The program for The Eastern Cougar Conference 2004 is quickly taking shape and promises a diverse array of exciting and meaningful presentations and posters. If you haven't registered for this landmark international symposium, you will want to do so as soon as possible. Sign up before March 31st and save $25.

The conference will take place in Morgantown, West Virginia, from the evening of Wednesday, April 28th to Saturday May 1st. A highlight will be a talk by David Baron, author of The Beast in the Garden, an informed and sensitive analysis of the events in Boulder, Colorado, that led to the death of a young jogger in 1991. Sessions will include regional updates (including a report from the United Kingdom), research techniques, human dimensions, and lessons to be learned from recovery efforts involving other large predators. Each session will be followed by a panel discussion. A tracking workshop and tour of the Coopers Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary are scheduled for Saturday.

For complete information, visit the Eastern Cougar Foundation's website, www.easterncougar.org and click on the lower left corner of the Home Page. There you will find a registration form; schedule; description of the tracking workshop; and lists of hotels, motels and campgrounds. We recommend you make your reservations soon to assure you have a place to stay.

The preliminary agenda is also presented below.  It is expected that at least two additional speakers will be added.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (Current as of 15 Feb 2004)

1800-2100---Pre-Meeting Social Hour and Registration (Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar)

0700-0800---Continental Breakfast and Registration

0800-0815---Welcome and Introductions

Session I: Regional Updates (Moderator: Helen McGinnis, ECF)

0815-0845---Prairie Panthers and Midwest Mountain Lions Jay Tischendorf and Kirk Johnson

0845-0915---Distribution of Cougar Sightings in Wisconsin 1994-2001 Eric Anderson et al

0915-0945---Preliminary Assessment of Cougar Recovery in Illinois Clay Nielson

0945-1015---Break

1015-1045—Evidence of Cougars in Michigan: A Historical Summary Pat Rusz

1045-1115---Puma Research in Ohio Bill Reichling

1115-1145---The Eastern Cougar Foundation: An Update Todd Lester and Chris Bolgiano

1145-1300---Lunch

1300-1330---A Retrospective Look at US Fish and Wildlife Service Research on the Puma in the

Appalachians Robert Downing

1330-1400---Biogeography of Perceived Encounters with Pumas and Other Exotic Cats in South and

West Wales, United Kingdom Alaric Smith et al

1400-1430---

1430-1500---Break

Session II: Research Techniques (Moderator: To be determined)

1500-1530---Methods for Detecting Pumas in the Great Lakes Region Pat Rusz

1530-1545---Southern Mississippi Field Test of Two Approaches for Determining the Presence of

Pumas Helen McGinnis

1545-1600---Leopards in America? Joe Lankalis

1600-1630---The Eastern Cougar Network (ECN): Using Science to Assess the Status of Cougars in

Eastern North America Clay Nielson et al

1630-1700---Use of Camera "Traps" as a Tool for Wildlife Research Bob Wilson

1700-1730---Panel Discussion (Moderator: Jay Tischendorf)

1745-1815: Social

1815-2030---Banquet Dinner and Keynote Address Chris Bolgiano

(The Keynote Address will commence at 1845 hrs)

0700-0800---Continental Breakfast and Registration

0800-0815---Day 2 Welcome and Introduction

Session II: Techniques, continued (Moderator: Robert Downing)

0815-0845---Keeping Track: A Template for Community-Centered Conservation and Monitoring

Susan Morse

0845-0915---Obtaining Physical Evidence for the Presence of Pumas and Other Exotic Cats in South

and West Wales, United Kingdom Alaric Smith et al

0915-0945---Evaluating Puma Reports: Art, Science, Objectivity…and Diplomacy Jay Tischendorf

0945-1030---Poster Session and Break

1030-1100---

1100-1145---Panel Discussion (Moderator: To be determined)

1145-1300---Lunch

Session III: Human Dimensions (Moderator: Chris Bolgiano)

1300-1330---The Beast in the Garden David Baron

1330-1400---Reducing the Impact of Puma Attack Jay Tischendorf (for E. Lee Fitzhugh et al)

1400-1430---The Cougar Comes Home Susan Morse

1430-1500---Voodoo Science Tom Carney

1500-1530---Break

Session IV: Predator Parallels (Moderator: To be determined)

1530-1600---Eastern Cougar Recovery: Lessons From the Florida Panther David Maehr et al

1600-1630---The National Wildlife Federation’s Northeastern Lynx and Wolf Program

Peggy Struhsaker

1630-1700---The Jaguar in the Southwest: Implications for Puma Recovery in Eastern North America

Richard Greenwell and Jay Tischendorf

1700-1730---Panel Discussion (Moderator: Jay Tischendorf)

1730-1745---Symposium Close

0700-0800---Continental Breakfast and Registration

0800-1200---Wildlife and Puma Tracking Workshop

Nick Wisniewski, Valerie Major, and Jay Tischendorf

1200-1400---Field Trip to Cooper’s Rock Mountain Lion Sanctuary

(Bring a lunch and be prepared for any weather conditions)