Eastern Cougar declared extinct by USF&G
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:41 pm
US Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the Eastern Cougar Extinct. Sometimes called Mountain Lion, Puma, Panther, or Catamount. Cougars have declared as endangered species since 1973. Back in the 1800's NYS would pay a bounty on killing Cougars and gray wolves. The last bounty was paid in 1894 in Hamilton Cty. Cougars were thought to exist in the Catskills into the 1930's. The last known cougar was killed in 1938. The cougar was trapped by Rosarie Morin from St. Zacharie, Quebec in Somerset County, Maine in 1938. The cougar was mounted and now resides in the New Brunswick Museum in St. John, New Brunswick.
With this new status, eastern cougars will be removed the the Endangered Species List.
Until a male and female cougar mate and produce a viable offspring nothing will change in NYS.
With this new status, eastern cougars will be removed the the Endangered Species List.
Until a male and female cougar mate and produce a viable offspring nothing will change in NYS.