They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. Adult females are smaller, averaging 80-90 pounds. There is no way that this could remain a secret from the general population, said Butfiloski. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. Answered by Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS (Vet), Beagle Pain Syndrome: Causes, Signs, and Care Guide, Rabies in Dogs: Causes, Signs & Care Guide, Have a cat? If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . For two hours my mind replayed the details of my encounter with what has to be the Carolina panther. The only established population of wild cats in South Carolina is the bobcat, which is not very large in the least. Usually a shy cat, the cougar prefers to stalk its prey and is rarely ever a threat to people. He said there used to be a den behind the Bowles horse farm before the farm was there. Many wildlife authorities and experts, however, remain skeptical of mountain lion sightings across the Southeast. Learn more. What IS Out There? In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. 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. 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. We Inform. by: Dennis Matherly. The last known living Eastern Cougar was sighted and suspected to have been killed in 1938. A Florida panther in South Carolina? While there may be a few stray mountain lions wandering around the state, there is not currently an established population. 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. So you go for a ride with the big cat and let him loose somewhere in deer country which is anywhere in the state. 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. 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. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Luckily, the big cats probably wont pose a serious threat to public safety when they do appear in South Carolina, according to Butfiloski. Can Cats Eat Rosemary? 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. 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. Bobcats are South Carolinas only wild cat. The few precious seconds that we locked eyes thirty feet from each other will remain one of my cherished memories. In fact, they usually receive close to 100 calls. 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. However, bobcats are extremely small, ranging between 1025 pounds. 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. Have you spotted any of the above in an out-of-place spot in the Palmetto State! 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. Ask anyone who spends time in the South Carolina wilderness and theyll have a number of stories of their own sightings, camera/video footage and sightings by reputable people in the community. But then his neighbors dogs started barking. I'm not Bill Bryson, and this column isn't entitled 'A Walk In the Woods.' Contributed by John Garton, SCWF Board Member Emeritus. "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. Old-timers there used to point out the bear pits where their ancestors trapped black bears for their pelts. This cat can be found throughout much of South and North America. They are also known as . 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. 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. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. 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. There's no question there are some. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. "There are no known cougars in North Carolina," Jodie Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources . Except for a very small population in Florida, there are no known groups in the Southeast, or east of the Mississippi in all truthfulness.. In 2015, Michelle LaRue, a research ecologist and speaker at the University of Minnesota and executive director of the Cougar Network, cast doubt on black panther sightings in a blog post, saying there is no compelling evidence that a single wild black panther has ever existed in the United States.. While these cats are too small to threaten most people, they can sometimes hunt small livestockchickens are the most common victims. But then I found some female mountain lion sounds, and it was dead on. 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. There are a number of answers to this question. And last year, Ben Tanner, a Ladys Island resident, captured video footage of what appears to be a large cat stalking a deer. 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. But some residents, including Koehler, are already taking precautions. Fish and Wildlife Service, actually investigated several hundred big cat reports throughout the Southeast in the late 1970s and 1980s but found no proof of their existence outside of Florida. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. But the population decreased in the 1900s as wild lands were cleared for agriculture and game hunting increased. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. Some say that the panther is a silent assassin and that he and his mate share their bounty. I was shocked when I first saw the prints, because they were so big, said Claes. Yes, usually in the Great Smoky Mountains . Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. Jaguars and leopards, on the other hand, have a gene that occurs in six percent of the population that causes black cats. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States. 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. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. Web design & hosting powered by eNation Worldwide. The cougar (also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, catamount, puma, and other names) was once one of the most widely distributed mammals in the Western Hemisphere. Eerie nighttime photos from trail cameras and tales of mountain lions attacking hikers flood social media and news channels. Foolishly, they threw a dried piece of beef to the hungry carnivores. Mistaken identities may also occur with the cougar's smaller relative, the bobcat. 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. Where Mountain Lions Live. Slot canyons. Hepper.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. A few years after the attack, the panther was pronounced extinct in the region. The mountain lion is largely extinct in the east, except in Florida. Pee Dee Wildlife Control Inc. 2019 All Rights Reserved. Young cougars are marked with dark spots. In a fight between mountain lion vs bobcat, the mountain lion would win. Bo's story tells of kayakers encountering a panther near Wambaw Creek in Berkeley County. Some sightings are likely animals that ended up in our state through the exotic animal trade. History of Large Cats in South Carolina First, for clarity, the panther has many names, including puma, cougar and mountain lionall of these names refer to the same animal in North America. Robert Downing, a former Clemson-based biologist for the U.S. Back away slowly, preferably to a place of shelter like a building or vehicle. Throw objects and yell. Panther cubs are adorableuntil they grow large enough to eat their owners and become difficult to handle. Posts: 1,441. Only 14 red wolves remain in the wild half the number that were out there a year ago. In big cats, black panthers are actually jaguars or leopards. talk to a vet online for advice >. With the closest mountain lion population being in South Florida, cougars would have to travel very far to end up in South Carolina. I do not believe that South Carolina has a free-ranging wild cougar population, said Butfiloski. We can thank the Spanish for the mean wild pigs found here. The majestic cat only lives in a small portion of the United States. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville. 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. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) The year was 1961. 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. Coyotes, deer, boar, eagles, and every snake imaginable. In an instant my senses said 'Bobcat.' Black Bears. It was big and muscular. My father encountered one on U.S. Highway 172 north of Summerville 40 years ago. These cats get their name from their short tail. 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. // February 12, 2021. Were here with the info you need to separate fact from fiction. There has never been a record or credible account of a black cougar in Eastern North America, Chastain said. Suddenly, the children saw a movement and a mountain lion came walking down the trail . I think many people just get excited when trail cameras or videos reveal an animal in the woods.. 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. 3300 Poinsett Highway There would be road killed cougar carcasses showing up at least once a year if we had an established population,he said. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. Here in southern Utah, lions have been known to occupy home ranges as large as 513 square miles. He believes people who reported seeing black panthers were seeing animals either at early dawn or late dusk, when colors are hard to disginguish. 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.. At first, Koehler was concerned that it might be a woman or hiker in need of help. Whether you're interested in becoming a Lion or Leo, or requesting service from a club, this is the place to do it. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! The large cats are not staying and breeding in the state. There isn't any evidence of mountain lions currently living in North Carolina. (You know, like the mascot of the NFL team based in Charlotte). 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. Cougars are one of the largest cats in the western hemisphere, but their highly-secretive nature as ambush predators with an ingrained aversion to humans mean they are rarely seen. All Rights Reserved. But I think many people are mistaking coyotes, bobcats, and other animals for mountain lions.. Koehler, for one, remains convinced at least one mountain lion inhabits these parts. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. 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