Status of the Eastern Cougar - Maine and Beyond

Maine is a one of those states where population densities are more isolated to the coastal areas, and the central and northern portions have a much smaller per capita population. This makes for beautiful scenery as well as isolation for hikers, hunters and outdoors people. Eagles, moose, deer and more haunt the woods and waterways.

In 2000 the population of Maine was just under 1.3 million spread over some 31,000 square miles. 3500 miles of coastline, 17 million acres of forest. The US census bureau projection is around 1.4 million people by 2025, or 42nd in the nation for population.

The last known cougar in Maine was killed in 1938, yet reports have filtered in over the years of the animals still haunting the woods. Making Maine one of the Eastern Cougar haunts of New England, ranking it in line with Vermont and New Hampshire.

Now, the state of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is gathering together the reports from the state as part of a periodic review of the status of the cougar. While not listed on Maine’s endangered or threatened listings, it is protected under the federal endangered species program (since 1969).

Part of the review, which will take data from 21 states east of the Mississippi, will be aimed towards scientific analysis of the data, but also as to whether the Eastern Cougar is actually even a distinct species. This later aspect runs the risk of removing the endangered species classification, as the population entirety would be lumped with the cougars from the west. While this reclassification is still unknown, it is a debatable subject as the actual speciation of cougars is debated in and of itself. We have previously seen multiple sub-species (including the eastern cougar and over 10 others) , to a shortening that lumps various geographic areas together as sub-species.

One stand out account from Maine is from September 2000 in which a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) Biologist Keel Kemper identified tracks made in Monmouth, Maine as being larger than existing felines would make. The event was spurred by the sighting by Roddy Glover, in which he claimed seeing a female and cub while scouting the area prior to bow season to start. Glover is a taxidermist and had mounted cougar pelts prior. The investigation by Keel Kemper and Philip Dugus occurred within hours of the reported sighting, and hundred of tracks were found and casts were made.

For anyone who has seen a cougar, be it in the east or west (and I have seen them in the west), remain positive that despite reclassification of species or endangered status, these animals will continue to fight for their survival.

Are they in the New England? Possibly, there is some good evidence from New Brunswick and Massachusetts (the Vermont classification is debatable) in the form of scientific evidence. We have numerous sightings, and the off / on image to see or track to view. Time will tell, and the review of the animal’s status is important regardless of the end results as it will allow the first large scale review from multiple states in years. We hope the data will be made available to us all for review when complete.

The review plan outline is viewable at the US Fish and Wildlife Website at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E7-1315.html

Maine is but one state, and should be considered as one of many.

Please see the following links for further information:

http://www.easterncougarnet.org/northeast.html
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070313mountainlion.html
https://www.state.me.us/ifw/wildlife/etweb/pdfs/easterncougar_24_25.pdf