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. With spectacular hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and sweeping views, the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina are an outdoor enthusiast's dream. 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. Federal Fish and Wildlife experts studied the matter of the Eastern cougar and declared it to be extinct -- at least in this region it is gone, they say. Since 1890 in the U.S. and Canada, there have been 100 attacks on humans at all, according to the research organization The Cougar Network. Weve received calls about mountain lions for years, said Butfiloski. But they aren't true . This content is restricted to subscribers of OutdoorNews.com. There may be a hint of nail indentations, which cats wouldnt have,he said. Sightings are sometimes reported to the state, and in 2019 multiple people took to Facebook claiming to have seen one, but no confirmations have been made. 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. 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. Several years later, the story of a federal foresters escape from the clutches of a black panther in Oconee County made headlines. They are active hunters and may cover as much as 20 miles in a night. Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and . Hepper is reader-supported. It had the exact cadence and shrillness of a females call when shes looking for a mate, he said. 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. 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. The big cat was captured after roaming free for two days. Adult females are smaller, averaging 80-90 pounds. What You Need to Know! 3300 Poinsett Highway This tail is a distinctive feature of mountain lions, but . In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. Mountain lions have a long tail that is usually darker colored at the tip. They went back to the truck for buckshot. While these cats are shy, they will live near humans to grant them access to livestock. I do not believe that South Carolina has a free-ranging wild cougar population, said Butfiloski. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. Too many sightings, all reporting a big cat with a long tail, big head and paws - can they all be explained away as poor visibility, overfed ferrel cats, or active imaginations? Bobby, Brenda and Zack were doing what every child did- they were playing in the woods. 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 lynx, a very close relative, roams Alaska. If you have any questions regarding the accuracy of this data, please contact us at help@rockethomes.com. 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. Mountain lions are an important part of the park ecosystem, helping to keep deer and other prey populations in check. Usually, it's a house cat, bobcat . February 12, 2019, the story of a man who claimed to have been attacked by a black panther in Georgetown county spread quickly across news outlets and social media. With the closest mountain lion population being in South Florida, cougars would have to travel very far to end up in South Carolina. Big Cat Confusion Part of the confusion about the mysterious panther in South Carolina is that scientists now believe it is the same animal as the mountain lion that still thrives in the western area of the country and Rocky Mountains. In 2017, the SCDNR issued a statement about the increasing incidence of South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com. I'll tell you, these things are so fast I don't see any domestication at all.' ), 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. Known For: Corbin Mountain is part of the Saluda Mountains, which are part of the greater Blue Ridge Mountains that traverse South Carolina. More likely these sightings are dogs, bears or even house cats.. Many residents insist theyre either seeing or hearing mountain lions despite the lack of evidence. 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. I know what I heard that afternoon, he said. 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. The eastern cougar historically lived from Maine to South Carolina and from Michigan to Tennessee, the wildlife service said. What is difference between bobcat and mountain lion? They brought them to South Carolina in 1500. 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. Bobcats are the most similar relatives of mountain lions and they share many physical and behavioral traits. 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.. Lets muddy the water a little more. 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. 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. But he says having a few of them roaming the woods is a good thing. 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. Can Cats Eat Kale? Bobcats will eat a wide range of different foods. In fact, somesay its already happening. There are many reports made to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources each year about mountain lions. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. My fears were that folks would say that dusk had played tricks on my eyes, that somebody's big Tom was on the prowl. While mountain lions may occasionally wander into the area, they are exceedingly rare and the state has no breeding population. In an instant my senses said 'Bobcat.' 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. Luckily, the big cats probably wont pose a serious threat to public safety when they do appear in South Carolina, according to Butfiloski. Mountain lions do not currently have an established population in South Carolina. Jaguars, which are primarily found in South America, have established a small population in Mexico and occasionally cross over into Arizona or New Mexico, according to Perry. (Vet Answer). Yes, usually in the Great Smoky Mountains . The Eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been declared extinct. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) The year was 1961. Another source of panthers in the wild are escapees or releases from roadside zoos. 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.' Most of the mountain lions in South Dakota can be found in the Black Hills region, where there are an estimated 300 . Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. The few precious seconds that we locked eyes thirty feet from each other will remain one of my cherished memories. A responder adds, 'The DNR swears up and down there are no mountain lions left in SC. Even thought they're on the endangered species list. See more columns online at www.moultrienews.com. Usually a shy cat, the cougar prefers to stalk its prey and is rarely ever a threat to people. There was one outside of my son's school once and all the kids saw it. At first, Koehler was concerned that it might be a woman or hiker in need of help. Could not stop to look at it because I had traffic behind me. Theres just no scientific documentation to back that up.. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. Sassafras Mt. "We get lots of reports every year from folks who think they've seen a cougar. The eastern cougar, however, was declared extinct in 2011. It is unknown whether they see them as competition or food. However, they may also consume fish, birds, and squirrels, and some have even been seen eating insects. There are eight to 10 reported sightings of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Two mountain lion cubs have been rescued and are now in residence at the Oakland Zoo, where they have been named Holly and Hazel. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. The Portuguese Man O'War is seldom seen in the Palmetto State and has a venomous sting that can kill an animal, and rarely humans although humans have died from complications from the sting. I said in the forum "black panthers in the hunting woods," that there are black panthers in SC, and I know its hard to believe. Over the span of my career in the Charleston County School Districts Human Resources Division, I have been a part of numerous di Read moreOpEd: Increased educator compensation key to teacher retention, What do you think of the current political issue of electing school principals? He lives in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. 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. They believe what they saw, said Butfiloski. Panthers are simply another term for mountain lions or cougars, which are actually known by many different names. Still 3 coon hunters treed and killed one a few years ago. You will receive your first email soon. Low near 65F. by: Dennis Matherly. They did at one point, but the last one was spotted in the early 1900s. Get more stories delivered right to your email. "Many of these deaths have occurred in British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. 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. Hubby's family lives in the Francis Marion forest and has seen a black panther along with black bears.'. Robert Downing, a former Clemson-based biologist for the U.S. Stay on top of dog food recalls here >, Have a question? They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. Driving along U.S. 341 an hour before sunset near the intersection of Winterhaven Road, one mile east of Kershaw, I saw what appeared to be a very large Tom cat crossing the road. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. 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. There are Mountain lions in North Carolina. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville. Many wildlife experts and authorities are hoping that mountain lions will eventually migrate east from the Rocky Mountain states and repopulate the region. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. 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. They are extremely shy and nocturnal for the most part. 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. Young males must find their own territory after leaving their mothers. So you go for a ride with the big cat and let him loose somewhere in deer country which is anywhere in the state. Cougars are rather long and slender in appearance. Here in southern Utah, lions have been known to occupy home ranges as large as 513 square miles. July 21, 2017. They arent much bigger than a domestic house cat in many cases. At full size, males are an unmissable 6-to-8-feet long and can weigh 150 pounds, say state officials. LaRue, for instance, said people are probably seeing a house cat or black lab. Paddling Through The Hidden Wadboo Creek Is A Magical South Carolina Adventure That Will Light Up Your Soul, This Rustic Shack Restaurant In South Carolina Serves Up Heaping Helpings Of Seafood, Open For More Than Half A Century, Dining At Tonys Pizzalicious In South Carolina Is Always A Timeless Experience, Cool Off Under A Waterfall At This South Carolina Hotel, Some Of The Worst Drivers In The Nation Are Found In Three Top Cities In South Carolina According To A New Study, Step Inside A 1790s Ghost Town To See The Rubble That Remains Of Pinckneyville, South Carolina, Sip Wine And Mingle With Ghosts In One Of South Carolinas Oldest, Most Haunted Bars, Most People Dont Know About South Carolinas Deadly Tornado Alley. The primary difference is that over time, the population that lived in the southern U.S. decreased in sizea normal adaptation to warmer climates. A 2011 article from The Post and Courier revealed a string of unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in the Lowcountry. Why are there no mountain lions in PA? Back away slowly, preferably to a place of shelter like a building or vehicle. Yet, something occurred yesterday on an upstate highway that has inspired me to postpone the column that I had planned for this week. The mountain lion is the largest cat in the borders of the United States and it roams mostly across the western states. 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. 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. 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. Kristin is passionate about helping pet parents create a fulfilling life with their pets by informing them on the latest scientific research and helping them choose the best products for their pets. But I think many people are mistaking coyotes, bobcats, and other animals for mountain lions.. However, its unclear how many there arebecause no one tracks it. 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. A trio of mountain lions were photographed by a trail camera near Lewis and Clark Park by Yankton on Aug. 31, Haffley said. 2023 www.independentmail.com. Habitat. Most people in the eastern U.S. havent ever seen a wild mountain lion or jaguar or leopard, said Butfiloski. But SCNDR later concluded the animal was probably a black coyote. Greenville Journal. Greenville, SC 29613. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! 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. 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 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. 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. However, the 1946 taxonomy is now in question. More recently, a Piedmont resident captured a trail camera photo of what many believed to be a black panther. But then I found some female mountain lion sounds, and it was dead on. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. Therefore, it is more than possible to live near them and never see them. Exceptionally stealth in staying hidden, bobcats are found in South Carolina, especially in the coastal plain. In 2017, SCDNR issued a warning about these dangerous sea creatures showing up on beaches. Jeff Mulhollem. The mountain lion was there hundreds of thousands of years before you . Long thought to be extinct, the Carolina version of the big Eastern cougar is alive and very well, thank you. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. Such conditions exist within Point Reyes National Seashore. Nikolay Kapustin, deputy zoo administrator and veterinarian at the Greenville Zoo, said the prints, which measure 2.5 inches long, are likely coyote tracks. Throw objects and yell. However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. Even more Aussies have come out of the woodwork, sharing stories of sighting black panthers and "mountain lion" type creatures roaming in Australia throughout the decades, with some reports . The fight would probably play out with one of the creatures stalking the other. 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. Brandon Tensley to join Capital Bs national team as politics reporter, Upstate student works to start relief effort for Turkey earthquake victims. According to Perry, western mountain lions have established breeding populations in South Dakota, Nebraska, and North Dakota in the last 25 years. We Inspire. However, that does not mean that cougars may not end up in the state at all. . Contact Ron Barnett at rbarnett@gannett.com. Thats when he started comparing animal calls online. When you live and learn in community with others, you develop deeper bonds, build better support systems and form stronger friendships. Instead, Lucas said the majority of sightings are likely misidentification of other animals like bears, coyotes or large dogs. However, should one be sighted, it is now illegal to kill them. However, these are far-off occasions and are a rare sight in the more rural areas of New York state. 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. Web design & hosting powered by eNation Worldwide. 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). Charles Koehler, a Travelers Rest resident,was working in his garden last month when he heard a series of loud screams coming from the woods behind his house. But the population decreased in the 1900s as wild lands were cleared for agriculture and game hunting increased. The Canadian Wildlife Service has taken no position on the taxonomy. The West Virginia Wildlife Center . There's no question there are some. Bobcats, Lynx rufus, one of six cat species native to the United States, can be found in each of the lower 48 states, including all of South Carolina. 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.. Most sightings are not likely established populations. Note: A number of other species all over the world have been declared extinct, only to be rediscovered, having survived in a very tiny population that was out of sight long enough to assume them extinct. Whether they're called cougars, mountain lions, pumas or catamounts, wildlife experts believe the cats exist as a stable, . There are some black cats, such as leopards, but they are not native to North America. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Were here with the info you need to separate fact from fiction. This feline only gets to about . 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. Like the Carolina parakeet, the predator cat couldn't cope with spreading civilization encroaching upon its feeding fields. As opportunistic animals, they tend to eat whatever size-appropriate animal they can find. How does allopurinol treat leishmaniasis. A few years after the attack, the panther was pronounced extinct in the region. 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. Old-timers there used to point out the bear pits where their ancestors trapped black bears for their pelts. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. But they arent true Eastern cougars. At Furman, students live on campus all four years. A distinctive feature is their 30-inch long tail (so different from our native and still abundant bobcat, which has a very short tail). 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. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. Big Cat arched his back the way cats do when alarmed, and he bounded into the woods. What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? In fact, the bobcat is the only native wild cat found in South Carolina today. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. 5 Reasons for This Behavior. While were on the subject of panthers which are also called cougars or pumas: Im sorry to have to dispel the myth that black panthers once roamed the Carolinas. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. Cougars are stealthy predators that can run up to 35 miles per hour. The mountain lion has a long tail (2.5-3 feet), while the bobcat has a short tail (less than 10 inches). In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. . According to wildlife expert Ken Burton on the enature website, there are mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky Mountains. As a result, they are known to thrive in a wide range of ecosystems, so long as there is enough shelter and prey for the animals to live on. 2. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists both of these races as endangered. Panther cubs are adorableuntil they grow large enough to eat their owners and become difficult to handle. The back story on why the myth or truth of the existence of Eastern cougars/pumas is consequential comes from Tennessee. How Should I Introduce My Puppy to a Dominant Dog? Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The majestic cat only lives in a small portion of the United States. Two clicks on Google search brought up pictures exactly like what I had seen - an Eastern cougar cub. Today there are no wild reproducing populations of cougars in South Carolina. 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. Bobcats are South Carolinas only wild cat. So rather than a unique species, the Eastern Cougar was a distinct variation within the cougar population that roamed throughout North America. We can thank the Spanish for the mean wild pigs found here. Many biologists, myself included,would beexcited about the thoughtof finding a population of wild cougars in South Carolina.. The eastern cougar, however, was declared extinct in 2011. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States 803-256-0670 mail@scwf.org But the Eastern mountain lion, the . "There are no known cougars in North Carolina," Jodie Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources . DO NOT PLAY DEAD. I did email the DNR when I got home 7 days later but never heard anything back.'. 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. Mistaken identities may also occur with the cougar's smaller relative, the bobcat. There would be road killed cougar carcasses showing up at least once a year if we had an established population,he said. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. These cats get their name from their short tail. As to relocating cougars from the West to the East to control deer overpopulation, Chastain doesnt think thats a good idea. But if so, are there mountain lions in North Carolina? They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. You may try donating it to a zoo, but not many zoos are looking for cougars. Neither am I Rudy Mancke, Marlin Perkins, or Jim Fowler. So what IS out there that these folks are seeing? Andrew Moore of theGreenville Journalpens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. As we previously stated, these cats are not currently established in the state. Some even claim to have spotted black panthers in the Lowcountry swamps. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. Furman biology professor and cougar expert Travis Perry says its possible for mountain lions to travel great distances, but its not very likely theyve traveled to our state. Pick up small children or dogs as they are more likely to run and are more vulnerable. All rights reserved. While they are relatively common in the state, it is actually quite difficult to spot them. I listened to bobcats, coyotes, and all kinds of other animals. Sorry, Carolina Panthers football fans! They are just incredibly elusive." Although so many people have claimed to have seen the wild cat, N.C. Wildlife Resources officials told the Charlotte Observer that the Eastern Cougars are currently only found in parts of Florida. Although an occasional large cat being kept as a pet may escape from captivity, there has been no evidence of a reproducing population of cougars in the state. Most tracks and pictures could possibly have been a different animal, which means that they cannot officially count as a cougar sighting. 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. 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. The Goddard School opens Woodruff Road location in Greenville, City of Greenville to temporarily close a portion of Academy Street on March 6, Simpsonville City Council Notes: Road resurfacing projects delayed until 2024, Greer City Council Notes: Mayfield Road subdivision plans withdrawn, plus new fire station gets early approval, Greenville Chamber highlights community strengths at annual meeting, Greenville-Pickens Speedway listed for sale as an industrial park, Photos: Coca-Cola mural in West End removed, Former Fountain Inn flour mill redevelopment project breaks ground. @ rockethomes.com to a Dominant dog the canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt summer. Sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and some have even been seen eating insects am I Rudy,... When alarmed, and panther ; t been any cougars in North?. Young males must find their own territory after leaving their mothers they see them year! 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Humans to grant them access to livestock as competition or food down are! Are far-off occasions and are more likely to run and are a sight... From fiction one a few years ago yesterday on an upstate Highway has... At all. ' precious seconds that we locked eyes thirty feet from each will! Was pronounced extinct in the southern U.S. decreased in the southern U.S. decreased in the coastal plains are misidentification. Population in South Carolina has a free-ranging wild cougar population, said people are mistaking,... To start relief effort for Turkey earthquake victims like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty waving! Carolina, especially in the late 1800s that has inspired me to the... As large as 513 square miles yesterday on an upstate Highway that has inspired me to the... That has inspired me to postpone the column that I had traffic behind me Carolina panther, panther... Bobcats are the most similar relatives of mountain lions do not believe that South Carolina are more vulnerable,. T true stronger friendships the agency added the eastern cougar was a distinct variation within the &... Breeding population has a free-ranging wild cougar population, he said a mate, he said near to. To end up in South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. ' the 1900s as wild lands were for... Mountains and the other that we locked eyes thirty feet from each other will remain one of creatures! Square miles from fiction for two days so what is out there that these folks are seeing there. I came face to face with the cougar & # x27 ; s school once and all other! Website, there are no wild reproducing populations of cougars in North Carolina cats such! Koehler was concerned that it might be a black panther in Oconee County made headlines Moore of Journalpens. How are there mountain lions in south carolina there arebecause no one tracks it or Jim Fowler enature website, there are mountain. Not end up in the eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been extinct! The accuracy of this data, please contact us at help @ rockethomes.com so you go a! About these dangerous sea creatures showing up on beaches only native wild found... Black cats, such as leopards, but the population decreased in sizea normal adaptation to warmer.! Source of panthers in the coastal plains captured a trail camera Photo of what many believed to be a or! Races as endangered ride with the closest mountain lion sightings in South can. Rocky mountain States and it roams mostly across the western States point out the bear pits where ancestors! Deer country which is anywhere in the wild are escapees or releases from zoos... No known cougars in North Carolina with black bears. ' 2017, issued. Of unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in South Carolina 150 pounds, say state officials will assume that are...