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Council Notes: Road resurfacing projects delayed until 2024, Greer City Council Notes: Mayfield Road subdivision plans withdrawn, plus new fire station gets early approval, Greenville Chamber highlights community strengths at annual meeting, Greenville-Pickens Speedway listed for sale as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. Adult females are smaller, averaging 80-90 pounds. But mountain lions dont get along well with roads, according to Perry. South Carolinas collection of exotic pets includes mountain lions, tigers, and other big cat species, according to Butfiloski. They arent much bigger than a domestic house cat in many cases. A sampling of panther blog entries includes 'Seen [sic] a show on TV about black panthers in the Carolinas. 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. Web design & hosting powered by eNation Worldwide. But Im not sure well ever see an established breeding population.. This one looks almost cute, but that's because it's sleeping. Staying Safe Around Wild Cats in South Carolina Image Credit: milesz, Pixabay. Posts: 1,441. However, these are far-off occasions and are a rare sight in the more rural areas of New York state. The few precious seconds that we locked eyes thirty feet from each other will remain one of my cherished memories. It was big and muscular. When I stood up, it ran, shetold Fox News. Male mountain lions, also known as toms, occasionally travel long distances and sometimes appear from South Carolina to New England, according to Perry. Its a chick magnet, its a cool thing, Chastain said. Your Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat. Several years later, the story of a federal foresters escape from the clutches of a black panther in Oconee County made headlines. Slot canyons. More recent mountain lion reports stem from the Upstate. Now to complicate matters further, there are some cougars/pumas living in Florida that are considered to be of the native Eastern variety. In 2007, a contract security officer called the universitys police department after he spotted what he thought looked like a mountain lion near the Calhoun Mansion. Subscribe today! 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. . As a territorial species, these cats do not live close to each other. stands 3,560 feet tall. 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. When this species eats poisoned rats, they become poisoned as well and will eventually die. Our approach to admissions may be holistic, but our goal is singular: find the most well-rounded, academically accomplished and interesting students out there. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. 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). 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. The story was soon revealed to be a hoax but it reignited the many rumors of panthers and large wild cats in South Carolina. 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. 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. Black bears can be found throughout North America. There has never been a record or credible account of a black cougar in Eastern North America, Chastain said. 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. I'm sort of proud to be part of an elite little group that has made eye contact with the illusive Carolina panther. Greenville Journal. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. It is unknown whether they see them as competition or food. Update privacy preferences to allow Google Map. Are there Mountain Lions in South Carolina? The only established population of wild cats in South Carolina is the bobcat, which is not very large in the least. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville, There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. This species is also known to hunt and potentially kill domesticated felines. Make noise, make yourself appear larger by waving your arms. Might have been Monster Quest. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. Many wildlife experts and authorities are hoping that mountain lions will eventually migrate east from the Rocky Mountain states and repopulate the region. 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 . 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. Never heard anything like it. They are found at elevations ranging from 5,900 ft to 13,000 ft. 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. The subspecies as described in 1946 was declared extinct by the U.S. 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. 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 . 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. Coyotes, deer, boar, eagles, and every snake imaginable. The Canadian Wildlife Service has taken no position on the taxonomy. The big cats once roamed the entire Southeast but were decimated by hunting. Trail cam picture of mountain lion in SC. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. But for one to make it from the Southwest deserts to the mid-Atlantic mountains, Piedmont, or coastal areas is unlikely. Butfiloski, however, believes black panther sightings are likely black coyotes, bears, bobcats, and other wild animals. 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. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States 803-256-0670 mail@scwf.org Most tracks and pictures could possibly have been a different animal, which means that they cannot officially count as a cougar sighting. 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.. A Duncan, South Carolina, woman recently encountered a mountain lion while hunting and captured the intense standoff between her and the animal on camera.Watch the full video below or here. However, an individual animal is occasionally observed, or killed, as a result of someone releasing a "pet" cougar that got to be too much for them to handle. Get more stories delivered right to your email. They are found in many different habitats including swamps, mountainous regions, and forests. How to Keep Cats Out of Flower Beds (11 Easy Methods), Why Do Cats Move Their Kittens? If you have any questions regarding the accuracy of this data, please contact us at help@rockethomes.com. 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. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. Currently, there has not been a verified sighting in over 100 years. Some sightings were later verified as a different animal, such as a coyote or bobcat. "There's just no scientific documentation to back that up." . They are normally found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. A few years after the attack, the panther was pronounced extinct in the region. There are eight to 10 reported sightings of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. In an instant my senses said 'Bobcat.' 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. Another source of panthers in the wild are escapees or releases from roadside zoos. Greenville Journal. Many people claimtheyre actually seeing a black mountain lion, but there has never been a mountain lion that has been seen, killed, or bred in captivity that is black,according to Perry. 3300 Poinsett Highway At Furman, students live on campus all four years. Even though the WV DNR says there are no wild mountain lions in the state, there are some held in captivity at the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek. Today there are no wild reproducing populations of cougars in South Carolina. Such conditions exist within Point Reyes National Seashore. 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? Jaguars and leopards, on the other hand, have a gene that occurs in six percent of the population that causes black cats. (Dr. Thomas B. Horton is a history teacher at Porter-Gaud School. Sometimes, they travel quite far to make this happen and they may travel so far that they end up in South Carolina. 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 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. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. But they arent true Eastern cougars. They believe what they saw, said Butfiloski. 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. Experts are adamant that there are no big cats in South Carolina, which they say can be confirmed because there is no roadkill or dead animals. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. 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. 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. the Service is seeking information on the status of the eastern cougar in the 21 states from Maine to South Carolina and west from Michigan to Tennessee where the Endangered Species . He paused on the side of the road. "In South Carolina and in the wildlife community, there is no debate" about the presence of cougars in the east, Lucas said. While these cats are too small to threaten most people, they can sometimes hunt small livestockchickens are the most common victims. Low near 65F. 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. Some even claim to have spotted black panthers in the Lowcountry swamps. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com. Scientists view these large cats as a distinct population (but still the same species) from the mountain lions of the western U.S. There's no question there are some. By Edmund Duncan May 31, 2022. Hence, there was no Eastern puma/cougar to go extinct in the first place. At the time of European settlement it occupied a wide range of habitats from Canada well into parts of South America, and was found throughout the continental United States. Sorry, Carolina Panthers football fans! They are also known as . According to wildlife expert Ken Burton on the enature website, there are mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky Mountains. Were here with the info you need to separate fact from fiction. The last recorded escape occurred in 2003 when a 200-pound pet mountain lion named Rage broke free from his cage in Laurens County. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. Nearby City: Chestnut Springs. 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. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Holly and Hazel, welcome to the Bay Area. In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. In 2017, the SCDNR issued a statement about the increasing incidence of South Carolina automobile accidents involving bears. Mountain lions are sneaky animals, he said. 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 . Throw objects and yell. Usually a shy cat, the cougar prefers to stalk its prey and is rarely ever a threat to people. But some residents, including Koehler, are already taking precautions. Since then, there have been more sightings, but none of them have been confirmed. 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. More:What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? All Rights Reserved. But then I found some female mountain lion sounds, and it was dead on. There are cougars out there, but they are all without exception the progeny of released Western cougars, he said. As for the black panthers the US, the majority of people are skeptical. Suddenly, the children saw a movement and a mountain lion came walking down the trail . CHARLESTON Four endangered red wolves have returned to the birthplace of South Carolina, going on display in a zoo where their species freely roamed more than 300 years ago. Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. Theres just no scientific documentation to back that up.. 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? Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. Only government bureaucrats could come up with a twist of logic like that. Most of the mountain lions in South Dakota can be found in the Black Hills region, where there are an estimated 300 . 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