Translation: we dont want to waste money protecting them as a separate species
Actually, it’s a good thing. Now that it is not listed as an endangered species it clears the way to build a population using western cougars. See quote below from the article.
“Conservation groups said the decision clears the way for eastern states to rebuild cougar populations in habitats such as the Adirondacks and White Mountains using mountain lions from the U.S. West.”
The big cat or 50 yr old Orlando divorcees?
I think this is too hasty. They just cloned a monkey! In a few years, with some old DNA, they can replicate the subspecies. Sounds kind of scary, though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I'm on a FB forum. Several people on there say they have seen them. Might have seen something else-- still if one is true, they wouldn't be extinct.
1) Western cougars periodically make it into the eastern states. One was killed ten miles from my house that was tracked by multiple DNA matches across the country and back to the Dakotas.
2) People are objectively terrible at accurately identifying objects and animals they've seen and are very often simply FOS. Just as one example, check out how many people were convinced that this healthy bobcat in Northwestern CT was a mountain lion.
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/sho...OBCAT-(w-pics)
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
“Conservation groups said the decision clears the way for eastern states to rebuild cougar populations in habitats such as the Adirondacks and White Mountains using mountain lions from the U.S. West.
Really? There is a whole lot more still in the way to realizing an east ciast cougar rebuilding program.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
I have a cougar that lives three doors down from me here in the east and I'm the first to admit she makes me nervous when she stares at me cutting grass in the summer. I've taken to wearing long pants for my safety!
I shudder whenever I hear plans about introducing some species where it doesn't exist. These scientists need to leave things alone sometimes, as their plans often have long term consequences they fail to account for. You also have groups pushing to reintroduce grizzlys in California.
It is what it is.
I shudder whenever I hear plans about removing some species where it exists. These scientists need to leave things alone sometimes, as their plans often have long term consequences they fail to account for. You also have groups pushing to exterminate grizzlys from California.