The cougar, also recognized as the mountain lion, puma, or catamount, is a single species of large feline (Puma concolor). This powerful predator boasts the widest range of any wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, stretching from Canada to the Andes Mountains. Despite the species’ extensive distribution and Maine’s seemingly suitable habitat, the state does not currently host an established, self-sustaining population. While the occasional individual may pass through, Maine is not home to a resident, breeding group of cougars. Confusion surrounding their presence stems from a history of native habitation, transient wanderers, and frequent mistaken identity.
The Official Status of Cougars in Maine
The definitive stance from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is that there are no known cougar populations within the state. This position aligns with the official status of the eastern cougar subspecies, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) declared extinct in 2018. The declaration followed an extensive review that found no evidence of a surviving, reproducing population in the region.
The criteria for an “established population” require clear evidence of breeding females and multiple generations of offspring. Without this proof, any individual cat discovered is categorized as a transient animal or an escaped captive. The lack of consistent physical evidence, such as road-killed animals or verified tracks and scat, supports the conclusion that a resident population is absent.
Cougars are protected and cannot be legally hunted or trapped in Maine. The state receives annual reports of sightings, but these are almost universally attributed to other causes after investigation. The scientific consensus remains that the eastern cougar is functionally extirpated from New England.
Historical Presence and Regional Extirpation
Cougars were historically native to Maine and the entire Eastern United States, coexisting with other large predators and their prey base. The species’ decline began with the arrival of European settlers and the subsequent push for westward expansion. Early colonial governments enacted bounties to encourage the killing of cougars, viewing them as a threat to livestock and human safety.
The cats were virtually wiped out across the East by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This systematic persecution was compounded by massive deforestation and the near-extirpation of their primary food source, the white-tailed deer. The last confirmed eastern cougar specimen was killed by a hunter in Somerset County, Maine, in 1938, marking the end of the native population.
The loss of the eastern cougar removed a major apex predator from the ecosystem, resulting in a cascading effect on the food web. Although the habitat has largely recovered, the distance from established western populations has prevented natural recolonization by breeding females. The current absence is a direct consequence of this historical human-driven removal.
Explaining Confirmed Sightings and Transient Animals
The occasional confirmed presence of a cougar in the East, including rare instances in New England, is nearly always due to two scenarios: escaped captive animals or long-distance dispersing males. The most famous example occurred in 2011, when a male cougar was struck by a car in Connecticut. Genetic testing confirmed this animal had walked over 1,500 miles from the Black Hills region of South Dakota.
These journeys are typically undertaken by young males seeking new territory outside of areas dominated by older, established males. They continue to travel eastward because they fail to encounter females, who tend to remain much closer to their birthplace. This dispersal behavior proves the species’ mobility but does not indicate a local breeding population.
The vast majority of public reports, however, are cases of misidentification. Animals like the bobcat, which is significantly smaller but shares a similar tawny coloration, are frequently mistaken for the much larger cougar.
Other common culprits include large domestic dogs, coyotes, and even fishers, especially when sightings occur at a distance or in low light conditions. The long, rope-like tail is a defining feature of the cougar and the most reliable way to distinguish them from local wildlife.