(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - COUGAR, EASTERN
OTHER COMMON NAMES - COUGAR, EASTERN;LION, MOUNTAIN; COUGAR; COUGAR, ADIRONDACK; PUMA; PUMA, EASTERN; PANTHER;PANTHER and EASTERN; PAINTER;CATAMOUNT
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Mammals
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAMMALIA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - CARNIVORA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - FELIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - FELIS,
SPECIES AND SSP - CONCOLOR, COUGUAR
SCIENTIFIC NAME - FELIS CONCOLOR COUGUAR
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Eastern Cougar
Felis concolor couguar Kerr, 1792
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Mammal
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Carnivora FAMILY: Felidae
The eastern cougar (Felis concolor couguar Kerr, 1792) is a small
form with a rather broad skull and inflated nasals; fur is relatively
long and shows little contrast between dorsal and ventral, has a
poorly defined darkening of the muzzle, and no dappling or ridgeback
(12). The eastern cougar was first called Cougar de Pensilvanie by
Buffon in 1776. Kerr (1792) renamed it Felis couguar based on
Buffon's description. True (1884) reassigned it to Felis concolor and
Nelson and Goldman (1929) first used the present subspecific
designation Felis concolor couguar. A variation in the spelling of
the subspecific designation, cougar, can be found in some literature
including the Canadian and Canadian Provincial lists, and the IUCN Red
Data Book. This subspecies was first described among North American
specimens from the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The
type specimen, from Elk County, PA, is at the U.S. National Museum.
The most recent and exhaustive diagnosis of eastern cougar taxonomy is
a preliminary one by James D. Lazell (12). Minnesota is not included
within the range of the eastern cougar because the scientific
community generally accepts that state as being within the range of F.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
c. schorgeri, based on Jackson's (1955) revision involving 3
specimens (10).
Other common names used for this species include mountain lion,
cougar, Adirondack cougar (CITES), puma, eastern puma (CITES),
panther, eastern panther (New Brunswick, Canada listing), painter, and
catamount.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Georgia; Federal Endangered
Georgia; State Listed
Kentucky; Federal Endangered
Kentucky; State Recognized
Maryland; Federal Endangered
Maryland; State Recognized
North Carolina; Federal Endangered
North Carolina; State Listed
South Carolina; Federal Endangered
South Carolina; State Listed
Tennessee; Federal Endangered
Tennessee; State Listed
Virginia; Federal Endangered
Virginia; State Listed
West Virginia; Federal Endangered
West Virginia; State Recognized
E: Federal Endangered
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
Coded Status
Pest
Commercial
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The eastern cougar (Felis concolor couguar) has been designated
as Endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR
17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended.
The subspecies has this status wherever found in eastern North America
(U.S. and Canada). Critical Habitat has not been designated.
This subspecies is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
DOD -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control. Also responsible for
management/recovery on Department of Defense lands.
NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16
U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park
Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of
federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands
(36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3).
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20).
Status - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: DE Division of Fish and Wildlife
IN Department of Natural Resources; Div.
of Fish and Wildlife.
KY Department of Fish and Wildlife.
ME Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
MD Department of Natural Resources
MA Dept. of Fish., Wildl. & Recr. Vehic.
MI Dept. of Natural Resources; Wildlife &
Fisheries Division
NH Fish and Game Commission
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection;
Div. of Fish, Game and Wildlife
OH Dept. Nat. Resour., Div. of Wildlife
PA Game Commission
RI Dept. of Environmental Management;
Div. of Fish & Wildlife
WV Department of Natural Resources.
STATE STATUTE: DE Code Annot., Sec. 601, 602, and 604.
IN Statutes Annot., Sec. 14-2-8.5-1; 310 IN
Admin. Code 3-3-6.
KY Rev. Stat. 150.183; 301 KY Admin. Regs. 3:061.
ME Rev. Stat. Annot., Subsec. 7001, 7751-7756.
MD Nat. Resour. Code Annot., Subsec. 4-2A-01 to
4-2A-09, 10-2A-01 to 10-2A-09; Code of MD
Regs. 08.03.01.43, Supp. 4.
MA Gen. Laws Annot. 131 Sec. 26A; Nongame Wildl.
for Special Consider. in MA, Sec. I, 1983.
MI Compiled Laws Annot., Subsec. 299.221 to
299.230; MI Admin. Code 299.1021 to .1028,
Feb., 1983.
NH Code of Admin. Rules, Fis 1001.01, 1001.02,
eff. Apr. 28, 1980.
NJ Admin. Code, 7:25-11.2, eff. Mar. 29, 1979.
OH Admin. Code, 1501.31-23-01.
PA 58 PA Code, Subsec. 147.1, 147.21.
RI Gen. Laws of RI, Subsec. 20-37-1 to 20-37-5.
WV Limited Author. Coop. Agreem. between USFWS &
WV Dept. of Natural Resources, Sept., 1982.
STATE: Connecticut, Georgia, New York, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.
Status - 3 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: CT Dept. of Environmental Conservation
GA Board of Natural Resources; Dept. of
Natural Resources; Game & Fish Div.
NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
SC Wildlife & Marine Resour. Dept.; Game
& Freshwater Fisheries Division
TN Wildlife Resources Agency
VT Fish and Game Department
VA Commission of Game & Inland Fisheries
STATE STATUTE: CT Gen. Stat. Annot., Subsec. 26-40d, 26-40e.
GA Game & Fish Code, Subsec. 27-3-130 to
27-3-132; Rules & Regs. GA, Sec. 391-4-13.09.
NY 6 NY Code, Rules & Regs. 182.5.
NC 15 NC Admin. Code, 10I.0003.
SC Regulations 123-150.
TN Wildlife Procl. No. 75-15, as amended.
VT Vermont Regs. Annot. 13-79.1.
VA Code of VA, Subsec. 29-230 to 29-237.
STATE: West Virginia
UNOFFICIAL LIST: Federally Endangered, "Special Animal List",
Wildlife Resour. Div., WV Dept. of Nat. Resour.
STATE: District of Columbia
DESIGNATED STATUS: None.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
Felis concolor couguar is listed in Appendix I of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES). It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red Book, Part I
(1982) at the subspecific level as well as in the 1986 IUCN Red List
of Threatened Animals. The Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has listed the eastern cougar as an
Endangered mammal. New Brunswick maintains a Provincial List
(Endangered Species Act, Chap. E-9.1) containing F. c. couguar.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
The cougar was feared and persecuted by many settlers of early
America partly because of occasional depredation on livestock. The
cougar was taken for bounty and had some value as a game species.
73/01/15:38 FR 01521/ - Proposed rule
73/01/22:38 FR 02178/ - Corrections to proposed rule
73/06/04:38 FR 14678/ - Listed as Endangered
79/05/21:44 FR 29566/29577 - Notice 5-year review
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Notice 5-year review
87/07/07:52 FR 25522/ - Notice of five year review completion
Status - 4 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
shrub--seedling
young tree
mature tree
Old Growth
White spruce balsam fir shrub--seedling
White spruce balsam fir young tree
White spruce balsam fir mature tree
White spruce balsam fir Old Growth
Longleaf Pine shrub--seedling
Longleaf Pine young tree
Longleaf Pine mature tree
Longleaf Pine Old Growth
Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine shrub--seedling
Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine young tree
Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine mature tree
Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine Old Growth
Shortleaf Pine-Oak shrub--seedling
Shortleaf Pine-Oak young tree
Shortleaf Pine-Oak mature tree
Shortleaf Pine-Oak Old Growth
shrub--seedling
young tree
mature tree
Old Growth
shrub--seedling
young tree
mature tree
Old Growth
shrub--seedling
young tree
mature tree
Old Growth
shrub--seedling
young tree
mature tree
Old Growth
Aspen-paper birch shrub--seedling
Aspen-paper birch young tree
Aspen-paper birch mature tree
Aspen-paper birch Old Growth
LAND USE -
Deciduous Forest Land
Evergreen Forest Land
Mixed Forest Land
Forested Wetland
Nonforested Wetland
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Habitat Associations - 1
Palustrine SS
Palustrine FO
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The eastern cougar (Felis concolor couguar) is one of 27
subspecies of cougar (20) that once inhabited almost every terrestrial
and forested aquatic habitat from the southern tier of Canadian
provinces to the southern tip of South America. There are few, if
any, vegetative or physiographic limits to their habitat as long as
deer-sized mammals are plentiful for food. The preferred prey species
of the eastern cougar is the white-tailed deer, which itself is
extremely adaptable to habitat, but is most plentiful in areas with
recent forest disturbance or interspersed with agricultural crops.
Deer are now plentiful in most extensively forested areas in the East,
thus there presently are few food resource limitations for the eastern
cougar (20,04). Human disturbance, per se, does not appear to be
detrimental to cougars as long as they are not killed. Nevertheless,
remoteness and inaccessibility are habitat features that may be
necessary to prevent human persecution (20,04).
They spend each day in some thick cover, in a cave, under an
overhang, or in a rock fissure, then move on to some similar site for
the next day's rest (16).
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Poaceae
General Deciduous Shrubs-Flowers/Fruit/Seed
General Arthropods
General Fish
General Aves
General Mammalia
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Caves, dry
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Little is known of the life history of the eastern cougar;
therefore much of the following information has been extrapolated from
studies of other subspecies.
Although the eastern cougar opportunistically takes a wide range
of food, its favorite is the deer (24), probably constituting 60-80
percent of the total consumption (16). Twenty-five species of wild
mammals, 8 domestic mammals, 4 birds, insects, fish, grasses, and
berries are reported as cougar food in the United States and Canada
(16). Grasses and berries are consumed by most members of the cat
family and probably have no nutritional value but rather serve a
medicinal purpose. Cougars stalk (and sometimes ambush) their prey
and characteristically carry or drag an uneaten portion to cover where
they cover it with leaves and twigs (16). Cougars will return to
these caches until the kill is entirely consumed, begins to spoil, or
another kill is made.
Lactation lasts for 3 months and kittens can eat meat at 6 weeks
of age (16). Kittens follow their mothers to a kill after about 2
months of age (09) and accompany her on hunting trips at 5-6 months of
age. Juveniles can kill for themselves by 1 year of age but sometimes
stay with their mothers and depend on her for most of their food up to
22 months of age (16).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Adult cougars are usually solitary except during courtship and
when rearing young (17). Siblings may stay together for 2-3 months
after separation from their mothers. Juveniles of both sexes become
transients unattached to any home area and may remain in this status
for several years until they find a vacant territory (17). One
juvenile transient is known to have traveled more than 161 km from its
tag site (16). Resident adults mark the critical parts of their
territories, such as trails, high ridges, and crossings, with scrapes
or scratch-hills, topped with urine or feces, as visual and olfactory
warnings that the area is occupied (17). Actual defense of territory
is rarely necessary, since both the resident and the intruder respect
the markings and practice what Hornocker (08) calls mutual avoidance.
Home ranges do overlap occasionally, especially if they are large
(25). A male may overlap or completely occupy the territories of
several females, but they generally do not associate except during
courtship (17). Year-round territories of the resident females may be
40-80 square km while resident males occupy an area of 65-90 square km
(16). The amount of space a resident cougar requires is a function of
the vegetation-topography/prey density-vulnerability complex (08,17)
and the maximum number of resident males and females is fixed by these
requirements. Excess transient animals apparently have suppressed
reproduction until a territory becomes vacant (17).
PERIODICITY:
Cougars hunt during daylight as well as night (16). When hunting
deer, however, they probably are crepuscular to correspond most
closely with the activity of their prey. Estimates of the frequency
of killing deer vary from 1 per week to 1 every 3-4 weeks (16).
Cougars may not actively hunt for another deer to kill until the one
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
presently cached is entirely consumed, which may take a week or more.
Thus, hunting may be cyclic. The cycle may be much shorter in summer
due to the rapid spoilage of the meat (16), but smaller prey may be an
important food source in summer (09).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
The only known migration patterns are those necessary to keep
contact with the deer herds, which often move considerable distances
to escape deep, high altitude snows (04) and to obtain better forage
and shelter.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Because they are great wanderers, cougars usually do not have
fixed dens except during the breeding season. Cougars spend each day
in some thick cover, in a cave, under an overhang, or in a rock
fissure, then move on to some similar site for the next day's rest
(16). Cougars apparently can stand as much cold as a deer, as
evidenced by the fact that they occur as far north and at the same or
higher elevations as deer (06).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Cougars probably use the most secure place they can find in which
to rear their kittens. This may be a cave, a fissure between rocks,
or merely a thicket or under an uprooted tree (06). The wide range
of the species indicates a wide adaptability in this regard.
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Female cougars may have their first litter as early as 20-21
months of age and as late as 36 months of age, with 2 1/2 years being
the more common age to reach sexual maturity (16). Estrus is 4-12
days, averaging 8, and recurs after about 14 days if conception does
not occur. Gestation is 90-96 days. Litter size ranges from 1-6 but,
2 or 3 is most common, averaging 2.6 (16). Although no reference is
found to the breeding age of males, they probably are capable of
breeding by 2 years of age but may not find a vacant territory until
some time later. Females separate themselves from males before
parturition and may have to guard their kittens to keep the male from
killing them.
PARENTAL CARE:
Kittens are 20-30 cm long at birth and weigh 226-453 g. Eyes are
closed for 7-10 days (06). Cougars have 3 pairs of mammae and lactate
for about 3 months (16). Estimates of weaning age vary from 4-8 weeks
but may continue until the kittens are half grown (06). Females begin
bringing meat to the young at 6 weeks of age but may lead them to a
kill by 2 months of age, at which time the natal den is abandoned and
temporary dens are used near each subsequent kill (16). Kittens are
dependent on their mother to catch the majority of their food for at
least a year and sometimes up to 2 years (16). The young are driven
away prior to the conception of the next litter, usually by 2 years of
age (16).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Relatively little is known about the population biology of the
cougar because most populations extend over too large an area to be
studied effectively. Density apparently is controlled by territorial
behavior (mutual avoidance) (08), as modified by a complex of factors
involving vegetation, topography, prey density, and prey vulnerability
(08,17). Human exploitation is the major cause of death in most
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
populations, and these killings create social instability and vacant
territories that may soon become occupied temporarily by more
individuals than were removed, provided that transients are available
to fill these vacancies (16). Human persecution played a large part
in the initial extirpation of the eastern cougar and could cause
extirpation again if complete protection and modified human behavior
are not realized. Accidental deaths and road kills are another major
cause of death, particularly for the Florida panther that is protected
from sport hunting (25).
Parasites include Trichinella larvae, tapeworms, fleas, ticks,
and mites. Rabies and feline panleukopenia are significant diseases
that can affect populations and cause die offs (16). Cougars usually
do not experience catastrophic disease outbreaks because they use dens
only for short periods, avoid spoiled meat, and isolate themselves
from other cougars except during courtship and rearing activities
(16).
Survival and mortality rates vary considerably from population
to population, but 8-12 years of age is considered old (16). Captive
cougars at least 25 years old are known (02), but females usually
cannot reproduce after about 12 years (16). Rate of increase is slow
due to the fact that many females do not bear their 2 or 3 kittens
until 3 years of age and breed only about every 2 years thereafter
(16). Population density is apparently not critical to the survival
of populations and has been recorded to range between 26 and 261
square km (10-100 square mi) per cougar (16).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Cougars are best adapted to prey on deer-sized animals (18,24)
but are not entirely dependent on the deer if smaller or larger prey
are abundant (17). However, in much of the United States, the smaller
prey are too small, seasonal, or difficult to catch; and the larger
prey are too large or are highly valued by man, such as domestic
animals. Therefore, the cougar in the United States is largely
dependent on deer. The bobcat competes with the cougar by taking deer
(24), but this may be a case of isolated individuals learning to kill
deer efficiently and does not characterize entire bobcat populations.
The cougar has no natural predators, other than man.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Adverse Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Existing Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Adverse Poaching
Existing Poaching
Adverse Food Supply Reduction
Existing Food Supply Reduction
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Predator control
Existing Predator control
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The earliest settlers feared cougars and vigorously resisted the
occasional depredations of the animal on their livestock. Cougars
were frequently persecuted and many states offered bounties to persons
who killed them. Cougars were virtually eliminated from each region
soon after it became settled by European immigrants. Early settlers
also killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the mainstay
of the cougar's diet. With the exception of a few inaccessible
mountain ranges and swamps, deer were extirpated or greatly reduced
over their entire range and did not become widespread and plentiful
again until they were restocked and protected in the 1930's, 1940's,
and 1950's (04,20). Areas that were remote and inaccessible enough to
retain deer herds were usually small and may not have supported enough
cougars to maintain a viable gene-pool (20), a factor that could
account for some cougar populations possibly disappearing only within
the past 50 years (04). Most, if not all, eastern cougars disappeared
before there was an interest in maintaining a captive population, thus
there are no known specimens in captivity.
While the future holds fewer threats than the past in the form of
persecution and reduced food supplies, some illegal persecution and
the problem of severely reduced gene pools remains (20). Furthermore,
accidental deaths due to encounters with automobiles have proven to be
a major threat to Florida panthers (F. c. coryi) (25) and could be a
threat to the eastern cougars as well.
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 17 pp.
Recovery of the eastern cougar will have been satisfactorily
accomplished when at least three self-sustaining populations have been
found or established in the U.S. Each population (which may consist
of two or more separate but interbreeding nuclei) will be considered
self-sustaining if it contains a minimum of 50 breeding adults, and if
losses of these adults are being replaced through reproduction and/or
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
immigration from nearby populations. Trends in ownership and
management of the habitat and in behavior of the human population must
be such that the minimum numbers are expected to be sustained
indefinitely. One population with a minimum of 50 breeding adults
may allow consideration of downlisting to Threatened. Due to lack of
suitable habitat and potential conflicts with human uses of suitable
habitat it is most probable that the eastern cougar will always be
Endangered.
Actions recommended for the recovery of the eastern cougar
include:
I. Find and delineate cougar populations.
A. Perform research, develop techniques, and train personnel
for identifying positive sign of the presence of cougars.
B. Perform systematic searches throughout the subspecies'
former range (if no cougars are found consider declaring
Felis concolor couguar extinct).
II. Study and provide interim protection for cougars that are found.
A. An advisory committee will be formed in the vicinity of each
population found to plan interim protection (this will
include poaching protection), habitat management, and public
education programs.
B. Cougars should be studied to determine population dynamics
and behavior.
C. Specimens should be used for subspecific identification (no
animals should be sacrificed for this purpose).
III. Taxonomic evaluations.
A. Use modern techniques to define the taxonomy of 18th and
19th century specimens and develop techniques for
identifying live cougars.
B. Taxonomically identify existing populations of eastern
cougars and manage according to subspecific identity.
IV. Develop and implement a permanent management plan.
A. Provide protection, habitat management (manage for
white-tailed deer - i.e., maintain early successional
stages), and public education.
B. Continue studies.
C. Determine whether each population is self-sustaining or if
the trend is in that direction.
V. Capture F. c. couguar from the wild as required for management
purposes such as restoration, augmentation of small populations
and/or captive propagation.
VI. When one self-sustaining population of 50 breeding adults is
found or established, consider downlisting to Threatened. When
three such populations are reached consider delisting.
Scent stations and track surveys have been used in areas of
concentrated sighting reports in NC, SC, and TN over the past five
years. New reports of sightings and kills have been investigated
(occasionally producing cougars which escaped or were released from
captivity). However, there is still no evidence for the existence of
a wild eastern cougar population.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
Management Practices - 4 (DRAFT) - References
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Baker, R.H. 1983. Michigan mammals. Mich. State Univ. Press,
Detroit. 642 pp.
02 Baudy, R. 1980. Personal communication.
03 Berg, W.E. December 1980. Pers. comm. On file: Robert Downing,
Clemson, SC.
04 Downing, R.L. 1981. The current status of the cougar in the
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05 Godin, A.J. 1977. Wild mammals of New England. John Hopkins
Univ. Press, Baltimore, MD. 304 pp.
06 Guggisberg, C.A.W. 1975. Wild cats of the world. Taplinger Publ.
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07 Hall, E.R. 1981. The mammals of North America. John Wiley &
Sons, N.Y., NY. Vol. 2. 1181 pp.
08 Hornocker, M.G. 1969. Winter territoriality in mountain lions.
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09 Hornocker, M.G. 1970. An analysis of mountain lion predation upon
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10 Jackson, H.H.T. 1955. The Wisconsin puma. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.
68:149-150.
11 Kerr, R. 1792. The animal kingdom. 644 pp.
12 Lazell, J.D., Jr. 1981. Diagnosis and identification of the races
of Felis concolor in eastern North America. Preliminary Rept. to
U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv., On file: Robert Downing, Clemson, SC.
23 pp.
13 McGinnis, H. 1982. On the trail of a Pennsylvania cougar. Pa.
Game News 53(2):2-8.
14 McGinnis, H. 1982. Reports of cougars in Pennsylvania since 1890.
Unpubl. manuscript. On file: Robert Downing, Clemson, SC.
15 Nelson, E.W. and E.A. Goldman. 1929. List of the pumas, with 3
described as new. J. Mammal. 10(4):345-350.
16 Russell, K.R. 1978. Mountain lion. Chap. 14. IN: Big Game
of North America. J.L. Schmidt and D.L. Gilbert, eds. Stackpole
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17 Seidensticker, J.C. IV, M.G. Hornocker, W.G. Wiles, and J.P.
Messick. 1973. Mountain lion social organization in the Idaho
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18 Tinsley, J.B. 1970. The Florida Panther. Great Outdoors Publ.
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19 True, F.W. 1884. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 7:610.
20 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Eastern Cougar Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 17 pp.
21 Wright, B.S. 1971. The cougar in New Brunswick. Proc. Symp. on
the Native Cats of North America. Portland, OR. 1971:108-119.
22 Wright, B.S. 1972. The eastern panther, a question of survival.
Clark, Irwin and Co. Ltd., Toronto, Canada. 180 pp.
23 Wrigley, R.E. and R.W. Nero. 1982. Manitoba's big cat.
Manitoba's Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg, Canada. 68 pp.
24 Young, S.P. and E.A. Goldman. 1946. The puma mysterious American
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species COUGAR, EASTERN
Species Id ESIS054008
Date 14 MAR 96
cat. Am. Wildl. Inst. Washington, D.C. 358 pp.
25 Downing, R.L. 1985. Unpubl. data. Based on files at Clemson, SC.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Lazell, J.D., Jr. 1981. Diagnosis and identification of the races
of Felis concolor in eastern North America. Preliminary Rept. to
U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv., On file: R. Downing, Clemson, SC. 23 pp.
02 McGinnis, H. 1982. On the trail of a Pennsylvania cougar. Pa.
Game News 53(2):2-8.
03 Berg, W.E. December 1980. Pers. comm. On file: Robert Downing,
Clemson, SC.
04 Downing R.L. 1981. The current status of the cougar in the
Southern Appalachians. Proc. Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Symp.
Athens, GA. 1981:142-151.
05 Godin, A.J. 1977. Wild mammals of New England. John Hopkins
Univ. Press, Baltimore, MD. 304 pp.
06 McGinnis, H. 1982. Reports of cougars in Pennsylvania since 1890.
Unpubl. manuscript on file: Robert Downing, Clemson, SC.
07 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Eastern Cougar Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 17 pp.
08 Wrigley, R.E. and R.W. Nero. 1982. Manitoba's big cat.
Manitoba's Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg, Canada. 68 pp.
09 Young, S.P. and E.A. Goldman. 1946. The puma mysterious American
cat. Am. Wildl. Inst., Washington, D.C. 358 pp.
10 Downing, R.L. 1985. Unpubl. data. Based on files at Clemson, SC.
11 Wright, B.S. 1971. The cougar in New Brunswick. Proc. Symp. on
the Native Cats of North America, Portland, OR. 1971:108-119.
12 Jackson, H.H.T. 1955. The Wisconsin puma. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.
68:149-150.
13 Hall, E.R. 1981. The mammals of North America. Vol. II, Second
ed. John Wiley & Sons, NY. 1181 pp + index 90 pp.
References - 2