But who knows in a generation or so what might happen, he said. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. 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. Cougars are known to have a long-range, especially males. Coyotes in South Carolina now thats another story. Usually a shy cat, the cougar prefers to stalk its prey and is rarely ever a threat to people. There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. For the past hundred years, many Southerners have believed a version of this story about the fate of the pantherotherwise known as the cougar, puma, or mountain lionin the Great Smoky Mountains. Low near 65F. As of right now, there is a 0 recorded population of mountain lions living in New York. Florida spent more than $1 million to protect these cougars which also are called panthers, he said. Whether alumni of Furman, the parent of a Furman alumni or a friend of Furman, we consider everyone who supports this institution a member of the Furman family. Anyway, two years ago in August I was driving down on the highway south of Ashboro & think I seen [sic] a dead one on the side of the road by mile marker 51.Long tail, all black but I couldn't see the head. Bobcats are known for taking down predators larger than themselves, but the mountain lion is just too much larger and stronger. "Since 1890 there have been 19 fatal Mountain Lion attacks in Canada and the United States," Mattson said. Read moreTeacher to Parent: Idea of voting for principals raises many questions, Theres alwa Read moreGuess the mystery plant: A South Carolina native pine, I like board Read moreColumn: A walk in winter woods. The big cat was captured after roaming free for two days. My fears were that folks would say that dusk had played tricks on my eyes, that somebody's big Tom was on the prowl. The subspecies as described in 1946 was declared extinct by the U.S. Habitat. What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? There are eight to 10 reported sightings of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. As we previously stated, these cats are not currently established in the state. Furmans academics combine classroom learning and premier majors with experiences in research, internships, study away and community-centered learning. Most of their fur is a shade of beige, although some develop a darker . The mountain lion used to be found all over the United States, but now is primarily seen in the western U.S. An endangered subspecies of mountain lion also remains in Florida. North Carolina. Although gone from the eastern US (except Florida), the cougar is doing well throughout much of the western US, and is a game animal in many locations. 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. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States 803-256-0670 mail@scwf.org Andrew Moore of theGreenville Journalpens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. (You know, like the mascot of the NFL team based in Charlotte). This one looks almost cute, but that's because it's sleeping. Mountain lions, which are also called cougars, pumas, and sometimes panthers, once roamed from coast to coast. In 2007, a contract security officer called the universitys police department after he spotted what he thought looked like a mountain lion near the Calhoun Mansion. Here is a list of the wild cats of South America: 10. . Exceptionally stealth in staying hidden, bobcats are found in South Carolina, especially in the coastal plain. While out in mountain lion country (which is, frankly, most of Arizona), keep these tips in mind. The eastern cougar historically lived from Maine to South Carolina and from Michigan to Tennessee, the wildlife service said. The Canadian Wildlife Service has taken no position on the taxonomy. The eastern cougar, however, was declared extinct in 2011. The responding officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Daniel halls, according to reports. Many counties, including Spartanburg and Anderson, ban exotic pets. They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. Yet, something occurred yesterday on an upstate highway that has inspired me to postpone the column that I had planned for this week. What is difference between bobcat and mountain lion? There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs 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. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. Occasionally, individual animals may be spotted, but these sightings are not confirmed. Posts: 1,441. Learn more. While everyone knows the dangers of feeding a bear, most people overlook the possibility of one of them running across the road while you're driving. I actually drove out to the apartment and noticed some large tracks in the mud, said Jenkins, who didnt take photos of the tracks or file an official report. In 2017, the SCDNR issued a statement about the increasing incidence of South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. We have had a couple of cougars escape from captivity over the past 30 years or so, but they dont elude leaving evidence behind.. Dominant toms may inhabit a 100-square-mile area, and any other males, including cubs that are just born, are competing against the alpha, he said. These cats separate from their mothers to find their own territory when they reach sexual maturity, and males may have to travel very far to find free territory. Mountain lions cover a huge range - all the way from Alaska to Argentina and southern Chile. A Florida panther in South Carolina? Nothing there, however, is meaner than the redbugs which inhabit the pine straw. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. It was big and muscular. Many biologists, myself included,would beexcited about the thoughtof finding a population of wild cougars in South Carolina.. And last year, Ben Tanner, a Ladys Island resident, captured video footage of what appears to be a large cat stalking a deer. There's no question there are some. The story cites lack of hard evidence for the existence of mountain lions in the stateno carcasses, no trail camera footage, and no actual sightings corroborated by others. 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. Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. The thespians were nearly the stars of a Greek tragedy that day. Lets muddy the water a little more. The male mountain lion is a new individual to the lab's DNA database. Mistaken identities may also occur with the cougar's smaller relative, the bobcat. It was not a matter of fight or flight with him; rather, he had no interest in being gawked at in daylight hours by a motorist. What You Need to Know! The younger, weaker male lions will travel to get away to other areas and establish their own territory. More recently, a Piedmont resident captured a trail camera photo of what many believed to be a black panther. A distinctive feature is their 30-inch long tail (so different from our native and still abundant bobcat, which has a very short tail). Then there are occasional reports of mountain lion sightings in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, but no one to our knowledge has ever totally proved that what they saw actually was . "There are no known cougars in North Carolina," Jodie Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources . Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. But for one to make it from the Southwest deserts to the mid-Atlantic mountains, Piedmont, or coastal areas is unlikely. Only 14 red wolves remain in the wild half the number that were out there a year ago. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . It was a female mountain lion.. 3300 Poinsett Highway In South Carolina and in the wildlife community, there is no debate about the presence of cougars in the east, Lucas said. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville, There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. I was driving very slow one morning in 2012 on a dirt road when I came upon one weighing about 125-150. . At first, Koehler was concerned that it might be a woman or hiker in need of help. Still 3 coon hunters treed and killed one a few years ago. Nikolay Kapustin, deputy zoo administrator and veterinarian at the Greenville Zoo, said the prints, which measure 2.5 inches long, are likely coyote tracks. A Duncan, South Carolina, woman recently encountered a mountain lion while hunting and captured the intense standoff between her and the animal on camera.Watch the full video below or here. . ), I am convinced, now more than ever, that we must be proactive with educator compensation immediately so that we can change the trajectory of the shortage in CCSD. More likely these sightings are dogs, bears or even house cats.. Old-timers there used to point out the bear pits where their ancestors trapped black bears for their pelts. Sorry, Carolina Panthers football fans! Bobby, Brenda and Zack were doing what every child did- they were playing in the woods. The Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC main office is located at Rocket Homes Real Estate, 701 Griswold St, Suite 21, Detroit, MI 48226. You will receive your first email soon. Therefore, it is not unheard of for a young male to wander into the state for a time and then leave. Greenville County, which requires residents to obtain a permit and undergo inspections, has issued 17 permits for exotic animals, including two tigers, since 2012, according to spokesman Bob Mihalic. However, should one be sighted, it is now illegal to kill them. Hepper.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Butfiloski said SCDNR would likely be eligible for federal money to study mountain lions and protect and manage lands for the presence of them if they actually appeared. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. They believe what they saw, said Butfiloski. I can tell you they werent from your everyday dog or house cat.. Almost cute, but these sightings are not currently established in the state for a and! These tips in mind dirt road when I came face to face with the famed panther... 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