Attitudes Toward Cougar Restoration in Seven Eastern States

Abstract

Cougars (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lions, pumas, catamounts, and Florida panthers, once ranged widely throughout the United States (McCollough, 2011). Following intensive human persecution, anthropogenic-driven habitat loss, and unrestricted hunting of the prey species upon which cougars depend, populations were extirpated from much of the country (Cardoza & Langolis, 2002). In the northeastern U.S. specifically, cougars were functionally extinct by the early 1900s. Recent research assessing potential habitat for cougars suggests numerous areas exist to restore the species throughout portions of their historic eastern range (Winkel et al., 2022; Yovovich et al., 2023). But are the humans inhabiting this region today supportive of cougar restoration? The primary objective of this study was to provide a preliminary assessment of attitudes toward cougar restoration for seven eastern U.S. states with potential cougar habitat (ME, MA, NH, NY, PA, VT, and WV). Results from an online survey of residents within these states (n=2756) suggest that support for cougar restoration is much higher than opposition to cougar restoration. Ratios of strong support to strong opposition range from approximately 4:1 to 13:1. Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire have the highest ratio of strong support to strong opposition (13:1, 12:1, and 12:1 respectively) while Pennsylvania and West Virginia have the lowest ratio of strong support to strong opposition (4:1 each). At the individual-level, support for cougar restoration was higher among men, respondents identifying strongly or very strongly as a hunter or a conservationist, those with mutualist wildlife value orientations, urban residents, and respondents identifying as politically liberal. Given the current structure of wildlife management in the U.S., efforts to restore cougars throughout significant portions of their historic range will depend in large part on actions taken by state wildlife management agencies. Finding support for cougar restoration among many of the constituents for whom state wildlife agencies are expected to operate on behalf of, including both hunters and conservationists, this study offers valuable insights regarding the social feasibility of restoring cougars to the eastern U.S.