Reintroduction of the Cougar Felis Concolor in Adirondack Park: A Problem Analysis and Recommendations

The eastern puma Felis concolor couguar essentially disappeared from Lhe faunal complex of northeastern North America by the late 1800’s. Only in 137J was the subspecies declarer] "endangered". Recently, evidence has been presented in support of the existanee of a vel let 'puma population. However, the evidence is weak. A.major goal of this study is to develop a wholiStic and. imagiiutive approach to assessing the status of a potentially extirpated subspecies under difficult conditions. A second major goal is to synthesize and define a pre­ liminary conservation program for the puma in the northeast. The study seeks to set an example for similarly difficult conservation problems anywhere in the world. The objectives and procedures are respectively as follows: (1) To col­ lect current information about the existence and location of free-living pumas in the Northeast. This aspect of the study will be coordinated with a parallel effort in the southern Appalachians, led by Hr. Robert L. Downing of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Information and sightings will be solicited through forms and other means, centralized in State and Province conservation departments. (2) To locate free-living pumas on the basis of likely reports; develop a priority system for checking sighting reports; and possibly develop an index technique (if judged feasible by appropriate scientists) to relate incidental sightings to an estimate of puma density in a given area. , The index. relates sightings of transmi ttered, sterilized and released puma/s, to "population density" as determined by the area covered by the released purra/s. Pumas will bereleased in an appro­ priate, representative area in the northeast. (3) To study free-living pumas, if they are located (a) to determine whether they represent a reproducing population, and (b) to identify key features of predation and habitat requirements, including potential sources of disturbance by humans. This will be done by various means, including snow-tracking. (4) To locate and examine specimens and/or materials of pumas recently killed in the Northeast and compare them with museum specimens and materials representing the. eastern subspecies. Materials and. specimens will be . compared using all available means and collections. (5) To collect historical information about the eastern subspecies. Specifically where'animals were killed or sighted, areas where they were last seen or killed, the extent of rumen exploi­ tation , predation patterns, habitat associations and relations with humans. ’ In­ formation will be gleaned from reports,-articles, bounty records, etc. and results collated with maps to identify patterns of extinction. (6 ) To determine the extent to which captive pumas have escaped in the Northeast in order to assess the impact of escaped pumas on the genetic integrity of potential, native stock. This infor­ mation will be sought from conservation department officials, zoo and menagerie administrators and private individuals. (7) To identify potential areas in the Northeast where pumas might have a chance for survival, now and in the future, in order to guide searches and future conservation efforts. Areas will be identified on the basis of remoteness, size, prey availability and historic presence. Models will be constructed using island biogeqgraphic theory. ' (8) To evaluate and synthe­ size all information relating to the previous objectives. , publish a report and con­ clusions about the current' status of the eastern puma, develop a conservation plan for the subspecies in the Northeast and make preliminary recanmendations. (9) To coordinate the study with the similar study in the southern Appalachians led by Mr. Downing. Members of the Florida Panther . Recovery Team will also be consulted. The study will be conducted by one Ph.D. and one M.S. candidate, supervised by the principal investigator. Two technicians, will assist in.the field work, as needed. The operations base for the study will be the 'Adirondack Ecological Center of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The study will be completed in four years.