Spreading East

By the early 1970s, cougars in the U.S. were found only in Florida and scattered pockets of the West. Since then, more prey—especially deer—and better management have let them expand and recolonize the Midwest.

Martin Gamache and Matthew Twombly, NGM Staff
Sources: Clayton K. Nielsen, Southern Illinois University; The Cougar Network; USGS National Gap Analysis Program