Television news has been abuzz up here in Massachusetts this week with the news that someone thinks he saw a mountain lion in a Boston suburb:

A mountain lion may have been spotted in Winchester Tuesday. A resident in the area of Ridge Street near Locke Farm told police he’s confident he saw a mountain lion.

The animal control officer was dispatched to the wooded area near the Locke Farm and found paw prints. The Environmental Police took photos of the prints and sent them to Mass. Wildlife for verification.

I talked to some of the National Wildlife Federation’s experts about the possible sighting. Their consensus: It’s very unlikely it was a mountain lion – also known as a cougar or catamount – since they were long ago completely wiped out from the eastern US outside Florida, but it’s not impossible.

“You’d be surprised at how off eyewitnesses can be at identifying wildlife and generally estimating the size and weight of an animal – this is why we have ‘big fish’ stories,” says NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski. “I suspect that there are some transient cougars that show up here in the east and that occasionally people DO spot them. But more likely they’re seeing a bobcat, coyote, fisher or deer – or even a rare breed domestic cat.”

“The mountain lion that was killed on the road in Connecticut a few years back had originated in South Dakota,” says Dr. Hector Galbraith, scientist in NWF’s Northeast Regional Center. “So it’s certainly possible for a wild mountain lion to get to New England under its own steam.”

Personally, I think reported sightings like this provide a fascinating look at our modern relationship with nature. There’s a lot of talk of fear, even though cougars prefer to avoid people. But fear alone doesn’t explain the explosion of interest and conversation whenever a sighting like this is reported.

There’s also an undercurrent of hope – are they back? Did we fail to beat nature into total submission? Could a symbol of American wilderness survive amid our sterile suburban cul-de-sacs?

While this sighting may be a false alarm, I’m optimistic sparks of conservation awareness like this can light a fire under the need to conserve habitat for all species.

Support the work of Dr. Galbraith and the rest of our team of wildlife advocates at the NWF Northeast Regional Center.

Giving Bighorn Sheep a Chance to Roam

Here are just a few wildlife victories that we’ve achieved regionally in the Western United States this past year that your support made possible. We eliminated conflict between domestic and wild bighorn sheep by “retiring” domestic sheep grazing privileges on 12,000 acres of Montana’s Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. This $50,000 investment will prevent domestic sheep from spreading fatal disease to two herds of bighorn.

We also secured New Mexico’s Rio Grande Del Norte as a national monument. This rugged 242,000-acre landscape is now permanently protected habitat for cougars, black bears, mule deer and more.

In addition, we Educated over 15,000 Colorado students and families on environmental sustainability and the value of getting kids outdoors and eliminated the threat of dirty oil shale development and protected over a million acres of crucial mule deer, elk and sage-grouse habitat in the rugged, open lands where Colorado, Utah and Wyoming meet.

In 2014 we will work to further reduce wildlife conflicts on high-risk grazing allotments through our Adopt a Wildlife Acre program. We’re continuing to protect public lands against a constant barrage of harmful national legislation. And we’re partnering with tribes and other key constituencies to restore iconic bison to their native habitat on tribal lands and the expansive Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife in the Northeast.

Securing Victory for Herons, Crabs and Terrapins in Chesapeake Bay

Today we’re celebrating a victory for great blue heron, diamondback terrapin, blue crab and other Chesapeake Bay wildlife. A federal judge recently ruled in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay clean-up plan.

The fight to protect the Chesapeake Bay for wildlife is a tough, uphill battle—as is the challenge of confronting the effects of climate change that puts wildlife at risk. Our success on both these fronts depends on the continued commitment of people like you, who care about the Chesapeake Bay and its wildlife.

In the year ahead, we will continue to fight for clean water and habitats that sustain critical wildlife. Already, our opponents have announced that they will appeal the Chesapeake clean-up decision.

We’ll also continue our work to certify Baltimore as the largest Community Wildlife Habitat® along the Chesapeake Bay.  By greening city streets, backyards, schools and places of worship, we will help the city provide a haven for local wildlife and help people connect to nature.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife in the Mid-Atlantic.

Restoring the Gulf of Mexico

For many years we’ve advocated for the restoration of our nation’s wetlands—from Louisiana’s deteriorating coastal wetlands to the bays of Texas, which are increasingly starved of fresh water.

But after the 2010 Gulf oil disaster, our work took on a renewed sense of urgency. Those feelings still motivate us today.

The continued support of our dedicated members has allowed National Wildlife Federation to remain active on the frontlines as a fierce advocate for dolphins and other vulnerable wildlife across the entire Gulf coast and central states. Together, we secured passage of the historic RESTORE Act, which will send oil-spill penalties back to the Gulf to aid with restoration and recovery. In the year ahead, we’ll be working to ensure that the money BP owes for the environmental damage it caused is used for conservation.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife in Texas, the South and along and in the Gulf.

Keeping the Wild Alive in California

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. So we remember with perfect clarity watching the eerie glow of flames engulfing tens of thousands of acres of Yosemite.

Wildfire isn’t always a bad thing. But across the American West there’s growing evidence that these intense fires are permanently changing landscapes that are already being altered by climate change. And while some species can handle that level of drought and heat, others—like desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn and sage grouse—are being pushed beyond their ability to cope.

In Los Angeles, we’re partnering with researchers to track a mountain lion that lives in the middle of the city, marveling over how a cougar could survive in Hollywood. Your support helped us launch our new Wildlife and the City campaign, through which we’re working to connect urban green spaces and provide safe corridors in which wildlife can live, travel and breed.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife in California.

Protecting Alaskan Salmon from Pebble Mine

Recently, after years of hard work, we saw a major victory in the fight to stop a massive mine proposed for Bristol Bay, Alaska. Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery as well as strong runs of chum salmon, silver salmon and king salmon.

Anglo American, one of the two companies that make up the partnership seeking to build Alaska’s Pebble mine, dropped out of the project in the face of growing public concern over the mine’s effect on wild salmon and other wildlife that depend on them.

Next year we hope to stop Pebble Mine once and for all—and protect other at-risk marine and terrestrial habitats in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. Critically-endangered orcas in Puget Sound and Hawaiian monk seals, one of America’s most endangered marine mammals, are just two of the beloved species we’re working hard to protect for future generations to know and enjoy.

Learn more about how you can make a difference for wildlife throughout the Pacific region.

Safeguarding Moose in a Warming World

It isn’t often that a moose wanders into a press conference. But when it does, it is something you never forget. Imagine our surprise when, during public press conference held at a critical wildlife crossing, a beautiful bull moose walked by!

As amusing as this incident was, it also reminded us about a serious threat facing these gentle giants today. In just the past five years, moose numbers in New Hampshire have plummeted by an alarming 40 percent due to the impacts of climate change.

Climate change is having a significant impact on wildlife and their habitat across the Northeast. To meet this unprecedented challenge, National Wildlife Federation’s Northeast Regional Center is working with state wildlife staff across the region to identify which habitats and species are the most at-risk.

Through the help of wildlife supporters like you, we’ve been able to become a national leader in developing strategies to protect wildlife from heat waves, storm surge, extreme weather and other effects of climate change.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife in the Mid-Atlantic.

Fighting the Mackinac Pipeline Beneath the Great Lakes

In recent years, National Wildlife Federation has helped secure record-breaking federal funding to help restore the Great Lakes.

As a result, critical efforts to clean up toxic pollution, combat invasive species like Asian carp, and restore fish and wildlife habitat are already paying off. Fish and wildlife are returning to places they have not been decades.

While we’re already seeing progress, there’s still much work left to be done. One of the most urgent new threats to the Great Lakes lies in an aging pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. It pumps crude oil and natural gas fluids through waters that great blue herons, piping plovers and river otters rely on.

Our success fighting this disastrous pipeline depends on the continued support of people like you.

Learn more about how you can help make a difference for wildlife around the Great Lakes.

Looking forward to 2014

As grateful as we are for all your help this year, we need your continued support to keep up our fight for wildlife in 2014.

1. Mountain lions, pumas, and cougars are all the same species.

As it turns out, mountain lions, panthers, pumas and cougars are all the same species: Puma concolor. They have a lot of names. In fact, they are listed in dictionaries under more names than any other animal in the world! My favorite is ‘ghost cat‘.

2. Only one sub-species is listed as endangered in the United States.

Historically, mountain lions roamed most of the United States. Today, the species is nearly extinct in eastern states, except for the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). There are fewer than 100 Florida panthers left in the wild. Most western states consider mountain lion populations sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting (except California). Authority for setting and carrying out hunting programs is held by each state’s wildlife management agency.

3. Mountain lions can live in nearly any type of American ecosystem.

These wild cats can live in deserts, snowy mountains or backyards. Mountain lions try to avoid people, but development has made urban encounters more common, like this cyclist in Los Angeles and this backyard habitat in Los Alamos. Here are a few tips for homeowners in areas where mountain lions range to create safe & wildlife-friendly yards to facilitate a peaceful coexistence.

3. They can jump 15 feet high and 40 feet in distance.

Oh, and they can also sprint up to 50 miles per hour. Their hind legs are the largest (proportionately) in the cat family and their paws are irresistibly huge & adorable. These characteristics give them impressive jumping and sprinting abilities.

4. They are well-adapted for the quick capture and kill of prey.

The agility, vision and adaptability of mountain lions make them fantastic hunters. As ambush hunters, they stalk prey silently and wait for it to move within about 50 feet. Then they attack. The claws of mountain lions help grip prey, while their jaw muscles deliver a powerful strike to the neck. Mountain lions have teeth designed to cut through meat and tendons. Zombies wouldn’t even stand a chance against these predators.

5. Mountain lions are not always the apex predator.

Although they are nearly perfect predators, mountain lions may yield to species like the gray wolf, black bear and grizzly bear depending on their location. They are fast sprinters, but not built for endurance. When they are trying to outrun danger, mountain lions may climb a tree to catch their breath and recover.

6. They prefer wild game over domestic animals.

Mountain lions are carnivores and rarely eat vegetation. They seem to prefer deer in much of their U.S. range, but as opportunistic hunters, mountain lions will also go for moose, bighorn sheep or even smaller prey. Mountain lions play a crucial role in managing deer populations, and don’t pose a risk to prey populations in their range. When both wild game and domestic animals are accessible and available, research suggests that they prefer wild prey.

7. Mountain lions are solitary and avoid humans.

Their nature is to avoid humans. However, if you DO encounter a mountain lion, here’s what to do:

• Don’t run away. Remember how fast they run? Bad idea.
• Give it a way out. It wants to avoid you. Allow it a path to get away.
• Slowly back away.
• Make yourself big and loud. Put your hands up and talk in a loud voice.

8. Baby mountain lions have spots and blue eyes.

They eventually grow out of their spots and blue eyes.

9. We can all help protect mountain lions.

Many local mountain lion populations are decreasing, primarily due to habitat loss and uncontrolled hunting. The Florida panther, specifically, is listed as endangered. Currently, there are fewer than 100 Florida panthers left in the wild. You can symbolically adopt a mountain lion, or the Florida panther subspecies and help NWF protect and recover the wild places that sustain wildlife. Additionally, homeowners in areas where mountain lions range can create safe & wildlife-friendly yards.

Help mountain lions and other wildlife who make their home in the Santa Monica Mountains—urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the creation of a wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon.

Symbolically adopt a mountain lion today to help support our work to protect them and other wildlife.

Thanks to researcher Michael Drake, NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski and NWF Senior Wildlife Biologist Doug Inkley for helping with this post.

Cougars were extirpated from Connecticut many decades ago, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently declared the eastern cougar subspecies that once lived there officially extinct throughout its range in the East.  This particular South Dakotan cougar met a sad ending after its long journey when it was struck by a car and killed.

Despite these facts, the story still has a silver lining. It demonstrates that if the habitat exists, given enough time certain wildlife species might just be able to recolonize areas where they have been wiped out by human activity.

Who knows how many more western cougars are moving eastward in search of new territory?  There’s plenty of prey in the form of  white-tailed deer, which have become overabundant in many eastern states due to the lack of their primary predators: namely wolves and cougars.  Given strong protections for both the cats and their potential habitat, one day in the distant future we might see breeding cougar populations in the East again.

Watch this clip of NWF’s Vice President of Wildlife Conservation John Kostyack on Fox’s America Live show to learn more about this amazing Connecticut cougar and then adopt its critically endangered Florida panther cousin through NWF’s symbolic wildlife adoption program.

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As NWF’s naturalist and media personality, part of my job is to do TV appearances with “ambassador animals” to get our conservation messages out to millions of Americans.  Few things inspire people to protect wildlife than getting to see the real thing, and that goes for professional conservationists as well as the average person.  So for yesterday’s celebration, I brought in some of my animal pals to give my fellow NWFers a chance to meet the wildlife they work so hard every day to protect.

As you can imagine, the animals were a big hit.  The video below is a behind-the-scenes glimpse backstage at the event to show you what it’s like to work with live animals:

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As always, I emphasize that no matter how much we work with these ambassador animals so they can be part of education programs, they are still wild animals and are not pets.

In captivity, these animals need to live in facilities with the proper permits, veterinary care, enrichment programs and professional handlers (in this case, provided by the good folks at Nickel City Reptiles & Exotics).  The cougar cub’s natural rambunctiousness as it “attacks” the buffet table, captured in the video, perfectly illustrates why.  Could you imagine this animal living in your house?  Not a good idea.

I hope the beauty of these animal inspires YOU to get (more) involved with NWF’s conservation efforts.