Corndog
Ephemerella Subvaria
I certainly think there are some cougars making their way into some of these areas, especially near the Canadian border (they've been documenting wolves, by roadkill, etc. that have ventured into remote Maine and NH for the past decade or so.) I might be one of the few that actually smiles at the thought of it. But I don't think any state wildlife agencies are trying to hide anything. There has been no physical evidence (tracks, hair, scat, a friggin' dead cougar) associated with these sightings so they can't be legitimized until that happens. The cougars reported on the loose in NJ and southeastern PA were released or escaped captive animals.
With the wolves in Maine and NH the sighting were reported for years and years before they finally confirmed one with physical evidence to legitimize the years of claimed sightings, no matter how reputable the person or descriptions were.
Ryan,
NJ has the proof. One was hit by a car and killed 3 years ago on River Road in Montague. I was there, I saw it along with 2 others, and watched the ranger put it in the back of his truck. He wouldn't admit that it was a cougar. But, we're not idiots. We know what we saw. Just out of curiosity, I called the rangers offices at Stokes and High Point and asked if there were cougars in the parks cause I was thinking about camping and hiking there and they told me there is no evidence that cougars are in NJ. I lived in south Texas where mountain lions are numerous for 11 years. Even saw them run across the flight line on Laughlin AFB. They were video taped by Air Traffic Control. You cound even go on a guided lion hunt if you wanted to.
Their here...it's just a matter of time before it becomes public knowledge.
Pat,
I think you deserve an award for the best post on NEFF so far. That one had me rolling. :rofl:
Cdog