easily be in NY. There isn't a 20 ft tall fence around NY last I checked. They are free to roam wherever and whenever just like Moose do.
Put it this way. If the city of poughkeepsie in dutchess county have to chase a cow moose off of main street than I 150% believe there are mt lions in NY.