We have one here in Northern Virginia about 60 miles west of DC. Has been spotted by dozens of people, chasing deer down. The scuttlebutt is some biologists are releasing them in various areas. Although these are government employees, it is being done on the QT to avoid legal complications if (when) a human is attacked. Not satisfied with social engineering, some are delving into a bit of environmental engineering...
Late ‘90’s, three of us driving west on US 33 just east of Harrisonburg, VA - I was driver. Mountain lion crossed the highway just in front of us right after we went over peak of Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive.
All 3 of us saw it - blew us away.
My cousin lives right in front of a national forest in northwest Arkansas. He was in the forest one day and saw whatever people patrol it releasing snakes. They were rattlesnakes. lol
A fellow bus passenger saw that one himself in High Knob. That is of course very close to the Smithsonian.