I find it hard to believe also about the snakes,but I heard it from two different folks in areas that are about 100 miles apart.Cougars don't need to be introduced into an area,they are known to roam and can range around 50 miles whithin a week,I beleive I read that somewhere.Last spring I saw what looked like a cougar near Mahomet Illinois while I was traveling west on interstate 74.