It’s been verified since by numerous trail cams etc
Many observations of the same cougar, or different cats across the county/region?
As per the state wildlife people and National Park rangers in my state of Kentucky, they do not exist here, you are seeing a bobcat. But on the side the rangers pull you aside and tell you if you ever have tracks call them asap lol!
There are mt. lions around my area and in the last 15yrs. I have seen them several times, big cats with the face of a mt. lion and that long tail and I have seen bobcats, big bobcats, they are not alike.