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See New Yorks Eastern Cougar fact sheet.
See the British Columbia Cougar Study site.
In August 1999 <spinelli@THEGLOBAL.NET> was collecting information on lynx and highway relations.
The Wildlife Society Bul., late 1999, had several cougar articles.
Notes from an email survey in October 1999: Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 07:33:38 -0700
From: "Jones, Michael L (JONM)" RE: Black panther info: compiled responses (14)>>
Michael Lee Jones On Wed, 29 Sep 1999 08:01:46 -0700, you wrote: Hi - you might want to subscribe to the ecougar list (see www.onelist.com
or try sending a message to ecougar-subscribe@ONElist.com
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 09:19:34 -0700
From: Kendrot Steve Civ 1 FW/SE
Subject: RE: Black panther info: compiled responses (14)
To: "Jones, Michael L (JONM)"
The post below which you included in your review sounds suspiciously like
the confirmed jaquar sighting that occured in 98 I beleive. Defenders of
Wildlife Magazine had an article on it I believe. There were photos, but the
animal was definately not black.
Steve Kendrot From: Forest_Decker@kcmo.org
Sent: Monday, October 11, 1999 12:43 PM
To: Jones, Michael L (JONM)
Subject: Re: Mountain Lion/Cougar/Panther sightings info
I saw an article in Outdoor Life about a year ago concerning a black panther
in Texas near the Mexican border. It was complete with pictures. Evidently,
a guide and his hunters were hunting mountain lions with dogs when they
treed the panther. I'll try and find the article for you.
Forest Decker
See the eastern cougar network
From: "Robert Giles" Mr. Todd Lester
Dear Mr. Lester:
Mike Evans is a new acquaintance with a love of cougars and wild animals.
He sent your recent notes. I learned of your cougar group from Chris
Bolgiano when I heard her read from one of her books a few months ago. I
was a wildlife biologist for the state for 5 years "in the old days" but have taught at Va Tech for 35 and now am retired. I was a skeptic about native cougars and talked to Bob Downing (affiliated with our department) who investigated all sightings tracks, etc.) I knew Maurice Hornacker when I taught wildlife management at the Univ. Idaho.I do not have to see one to believe in their presence but I admit to being skeptical of there being a viable population of these animals (50+). I know people dump pets (big and little cats) and I'm sure that has been done.
I now believe that if they are not present, they will be soon and thus there is essential need for a management plan for them...before too late. They were exterminated before and it will happen again after the first child is killed. There are over 100 human attacks by cougars now and they are increasing in the West. We can expect it here in the east - much better cover, more deer food, more diverse prey. I bet you are already discussing these things, but on the off chance that you are not, I hope I might become involved in some small way - not in the hunt for them, but in planning for their expansion, the great conflicts that will arise, and what we can do about that for the good of the cat and especially for the outdoor industries, tourism, and rural dwellers who must not live in fear in this wonderful region . It did not take long for this problem to be removed from the lives of the mountain folk settlers of West Virginia and western Virginia. There are reports of the animal's come-back and I imagine you have most of these. I saw a recent article (June 2003) on cougar in Outside Magazine.
I'm retired now but am trying to get a business started for the good of people and natural resources of the region. You can see the business plan at www.RuralSystem.com but I hope you will take a look at "The Bobcat Group" (http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/rhgiles/aruralbusiness/designa4.htm#bobcat which may contain cougars within its concept. I'm convinced that a private, for-profit group can manage the animal better than those people within the under-manned and under-funded state agency. Maybe we can correspond, maybe find a way to sustain your work. In any case, I wish you the very best. Thanks for your work to date.
Bob
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2003 20:18:46 -0400
From: Todd Lester Bob,
Hi, and good to hear from you. I also know that cougars are present in the
eastern US as I have seen one and documented evidence of their existence.
But as to how many are here, and how much (if any) reproduction is taking
place is what we are now striving to find out. I have to work a normal job
for a living and can only hit the woods in my sparetime and fund most of it
out of my own pocket so have been very limited as to how much I can get
done.
So the possibility of being able to do this kind of work for a living is
extremely interesting to me. I will read over your web site.
We did recieve a grant for this camera project, and are now into our 3rd
month of it. Getting lots of deer, bear, coyote and bobcat pictures but so
far no cougar. But I have collected some scats for DNA testing from the
area.
Please keep in touch and lets share some information and ideas.
Todd Lester
scb01489@mail.wvnet.edu
Eastern Cougar Foundation
www.easterncougar.org
See Eastern Cougar Research Network
The Eastern Cougar Conference, 2004 was held in Morgantown, West Virginia.
http://www.easterncougarnet.org/news.htm.
Eastern Cougar Foundation (www.easterncougar.org). mission statement:
The Eastern Cougar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, science-based, volunteer-run conservation organization dedicated to recovery of cougars (mountain lions) in wild areas of their former range in eastern and central North America.
Possible Contact: Helen McGinnis See Cat Links
The parallels with wolves in Russia (a book by Will Graves, 2007) need to be considered.
This Web site is maintained by R. H.
Giles, Jr.
Reply-to: "Jones, Michael L (JONM)"
Port Arthur Remediation Team
3400 Hwy 365, Ste. 110
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Tel. (409) 626-3164, Fax (409) 626-3117
Mjones3@ch2m.com
jonm@chevron.com
From: Aaron@Ce.bc.ca
Periodically, we field biologists hear stories of sightings of
various animals that seem highly unlikely to us based on our knowledge and
experience. However, once in a great while they turn out to be
true.Documentation/verification, either in the literature or in the
field, are essential to establishing the facts.
Does anyone have any info about confirmed sightings of black
panthers (the myth continues) in the SE US? Additionally, does anyone have any
info about the current status of mountain lions/cougars in SE Texas and
western Louisiana? I'd appreciate any info or leads. Thanx.
will work though). The list is a mixed group of people, some interested in
finding the eastern cougar, some interested in cougars, some researchers
(like myself), and some kooks. People post messages about sightings all
the time, however I'd beware of their veracity. Good luck,
Aaron*Note* permanent email address change to Aaron@Ce.bc.ca
mailto:Aaron@Ce.bc.ca
Wildlife Biologist
USDA - Wildlife Services
1FW/SEF
65 Sweeney Blvd
Langley AFB, VA 23665
Phone: 757-764-5357
Fax: 757-764-5358
steve.kendrot@langley.af.mil
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Last revision May 12, 2007.