I have found that the rangers and such are mostly leftist and they lie.
We had significant coyote packs a few years ago and when I called the wildlife government folks they told me that there was never an coyote pack attack on a human. As I sat there on my computer and listed out attacks nationally. They lied and lied.
Don’t trust people who think wild animals matter more than humans.
We have all kinds of critters here in Alabama that don’t exist. I have personally seen a pine marten and heard a panther. We were told for years that alligators could not live as far north as Montgomery. Now we have a gator season and they are killing some whoppers.
I don’t think anyone really knows what is out there in states that have a lot of wooded land. Enough people have seen panthers (mountain lions) around here. I sure believe they and other things are out there.