Most of the sightings in MD are close to the border with PA. The MD DNR has examined 3 different home videos that are definitely cougars and are proven to be taken in MD. One of the videos has been on MD public TV several times.

Ater viewing the videos the MD DNR has the stance that the eastern cougar is extinct in MD and if you shoot one that is non existent you are in big trouble.

Most people think that the eastern cougars that keep being sighted are captive cougars that have escaped and can easily live off deer turkeys ducks geese and domestic animals. Even captive cougars that have escaped and were declawed have survived in the wild and were in good shape when they were recovered.