Does the eastern cougar live in North Carolina?

The eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar) is a subspecies of cougar, also known as the mountain lion, puma or panther, that historically ranged across the eastern United States and Canada, from the Atlantic coast to the Great Plains. However, the eastern cougar is considered to have been extirpated (locally extinct) from the eastern United States and Canada by the early 20th century, due to habitat loss and hunting.

So, the answer to the question is no. The eastern cougar does not live in North Carolina or anywhere else in the eastern United States or Canada.