Another panther blog carries a local comment, 'My dad was born and raised in the Cainhoy area and used to tell me stories of the mountain lions that were around. There has never been a confirmed or documented case of a melanistic mountain lion in the United States. All Rights Reserved. There isn't any evidence of mountain lions currently living in North Carolina. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Even more unlikely is for the jaguar to make it that far to have the rare gene that causes it to be solid black,said Perry. 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. While mountain lions may occasionally wander into the area, they are exceedingly rare and the state has no breeding population. However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. So what IS out there that these folks are seeing? Many biologists, myself included,would beexcited about the thoughtof finding a population of wild cougars in South Carolina.. Or could it? He believes people who reported seeing black panthers were seeing animals either at early dawn or late dusk, when colors are hard to disginguish. And verified mountain lion photos and road kill carcasses are slowly but surely appearing in various states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Their home ranges vary in size depending on the location. Adult females are smaller, averaging 80-90 pounds. There are some black cats, such as leopards, but they are not native to North America. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. Hepper is reader-supported. But mountain lions dont get along well with roads, according to Perry. More:Wandering South Carolina elk 'rules the roost' at new home in Charles Towne Landing. One thing scientists agree on and have no confusion about is that none of these large cats is or ever has been black in color. The majestic cat only lives in a small portion of the United States. (With Pictures), The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database, How to Help an Abused Dog Recover 8 Tips and Tricks, Lymphadenopathy in Cats: Signs, Causes & Care. It was a little too big to be a bobcat.. Its happening all across the state.. The Eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been declared extinct. 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. It was big and muscular. So heres whats happened: The U.S. The city of Simpsonville has also received calls about mountain lions over the years, according to Colleen Jenkins, an animal code enforcement officer for the city. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. The massive cat cleared the road in one swift near silent leap. SCDNR has yet to receive a report of drivers hitting a mountain lion, said Butfiloski. They brought them to South Carolina in 1500. In others, the encounters are more direct, like the report from a U.S. Forest Service employee who said a big cat had chased him into the Chattooga River. . Some accounts from people in places like Travelers Rest and Simpsonville involve only sightings. Lets muddy the water a little more. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. They did at one point, but the last one was spotted in the early 1900s. Bobcats are known for taking down predators larger than themselves, but the mountain lion is just too much larger and stronger. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. The Mauldin Police Department tried to capture the cat using a metal cage baited with a slab of beef donated by a local grocery store but quit after trying for several days. Some people even claim SCDNR is covering up the presence of mountain lions. How to Keep Cats Out of Flower Beds (11 Easy Methods), Why Do Cats Move Their Kittens? Instead, theyre wandering males. 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. They are so prevalent that many people believe there are more mountain lions than there really are. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States. Theres also the matter of the absolute lack of any big cats being hit and killed by vehicles on our roads. Sometimes, they travel quite far to make this happen and they may travel so far that they end up in South Carolina. They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. Cougars are stealthy predators that can run up to 35 miles per hour. The wildness of our country and the inherent dangers in just taking a walk to the wood pile insured that we would have the 2nd amendment to the constitution. Mountain lions are sneaky animals, he said. In fact, the wildlife agency has yet to receive a single piece of credible evidence even supporting the existence of mountain lions in South Carolina. Back away slowly, preferably to a place of shelter like a building or vehicle. The report said it appeared to be a female lion with two kittens, or two . I'm not Bill Bryson, and this column isn't entitled 'A Walk In the Woods.' In those streams where it's still possible to pan for tiny bits of gold, there can be heard the bone-chilling screech of the owl and the cry of the bobcat making a kill. Yes, usually in the Great Smoky Mountains . There have also been several sightings at Clemson University over the years. Fish and Wildlife . Greenville Journal. This tail is a distinctive feature of mountain lions, but . The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. Young males must find their own territory after leaving their mothers. Mountain lions were once native to South Carolina. Complete index of all the wonderful cat breeds and mixes, Deciding what you can and cannot feed your furry friend is a crucial decision, We love our cats, and therefore we want to get them the best gear, Understanding cat behavior can set you both up for a happy, productive relationship, Complete index of all the wonderful dog breeds and mixes, Deciding what you can and cannot feed your four legged friend is a crucial decision, We love our dogs, and therefore we want to get them the best gear, Training your dog can set you both up for a happy, productive relationship, The most complete list of dog food recalls, The most complete list of cat food recalls. The Canadian Wildlife Service has taken no position on the taxonomy. "Many of these deaths have occurred in British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. 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). Bobcats are the most similar relatives of mountain lions and they share many physical and behavioral traits. In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. 3. In windy or mountainous areas, Elbroch says air horns are great tools to throw off a cat's focus and deter them from . There are some sightings of cougars in the area as well. bottomland forests Eerie nighttime photos from trail cameras and tales of mountain lions attacking hikers flood social media and news channels. They were once major factors in the ecosystems of our South Carolina forests and coastal swamps where adults killed deer and other large prey items (wild hogs, raccoons, woodland buffalo, etc). We Inform. The eastern cougar or eastern puma (Puma concolor couguar) is a subspecies designation proposed in 1946 for cougar populations in eastern North America. For more information . Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. What was once called the Eastern Cougar and roamed areas throughout the southeastern United States was declared extinct in 2011 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Have you spotted any of the above in an out-of-place spot in the Palmetto State! Where have there been recent mountain lion reports in the Upstate? Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and . The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. In fact, the bobcat is the only native wild cat found in South Carolina today. 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. He lives in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. Now to complicate matters further, there are some cougars/pumas living in Florida that are considered to be of the native Eastern variety. 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. I'm sort of proud to be part of an elite little group that has made eye contact with the illusive Carolina panther. 2023 www.independentmail.com. But Chastain believes theyre only different from the Western cougars in that theyre smaller, which is a natural phenomenon among animal species in warmer climates. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of . So if there arent any Eastern cougars to be protected, it seems there wont be any need to worry about protecting their habitat anymore. Nothing there, however, is meaner than the redbugs which inhabit the pine straw. They are found in many different habitats including swamps, mountainous regions, and forests. Like the Carolina parakeet, the predator cat couldn't cope with spreading civilization encroaching upon its feeding fields. North Carolina - North Carolina's mountain lion population is said to have died out around the year 1900. However, its a moot point since there are no Eastern cougars still around to shoot., More:Kumar the orangutan escapes Greenville Zoo exhibit - again. South Carolina is no stranger to dangerous wildlife. Their name is derived from their short, or bobbed, tail. But then I found some female mountain lion sounds, and it was dead on. #1 The tail. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. Theres just no scientific documentation to back that up.. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Occasionally, individual animals may be spotted, but these sightings are not confirmed. If attacked, fight back. They are active hunters and may cover as much as 20 miles in a night. 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. I was shocked when I first saw the prints, because they were so big, said Claes. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long . Cougars, also known as mountain lions, were once common here and they have left a legacy of place names throughout the state indeed, the entire Southeast. This one looks almost cute, but that's because it's sleeping. I did email the DNR when I got home 7 days later but never heard anything back.'. Leopards, however, live in Africa and Asia. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com. 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. There are approximately 20 recognized geographic races of the cougar throughout its range. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms. The sighting of this cougar cub occurred about a mile west of the Little Lynches River and within a few hundred yards from one of its tributary streams. Some say that the panther is a silent assassin and that he and his mate share their bounty. Speaking of Florida, the Florida Panther is actually a subspecies of the . Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. 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. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. Most sightings are not likely established populations. 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. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Since then, there have been more sightings, but none of them have been confirmed. In South Carolina it is thought that the cougars occurring here were of both the eastern race (Felis concolor cougar) and the Florida race (Felis concolor coryi). These days the internet has become a bulletin board of sorts for panther sightings here. 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. South Carolina can probably expect to see one in the next decade given the rate at which these lions are showing up east and north of their established ranges, said Perry. Input your search keywords and press Enter. I was just sitting here, and all of a sudden I looked and there it was on my front porch. Adults are largely nocturnal, solitary and territorial. There are a number of answers to this question. Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. Pick up small children or dogs as they are more likely to run and are more vulnerable. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! Such conditions exist within Point Reyes National Seashore. Location: down in a hole. in weight. But SCNDR later concluded the animal was probably a black coyote. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. 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. They are most active around dawn and dusk, though they will technically come out at any time. LaRue, for instance, said people are probably seeing a house cat or black lab. Make noise, make yourself appear larger by waving your arms. This cat can be found throughout much of South and North America. According to Perry, the countys lack of pet mountain lions doesnt necessarily discount the sightings, because mountain lions can travel very long distances. He said it was highly unlikely, but possible that some people are actually seeing a western mountain lion or Florida panther thats managed to dodge traffic and travel to South Carolina. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. Due to the terrain and plentiful food sources, mountain lion sightings will occur and certain precautions should be taken by residents. There is no established cougar population in the area, which means that these large cats are not currently breeding and living in South Carolina. Love South Carolina? Yet, something occurred yesterday on an upstate highway that has inspired me to postpone the column that I had planned for this week. Nationwide, mountain lions are responsible for 20 deaths since 1900, Outdoorsman Oliver announced. Have been confirmed are most active around dawn and dusk, though they live... 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