A: a state approved, degreed wildlife biologist, or
B: Drop the carcass on their doorstep so one can verify that um, yup, it's a cougar all right.
Sightings and sign (tracks) were denied as being cougar in North Dakota, too, until a few got shot. Now the State has a 5 cat season on them...and a lot of ranchers have shovels.
I would say trank the cat, then throw in room with expert and lock the door. /s
LOL
A friend of my mom’s hit a cougar with his car in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan a few weeks ago. He’s got the photo’s.