Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

CRYPTIC COUGARS - PERSPECTIVES ON THE PUMA IN THE EASTERN,
MIDWESTERN, AND GREAT PLAINS REGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA
JAY W. TISCHENDORF DVM, Director, American Ecological Research Institute (AERIE),
Post Office Box 1826, Great Falls, MT 59403, USA, email: TischendorfJ@Hotmail.com
Abstract: The subject of cougars in eastern North America continues to intrigue and perplex wildlife biologists,
managers, and nature enthusiasts. Almost uniformly considered extirpated throughout states and provinces in
eastern and midwestern North America over a century ago, growing numbers of reports, some accompanied by
incontrovertible evidence such as full specimens, blood, scat, track, or film documentation, suggest that Puma
concolor is re-establishing, or has re-established, itself in some areas of this vast region. Similar evidence exists for
the Great Plains. This paper, while probably raising more questions than it answers, examines the best and most
current evidence for the occurrence of cougars in the East, Midwest, and Great Plains; discusses the official status of
the species; and provides a perspective on the scientific, social, and political opportunities and challenges posed by
this fascinating and compelling situation.
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Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop
Key words: cougar, recovery, East, Midwest, Great Plains, prairie, North America, Puma concolor
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
The possible existence of the puma
(Puma concolor) in eastern and midwestern
North America today, approximately 100
years since its supposed extirpation from the
region, is among the most provocative and
exciting mysteries in the modern realms of
natural history, ecology, wildlife
management, and conservation biology.
Importantly, the story of the cougar in the
East, the ghost of North America, as it was
dubbed by Bruce Wright, an early champion
for its recovery, has far-reaching, global
implications for carnivore conservation,
continental ecological equilibrium, and
perhaps most of all, our own fulfillment as
stewards of the planet (Wright 1959). To
understand this yet unfolding story, several
fundamental concepts need review:
1. Throughout North America from the
Great Plains eastward, with the
exception of Florida, the puma was
generally considered extirpated by the
early 1900s (Young and Goldman
1946).
2. Since that time, in virtually every state
and every province across this vast
region, scores of people, including
professional scientists, biologists,
naturalists, and foresters, have been
reporting observations of cougars or
their sign (Wright 1972, Tischendorf
and Henderson 1994).
3. While many of these reports are
unverifiable or erroneous, a surprising
number have been confirmed, often
with the details published in peerreviewed
literature. This history of
confirmed reports since the time of
supposed extirpation suggests, at a
minimum, the periodic presence of freeranging
cougars in the region.
4. Several plausible explanations exist for
these cryptic cats: 1) continued
existence of native pumas; 2)
immigration of western cats; 3)
presence of feral escaped or released
captives (FERCs); or 4) combinations
of any or all of these (Nowak 1976,
Downing 1984).