Research Reveals Significant Backing to Reintroduce Cougars in Eastern U.S. Regions

Research Indicates Robust Backing for Reintroducing Cougars in Eastern States

In a significant development for wildlife conservation, a new study led by Mark Elbroch, the director of the Puma Program at New York City-based Panthera, has revealed strong public support for the reintroduction of pumas in seven East Coast states. The study, published in July, was backed by the U.S. Geological Survey's Eastern Ecological Science Center.

The broad public support for pumas could lead state wildlife agencies to explore the idea of restoring these big cats in states along the East Coast where they were driven out decades ago. The survey, which evaluated the thoughts of 2,756 respondents in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia, found support for puma reintroduction across all states surveyed.

Contrary to common assumptions, hunters, rural residents, and politically conservative individuals showed significant support for puma reintroduction. In fact, the number of residents expressing strong support for puma reintroduction outnumbered those with strong opposition by 4:1 to 13:1. Many respondents identified their views on puma reintroduction as neutral.

If implemented, pumas would likely be taken from the Western part of the country. This move would mark a return of a once native species to its historic range, as the historic pumas in the East are the same subspecies as those currently inhabiting the West.

The United States has a history of successful wildlife reintroduction and relocation efforts. Over the past 125 years, the country has reintroduced and relocated over 1,000 species, including the wild turkey, Palos Verdes blue butterfly, river otter, and fisher.

Panthera, founded in 2006, works to protect the world's 40 species of wild cats and their ecosystems. The organisation's director, Mark Elbroch, estimates that a state or tribal government would need 50 animals initially and another 50 later to start a new puma population.

Tribes could also be interested in reintroducing pumas to their tribal lands, adding another layer of potential support for this initiative. The Eastern Ecological Science Center has stated that both federal and state government support have been critical in restoring missing wildlife in their native habitats, including recent efforts for the restoration of gray wolves in Western states.

While the states on the U.S. East Coast where governments and wildlife agency officials are likely most involved in efforts to reintroduce pumas into their original habitats are not explicitly named in the search results, based on general knowledge, states such as Florida, South Carolina, and potentially parts of the Appalachian region have been focal points for such initiatives. No direct current government involvement specifics appear in the provided sources.

As the study's findings gather momentum, it remains to be seen which states will take the lead in this historic wildlife restoration project. One thing is certain: the public's voice has been heard, and the call for puma reintroduction in the Eastern United States is growing louder.