"Essentially we really are correcting something that listed a species despite its having gone extinct many, many decades ago, even before the Endangered Species Act was even enacted in 1973, Meaghan Racey with the Fish and Wildlife Service said. There are cougars out there, but they are all without exception the progeny of released Western cougars, he said. But they arent true Eastern cougars. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. (You know, like the mascot of the NFL team based in Charlotte). There has never been a record or credible account of a black cougar in Eastern North America, Chastain said. Even thought they're on the endangered species list. Their name is derived from their short, or bobbed, tail. Many wildlife experts and authorities are hoping that mountain lions will eventually migrate east from the Rocky Mountain states and repopulate the region. In the interest of gathering credible mountain lion sightings when mountain lions actually arrive in the east the research team here at eMammal has put together a guide to identifying mountain lions. So what IS out there that these folks are seeing? A history of mistaken identity and conspiracies. Genetic data gathered from a number of samples shows a distinct lack of the genes required for that coloration. The primary food source for a mountain lion would be deer and there is no doubt we have lots of them but so does Georgia and South Carolina. Cougars were eliminated from our state, as they were throughout much of the eastern US, for a combination of reasons including: a) loss of much of the forest and deer herd during the heavy agricultural activity of the late 1800's and b) the cougar's habit of substituting livestock for wild prey items (in the latter cases, stock owners typically took direct and terminal action against the cougars). Are there black panthers in eastern North Carolina? Florida spent more than $1 million to protect these cougars which also are called panthers, he said. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long ago named for panthers or the colloquial term "painters," both common names in this part of the country for the cougar. Update privacy preferences to allow Google Map. Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. LaRue, for instance, said people are probably seeing a house cat or black lab. Lucas said that although there is a possibility western cougars could eventually make their way to the western Carolinas, the chances of someone having an encounter with one are extremely small. The mountain lion was there hundreds of thousands of years before you . Instead, most cat sightings are likely bobcats. In fact, somesay its already happening. Then about 8 years ago I was driving down Clements Ferry and one ran across the road in front of me just past the old Mikasa plant heading towards 526. Koehler wasnt able to record the sound before the mystery creature moved on, but he remains adamant theres a mountain lion roaming around his house. Furman biology professor and cougar expert Travis Perry says it's possible for mountain lions to travel great distances, but it's not very likely they've traveled to our state. In South Carolina, this often leads to them eating smaller deer, rabbits, and rats. 4. There is no established cougar population in the area, which means that these large cats are not currently breeding and living in South Carolina. The lynx, a very close relative, roams Alaska. The lab investigated the potential origin for the mountain lion using the lab's database which includes mountain lion samples from populations in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Florida. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. Occasionally, individual animals may be spotted, but these sightings are not confirmed. In fact, the bobcat is the only native wild cat found in South Carolina today. Learn more. This Florida population, once down to about 50 animals, is now thought to be back in excess of 100 animals as a positive result of recovery plans. Should I Worry? Last year, Ben Claes, owner of Jireh Property Services in Taylors, was cleaning a lawn down the street from Koehlers house after a snowstorm and noticed large tracks on the ground. Jaguars and leopards, on the other hand, have a gene that occurs in six percent of the population that causes black cats. Driving on, I reflected that many of the Upstate servicemen called up for the Army in 1918 were placed in the 81 st Wildcat Division. . But for one to make it from the Southwest deserts to the mid-Atlantic mountains, Piedmont, or coastal areas is unlikely. However, an individual animal is occasionally observed, or killed, as a result of someone releasing a "pet" cougar that got to be too much for them to handle. More likely these sightings are dogs, bears or even house cats.. Lucas, of DNR, concurs that the black panther is a myth. Do not turn your back. Im telling neighbors to be more aware of their surroundings when theyre walking their dogs around here.. Greenville Journal. They do have a tail, but it is only about 6 to 8 inches long. Last year, Ben Claes, owner of Jireh Property Services in Taylors, was cleaning a lawn down the street from Koehlers house after a snowstorm and noticed large tracks on the ground. Stay on top of cat food recalls here >, Have a dog? How Should I Introduce My Puppy to a Dominant Dog? They are found in many different habitats including swamps, mountainous regions, and forests. Because of their immense range, cougars can be seen in a number of habitats. Luckily, the big cats probably wont pose a serious threat to public safety when they do appear in South Carolina, according to Butfiloski. Scientists view these large cats as a distinct population (but still the same species) from the mountain lions of the western U.S. The mountain lion is largely extinct in the east, except in Florida. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Usually, this is a result of their food sources being destroyed or the use of rat poison. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. The bobcat is plentiful in South Carolina but they are very shy and stealthy, and you may live in South Carolina and never actually see one. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. But if so, are there mountain lions in North Carolina? But then his neighbors dogs started barking. The head was round and large, the color was mottled brown, the height exceeded that of a house cat - that tail - well, it was as long as the cat and very thick. Yesterday around 5 p.m., my husband, a realtor and myself had a Mountain Lion jump the road in front of us about 30 yards ahead of us while walking a 19 acre property in Murphy NC mountains! There are some black cats, such as leopards, but they are not native to North America. However, they're becoming more and more of an issue in the Piedmont. Theres also the matter of the absolute lack of any big cats being hit and killed by vehicles on our roads. Make noise, make yourself appear larger by waving your arms. Bobby, Brenda and Zack were doing what every child did- they were playing in the woods. Input your search keywords and press Enter. stands 3,560 feet tall. Our students develop intellectually from a challenging and supportive academic experience and, through high-impact, real-world experiences and mentoring, graduate ready for accelerated career and community impact. The eastern cougar or eastern puma (Puma concolor couguar) is a subspecies designation proposed in 1946 for cougar populations in eastern North America. Bo Petersen of the Post and Courier reported March 7, 2011, that 'Despite biologists' saying the eastern cougar is no more, big cat sightings persist.' Many people claimtheyre actually seeing a black mountain lion, but there has never been a mountain lion that has been seen, killed, or bred in captivity that is black,according to Perry. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. What You Need to Know! Most of the mountain lions in South Dakota can be found in the Black Hills region, where there are an estimated 300 . Adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between . That cat was gone in a flash. Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. 3. This one looks almost cute, but that's because it's sleeping. Therefore, they are not exactly something we would count as big cats.. Service starts with Lions. 2023 www.independentmail.com. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. The big cat was captured after roaming free for two days. Only government bureaucrats could come up with a twist of logic like that. There are cougars out there, but they are all without exception the progeny of released Western cougars, he said. Only 14 red wolves remain in the wild half the number that were out there a year ago. Furman University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in admission, treatment, or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities. I know what I heard that afternoon, he said. Eastern Cougar does inhabit South Carolina. Whether they're called cougars, mountain lions, pumas or catamounts, wildlife experts believe the cats exist as a stable, . North Carolina. All rights reserved. When I stood up, it ran, shetold Fox News. // February 12, 2021. The mountain lion goes by many names, including cougar, catamount, panther, red tiger, deer tiger, and puma. The story cites lack of hard evidence for the . A distinctive feature is their 30-inch long tail (so different from our native and still abundant bobcat, which has a very short tail). I'll tell you, these things are so fast I don't see any domestication at all.' However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. The last confirmed sighting of the subspecies, "once the most widely roaming mammal in the New World" according to the federal government, was in 1938. In South Carolina and in the wildlife community, there is no debate about the presence of cougars in the east, Lucas said. For two hours my mind replayed the details of my encounter with what has to be the Carolina panther. Their home ranges vary in size depending on the location. In 2007, Terrance Fletcher, a technician with the U.S. Forest Service, claimed he was chased into the Chattooga River by a 7-foot-long panther with jet black fur. by: Dennis Matherly. A trio of mountain lions were photographed by a trail camera near Lewis and Clark Park by Yankton on Aug. 31, Haffley said. Some people even claim SCDNR is covering up the presence of mountain lions. "Since 1890 there have been 19 fatal Mountain Lion attacks in Canada and the United States," Mattson said. Ive received reports from every single county, he added. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. While there is some doubt the cougar still exists south of the Canadian Maritime provinces, significant sightings occur in Tennessee and North and South Carolina. These animals often end up being released into the wilderness areas. A wild mountain lion hasnt been verified in South Carolina in about 100 years, said Perry, whos studied mountain lions for more than a decade. When there is a suspicion that some type of big cat has been spotted, he said the likeliest culprit is a western cougar that has escaped captivity as someones pet. Still 3 coon hunters treed and killed one a few years ago. Andean Mountain Cat. Their fur is short and rather uniform reddish to light brown in color. in weight. But Lucas says if there are big cats lurking in Upstate areas, he feels sure there would be more encounters, given the volume of deer hunting in the Carolinas. Take adventure to new heights in the majestic mountain region of the Palmetto State. My fears were that folks would say that dusk had played tricks on my eyes, that somebody's big Tom was on the prowl. There has never been a confirmed or documented case of a melanistic mountain lion in the United States. The only recognized population of mountain lions in the South is in South Florida in the Everglades, said Travis Perry, an associate biology professor at Furman University. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Listen 3:52. Black Bears. A sampling of panther blog entries includes 'Seen [sic] a show on TV about black panthers in the Carolinas. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. However, without females in the area, males are unlikely to stay for long. These days the internet has become a bulletin board of sorts for panther sightings here. Also have positively ID'ed a large cat tracks on a pond dam on the same property, and the owner saw one 5+ years ago and now carries a .44 Mag on his hip whenever he goes hunting. Im making fun, but the reality is a bit more nuanced. There's no question there are some. Brandon Tensley to join Capital Bs national team as politics reporter, Upstate student works to start relief effort for Turkey earthquake victims. In big cats, black panthers are actually jaguars or leopards. There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. According to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, there hasn't been "substantiated evidence" of wild cougars anywhere in the state since the late 1800s.. Hepper.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. The fight would probably play out with one of the creatures stalking the other. Many biologists, myself included,would beexcited about the thoughtof finding a population of wild cougars in South Carolina.. Everyone knows to watch out for alligators and sharks along the coast and for the occasional bear in the mountain, but here are five possibly out-of-place creatures to keep a keen eye out for. However, these are far-off occasions and are a rare sight in the more rural areas of New York state. Well, this atleast proves that there are big cats in SC. They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. What IS Out There? However, its unclear how many there arebecause no one tracks it. Photo donated by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Kameron Peresnovich. We have had a couple of cougars escape from captivity over the past 30 years or so, but they dont elude leaving evidence behind.. Originally there were 11 subspecies of cougars . "In South Carolina and in the wildlife community, there is no debate" about the presence of cougars in the east, Lucas said. Therefore, your odds of seeing a mountain lion are extremely low. Bobcats are an elusive species. Eerie nighttime photos from trail cameras and tales of mountain lions attacking hikers flood social media and news channels. Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. And last year, Ben Tanner, a Ladys Island resident, captured video footage of what appears to be a large cat stalking a deer. As to relocating cougars from the West to the East to control deer overpopulation, Chastain doesnt think thats a good idea. Where Mountain Lions Live. There are countless game and trail cameras out in the woods ofSouth Carolina at any given time, and nobody has photographed a large cat, yet these animals do show up on game camerasin states that have cougars, said Butfiloski, who believes the trail camera footage from Ladys Island shows a house cat. This species is also known to hunt and potentially kill domesticated felines. Could not stop to look at it because I had traffic behind me. What is difference between bobcat and mountain lion? Well-known naturalist Dennis Chastain of Pickens says theres no doubt that there are cougars (pumas/mountain lions) in the woods and wild places of South Carolina. The report said it appeared to be a female lion with two kittens, or two . Even though the WV DNR says there are no wild mountain lions in the state, there are some held in captivity at the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek. Habitat. Black bears can be found throughout North America. East Tennessee Mountain Lions- Part 2. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. A wild mountain lion hasnt been verified in South Carolina in about 100 years, said Perry, whos studied mountain lions for more than a decade. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Mountain lions cover a huge range - all the way from Alaska to Argentina and southern Chile. 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