Koehler, for one, remains convinced at least one mountain lion inhabits these parts. Staying Safe Around Wild Cats in South Carolina Image Credit: milesz, Pixabay. He believes people who reported seeing black panthers were seeing animals either at early dawn or late dusk, when colors are hard to disginguish. The younger, weaker male lions will travel to get away to other areas and establish their own territory. But the population decreased in the 1900s as wild lands were cleared for agriculture and game hunting increased. Currently, experts are adamant that there is no known mountain lion population in South Carolina. But mountain lions dont get along well with roads, according to Perry. 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. They are most active around dawn and dusk, though they will technically come out at any time. Despite this, S.C. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Greg Lucas said the department gets at least one call a month from people claiming to have seen one of the big cats. Could not stop to look at it because I had traffic behind me. You probably won't find a mountain . in weight. Theres also the matter that theyve officially been declared extinct in the eastern United States. Speaking of Florida, the Florida Panther is actually a subspecies of the . Cougars are rather long and slender in appearance. The lynx, a very close relative, roams Alaska. The big cats once roamed the entire Southeast but were decimated by hunting. Cougars are known to have a long-range, especially males. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) The year was 1961. 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. 26 Sep 16. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms. The northeastern U.S. population is thought to have disappeared in the 1930s. It is unknown whether they see them as competition or food. 3. Says Perry, Except for a very small population in Florida, there are no known groups [of mountain lions] in the Southeast, or east of the Mississippi in all truthfulness. Read on to learn exactly what people might be spying in the woods. Sedona is built in prime mountain lion conditions; the cat's main food sources include deer, javelina and small animals, which are in abundance here. The primary difference is that over time, the population that lived in the southern U.S. decreased in sizea normal adaptation to warmer climates. Some sightings were later verified as a different animal, such as a coyote or bobcat. Yes, it would be technically illegal to shoot an Eastern cougar that was on the Endangered Species List, said Greg Lucas, a spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. But its still against the law to shoot one. In a fight between mountain lion vs bobcat, the mountain lion would win. Photo donated by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Kameron Peresnovich. I'm not Bill Bryson, and this column isn't entitled 'A Walk In the Woods.' But they aren't true . They are about the same size as most domestic cats, after all. When I stood up, it ran, shetold Fox News. It was a female mountain lion.. But adult males average 140 pounds and 7 feet long from snout to tail. There are some black cats, such as leopards, but they are not native to North America. South Carolinas collection of exotic pets includes mountain lions, tigers, and other big cat species, according to Butfiloski. Stay on top of cat food recalls here >, Have a dog? 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. Mountain lions were once native to South Carolina. This feline only gets to about . So you go for a ride with the big cat and let him loose somewhere in deer country which is anywhere in the state. 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). "There's just no scientific documentation to back that up." . Why are there no mountain lions in PA? Listen 3:52. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. Can Cats Eat Kale? They are found in many different habitats including swamps, mountainous regions, and forests. They are found at elevations ranging from 5,900 ft to 13,000 ft. Since then, there have been more sightings, but none of them have been confirmed. Can Cats Eat Rosemary? Are you thoroughly confused? 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. All Rights Reserved. You have permission to edit this article. Mountain lions can bound up to 40 feet while running, leap 15 feet up a tree, climb over a 12-foot fence, travel many miles at 10 mph, and reach speeds of 50 mph in a sprint. Bobcats are South Carolinas only wild cat. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. The eastern cougar historically lived from Maine to South Carolina and from Michigan to Tennessee, the wildlife service said. Contact Ron Barnett at rbarnett@gannett.com. A sampling of panther blog entries includes 'Seen [sic] a show on TV about black panthers in the Carolinas. 5 Reasons for This Behavior. When you live and learn in community with others, you develop deeper bonds, build better support systems and form stronger friendships. Im not the only person hearing and seeing these cats, said Koehler. Love South Carolina? For two hours my mind replayed the details of my encounter with what has to be the Carolina panther. The animal started running so I decided to run and get away and jump in the river to get across to the other side, Fletcher told The State. When it comes to black panther sightings, scientists believe these animals are most likely smaller bears, black wolves or panthers sighted when lighting conditions and shadows cause them to appear darker in color than they are. The eastern cougar or eastern puma (Puma concolor couguar) is a subspecies designation proposed in 1946 for cougar populations in eastern North America. In South Carolina and in the wildlife community, there is no debate about the presence of cougars in the east, Lucas said. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. (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. The Eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been declared extinct. 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. More likely these sightings are dogs, bears or even house cats.. It was at least 5 foot long plus the length of its thick long tail which was at least 3 feet. Then, rather than establish a territory like they would in the West where they are far more numerous, they adopt "a vagabond strategy and roam an area of hundreds of square miles, Chastain said. More:What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists both of these races as endangered. Mountain lions, or eastern cougars, once "lived in every Eastern state in a variety of habitats including coastal marshes, mountains and forests," according to the U.S. However, even this species is not very large. In 2017, the SCDNR issued a statement about the increasing incidence of South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. Usually, this is a result of their food sources being destroyed or the use of rat poison. In fact, the bobcat is the only native wild cat found in South Carolina today. "There are no known cougars in North Carolina," Jodie Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources . talk to a vet online for advice >. Due to overhunting in the United States, they have been completely extirpated from the east , with the exception of the endangered Florida panther, a subspecies occurring in southern Florida. According to wildlife expert Ken Burton on the enature website, there are mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky Mountains. It is estimated that cougars make a kill of a large prey item (deer, etc) about once each week. It was big and muscular. Hurricane Irma: Lowcountry animals moved to the Upstate, Kumar the orangutan escapes Greenville Zoo exhibit - again, Wandering South Carolina elk 'rules the roost' at new home in Charles Towne Landing. Greenville, SC 29613. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. The responding officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Daniel halls, according to reports. 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. Those thoughts contented me for a few miles until some reflection revealed what should have been obvious when I first set eyes on the beast -- a Bobcat can't have a long, thick tail. 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. More recent mountain lion reports stem from the Upstate. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . Yet, something occurred yesterday on an upstate highway that has inspired me to postpone the column that I had planned for this week. At first, Koehler was concerned that it might be a woman or hiker in need of help. The subspecies as described in 1946 was declared extinct by the U.S. They did at one point, but the last one was spotted in the early 1900s. By The mountain lion goes by many names, including cougar, catamount, panther, red tiger, deer tiger, and puma. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. I was shocked when I first saw the prints, because they were so big, said Claes. The main reason people believe that there is a mountain lion population is that there have been some reported sightings. The big cat was captured after roaming free for two days. Whether theyre called cougars, mountain lions, pumas or catamounts, wildlife experts believe the cats exist as a stable, breeding population in the western U.S and, a. ccording to both the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, transient western cougars have been spotted in both states since 2015. In fact, somesay its already happening. Yes, usually in the Great Smoky Mountains . Instead, theyre wandering males. 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. Home range for bears must include den sites, food, water and cover for adults and young. This feline only gets to about 25 pounds at most. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States 803-256-0670 mail@scwf.org Up until they get about 75 pounds, and they start eating three pounds of T-bone steak a day and tearing the furniture up and terrorizing the neighborhood.. Bobcats are an elusive species. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long . Some accounts from people in places like Travelers Rest and Simpsonville involve only sightings. More recent mountain lion reports stem from the Upstate. 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. 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. Service starts with Lions. One popular conspiracy theory claims SCDNR has released a breeding population of western mountain lions to prevent the states surging white-tailed deer population from causing too much agricultural damage. They arent much bigger than a domestic house cat in many cases. Never heard anything like it. SCDNR said the prints were from a dog, but Im not sure I really agree with them.. Sometimes, they travel quite far to make this happen and they may travel so far that they end up in South Carolina. I'll tell you, these things are so fast I don't see any domestication at all.' Even thought they're . The Leopardus jacobita is a wild cat living at high elevations in the Andes of South America. Because of their immense range, cougars can be seen in a number of habitats. Are there Mountain Lions in South Carolina? Slot canyons. The eastern cougar, however, was declared extinct in 2011. But then his neighbors dogs started barking. 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. In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. 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. Hepper.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Located in: Saluda Mountains. 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. bottomland forests Exceptionally stealth in staying hidden, bobcats are found in South Carolina, especially in the coastal plain. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. The one potential South Carolina mountain lion, the eastern cougar, was declared extinct in 2011. Most of the mountain lions in South Dakota can be found in the Black Hills region, where there are an estimated 300 . What are potassium channel activators used for? However, they're becoming more and more of an issue in the Piedmont. There are some sightings of cougars in the area as well. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. However, cougars do have a renowned wanderlust and are known for ending up places they technically arent supposed to be. 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. I was just sitting here, and all of a sudden I looked and there it was on my front porch. See answer (1) Copy. 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