Cougars' Prowl In New Brunswick

The existence of cougars in New Brunswick is a highly debated topic. While there have been numerous reports of cougar sightings in the province, there is a lack of confirmed evidence to support these claims. Genetic testing has even disproved a few suspected encounters with big cats in the region. However, some interesting pieces of evidence suggest that cougars may have made intermittent appearances in New Brunswick over the last century. For instance, hair samples collected from Fundy National Park in 2003 were found to contain DNA from a South American cougar population, indicating the presence of the species in the area.

Cougar sightings in New Brunswick

There is an ongoing debate about the existence of a mysterious Eastern/Atlantic cougar population in New Brunswick. While there are no confirmed records of the species in the province since 1874, some residents continue to report sightings and speculate about the presence of cougars. The Facebook group "NB Cougar Sightings" has over 17,000 members who actively share their encounters and observations. However, genetic testing has disproven some of these reported sightings, and experts maintain that there is no resident population of cougars in the province.

Despite the lack of confirmed sightings, there is some physical evidence suggesting that cougars have made intermittent appearances in New Brunswick over the last century. For example, the New Brunswick Museum has a photograph from 1932 of someone holding a cougar skin, and they also possess a mounted animal that may be a cougar, dating back to 1938. Additionally, hair samples collected from Fundy National Park in 2003 were found to contain DNA from two separate cougars, one from a North American population and the other from South America. This suggests that individual cougars may wander into the province or be escaped/released pets.

In 2016, a Grand Falls woman, Michele McLaughlin, claimed to have captured a cougar on camera as it walked through a field across from her home in northwestern New Brunswick. The video shows a long, dark animal with a tail moving through tall grass. While some experts, like retired conservation officer George Levesque, are certain that the animal in the video is a cougar, others, like Bruce Dougan of the Moncton Zoo, are less conclusive.

The debate around cougar sightings in New Brunswick continues, with some residents adamant about their existence and others remaining sceptical. While genetic testing has provided some clarity, the mythology surrounding the elusive Atlantic cougar persists, with many residents intrigued by the possibility of these big cats roaming the province.

DNA testing of samples

DNA testing is a powerful tool that can provide valuable insights into various aspects of human life, from ancestry and genealogy to disease screening and criminal investigations. In the context of the "great cougar debate" in New Brunswick, DNA testing has been employed to analyse samples and determine the presence or absence of cougars in the region.

Sample Collection:

• Buccal (cheek) swabs: This is the most popular and reliable method for DNA collection. Buccal swabs resemble one-ended Q-tips and are rubbed gently inside the cheek to collect cheek cells. This method is quick, painless, and recommended for testing.
• Saliva samples: Saliva can be collected easily and painlessly, but it may be challenging to obtain sufficient amounts from young children. Saliva samples also have a relatively high risk of contamination.
• Hair samples: 6-8 strands of hair pulled directly from the head are required for testing. Cut hair will not work as the strands must have roots, which is where the DNA is located.
• Blood samples: While blood samples are not commonly required for most DNA tests, they may be necessary for certain specific cases, such as prenatal paternity testing or testing deceased individuals.

Sample Storage and Shipping:

• Non-liquid samples, such as hair, are typically stored in paper envelopes to avoid moisture retention.
• Liquid samples, like blood or saliva, should be stored in containers provided by the testing kit or laboratory.
• It is crucial to follow the packing and shipping instructions provided by the DNA testing kit or laboratory to ensure the integrity of the samples.

DNA Extraction and Analysis:

• In a laboratory setting, trained technicians extract DNA from the samples and replicate the target genes for analysis.
• Advanced equipment and techniques are used to compare the extracted DNA to known species, such as bobcats and lynx in the case of the New Brunswick cougar debate.

Results and Interpretation:

• The analysed DNA samples yield definitive results about the presence or absence of cougar DNA in the tested samples.
• In the case of New Brunswick, initial DNA testing of hair and scat samples ruled out the presence of cougars, but more samples are still undergoing testing.

Cougar populations in Canada

Cougars, also known as pumas or mountain lions, are the biggest wild cats in North America. They are intelligent, solitary, and powerful, with excellent night vision and the ability to jump over six metres or 40 feet in a single bound. They are also excellent swimmers and climbers.

Historically, cougars were found all over North America, but their populations began to plummet in the 1800s due to hunting, loss of habitat, and declines in wild prey. Cougars were also trapped, poisoned, and shot, as people feared for their families, livestock, and wild food sources such as elk and deer. Bounties were even offered for their destruction. As a result, cougar populations in North America were reduced by more than 50% between the mid-1800s and mid-1900s.

In recent times, however, cougar populations in Canada have been on the rise, with the species making a comeback in some regions. This is partly due to the return and expansion of abundant prey, particularly white-tailed deer. Cougars primarily feed on deer, but they also eat beavers, coyotes, and other small mammals. They are also known to prey on bear cubs and feral horses.

The cougar population in Canada varies from west to east, with the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta having stable populations. There are also small populations in southern Yukon and Saskatchewan, and possibly Manitoba. Cougars are fully protected in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, where they are considered endangered.

While cougars have virtually disappeared from eastern Canada, there is evidence that they may be moving east and repopulating former ranges. In Ontario, for example, the Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed the presence of cougars in the province in 2010 based on tracks, DNA, and scat samples. There have also been confirmed sightings in Manitoba and Quebec. In New Brunswick, hair samples collected in 2003 from posts treated with cougar urine provided evidence of the cougar's existence in the province.

Despite this evidence, confirmed sightings of cougars in eastern Canada remain rare. In New Brunswick, for instance, there have been no confirmed records of cougars since 1874, and genetic testing has ruled out some suspected encounters with big cats in the province. Nonetheless, many residents continue to report sightings and believe that cougars are roaming the province.

Cougar sightings in Grand Falls

There have been several reports of cougar sightings in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada, in recent years. While there is no concrete evidence of a resident cougar population in the province, some residents remain adamant that cougars are present in the area.

The Grand Falls Video

One notable report of a cougar sighting in Grand Falls came from a woman named Michele McLaughlin, who claimed to have captured a cougar on video in 2016. The 14-second video shows a long, dark animal walking through tall grass in a field across from her home in northwestern New Brunswick. McLaughlin, who noticed the animal around 4 pm on October 5, said:

> It was a cougar and it was big...It was no dog and it was not a cat...It was a big cougar. I mean it was big, like really big.

After capturing the video, McLaughlin showed it to George Levesque, a recently retired conservation officer with 35 years of experience in the woods. Levesque stated that he had seen many cats in his time, including lynxes, bobcats, and fishers, but he was certain that the animal in the video was a cougar. He commented:

> I always doubted that there was some. But what I'm surprised about is that he wasn't very shy, he was out in the open, it was a warm sunny day...It was unusual, but there is prey there, deer, rabbits.

Other Evidence

In addition to the video evidence, there have been other indications of cougar presence in New Brunswick. In 2003, two hair samples collected from Fundy National Park were proven to be from separate cougars, one from a North American population and the other from South America. This suggests that individual cougars may pass through or be present in the province, even if there is no established breeding population.

Furthermore, the New Brunswick Museum has a collection of potential cougar-related artefacts, including a photograph from 1932 of someone holding a cougar skin and a mounted animal from the border region of New Brunswick, Maine, and Quebec in 1938. While the origin of these items is uncertain, they contribute to the ongoing debate about the presence of cougars in the region.

The Controversy

The existence of cougars in New Brunswick is a highly debated topic, with some residents firmly believing in their presence while others remain sceptical. The Facebook group "NB Cougar Sightings" has over 17,000 members who actively share their experiences and speculations. However, genetic testing has conclusively ruled out some suspected cougar encounters, and experts suggest that any cougars in the province are likely escaped pets or individual wanderers from the west rather than a native population.

Cougar evidence in New Brunswick

While there is no concrete evidence of cougars in New Brunswick, several sightings have been reported in the province over the years. Some biologists suspect that a small population of these animals may exist deep within forest areas that have not yet been surveyed properly. However, it is generally accepted that there are no cougars roaming the forests or urban areas of New Brunswick. The province has not had any confirmed sightings of wild North American panthers since 1874.

One theory suggests that cougars in New Brunswick are likely escaped pets rather than native eastern cougars. Graham Forbes, a professor of forestry and environmental management at the University of New Brunswick, believes that while there is some evidence of cougars in the province, they are not native to the region. He points to the pet trade as the likely cause of the province's cougar sightings. Forbes identifies three possible explanations for the origin of New Brunswick's cougar population: the existence of the eastern cougar in the province, migration of cougars from western Canada, or escaped/freed pets.

However, Forbes and other biologists find the idea of a remnant population of eastern cougars in New Brunswick highly improbable. They argue that if this were the case, there would be more carcasses and sightings over time. The last recorded cougar shot in New Brunswick was in 1938, and its origin is uncertain. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern cougar extinct in 2018, further supporting the notion that cougars in New Brunswick are not native but possibly escaped pets or animals from other regions.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence, some residents of New Brunswick continue to report cougar sightings. Wayne Beaumaster, for example, has recorded cougars on video walking by his house at night. Other reports include sightings while driving at night, hearing their distinctive calls while camping, and seeing tracks in the snow. These sightings have sparked ongoing debates about the presence of cougars in the province and the need for protection and conservation efforts.

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