From: Ledbetter, Nancy S.

Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 4:51 PM

To: AGFC

Subject: AGFC Mountain Lion Position Statement

Here is the AGFC mountain lion position statement that the commissioners approved this week If you have any questions, please contact David Goad. Thanks.

ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

Mountain Lion Position Statement

The purpose of this document is to articulate the official position of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission relative to mountain lions in the state. Mountain lions, more recently known as the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), were historically present throughout Arkansas until their apparent eradication, which occurred by about 1920. Since that time efforts have been made to determine the existence or lack thereof of this animal. There is no verifiable evidence that there exists a wild, viable reproducing population of the original mountain lion that inhabited the state as settlers came from the east. There are known releases of captive mountain lions, most probably acquired from western states. Consequently, it is theoretically possible that a reproducing population exists from feral ancestry. Therefore, it is the position of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission that this subspecies has been eradicated from the state and any mountain lion in the wild in Arkansas is not an endangered Florida panther unless proven otherwise.

Nancy S. Ledbetter
Director of Communications
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone: 501-223-6318
Fax: 501-223-6448
Email: nledbetter@agfc.state.ar.us