October 29, 2025, Grace Congregational Church Conference Room, 8 Court St, Rutland, 6:30 - 8:00 PM Catamounts—also known as cougars, pumas, or mountain lions—once played a vital ecological role in the forests of the Northeast. For millennia, they helped shape Northeastern landscapes in a myriad of ways including regulating prey populations, supporting forest regeneration, and enhancing biodiversity. Today, they are considered extirpated from the region.

In this talk, Renee Seacor, Northeast Rewilding Director at Mighty Earth, explores the past, present, and possible future of catamounts in the Northeast. Through three powerful case studies, she traces the forces that led to their disappearance, examines the ecological and social factors affecting their return, and highlights stories of successful coexistence with mountain lions in other parts of the country.

The presentation concludes with an overview of the next steps needed to explore the feasibility and conservation value of bringing catamounts back to Vermont. The event will include time for questions and open dialogue—inviting participants to share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing conversation about the future of our shared landscapes.