Are there any laws protecting the cougar?

Yes, there are laws protecting the cougar. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects the Florida panther, a subspecies of cougar, and the Lacey Act makes it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any federal, state, or foreign law or regulation. Additionally, many states have their own laws protecting cougars, such as California's Proposition 117, which prohibits the hunting of mountain lions.