I live about as far out in the woods as one can get in Connecticut. Last July my wife and I clearly saw a fairl large mountain lion crossing the very road we live on. I haven’t walked the dogs unarmed since. The F&G folks told me there were no mountain lions in CT so I guess we have nothing to worry about.
If F&G says it then it has to be true. They will tell you there are no black panthers in GA. We just had 2 stroll down our street about 1:00 AM several mos ago. Those cats can show up anywhere.