ORIGINAL: Dan_15801

Lets do some thinking here... Florida has about estimate of 50 panthers. The male panther has a home range of up to 400 miles and the female up to 100.

The Florida panther can not go southto migrate when the population increases and the fight over home range begins. The Florida panther can only move north at first. Now from what I have read about these cats they do not tolerate to much of an overlap with other males in their home range. It is very possible that with a 400 mile home range for a male cat that the eastern states can be part of a cats range.

What really comes into play now on this range is abundant of prey for these animals. I believe Pa. Was the richest state that was abundant prey for these cats. It was a paradise for ML. If we look at the map we see something that also atracts ML and is a natural home area for them. The Appalachian Mountains that runs pretty much up through the heart of Pa.. Mountains are a key to travel patterns of the ML.

I would have to say one way for sure to prove that we have cats here in the east is with ML in heat urine.Cats mark their territory with urine and the female also marks and the male searches for her.
Now if you was to get female ML in heat urine and make a mock scrape and place a camera watching it. If there is any MLs around they will come and investigate the markings. I believe this will be about the fastest way of knowing for sure. Set mock scrapes up and watch what happens. MLs come into heat all times of the year unlike other animals whos time are specific during the year. Maybe someone might want to try this approach to get positive proof or not?