Eastern cougar declared extinct

[Zookeeper]

Another Big cat gone.

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/eastern-cougar-declared-extinct-by-the-u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Outdoor%20Hub%20News&utm_content=Outdoor+News+for+March+2%2C+2012

[Ted]

"Though many sightings have been reported, there has not been a confirmed sighting in the past 80 years."

I respectfully disagree with them..... Had one almost scare me to death in 1976 in the mountains along the Tenessee/Alabama border! My brothers 30 -30 still has the scars from me getting the heck out of the "saddle" between the ridges it wanted to cross. I will never forget the scream either!

I'm quite sure this was an unconfirmed sighting too since I know for sure that the TWRA never went and looked for tracks or sign.

"The Service’s decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another wildcat subspecies listed on the endangered list."

Guess it could have been a Florida panther that strayed a bit too far North...........I didn't stop to ask him where he was from!

[76truck]

Sad news if it's true.

[systemnt]

How can you claim something is extinct without an effort to actually go look for it?

[Encinal]

*shrug*

I think this is one of those cases where they have decided they created a species just so they could call it extinct...

What are the differences between the "eastern" cougar and the cougar?

[Felix40]

*shrug*

I think this is one of those cases where they have decided they created a species just so they could call it extinct...

What are the differences between the "eastern" cougar and the cougar?

Same as the difference between brown bear and grizzley bear. Geographically isolated populations become different over time. But its pretty well accepted that they were there and are essentially not there any more.

[Felix40]

"Cougar specimens are presumably the ultimate confirmation. We know of at least 15 animals killed in the Eastern states, north of Florida, since 1950. Most are known to have been escapes of captive origin. Nevertheless, lone specimens are indicative of individuals not populations and do not answer the question of the cougar's status."

Everything Ive read basically says they have been gone a long time but we just didn't want to admit it because people keep reporting that they have seen them. Without physical evidence it is impossible to prove there is a population anywhere in the eastern u.s.

[systemnt]

"Cougar specimens are presumably the ultimate confirmation. We know of at least 15 animals killed in the Eastern states, north of Florida, since 1950. Most are known to have been escapes of captive origin. Nevertheless, lone specimens are indicative of individuals not populations and do not answer the question of the cougar's status."

Everything Ive read basically says they have been gone a long time but we just didn't want to admit it because people keep reporting that they have seen them. Without physical evidence it is impossible to prove there is a population anywhere in the eastern u.s.

Couldnt the adverse arguement be made with equal merit that without actually looking for them you can't prove they are extinct?

[Flint knapper]

That is like the TPWD telling everyone that the black panther does not exist.

Also, they said the the Jaguar was extinct in the continental United states, and we know that several have been photographed using game cameras and also bayed by lion hunters dogs in Arizona!

[Bobcat]

Wonder if this was due to lack of viable evidence, lack of funding, or lack of alternatives in the way of "progress"? It requires landowners and businessmen that care enough to support a species, especially an endangered large predator that requires massive territories.

Some may see it easier to declare a species extinct than to hold up money and "progress". Then if the species makes it their argument is proven. If it doesn't then it was already extinct anyway.