Weather or not they are wild or what may have been released "pets" is not the question. Heck they even could possibly be western cougars migrating east due to their doing well out west and growing numbers. And I'm not saying there are thousands of big cats on the east coast but the possibility exist that there are some no matter the reason.
With a range of as much as 150 square miles and possible migration of up to 60 miles a day helps the cats stay out of sight and keeps sightings limited.
With the countless rumored sightings from wisconsin to georgia, I just can't believe myself that they are all released pets, house cats, yotes, deer, or any other excuse animal.
If they are or were released pets, that poses a serious danger for both people and the cat and one would think that the state environmental agencies would get more involved with the search and capture of these wild pets.
Most state agencies say they are not cougars that are being spotted but yet most of them won't investigate it. Why...... who knows ...... I'm not doing this for conspiracy theories.
One thing we can do as privateers weather or not you agree they may be here is just be AWARE of the "possibility" of it and keep aware when in the outdoors. Report your "possible" sightings no matter if people think your talking about UFO's or bigfoot. Reporting them to your local paper does not get them reported or logged into state documentation. Make sure to report any possibilities to your state environmental agency.
Take an extra minute to investigate your sightings if you can and do it while the encounter is still fresh in your mind, looking for tracks, prints, droppings, hair samples ....... anything is better than nothing. Taking pictures of tracks isn't quite as good as a plaster cast. Ultimately the photo or video opportunity is the best other than a carcuss.
One private agency has take up the tracking and documenting of the "eastern cougars"
http://www.easterncougarnet.org/
You delaware hunters and outdoor enthusiast have a very good opportunity to possibly locate, spot, and track.
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjo...econfirms.html
Also the possibility of it was even covered by a National Geographics article not so long ago.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...7_cougars.html
There is also an agency that is looking to help reintroduce the cat. The undertaking of raising cats without the influence of people is quite hard but that is their goal.
http://www.wildliferehabsanctuary.org/puma-cougar.htm
People have brought up the question..... shoot it or don't shoot it.
Tough call.........
The Eastern cougar(florida panther) is federally protected as an endangered species. But that's in florida. If they are not known to be existing in other states then they are not endangered species being they are not there. Catch 22, they don't exist so I guess you shouldn't get into any trouble but if you did shoot one then it existed for a moment for whatever reason and could possibly land you in some heat.
Your saving grace would be if it was declawed or had some other feature showing it was a released/escaped pet.
Ultimately, the states don't get involved so it's up to us(the public) to help spot, log, capture evidence for the state agencies. The states won't get involved till there is more concrete proof and that is simply going to have to come from us.
Stay aware, play with care, you just might spot something you didn't know was there. Hopefully it doesn't take something drastic like a loss of a child to get the states involved.