In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. I do not believe that South Carolina has a free-ranging wild cougar population, said Butfiloski. Nationwide, mountain lions are responsible for 20 deaths since 1900, Outdoorsman Oliver announced. These felines are comfortable in many . Don't underestimate the power and unpredictable nature of a feral hog! Located in: Saluda Mountains. Someone will ask why I didn't take a picture to confirm my sighting and the answer is that it all happened so fast -- thirty seconds and the cat vamoosed. The last known living Eastern Cougar was sighted and suspected to have been killed in 1938. I'm sort of proud to be part of an elite little group that has made eye contact with the illusive Carolina panther. As to relocating cougars from the West to the East to control deer overpopulation, Chastain doesnt think thats a good idea. Weve received calls about mountain lions for years, said Butfiloski. Subscribe today! Yesterday around 5 p.m., my husband, a realtor and myself had a Mountain Lion jump the road in front of us about 30 yards ahead of us while walking a 19 acre property in Murphy NC mountains! 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. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. 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. More:Wandering South Carolina elk 'rules the roost' at new home in Charles Towne Landing. 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. This feline only gets to about 25 pounds at most. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) The year was 1961. Many counties, including Spartanburg and Anderson, ban exotic pets. 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? Their small size paired with their stealth ability allows them to stay hidden quite well. Usually, this is a result of their food sources being destroyed or the use of rat poison. 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 . 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 went back to the truck for buckshot. They arent much bigger than a domestic house cat in many cases. While there is some doubt the cougar still exists south of the Canadian Maritime provinces, significant sightings occur in Tennessee and North and South Carolina. DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. Can Cats Eat Kale? But the Eastern mountain lion, the . Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. These cats get their name from their short tail. 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. He paused on the side of the road. The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. But Im not sure well ever see an established breeding population., 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, Thrive Upstate, DRUM Percussion Studio to host Drumming Up Awareness event, Eight NAI Furman brokers, two brokerage teams named 2022 NAI Global top producers. 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. The mountain lion is largely extinct in the east, except in Florida. In big cats, black panthers are actually jaguars or leopards. Coyotes, deer, boar, eagles, and every snake imaginable. 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 one potential South Carolina mountain lion, the eastern cougar, was declared extinct in 2011. Sometimes, they travel quite far to make this happen and they may travel so far that they end up in South Carolina. Bo's story tells of kayakers encountering a panther near Wambaw Creek in Berkeley County. Two clicks on Google search brought up pictures exactly like what I had seen - an Eastern cougar cub. They are a native species in South Carolina. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long . Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and . 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. Your Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat. Originally there were 11 subspecies of cougars . The eastern cougar, however, was declared extinct in 2011. South Dakota - South Dakota is home to mountain lions. The responding officers later spotted the animal near Earle and Daniel halls, according to reports. Pick up small children or dogs as they are more likely to run and are more vulnerable. Can Cats Eat Rosemary? Koehler wasnt able to record the sound before the mystery creature moved on, but he remains adamant theres a mountain lion roaming around his house. While its uncommon, an individual or a few from this population can roam as far north as the southern tip of South Carolina. 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. 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. 6. Male mountain lions, also known as toms, occasionally travel long distances and sometimes appear from South Carolina to New England, according to Perry. Stay on top of dog food recalls here >, Have a question? Fish and Wildlife . I was shocked when I first saw the prints, because they were so big, said Claes. They did at one point, but the last one was spotted in the early 1900s. For more information . 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. In fact, the wildlife agency has yet to receive a single piece of credible evidence even supporting the existence of mountain lions in 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.. Therefore, they are not exactly something we would count as big cats.. Well probably see younger males pop up here and there in the remote areas of the mountains. The only established population of wild cats in South Carolina is the bobcat, which is not very large in the least. The story was soon revealed to be a hoax but it reignited the many rumors of panthers and large wild cats in South Carolina. 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. Lucas, of DNR, concurs that the black panther is a myth. Lucas said that although there is a possibility western cougars could eventually make their way to the western Carolinas, the chances of someone having an encounter with one are extremely small. From Mauldin to McClellanville, folks are coming forward to report their own sightings of the phantom panther. By By Edmund Duncan May 31, 2022. 3300 Poinsett Highway Where Mountain Lions Live. 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. This tail is a distinctive feature of mountain lions, but . More recently, a Piedmont resident captured a trail camera photo of what many believed to be a black panther. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. There have also been several sightings at Clemson University over the years. Some sightings are likely animals that ended up in our state through the exotic animal trade. 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. I listened to bobcats, coyotes, and all kinds of other animals. (You know, like the mascot of the NFL team based in Charlotte). The main reason people believe that there is a mountain lion population is that there have been some reported sightings. While these cats are too small to threaten most people, they can sometimes hunt small livestockchickens are the most common victims. Mountain lions were once native to South Carolina. The Eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been declared extinct. They are found at elevations ranging from 5,900 ft to 13,000 ft. Service starts with Lions. There would be road killed cougar carcasses showing up at least once a year if we had an established population,he said. Could not stop to look at it because I had traffic behind me. 2023 www.independentmail.com. 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. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. Our approach to admissions may be holistic, but our goal is singular: find the most well-rounded, academically accomplished and interesting students out there. 26 Sep 16. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Males are considerably larger than females, which can be as small as 10 pounds. The eastern cougar historically lived from Maine to South Carolina and from Michigan to Tennessee, the wildlife service said. Instead, most cat sightings are likely bobcats. Wed love to know! We Connect. 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). They are normally found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. There are Mountain lions in North Carolina. 4. 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. However, they may also consume fish, birds, and squirrels, and some have even been seen eating insects. 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. South Carolinians are likely seeing something, even if its not a mountain lion. 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. Are there Mountain Lions in South Carolina? However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. I came face to face with the famed Carolina panther, and I don't mean the blue and black NFL variety. Jeff Mulhollem. The large cats are not staying and breeding in the state. However, they're becoming more and more of an issue in the Piedmont. The dogs barked for several minutes, so I thought they had maybe treed some sort of animal,he said. 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. What You Need to Know! The DNR stays on top of managing it for us, and for that were grateful. They are so prevalent that many people believe there are more mountain lions than there really are. Such conditions exist within Point Reyes National Seashore. 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 . I just assumed they were common around the Carolinas. They are found in many different habitats including swamps, mountainous regions, and forests. This mountain sits near the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. When this species eats poisoned rats, they become poisoned as well and will eventually die. 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. Speaking of Florida, the Florida Panther is actually a subspecies of the . So rather than a unique species, the Eastern Cougar was a distinct variation within the cougar population that roamed throughout North America. In 2017, SCDNR issued a warning about these dangerous sea creatures showing up on beaches. All Rights Reserved. As for the black panthers the US, the majority of people are skeptical. But they aren't true . What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? Therefore, they are not usually considered a threat to people. With spectacular hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and sweeping views, the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina are an outdoor enthusiast's dream. So you go for a ride with the big cat and let him loose somewhere in deer country which is anywhere in the state. But the population decreased in the 1900s as wild lands were cleared for agriculture and game hunting increased. 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. Something was making the d---edest noise at me early one morning before dawn. We can thank the Spanish for the mean wild pigs found here. 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. 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. Some of them have migrated as far north as Jasper County in the southern tip of South Carolina, Chastain said. This cat can be found throughout much of South and North America. Where have there been recent mountain lion reports in the Upstate? There are no known mountain lions in North Carolina. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. When there is a suspicion that some type of big cat has been spotted, he said the likeliest culprit is a western cougar that has escaped captivity as someones pet. 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. Big Cat arched his back the way cats do when alarmed, and he bounded into the woods. It was big and muscular. Flickr/Ken McMillan. Mountain lions are sneaky animals, he said. "Since 1890 there have been 19 fatal Mountain Lion attacks in Canada and the United States," Mattson said. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. 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. More:What's it like standing all day dressed up like the Statue of Liberty and waving at people? bottomland forests In 2007, Katie Araujo, a Paris Mountain resident, said she came face to face with a large black cat while sitting on her front porch. Hubby's family lives in the Francis Marion forest and has seen a black panther along with black bears.'. The last recorded escape occurred in 2003 when a 200-pound pet mountain lion named Rage broke free from his cage in Laurens County. These days the internet has become a bulletin board of sorts for panther sightings here. 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. Bobcats are the most similar relatives of mountain lions and they share many physical and behavioral traits. We Inspire. 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. Some accounts from people in places like Travelers Rest and Simpsonville involve only sightings. There is an estimated 130,000 wild hogs in South Carolina! Their bobbed tail is one of their most distinguishing features. Might have been Monster Quest. 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. Throw objects and yell. I actually drove out to the apartment and noticed some large tracks in the mud, said Jenkins, who didnt take photos of the tracks or file an official report. As we previously stated, these cats are not currently established in the state. Published February 18, 2023 at 8:01 AM EST. Some say that the panther is a silent assassin and that he and his mate share their bounty. Andrew Moore of theGreenville Journalpens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. In fact, somesay its already happening. Cougars are rather long and slender in appearance. There are some black cats, such as leopards, but they are not native to North America. All Rights Reserved. The back story on why the myth or truth of the existence of Eastern cougars/pumas is consequential comes from Tennessee. Many residents insist theyre either seeing or hearing mountain lions despite the lack of evidence. I did email the DNR when I got home 7 days later but never heard anything back.'. Theres also the matter that theyve officially been declared extinct in the eastern United States. You probably won't find a mountain . Young males must find their own territory after leaving their mothers. Genetic data gathered from a number of samples shows a distinct lack of the genes required for that coloration. Black bears can be found throughout North America. Currently, there has not been a verified sighting in over 100 years. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . 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. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. However, its unclear how many there arebecause no one tracks it. Foolishly, they threw a dried piece of beef to the hungry carnivores. 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). Furman students are academically challenged and leave Furman as lifelong learners who are changing the communities around them. The reason given is that it had declared the animal to be extinct in 2011. Only government bureaucrats could come up with a twist of logic like that. 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. Mountain lions are an important part of the park ecosystem, helping to keep deer and other prey populations in check. 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. What are potassium channel activators used for? However, as people moved into the area, much of their environment was destroyed. But its still against the law to shoot one. Yes, usually in the Great Smoky Mountains . Exceptionally stealth in staying hidden, bobcats are found in South Carolina, especially in the coastal plain. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of . July 21, 2017. 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. He lives in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. Therefore, it is more than possible to live near them and never see them. A few years after the attack, the panther was pronounced extinct in the region. If you are already an OutdoorNews.com subscriber, you can log in here. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists both of these races as endangered. A distinctive feature is their 30-inch long tail (so different from our native and still abundant bobcat, which has a very short tail). In May 2018, a mountain lion attacked two mountain bikers 30 miles east of Seattle, Washington, killing one, but it's only the 15th fatal attack in North America since 1970. . 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. Koehler called several neighbors, but they couldnt explain the barking. 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). I'm not Bill Bryson, and this column isn't entitled 'A Walk In the Woods.' 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. A 2011 article from The Post and Courier revealed a string of unconfirmed mountain lion sightings in the Lowcountry. 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