Eastern cougars are similar in appearance to 

 the southern and western subspecies {Felis 

 concolor coryi and F. c. hippolestes, respectively). 

 Photographs of Felis concolor subspp. are in 

 Wright (1972). 



RANGE 



Former range was the entire eastern United 

 States and Canada as far north as Maine, New 

 Brunswick, southern Ontario and Quebec; south- 

 ward through the Appalachian Mountains to 

 northern Georgia and Alabama where it integra- 

 ted with F. c. coryi (Young and Goldman 1946; 

 Hall and Kelson 1959). 



Recently alleged sightings (by reliable observ- 

 ers) and unconfirmed reports (tracks, hair, scat) 

 are scattered throughout the cougar's former 

 range. 



States from which recent sightings have been 

 reported include Connecticut (Dowhan and Craig 

 1976, L. Gray personal communication), Georgia 

 (Odum et al. 1977, R. R. Odum personal commu- 

 nication), Kentucky Q. Durrel personal commu- 

 nication) Maine (Cram 1901, Wright 1972), Mary- 

 land (Larson 1963, Wright 1972), Massachusetts 

 (Mugford 1976), Missouri (Schwartz and Schwartz 

 1959), North Carolina (Linzey and Linzey 1971, 

 Lee 1977a, 1977b, Teulings and Cooper 1977), 

 New Hampshire (Dearborn 1927, Wright 1972), 

 New York (Reilly 1964, Manville 1951), Pennsyl- 

 vania (Grimm and Whitehead 1950, 1952, Dout 

 1969), South Carolina (Lowman 1975), Tennes- 

 see (Kellog 1939), Vermont (Spargo 1950, Wright 

 1972), Virginia (Russ 1973), West Virginia 

 (Handly et al. 1961), and Wisconsin (Schorger 

 1938). 



In Canada a population is reported to exist in 

 New Brunswick (Wright 1953, Calahane 1964, 

 Wright 1972). 



RANGE MAP 



No range map has been prepared because of 

 the speculative nature of this subspecies' occur- 

 rence in the United States. 



STATES/COUNTIES 



No states or counties are given because of the 

 speculative nature of this subspecies' occurrence 

 in the United States. 



HABITAT 



The cats show no preference for specific habi- 

 tat type but appear to require large areas with 

 adequate food supply and dense vegetation for 

 refugia (Wright 1972). 



FOOD AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR 



The cats principal food is white-tailed deer 

 {Odocoileus virginianus) (Wright 1972). They will 

 feed on small mammals, insects, and reptiles. They 

 are also known to take livestock (True 1891; 

 Hamilton 1943). 



Prey is stalked until the cat is close enough to 

 pounce and is grabbed by the throat or back of 

 the neck (Hamilton 1943). Remains and unused 

 portions of prey are covered (Young and Gold- 

 man 1946). Western subspecies kill every 3 to 4 

 days (Young and Goldman 1946). 

 SHELTER REQUIREMENTS 

 Not known. 



NESTING OR BEDDING 



Not known. 



RITUAL REQUIREMENTS 



Not known. 



OTHER CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL 

 REQUIREMENTS 



Not known. 



POPULATION NUMBERS AND TRENDS 



Populations in New Brunswick, Canada, are 

 estimated from 25 to 100 (Cahalane 1964; Wright 

 1972). Recent sightings in the United States may 

 be of released and/or escaped captives of western 

 subspecies. Wright (1971, 1972) suggests that the 

 eastern cougar still exists in the United States and 

 populations are widely scattered and at a fraction 

 above the limit for sustaining the population. 



REPRODUCTION 



Little is known about reproduction of the 

 eastern cougar. Available information is derived 

 from other subspecies. Breeding season in the 

 southern race {F. c. coryi) is believed to be year 

 round with peaks in February (Schwartz 1952). 

 Others believe cougars breed in spring or fall 

 (True 1891). Females are polyestrous and ini- 

 tiate the courtship and mating act (Davis 1974). 

 Gestation period is 90 to 98 days (Young and 

 Goldman 1946; Asdell 1964). Litter size varies 



