The US Fish and Wildlife Service has officially declared the eastern
cougar to be extinct in US and Canada. Strangely, the Canadians
recently came to the opposite conclusion!
Town Forest Expansion, Ashland
16 hours ago
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Perhaps not so strange. If the eastern subspecies is officially declared extinct, then any cougars that show up in the eastern US can be legally killed, under the assumption that it cannot be our extinct native cougar.
ReplyDeleteIf extant, on the other hand, then cougars showing up in the eastern US could not be killed, under the endangered species act, without knowing for sure that it is a dispersing western cougar, or a released pet. It would have to be protected -- imagine the social and political ramifications in the densely populated eastern seaboard!
I just got this in an email regarding Florida panthers from Defenders of Wildlife. Perhaps some of you are interested in supporting it:
ReplyDeleteYou and I have a chance to create a new national wildlife refuge... and provide a safe home for Florida panthers, black bears and other imperiled wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in the initial phases of gathering feedback on a proposal to establish a new wildlife refuge in the northern portions of the American Everglades. Such a refuge would provide priceless habitat for Florida panthers and other endangered American wildlife. Please take action online at http://dfnd.us/gz6wYM