That's interesting. I have talked to several FWS representatives and have not been able to get much more out of them than the Service's official stance. Although, I was told that they receive several reports a week of cougars in the area. Also, I was told that someone in the Jackson Guard office had witnessed what they identified as a panther. The Eglin natural resources division receives less reports, several a year. One of the FWS biologists for this district told me that it was more likely that what people are seeing is jaguarundi.
However, I am interested in what you said about having friends in the environmental/survey business who have seen tracks. This is the kind of hard evidence that the FWS has consistently been unable to secure. The sandy nature of our soil complicates matters. It is hard to get a good impression and, hence, a solid cast.