Mountain Lions in VT?

Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife experts including furbearer biologist Brehan Furfey, conservation planner Jens Hilke, and wildlife diversity program manager Dr. Rosalind Renfrew, review the relevant ecology, region-wide conservation impacts and scientific unknowns on the question of possible mountain lion reintroduction in the northeast. Mountain Lions are an amazing cat species that once called this landscape home. Discussions have recently started around the idea of reintroducing this top predator. In this informative session you’ll hear directly from Department Biologists. They'll address topics like mountain lion biology and the size of home range and significant dispersal distance that they require. Viewers will learn more about the land use pattern needed to maintain far-ranging mammals and the significant improvements to transportation infrastructure in Vermont and the northeast that would be needed to support this species. The webinar finishes with a summary of conflict prevention and coexistence considerations, and scientific unknowns that will need to be answered if the species were to be reintroduced.