Should we bring mountain lions back to the Northeast?
Summary
Dr. Mark Elbroch discusses the possibility of bringing mountain lions back to the Northeast, highlighting that ecological restoration is a core American value. He explains how these apex predators enhance ecosystem health, distribute nutrients, and even reduce deer-car collisions. While the habitat is suitable, the primary hurdles are overcoming state wildlife agency inertia and securing political champions, despite broad public support for reintroduction.Episode description
Big cats used to roam the entire United States. You might know them as mountain lions, pumas, cougars, or catamounts. Though they go by many names, they're actually all the same species.
Their current population is mostly confined to the West, and part of Florida, though in recent years they’ve been spotted in other areas east of the Mississippi River. Most cougars were gone from the Northeast by the 1800s, with the last verified accounts in the 1930s.
Mountain lion ecologist Mark Elbroch hopes to reintroduce these big cats back into their previous habitats in New England. But, should we? What are the benefits and drawbacks of reintroducing the apex predator into an ecosystem it's been away from for so long?
Guest:
Dr. Mark Elbroch is the director of the puma program at Panthera, a big cat conservation organization.
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