MARYLAND — Reports of mountain lion sightings continue to surface across Maryland, even though wildlife experts and state records indicate the species has been absent from the state for more than a century.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas or panthers, once inhabited Maryland as part of their historic range across eastern North America. However, the species was eliminated from the state during the 1800s as a result of hunting, habitat loss and expanding human settlement. Today, the cougar is considered extirpated, or locally extinct, in Maryland.
Despite that status, reports of possible mountain lion sightings continue to be received from residents throughout Maryland. Sightings have been reported in western Maryland, central Maryland, the Eastern Shore and other parts of the state. Social media posts, trail camera images and eyewitness accounts frequently generate interest and debate about whether mountain lions may still exist in the region.
Wildlife experts say most reports ultimately lack the physical evidence needed for confirmation. Organizations that investigate reports in Maryland have noted that many sightings turn out to involve bobcats, large domestic cats, coyotes or other animals that can appear much larger than they actually are when viewed from a distance.
One of the most widely discussed reports occurred in 2018 when a suspected mountain lion sighting in Prince George’s County prompted an investigation by authorities. The animal was later identified as a coyote.
Other reported sightings have come from areas including Harford County, Carroll County and western Maryland. In some cases, videos and photographs have generated significant public attention, but wildlife investigators have said the available evidence was insufficient to confirm the presence of a wild mountain lion.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the eastern cougar, the population historically associated with the eastern United States, was extinct and formally removed it from the federal endangered species list in 2018. However, wildlife agencies acknowledge that individual western cougars occasionally travel long distances and have been documented far from established breeding populations in the Midwest and Northeast.
Because of those long-distance movements, wildlife experts generally do not rule out the possibility that a wandering cougar could someday pass through Maryland. However, there is currently no verified evidence of a breeding mountain lion population in the state.
Wildlife organizations encourage residents who believe they have seen a mountain lion to document the animal with clear photographs, video, tracks or other physical evidence. Experts say such documentation is necessary before any sighting can be officially confirmed.
