Large carnivores have been missing from the northeast region for over a century. Over that time frame, we have begun to understand their ecological importance in ecosystems like many other wildlife species. Many northeast states have reintroduced wildlife species, such as fisher, otter, bald eagle, and white-tailed deer, to restore their ecological functions and bring back species humans were largely the reason for their decline and/or extirpation.
Large, obligate carnivores have yet to be considered for reintroduction in the northeast, and species like cougars are unlikely to return on their own through natural recolonization, unlike wolves who have a nearby population in Canada’s Algonquin National Park. While there are still several considerations to investigate, recent research suggests there is habitat and social support to return cougars to northeastern ecosystems via reintroduction.
This talk will explore that research, and why bringing cougars back could be beneficial for multiple
reasons.