Were there really ever two different North American Species of Cougars? USFW has now declared that the Eastern Cougar is extinct..................Below is the exchange of emails between myself and good friends Mark McCollough(heads up Cougar Research for Fish and Wildlife out of Maine) and Helen McGinnis(a constant contributor to this blog and one of the Principals at Cougar Rewilding.Org) discussing what happens next for Cougar re-wilding East of the Mississippi

For immediate release News media: For further information, contact

March 2, 2011 Mark McCollough 207-866-3344
Mark McCollough, Ph.D. Endangered Species Specialist

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Maine Field Office
17 Godfrey Drive, Suite #2
Orono, ME 04473
Phone: (207) 866-3344 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (207) 866-3344 end_of_the_skype_highlighting x115
Cell phone: 207 944-5709 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 207 944-5709 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: (207) 866-3351
Email: mark_mccollough@fws.gov

Martin Miller 413-253-8615
Meagan Racey 413-253-8249


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct


Although the eastern cougar has been on the endangered species list since 1973, its existence has long been questioned. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) conducted a formal review of the available information and, in a report issued today, concludes the eastern cougar is extinct and recommends the subspecies be removed from the endangered species list.

"We recognize that many people have seen cougars in the wild within the historical range of the eastern cougar," said the Service's Northeast Region Chief of Endangered Species Martin Miller. "However, we believe those cougars are not the eastern cougar subspecies. We found no information to support the existence of the eastern cougar."

Reports of cougars observed in the wild examined during the review process described cougars of other subspecies, often South American subspecies, that had been held in captivity and had escaped or been released to the wild, as well as wild cougars of the western United States subspecies that had migrated eastward to the Midwest.

During the review, the Service received 573 responses to a request for scientific information about the possible existence of the eastern cougar subspecies; conducted an extensive review of U.S. and Canadian scientific literature; and requested information from the 21 States within the historical range of the subspecies. No States expressed a belief in the existence of an eastern cougar population. According to Dr. Mark McCollough, the Service's lead scientist for the eastern cougar, the subspecies of eastern cougar has likely been extinct since the 1930s.

The Service initiated the review as part of its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. The Service will prepare a proposal to remove the eastern cougar from the endangered species list, since extinct animals are not eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal will be made available for public comment.

The Service's decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another wild cat subspecies listed as endangered. Though the Florida panther once ranged throughout the Southeast, it now exists in less than five percent of its historic habitat and in only one breeding population of 120 to 160 animals in southwestern Florida.

Additional information about eastern cougars, including frequently asked questions and cougar sightings, is at: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ecougar. Find information about endangered species at http://www.blogger.com/goog_342453072

The Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and a trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.
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Head Eastern Cougar Researcher Mark McCollough for USFW responding to Helen McGinnis(Cougar Rewilding) and my questions about whether the Eastern Cougar was always a misnomer as many biologists feel that all North American Cougars are one and the same species:



Had it not been determined recently that the Cougar that roamed North America was in fact one species?........

 Yes, see discussion of our dilemma related to taxonomy on p. 29-35 of the review.



The Florida population comes under what heading?

 yes, the FL panther is listed as a subspecies Puma concolor coryi



Had not many felt that the historical cougar populations east of the mississippi were identical to those west of the river?


Many cougar biologists accept Melanie Culvers recommendations to collapse all NA cougars into one subspecies, but a fair number of cougar biologists disagree. until a complete subspecies analysis is done considering genetics, morphology, ecology, distinctness of populations, the USFWS has decided to use the original taxonomy.

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MANY BIOLOGISTS ARE SUBSCRIBE TO DR. CULVER'S FINDINGS THAT ALL COUGARS IN NORTH AMERICA ARE INDEED ONE AND THE SAME SPECIES.................AS THE CONVENTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILF FAUNA AND FLORA RECOGNIZED IN 2009--SEE BELOW

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Rick Meril <rick.meril@gmail.com>

Date: Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 12:45 PM

Subject: Were there really ever two different North American Species of Cougars?

To: mark_mccollough@fws.gov, helenmcginnis@frontiernet.net

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA

Twenty-fourth meeting of the Animals Committee

Geneva, (Switzerland), 20-24 April 2009

Proposals to amend the Appendices for possible consideration at CoP15

PROPOSAL TO RECONCILE THE CITES APPENDICES FOR
WITH THE STANDARD NOMENCLATURE REFERENCE FOR MAMMALS

AGREED TO IN RESOLUTION CONF. 12.11 (REV. COP14)
1. This document has been submitted by Canada

PUMA CONCOLOR *. is widely distributed throughout North, Central and South America. The standard rd Edition (Wilson and Reeder 2005) considers the 16 formerly recognized subspecies of P. concolor couguar. Puma concolor coryi, Puma concolor costaricensis, and Puma concolor couguar are P. concolor subspecies are included in Appendix II. Puma concolor costaricensis is still considered a distinct subspecies and thus the new nomenclature Puma (Eastern cougar) and Puma concolor coryi (Florida Panther) as distinct subspecies, Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) include: P. c. concolor bangsi; incarum; osgoodi; ); P. c. anthonyi (includes the previous subspecies acrocodia; borbensis; capricornensis; concolor (Pelzeln, 1883); greeni; nigra); (includes the previous subspecies and synonyms hudsoni; puma (Marcelli,1922); (includes the previous subspecies and synonyms arundivaga; ); P. c. puma araucanus; concolor (Gay, 1847); (Touessart, 1904). Note that Puma concolor costaricensis is the only The geographical designations employed in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part Puma concolor couguar (common be added to the list of species that are still treated according to the former mammal Puma concolor couguar as Data Deficient: despite many sightings in the past two P. c. couguar). P. concolor couguar and P. concolor coryi are listed in the P. concolor coryi) P. concolor couguar) are no longer listed separately as critically endangered and Puma concolor has been down-listed from Near Threatened (2002) to Least Concern P. concolor couguar and P. concolor coryi from P. concolor couguar (North American cougar) would remain listed on CITES, under Puma concolor). The American Genetic Association 91:186-197. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

nomenclature reference for mammals agreed to in Resolution Conf. 12.11 (Rev CoP14), Mammals of

the World, 3

cougar in North America as

3. The subspecies

included in Appendix I. All other

4.

has no impact on its CITES listing. However, the new nomenclature does not recognize

concolor couguar

nor are they genetically distinct from other North American cougar subspecies (Culver et al, 2000).

5. In accordance with the standard nomenclature reference for mammals agreed to in Resolution

Conf. 12.11 (Rev CoP14), synonyms of

(Linnaeus, 1771) (includes the previous subspecies and synonyms

soasoaranna; soderstromii; sucuacuara; wavula

and synonyms

P. c. cabrerae

P. c. costaricensis; P. c. couguar

aztecus; browni; californica; coryi; floridana; hippolestes; improcera; kaibabensis; mayensis;

missoulensis; olympus; oregonensis; schorgeri; stanleyana; vancouverensis; youngi

(Molina, 1792) (includes the previous subspecies and synonyms

patagonia; pearsoni; puma

currently recognized subspecies that is listed in Appendix I.

___________________________________________________________________________

From: Helen McGinnis

To: Meril, Rick
Sent: Wed Mar 02 07:28:47 2011
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct

We have a huge amount of educating to do before reintroduction is possible. Much more educating, and a different kind, is needed in the East than in the West because cougars have morphed into "bogey cats" since they were extirpated in the East.

I will be sending you something on Missouri soon. At the this point, cougars are NOT protected in Missouri. Anyone who shoots a cougar in Missouri for any reason--or none--will not be prosecuted. Two of the five recent confirmations were unjustified kills.

____________________________________________________

 From: Meril, Rick
To: 'helenmcginnis@frontiernet.net'
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct

Sucks that there is so much politicking involved
Best answer would be to transplant some weestern cats into every viable open space expanse east of the mississippi and let the cougars do the rest
Keep smiling and doing your part in this effort Helen and thank u as always for putting me into your "circle of friends"

Rick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Helen McGinnis
To: Meril, Rick
Sent: Wed Mar 02 07:15:31 2011
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct

He's probably swamped today.

I suspect that the US FWS decided to continue to consider the Florida panther as a subspecies (Puma concolor coryi) because if it was downgraded to a population, the rationale for preserving it might be lost. I'm sure the developers in southern Florida would love that, and the various people who are working to "save" the panther would be out of their jobs. (And our reintroduction petition for the Okefenokee might lose its validity!)

_________________________________

From: Meril, Rick
To: 'helenmcginnis@frontiernet.net'
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct
Thanks Helen for mining deeper into this
Curious what Mark will reply with
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Helen McGinnis
To: Meril, Rick
Cc: Mark McCollough
Sent: Wed Mar 02 06:42:55 2011
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct

Red.

I am cc'ing Mark McCollough so that he can add to what I am saying below or correct me.


From: Meril, Rick
To: 'helenmcginnis@frontiernet.net'
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 9:08 AM
Subject: Re: US Fish & Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct
Good morning Helen

Can u clear something up for me.....I emailed the following to Mark:

fM Rick Meril
To Mark McCollough

Had it not been determined recently that the Cougar that roamed North America was in fact one species?........ In 2000, Melanie Culver published a report concluding that all cougars in North America belong to one subspecies. Under the rules of zoological nomenclature, this subspecies is Puma concolor couguar (not cougar). To the best of my knowledge, no geneticist (DNA specialist) has challenged her conclusion. There have been some studies in the Rockies that support it.

The Florida population comes under what heading? At a conference in 2006, Culver recommended that the Florida panther be considered as a Distinct Population Segment. However, the US Fish & Wildlife Service in their 2008 Recovery Plan for the panther decided to continue to consider it as a distinct subspecies, saying that not all cougar biologists agreed with Culver's determination that Florida panthers are in the subspecies couguar.Had not many felt that the historical cougar populations east of the mississippi were identical to those west of the river? Historic cougar populations probably did differ from one another, on the average.

The North American cougar is classified as follows:

Family: Felidae
Genus: Puma
Species: concolor
Subspecies: couguar

Species normally do not interbreed in the wild. Generally subspecies live in contiguous areas, and there is intergraduation between subspecies (i.e., they interbreed). Within subspecies populations can be recognized. Cougar populations have been studied in California and in the Rocky Mountains. When cougars are isolated by development and can be identified as distinct populations, we have a warning sign. These isolated populations, especially with large animals with small populations, can be threatened by inbreeding.

The US FWS recognizes Distinct Population Segments for wolves, or did. For example, the wolves of the Great Lakes region were recognized as a Distinct Population segment.

In THE PUMA: MYSTERIOUS AMERICAN CAT (1946), Edward A. Goldman says that the "eastern cougar" was a medium-sized or rather large, dark subspecies. Similar to the Florida panther, but cranial characters, especially the anteriorly more convergent zygomata and narrower, flatter nasals, distinctive. Similar in general to hippolestes, of Wyoming, but smaller, and skull differing in details. Body & legs of a uniform fulvous or tawny hue...ears light-colored within, blackish behind. Belly pale reddish or reddish white. Face sometimes with a uniform lighter tint than the general hue of the body.

These conclusions don't hold up because Goldman had access to only 8 specimens, from NY, PA and WV when he drew these conclusions, and only ONE skin.

Cougars in various parts of the East probably did vary on the average from cougars of the Midwest, Rockies and Far West, but too few specimens are available for anyone to ever determine how.

*

of the CITES Secretariat or the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or

area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for the contents of the document rests

exclusively with its author.

AC24 Doc. 18.2 – p. 2

6. Adoption of the new standard nomenclature reference for mammals at CoP14 has resulted in the

following technical issue:

7. All cougar in North America are now recognized as the subspecies

name the North American cougar) as the eastern cougar was the first subspecies in North America to

be described in the literature. The use of the same scientific name to refer to the Appendix I and II

listings is creating confusion with permit applications and potentially with enforcement.

8. At its 23rd meeting (Geneva, April 2008), the Animals Committee discussed this matter and in

Notification 2008/051 expressed the intention to submit a proposal at CoP15 to recommend that

Puma concolor

reference of 1993. However, amending the Appendices to reflect the new nomenclature is

considered preferable.

9. A change in the CITES Appendix listings will not alter the level of protection currently afforded the

formerly understood subspecies, the Eastern cougar and Florida Panther, as neither of these cougar

populations are harvested or in trade in North America and both populations are protected through

legislation in Canada and the United States.

10. The General Status of Species in Canada classifies cougar as Secure in Canada. The Committee on

the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) considers the formerly recognized

subspecies,

decades from Eastern Canada, there is insufficient data to evaluate the taxonomy or assign a status

to this cougar. There may not be a distinct "eastern" subspecies. Other Canadian cougar subspecies

have not been considered candidates for assessment by COSEWIC due to low conservation concern.

11. Cougar populations in eastern North America needing particular conservation attention receive it

through domestic action (jurisdictions have regulations in place to avoid harvest of the formerly

recognized subspecies

Endangered Species Act of the United States (listed in 1973 and 1967, respectively). The look-a-like

issue should not be a problem because cougar will remain a listed species on CITES Appendix II.

12. The 2008 IUCN Red list is also in accordance with the standard nomenclature reference for

mammals agreed to in Resolution Conf. 12.11 (Rev CoP14). The Florida Panther (

and Eastern cougar (

the species

(2008).

13. Reconciling the CITES Appendix listings for cougar with the newly adopted nomenclature reference

for mammals would involve removing the names

Appendix I.

Felidae spp. in Appendix II. Canada seeks the advice of the Animals Committee on how to proceed

with a proposal for consideration at CoP15 since the proposal concerns a technical matter rather

than an actual species proposal involving a "down-listing".

References

14. Culver, M., W.E. Johnson, W.E., Pecon-Slattery, J., and S. J. O'Brien. (2000). Genomic Ancestry of

the American Puma (

15. Wilson, D.E. & D. M. Reeder. 2005. Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic

Reference. Third Edition, Vol. 1-2. xxxv + 2142 pp. (John Hopkins University Press).

 Mark............I asked this of Helen earlier and want your information on this question:

 Now that the Eastern Cougar is officially extinct(even though likely there was never a distinct Eastern Cougar--meaning, all Cougars in North America are the same species) and there is no plan to transplant western cougars west of the mississippi,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

lTherefore, lke the coyote coming east, it is up to the big cats to recolonize on their own...............If somehow that occurred, they would have no protections on a Federal basis, correct?  They would have to make it on their own accord, unless, like California, they were State protected..........or in other States managaged as a game animal with a hunting season?

Is the decision reached by your study (form a practical matter) making it near impossible for Mountain Lions to live again in our Eastern States?.........As females do not wander far afield from their natal homes, how are we going to get a breeding population in States other than Florida if we do not transplant Cougars(some say Western Cougars, but seemingly this is political biased b.s.so as to make reintroduction near impossible)into the Appalachians, the Great lake States..............and for that matter Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, etc, etc, etc?

I know you are swamped with calls.................If you have the time to put forth your opinion, much appreciated.

Rick