Eastern Cougar declared extint

**Coops** · March 2nd, 2011, 10:51 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/...eastern_cougar

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday declared the eastern cougar to be extinct, confirming a widely held belief among wildlife biologists that native populations of the big cat were wiped out by man a century ago.

After a lengthy review, federal officials concluded there are no breeding populations of cougars — also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions and catamounts — in the eastern United States. Researchers believe the eastern cougar subspecies has probably been extinct since the 1930s.

Wednesday's declaration paves the way for the eastern cougar to be removed from the endangered species list, where it was placed in 1973. The agency's decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered wildcat.

Anyone ever see one?

**father-of-five** · March 2nd, 2011, 11:05 PM

I'm not sure if what I saw was an Eastern Cougar. There is some contraversy in the western Poconos, in that those who oversee the state parks, reserves, etc. say there are no "big cats" as I will call them, in this area. However, there are unconfirmed rumors that mountain lions have been brought into the area to control the deer population. I have seen a mountain lion, or similar type cat, last year, and there is a picture of one in the office of the community I live in.

**The_War_Wagon** · March 2nd, 2011, 11:10 PM

Researchers should run around in deep Appalachia for a weekend in Lady Gaga's ribeye dress... JUST as a final check.

**RandomTask** · March 2nd, 2011, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Coops

Anyone ever see one?

My ex-wife is one... I'm sure that whore's still on the prowl...

**NuclearSociety** · March 2nd, 2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by RandomTask

My ex-wife is one... I'm sure that whore's still on the prowl...

oh my god...
:facepalm:

**King 5.45** · March 2nd, 2011, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by RandomTask

My ex-wife is one... I'm sure that whore's still on the prowl...

Don't be bitter. Just be thankful for the freedom to screw up again!

**winchester70** · March 3rd, 2011, 09:00 PM

me and probably 30 others seen a mountain lion numerous times while working on a project near the Pittsburgh international airport

**padowser** · March 3rd, 2011, 09:31 PM

This musta been the last one....This lion was hit by a car between Grantsville, Md and Walker, WV DNR had to come and put him down. He charged at the Fish and Game guy in the process.....or so the story goes.