Pumas in the area?

Sightings of big cats over the past 25 years have people wondering. Apparently there is a Puma near Lake Eugenia, a female near Walter's Falls and another around the Saugeen River near Durham. Puma is another name for cougar, mountain lion or eastern panther. Hair samples have been collected in the wild, providing DNA information and sex of the individual animal. Pumas are usually wary of people and tend to avoid them.

Pumas in Ontario were thought to be hunted to extinction in the 1800s. The species is making a comeback. "Apparent Apparitions", a conference for those with an interest in recovering species will be held in Peterborough Ontario on May 23-26, 2007. Its hosted by the Ontario Puma Foundation.

www.pumaconference.com

Check out the foundation's web site ontariopuma.ca. There you can report Puma sightings and learn other interesting information about the animal.