USFWS Review of the Eastern Cougar

Finally, the USFWS is beginning an investigation into the eastern cougar phenomenon. Maybe. We'll see how it pans out. I've seen my fair share of housecat and bobcat pictures, taken by people convinced they've seen a mountain lion, and I'm unconvinced that the "black panther" sightings have anything to do with any possible remaining eastern cougar, but I am, frankly, highly doubtful that the average state game warden has enough experience with big cats (or, say, tracking) to truly determine the presence or absence of a cougar. I'm basing this on a) having listened to several game officers consistently make inaccurate scientific statements about species with which they have little day-to-day contact, and b) knowing that their training is primarily law enforcement, not biology. The few actual non-game researchers an eastern state might hire are usually focused on rare woodrats or the like; they don't have time for "phantom cats." Most investigations I've seen take place have had serious methodological flaws (length of investigation, scope of investigation, late occurance of investigation, etc.). And, most start with a bias that may be difficult to overcome scientifically. Can, for example, modern DNA techniques accurately distinguish a true "eastern" cougar, from a "western" cougar? I know the South American subspecies can be determined, but some studies seem to indicate that there is little differentiation between North American populations. (Then again, the Texas strain can apparently be distinguished from the true "Florida panther," so I'd like to see what the current concensus is.) I suspect this is mostly a paper investigation, with little chance of legitimate field studies. (Imagine the cost...) For now, here is part of the press release put out by the PA Game Commission on behalf of the Federal project:

"Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is beginning a review of scientific and commercial information to determine the status of the endangered eastern cougar, the first review the Service has done since publishing a recovery plan in 1982.
"As part of the process, the USFWS has requested that anyone wishing to submit information regarding the eastern cougar may do so by writing to: Eastern Cougar, Northeast Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035. Comments also may be submitted via e-mail to EasternCougar@fws.gov.
"Information must be received for the state review by the USFWS by March 30, although the Service will continue to accept new information about eastern cougars at any time.
"The USFWS placed the eastern cougar on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 1973. The last known Pennsylvania native mountain lion was killed in Berks County in 1874." ...
"As part of the review, the USFWS is seeking information on the status of the eastern cougar in the 21 states -- from Maine to South Carolina and westward from Michigan to Tennessee -- where the Endangered Species Act protects it. Lacking definitive evidence of the species' existence, the Service has presumed the eastern cougar to be extinct. According to the USFWS, it is improbable that a small cougar population persisted in the eastern states for over a century. Most of the confirmed cougar records since 1950 (animals killed, good quality photos/videos, genetic evidence) are known to be escapes of captive origin. There may be thousands of captive cougars in the eastern United States.
"'An important part of the Service's review will be to compile the best available scientific evidence and objectively assess whether the eastern cougar is truly extinct,' said Mark McCollough, endangered species biologist in the Service's Northeast Region. McCollough and other Service staff will prepare the status review.
"The Service announced the eastern cougar status review in the 'Federal Register' on Jan. 29. To assist with the review, the Service contacted state fish and wildlife agencies in states and Canadian provinces where the cougar is thought to have lived and requested information related to cougar status, protection, threats, laws about captivity, and habitats where cougars could persist.
"The Endangered Species Act requires a review every five years of all protected species. However, limited resources and higher priorities have postponed the review for the Eastern cougar until now.
"For additional information on the eastern cougar, see http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ECougar.
"Information on the USFWS' endangered species program may be found at http://www.fws.gov/endangered.
"To be certain, Roe stressed that this review process is not an effort to introduce mountain lions into Pennsylvania.
"'The Game Commission has long been opposed to any initiative -- public or private -- to reintroduce mountain lions into the Commonwealth,' Roe said. 'Such a reintroduction effort would not be feasible in the state, and would not be something acceptable to most citizens, given that there are few areas of the Commonwealth without established communities. Also, such introductions, given the human population density, would not be in the best interest of the animals released.
"'However, over the years, mountain lion sightings have been reported throughout the state. The overwhelming majority of cases we investigate are proven to be mistaken identity based on examination of tracks, photos or other physical evidence,' Roe said. 'Some cases are inconclusive.
"'And, while some believe mountain lions exist in the wilds of Pennsylvania, we have no conclusive evidence to support such views. However, if someone does encounter a mountain lion, the most logical explanation would be that the animal escaped from or was released by someone who either legally or illegally brought the animal into Pennsylvania.'
"To demonstrate his point, Roe noted that the agency has prosecuted individuals for illegal possession on mountain lions and other exotic wildlife in recent years. In 2002, a 24-year-old Dauphin County resident, was found guilty of illegally possessing a western cougar, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine." ...
"'While state law permits Pennsylvanians to possess certain exotic animals, the law also requires that such individuals adhere to specific permit and caging regulations established by the Game Commission in order to ensure public health and safety, as well as the animal's health and welfare.' Roe noted that the agency also has received reports of other exotic animals being found throughout Pennsylvania, such as a binturong found on a Beaver County family's porch in 2002; an African serval, resembling a small cheetah, which had been illegally possessed and escaped from its Pittsburgh owner several times before being confiscated in 2001; and two wallabies that escaped from their owners in Ambler in 2001."