The funny thing about exinction is that on the national level it's hard to keep tabs on numbers, though a little easier locally. Because of collection and reporting, it takes years to even know the status of something.

Personally, I'm waiting for the hippies to come onto this forum in droves blathering about we destroy everything, when probably 1% of these people have ever heard of this species. Can't exactly miss something you've never seen or heard of.

Conservation has a time and place, but a random species of mountain lion must not have had a very large impact if it's just now being declared extinct 80 years after it was suspected to be gone.

Gee Russellm...I'm a "hippie" and I'm not "blathering" whatever the hell that is. A lot of "hippies" spend more time in the woods than you probably do. I thought this was about the Eastern Cougar...no Russ..not the ones you see in bars. That's different.

Be sure to inform the Eastern Cougars.

So-called 'extinctions' have a habit of not stopping the extinct animals from continuing to reproduce.

Exactly how would you tell the difference between an Eastern Cougar and a Western Cougar, by their accent?

lol

Thought they were talking about the different type of cougar.........

;-)

Let's help them enjoy cougars again, after all they forced the west into re-intro of the wolf, we can part with a few of our Western Cougars to help with that Whitetail over-population. Don't worry as long as they are well fed, you'll only lose one or two slow joggers a year.

Soon enough both your deer and dummy problems will be solved.

Russellm, based on the shortsightedness of your comments I am thankful that deciding the time and place for conservation is not up to you.

DW Brown

Don't worry as long as they are well fed, you'll only lose one or two slow joggers a year. Soon enough both your deer and dummy problems will be solved.

Hmmmm!! seems the slow jogger of the west is the dummy DW. besides, I am sure the western cougar would prefer your head on the wall than vice versa. Have a nice day :-) the mancat

Damn it to hell!!! And just when I was thinking about moving east to find a cougar who I could feed my meat to in return for financial endeavors... what's a hippie to do...

whatabout, that's exactly what I was thinking. I like an older woman once in a while.

This article is wrong, I saw a whole bunch of cougars driving around in convertibles around New Jersey. Old enough that their kids moved out but young enough to cause trouble!

They let illegals come over the border and breed like cockroaches but a native species they let go to extinction. Makes no sense.

Exactly how would you tell the difference between an Eastern Cougar and a Western Cougar, by their accent?

LOL

Eastern cougars don't purr they puhh.

Saw a cougar cross the road in front of me in Southport, NC back in 1991. Don't know if it was eastern or western, but was most definitely a cougar. As far as modern cases of extinction go, I was led to believe that "hippies" became extinct back in the 1980's.

As my earlier post stated, I have recent pictures of this "extinct" animal taken on my property. Local fish and game will not come out to confirm it or even speak with me.

All things are possible, but think of the PROBABLITY, good reader. Western populations would be travelling quite a distance.

The eastern species is alive and well, trust me and trust those of us who live in deep woods like my wife and I do.

EWS100%, I understand your own frustration with wildlife services. I have personally seen wild Mountain Lions in Central Kansas but to get anyone to actually look for them or acknowledge the hundreds if not thousands of farmers who report them every year is just not going to happen. Kansas use to be a habitat for these animals but it is believed that the farming boom pushed them all up into the mountains of Colorado during the western expansion. There are not large populations but there do seem to be pockets moving in. Some wildlife officers will blow you off saying that you must have mistook a bobcat, but look up the pictures and tell me how on a clear day or even driving by a field you could mistake one for the other poking it's head through the wheat or corn. And what of the horses and other livestock out to pasture that have been attacked, again they will say bobcat if proof comes up that it was a feline and not canine but come on, those two cats are not even near eachother in size and strength. It would take an independent grant and probably a lot of graduate and Ph.D. students going around for years collecting data, including blood samples, to prove that they are out there, even then it would be a battle.

Wildlife experts do not argue with sightings of cougars in the east; they believe that these were not the native eastern subspecies. Please bear in mind that most people could not distinguish the eastern subspecies from other subspecies. This is a species of cat that ranges from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, with a dozen or so subspecies. They are all one interbreeding population (except that the population has been chopped up by civilization) and all look similar. During the late 1940's there was one that was seen repeatedly near Newburgh, NY and the New York Fish and Game people denied its existence.

All cougars are members of one species, Felis concolor. The largest subspecies is F.c.hippolestes (the subspecies name means "horsethief") and is found in the northwestern part of North America. I understand that the F&W Se3rvice believes that cougars seen in the east during the last six or seven decades were all escapes from captivity. It is true that people do keep mountain lions as pets and move with them from state to state. They range in weight from abaout 75 to 250 pounds. Their principal food is deer. Where the cat is small (Florida) so is the deer. For many years, most states in the East paid bounties on dead pumas (attested to by the ears) which may have caused the extinction of the species in the East.

Im in Pa and seen one and maybe more than one last summer , i cant be sure if it was the same one.They are not extinct , just smart enough to keep out the way.

Cinclodesfuscus, it is possible that escapes of captive subspecies other than the Eastern variety make up much of what people are seeing now, but then again you can not totally dismiss that the population was severely pared down or interbred with other escaped or released captive large cats. There have been animals marked as extinct only to later be found and reinstated as endangered. I know that doesn't happen often. It's like the questions of the extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger, there is some evidence that it does still live very separately from human civilizations but I agree that there still is not enough evidence to completely pull the extinct label yet. There is a frustration though among those who don't get clear and distinct classifications and education by F&W of why they classify the animal seen as another non-native to the area species or subspecies. I understand that it would take money and personnel not available at this time to be able to fully explain sightings, especially those with photographic/video evidence, but it would be nice. I could see one of the television shows that investigate the existence of animals classified as extinct or myth picking up this as a case for a show and getting the knowledge and reasons from the experts and those in F&W services as to why they don't believe it is in fact the Eastern subspecies.

....without human intervention: it is estimated that 99.9% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct.^[2][3]

^{Everything will eventually go extinct.}

Durr. In the over 3 billion years life has been on Earth, most species that have existed are extinct at this time. But the mass extinction happening now is being caused by humans and could be stopped. The problems we are creating are MUCH bigger than just causing some species to go extinct, though. Human overpopulation and overexploitation of resources are destroying the ecosystems that provide not just habitats, but a ton of vital things like clean water and climate regulation on a global scale that all life on Earth depends on. If we continue to have no concern for our negative impacts on this planet, we will cause the extinction of our own species also.

all life on Earth depends on

Durr, you mean the life on Earth that you find desirable. Don't be pithy enough to think that you can oversee what types of life are worthy of surviving (including human life). This earth's story will go on long after you've attempted to save the last owl.

Don't pollute, pack it out, recycle waste....sure. But really, nature trumps all. Though we entertain thoughs of Godlike existance with science and techno garbage, mankind is only an observer to forces of nature.

We already have!

Catherine,

Do not be saddened, this animal is alive and lives.

The Cat in my back yard was without a doubt a Cougar. A beautiful well kept fawn color about the size of my dog(about 30 lbs). As she came out of the woods she was watching my dog who was on the porch and didn't see her. She never took her eye off the dog but slowly moved off into the grass. I've seen her before around here but always at adistance.. This was about fifty feet and I'll never forget it.

HA HA erwache...

That's a hoot blaming extinction back to the Pleistocene Period (!!??) on humans. Good ol' Al would be proud - you've even outdone him.

Erwache: your statement is only partially true. There is little evidence that the Pleistocene Megafauna was extinguished by man.

Hey let's blame it all on Obama. That seems like the fashionable thing to do now days. I can't believe I read this far and did not see his name from some one looking to place blame. The cats are there. They are everywhere.

I'm curious - why do you think would VA lie about such a thing?

yep they are extinct here in page county virginia we just call them big kitty cats and the park service of course denies they are even in the shenandoah national park which is ok. they are very weary of human contact but then again they are extinct wink wink.

I live on the W.v., Maryland line and yes we do have Cougers...I myself seen paw prints in a yard. Know quit a few people who HAS seen them and they are pics....to many to dispute. We had people posting fliers around saying they want proof.....no I don't think you do...

We all have some defgree of denial in our lives, but pictures taken next to multi-ton boulders and 200 year old oak trees are FACT.

Fish and Game departments choose to live in denial.

There is nothing on this planet as close to perfection as the big cats. When you look into there eyes you just know that your in the presence of perfection on earth.

They are "Gods" masterpiece, and as usual humans have, can, and will destroy everything before we are through, including ourselves.

Chaseflamz and others: Wildlife experts do not deny the sightings that you mention; they simply feel that they do not represent a viable breeding population. See Post 5.3, above

Go hang out on Mt. Rodgers (Smyth County(?), Va. sometimes and you may get lucky. They are certainly there, because, even though it was about 10 years ago, I saw one cross a fireline road, that scared the soup out of me and it absolutely was not a bobcat at about 150 ~ 175 lbs.

Just Saying...

In late summer of 2001 at 5:30 am on US 25E 4 miles north of Middlesboro, KY, my brother had a buff colored panther run in front of his vehicle. A few days prior to that my golden retriever started barking wildly and we went to check on her. She was cowering in the corner of her pen and was shaking badly. Something scared her. I might add we lived about a half mile from where my brother saw the cat.

Yes, cougars are also called mountain lions.

As the title of the book says-"Inherit the Wind" Number one is a lonely place.

Dudditz,

"we" humans are the dumb animals in fact my friend. there's nothing dumb about the great cats, they are perfection on earth. humans are the scruge on this earth.

your quote "We've got Predator Drones and Blackberries"

exactly, they will become the fuse that will ignite this world into a flaming ball. it's just a matter of when, not if. we are in fact the most pathetic animal unleashed on this planet ever. animals don't kill for any reason but to eat, we kill everything for the hell of it. shoot it if it moves. hate your neighbor, hate the color of others skin, hate their religion, hate their customs, hate them as an enemy, then kill them all.

"mans inhumanity to man" will be the human legacy, bank on it.

I think and hope that Dudditz is being sarcastic.

Haha. This is so true! :]

no they aren't because they're a different subspecies and will have different characteristics just beacause tehhy move east doesn't make them the same.

Actually, it is possible to have seen a "black" mountain lion--many animals may breed a melanistic colored animal (melanistic phase). Originally these were thought to be different species, e.g. black leopard, but they are the same species, different color. How exciting to have seen one! I saw a bobcat in the wild, but not a melanistic one. I agree with you--you have to spend a lot of time in the outdoors to see animals--you don't see them going in for a short time! A shame the eastern mountain lion is being taken off the protected list--it will give people free reign to kill them--and then they will become extinct!

Our Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed the cougar/mountain lion sightings in Indiana. They got pictures using motion detector cameras. There have been 19 sightings the last year across the state. It will not let me post a link. If you would like to see the pictures search "cougar pictures in Greene County, Indiana" and click on "Greene County Daily World: Local News: DNR confirms presence of a ...."

There is at least one black one here, and it has been seen recently by several people.

This is a relatively rural area, so our wildlife hasn't been forced out like it is in a lot of commercially developed. The majority of the land here is used for farming, catfish farms, and pasture for livestock, so the wildlife isn't threatened by much. Coyotes, mountain lions, foxes,wolves, and other predators can only be killed if they are an immediate thread to people, pets, or livestock. Wildlife and Fisheries doesn't play around here... anyone caught illegally killing wild animals is in deep s***.

Wildlife and Fisheries have received reports of black mountain lions, but they keep saying it is impossible and there is no such thing. They also tell us there cannot possible be any wolves around here.

Never say anything is impossible in nature; at some point you will always be proven wrong.

I believe you....we have the same thing happening here!!!

What states are you guys in? Here in Texas we have heard reports of Jaguars down in the southwest part of the state near the border, I know they have cougars down there.

What about those little Jaguarundies? Do you see many of them in Texas? I hear they're about gone in the Southern states.

Louisiana here. What reasoning is behind Wildlife and Fisheries or their counterparts denying the existence of these animals?

Humans and other animals could coexist, silly. Actually, the truth is that there is not enough habitat in the world to support this breeding population of humans. WE are the problem, and should be trying to reduce our numbers and overall impact on the planet.

Truth is, there is plenty of habitat. The problem is said habitat is dissected by so many man-made obstacles that they are prevented from breeding. Say an individual required a 700 acre territory in which to live and raise cubs. The problem isn't that we don't have 700+ acre wildlife preserves, but rather that these suitable habitats are separated from eachother. In forests there is a biological phenomenon in which biodiversity of flora and fauna diminishes vastly at edges. The big cats and most other secluded animals avoid these edges and unless forced would not cross a large open space to reach another such forest. We need continuous forests, not a whole bunch of scattered disconnected ones. And BTW extinction by no means is part of evolution.

See my post at 13.2. These pictures are in southern Indiana. And yes...this is NO house kitty!

It is a matter of wise use of natural resources--develop land that is not sensitive, keep green areas and protect the areas that are environmentally sensitive. We don't need to keep developing everything. The reason so much habitat is destroyed is greed, pure and simple--follow the money! greed is what tanked the world economy, and greed will ultimately lead us to what you are saying about soylent green!

Mother nature will seek a re balancing, as we continue poisoning our environment and climates change the earth will eliminate or reduce our population.

No not in 2012.......well maybe just the doomsday prophets.....but soon enough, the longer into the future the more the devastation.

Humankind needs to come to terms with it's own fraility and start planning for survival.

Darwin was not really trying to convince people of evolution he was presenting evidence that we are fellow beings on the planet. We are flesh and blood and if we understand why we behave we might be able to correct our path. Thinking we are DemiGods (half human half spiritual what ever) have gotten us into this mess. Yes we must somehow control our reproduction, being that we are at the top of the food chain. We humans have selfcontrol, well may not when it comes to sex. You see sex is an instinct, an animal instinct. But we have the ability to reason so I think we had better address the issue soon. The native Americans use to consider the Cats brother beings but we know what we did to those people who got in our way.

Yes we should put limits on the number of children people can have. To enforce those limits we should use taxes. 1 or 2 kids fine any more than that and we start charging them money. After 4 or so we jump the payment up significantly something like 5000$ a kid I've never understood why we give parents money for having kids. Any retard can have kids (they frequently do).

That day might come to pass, tim319!

Read the article. You didn't see an Eastern cougar. (regardless of where the cougar was that you saw, it's the breed, not the location).

Thanks, AP. I was thinking the same thing. The article clearly states that any cougars seen in the East are not Eastern cougars, but another species. Don't understand why so many folks on here insist they have seen an "Eastern Cougar." Remember, just because a goose is in Ontario, does not make it a "Canada Goose"! If that were the case, then the ones I see around here must be United States geese! It doesn't help that the title of the article is very misleading.

Well, the question remains, what is the difference between an "eastern" cougar and the cougars that are currently being sighted?

Just Asking.

That sounds like a question for Google. But just because one subspecies of an animal class is extinct doesn't mean they all are (which many folks on here don't seem to be grasping). Another example of this would be pigeons . . . the passenger pigeon was declared extinct in 1914, but lord knows there are plenty other pigeons around! The biggest problem with this story is that it is obvious the person who posted the headline didn't read the content. He/she makes it sound like there are no cougars in the East, which we know isn't true. Very poor journalism in my book!

Grandpa, I would say that's a cougar alright, it doesn't have to be Eastern, which looks pretty much exactly the same as a cougar out west or mountain lions as they're also called. All cougars pretty much look the same with the tan coat, light underneath, and the signature white/black moustache. The story should read, No more Cougars in the East, I think to say extinct is a bit of a stretch.

See my post at 13.2. You can see the photos the Indiana DNR have of a cougar. If you look at these Grandpa, I bet it is the same type of cat you saw on your farm.