McCollough said he does believe some of sightings reported are actually mountain lions, but most are probably escaped from captivity or cats from the west that have strayed from their normal range. "The Fish and Wildlife Service does recognize that other mountain lions do appear. There are 110 confirmed, documented cases where mountain lions were seen in the eastern U.S. since 1900," he said. "It's probably most likely that they were pets who were released or escaped." McCollough said it is also possible, but less likely, that the cougars spotted were western cougars that are expanding their range eastward.