I think many park rangers must be brain damaged. Why would it be impossible for mt. lions to establish themselves in a state like Ky.?
They’re official representatives of the NPS, Dept of the Interior and Federal Government. The expectation is that they’ll toe the gubmint line.
Look at it this way, official policy is to deny they’re there. So “Bob Johnson” goes up to “Ranger Smith” and mentions seeing one. Ranger Smith says “Suppose so” and then Bob cites Ranger Smith as validating the sighting (or at least the possbility of one) on his FB page.
Ranger Smith is going to be in a world of hurt for that.