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Eastern cougar Listed: 6/4/1973 Status since listing: Extinct before listing The eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar) formerly ranged from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and southern Ontario to Michigan, Tennessee and South Carolina [1]. This species was persecuted by early settlers and many states offered bounties to people who killed them [2]. It is likely that the eastern cougar was virtually eliminated in each region shortly after it became settled by European immigrants [2]. In addition, the cougars’ habitat and prey have been severely reduced by human activities [3]. Currently, if the eastern cougar still exists, it is limited to only a few scattered areas at best [3] The last known individual was captured in 1938 and died in captivity several years later [4]. There have been numerous reports of eastern cougars in southeast Canada and adjacent United States from the 1970s to the present, but none have been confirmed [3]. In the southeast, the best evidence for a small population has come from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Region [3]. A 5-year survey was conducted in the 1980s in an attempt to confirm the presence of a cougar population in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Although many promising leads were pursued, no concrete evidence was ever obtained [3]. [1] Tischendorf, J. W., and S. J. Ropski (eds.). 1996. Proceedings of the eastern cougar conference, 1994. American Ecological Research Institute. 245 pp. |
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