You are asking a question on what the Feds will do If there really are Eastern cougars. I don't think anybody but the Feds know, if They even do.

The Animal Rights groups want to end trapping ASAP so if they are after you in Maine for trapping Lynx by accident, they have their toe in the door to completely ban trapping. That is their goal and they are using the Lynx for a front.
All Hunters need to band together to keep any legal means of taking game legal. Trapping is a very useful means of controling predators and also has been used to live trap otters for relocation. They used LEGHOLD ones to trap the otters too!