It is possible that the eastern cougar is extinct, although I think that the recent pronouncement to that effect may have been premature, particularly during a period of increase in sightings.

I believe that the primary theory behind the surge in cougar sightings in areas where the eastern cougar formerly lived is that western cougars are indeed moving east to seek new range. Cougars have big territories. If they aren’t hunted, this is inevitable, sooner or later. And coyotes have shown that it can happen even if they are hunted.

As for deer when I lived outside Waterville Maine in the late 90′s we would go out spotlighting at night(not during deer season all legal beagle) and it would not be uncommon to count over 100 deer in a few hours.If I remember correctly the deer density for that county at that time was just above 30 deer per sq mile its probably gone up since then.

Of course you have cougars in Arizona. And jaguars and ocelots, too.

When I was working in SW NM, I saw cougars and a coatimundi. I worked with people who had seen jaguars in the same area.

Trail cams in Arizona regularly record cougars. Jaguars and ocelots less often, but are there.

I live in recognized cougar range in the West, but have worked a great deal in the East and Southeast. And I’ve seen cougars in places they are not “supposed to” exist.

The problem is not a lack of cougars or prey animals. The problem is they would impose a financial burden on the states that do not claim to have them, if they were acknowledged to be a resident population. That would require plans and actions to “manage” them. And make their protection a consideration in environmental impact studies.

So myths are created to explain away reality.

The Eastern Cougars that keep turning up cannot be dismissed as someone’s imagination. Too much physical evidence exists, including dead specimens and videos.

So the myths appear: the animals are escaped pets. Or, they have made epic journeys from places like South Dakota’s Black Hills. Too bad there are no more circus trains to escape from.

There is a very basic, and very fatal, scientific misstep behind this lulu: IT PRESUMES THAT THE ANIMAL ISN’T THERE. Trust me. You can’t reason it any other way. Go ahead. Try it. Put it up here if you dare.

And never mind Loren’s demonstration that there is plenty.

There is no doubt what it was. It crossed the road in front of us, and stood in someone’s dooryard and watched us as we drove past.

I sometimes wonder if IFW isn’t just trying to protect an obviously small population.

But to say they’re not here is just not true.