In 2017, the SCDNR issued a statement about the increasing incidence of South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. 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 . What are potassium channel activators used for? This, after the most famous mountain lion in Los Angeles, known as P-22, died in December . 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. 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. (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. This feline only gets to about 25 pounds at most. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. The mountain lion has a long tail (2.5-3 feet), while the bobcat has a short tail (less than 10 inches). If attacked, fight back. Only government bureaucrats could come up with a twist of logic like that. Being nocturnal doesnt help matters, especially since their coat makes them basically impossible to see at night. In South Carolina, this often leads to them eating smaller deer, rabbits, and rats. So rather than a unique species, the Eastern Cougar was a distinct variation within the cougar population that roamed throughout North America. These cats get their name from their short tail. There has never been a record or credible account of a black cougar in Eastern North America, Chastain said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. However, they may also consume fish, birds, and squirrels, and some have even been seen eating insects. Many counties, including Spartanburg and Anderson, ban exotic pets. They can weigh anywhere from 1025 pounds. Leopards, however, live in Africa and Asia. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Except for a very small population in Florida, there are no known groups in the Southeast, or east of the Mississippi in all truthfulness.. Mountain lions range between 80-225 pounds and 6 to 9 feet long (nose to tail). Their beige or tawny fur helps camouflage them in countless environments. The reason given is that it had declared the animal to be extinct in 2011. 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. 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. But if so, are there mountain lions in North Carolina? Sometimes, these cats get pushed very far away from where they were born.. #1 The tail. Cougars are known to have a long-range, especially males. Are you thoroughly confused? Are there Mountain Lions in South Carolina? 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. Scientists view these large cats as a distinct population (but still the same species) from the mountain lions of the western U.S. 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. 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. 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. There are countless game and trail cameras out in the woods ofSouth Carolina at any given time, and nobody has photographed a large cat, yet these animals do show up on game camerasin states that have cougars, said Butfiloski, who believes the trail camera footage from Ladys Island shows a house cat. Because of their immense range, cougars can be seen in a number of habitats. Genetic data gathered from a number of samples shows a distinct lack of the genes required for that coloration. Since there is no melanistic, or black, phase to the cougar, Florida or Western, that is actually not genetically possible, he said. However, that does not mean that cougars may not end up in the state at all. The dogs barked for several minutes, so I thought they had maybe treed some sort of animal,he said. 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. Make noise, make yourself appear larger by waving your arms. 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. However, bobcats are extremely small, ranging between 1025 pounds. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. The female is about twice the size of a house cat, and if you spot one out in the open, it's not a good sign as they tend to stay away from people and out of sight. Still 3 coon hunters treed and killed one a few years ago. I guess a Florida panther could possibly roam into South Carolina, but Im not sure they would make it that far without getting hit by a car, said Butfiloski. 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. Pee Dee Wildlife Control Inc. 2019 All Rights Reserved. I assumed it was a cat.'. But for one to make it from the Southwest deserts to the mid-Atlantic mountains, Piedmont, or coastal areas is unlikely. Where have there been recent mountain lion reports in the Upstate? 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. They arent much bigger than a domestic house cat in many cases. You may try donating it to a zoo, but not many zoos are looking for cougars. And last year, Ben Tanner, a Ladys Island resident, captured video footage of what appears to be a large cat stalking a deer. Thus, these cats inhabit rugged terrains with steep slopes and little vegetation. Or could it? Contributed by John Garton, SCWF Board Member Emeritus. However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. Just as armadillo sightings and occasional crocodile visits are being noted around our coast, it's possible, that the Florida panther has made his way north, too. You're probably more likely to get into the Hardrock 100-and win it-than to see a mountain lion east of the Mississippi River.There are no mountain lions in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Newfoundland and . One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. Male mountain lions, also known as toms, occasionally travel long distances and sometimes appear from South Carolina to New England, according to Perry. 4. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Once they learn it, they do it again." Despite this there might be no free South Carolina animal services for wildlife within South Carolina County. For two hours my mind replayed the details of my encounter with what has to be the Carolina panther. At Furman, students live on campus all four years. Coyotes in South Carolina now thats another story. 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. Petersen quotes local nature guide Kathi Livingston, 'I know they say the cougars we see are escaped or released. Known For: Corbin Mountain is part of the Saluda Mountains, which are part of the greater Blue Ridge Mountains that traverse South Carolina. So heres whats happened: The U.S. A few years after the attack, the panther was pronounced extinct in the region. The story was soon revealed to be a hoax but it reignited the many rumors of panthers and large wild cats in South Carolina. Speaking of Florida, the Florida Panther is actually a subspecies of the . A Florida panther in South Carolina? July 21, 2017. I think many people just get excited when trail cameras or videos reveal an animal in the woods.. In fact, there are more than 80 names for the puma, more names than any other animal, according to the book "Cougar: The American Lion," by Kevin Hansen.It is important to note, though, that pumas . I'm sort of proud to be part of an elite little group that has made eye contact with the illusive Carolina panther. But the population decreased in the 1900s as wild lands were cleared for agriculture and game hunting increased. They are most active around dawn and dusk, though they will technically come out at any time. As a territorial species, these cats do not live close to each other. South Carolina - South Carolina has not had any confirmed mountain lion sightings. It had the exact cadence and shrillness of a females call when shes looking for a mate, he said. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. Contact: (855) 411-0505. At full size, males are an unmissable 6-to-8-feet long and can weigh 150 pounds, say state officials. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Lucas, of DNR, concurs that the black panther is a myth. Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. Few large animals have generated more lore throughout North Carolina than the cougar. North Carolina - North Carolina's mountain lion population is said to have died out around the year 1900. Most, if not all, wildlife experts and authorities believe black panther sightings are a result of misidentification. Today there are no wild reproducing populations of cougars in South Carolina. Koehler called several neighbors, but they couldnt explain the barking. 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. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Well-known naturalist Dennis Chastain of Pickens says there's no doubt that there are cougars (pumas/mountain lions) in the woods and wild places of South Carolina. . The younger, weaker male lions will travel to get away to other areas and establish their own territory. Might have been Monster Quest. The story cites lack of hard evidence for the . Tom Horton; Jul 2, 2012 Jul 2, 2012 Updated Aug 20, 2020; . 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). Several years later, the story of a federal foresters escape from the clutches of a black panther in Oconee County made headlines. 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. Nikolay Kapustin, deputy zoo administrator and veterinarian at the Greenville Zoo, said the prints, which measure 2.5 inches long, are likely coyote tracks. Stay on top of cat food recalls here >, Have a dog? talk to a vet online for advice >. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! Should I Worry? Only 14 red wolves remain in the wild half the number that were out there a year ago. Wed love to know! Here in southern Utah, lions have been known to occupy home ranges as large as 513 square miles. Featured Image Credit: Warren Metcalf, Shutterstock, Are Maine Coon Cats Hypoallergenic? Their fur is short and rather uniform reddish to light brown in color. 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. Their home ranges vary in size depending on the location. It was a little too big to be a bobcat.. Therefore, it is not unheard of for a young male to wander into the state for a time and then leave. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. 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. 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). For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them . Some sightings are likely animals that ended up in our state through the exotic animal trade. Greenville, SC 29613. I know what I heard that afternoon, he said. Many biologists, myself included,would beexcited about the thoughtof finding a population of wild cougars in South Carolina.. South Carolinas collection of exotic pets includes mountain lions, tigers, and other big cat species, according to Butfiloski. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. Never heard anything like it. It is estimated that cougars make a kill of a large prey item (deer, etc) about once each week. Therefore, they are not exactly something we would count as big cats.. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. According to wildlife expert Ken Burton on the enature website, there are mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky Mountains. 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. Some sightings were later verified as a different animal, such as a coyote or bobcat. 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