On Tue, 29 May 2007 04:09:27 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:


Tom,
If you are talking about seeing a mountain lion (also known as a cougar,
puma, catamount, panther and other names) it is only native in the
western area of the US and Florida in the east. If it was seen in the
NE it must have escaped from captivity.

Not necessarily so. There was an Eastern Puma, of which the Florida
Panther is a sub-species. Many have argued that it was extirpated in the
early 1900s, but credible reports of sightings continued from isolated
areas of the Appalachians. Recently, sightings have increased and are no
longer in isolated areas. The Eastern Cougar Foundation reported "more
than 165 sightings in WV, VA, NC, PA, and NY during the year 2000. Other
reported sightings in 2000 occurred in AL, IL, ME, KY, MA, WI, LA, NJ,
MD, VT, OH, NH, TN, IN, AK, MI, FL, CT, MS, DE, SC, MO, GA, Ontario and
New Brunswick, Canada."
From:

http://www.wildliferehabsanctuary.org/puma-cougar.htm

There have also been at least 12 sightings which were *confirmed* by
biologists. While some of these may have been escapes, here in New
Jersey, I have heard of several sightings with cubs, meaning there is a
breeding population. However, I must note that a breeding population has
not been confirmed.

As an aside, there is an element of politics involved. There is a move
to remove the Eastern Puma from the endangered species list on the
grounds that it is already extinct. Confirmation of a breeding
population would put that move on hold.