[FlyVet]

Thanks for your post, interesting stuff and a good question whether or not these cats are being released by private citizens, secretly by DNR, or are migrating. Of course I knew of our mtn lions out west, and heard rumors of panthers in FL 30 years ago, but wasn't aware of sightings elsewhere. I'm sure if the become too populous, ranchers and dairy farmers will make them "disappear". In areas where they are hunted they remain wary of humans. I must have spent two months total time in the mtns of NM and AZ hunting deer, and saw not one large cat track, let alone actually seeing a lion. They are usually hunted with dogs.

[KC Burke]

Researchers had a tabulation of 53 attacks by Mountain Lions between 1890 and 1990 or one every other year. This was during a time when they were hunted a removed. Now with jogging and back country hiking and virtually no hunting of this animal, it is going to start being a killer again.

[sweetliberty]

"In areas where they are hunted they remain wary of humans."

When we lived in Colorado I used to take my daughter on wilderness trips and there were programs available that we attended as to how to respond should you encounter certain types of animals in the wild that were native to the area. Cougars were said to be timid and would rarely attack an adult unless they were sick or starving. However, there were several reports in recent years of attacks on children who became separated form adults on trails.