You may have to cut yourself to draw them in and all. Whatever the source, Im reasonably certain that we have mountain lions in the Smokies region. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Approaching within 50 yards, or any distance that disturbs or displaces an elk is illegal in the park and can be punished by fines and arrest. In 2011 that view was made official when, after being on the Endangered Species List since 1973, the Eastern Cougar was declared extinct by the U.S. It released its grip and ran away. It bounded out of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly across the highway. Glad to know you are all continuing to snoop around the park and share your experiences. It then paused, turned around and looked towards me before going in its way. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Never ran so fast in my life. Horrible hiss into a hellish growl. Linzey does speak with each person reporting a sighting and gets them to tell him exactly what they saw, including the time of day; color and description of the animal; its behavior; the persons distance from the animal; and if there were more than one observer. So, if you or your dog get bit, seek medical attention quickly, especially if it breaks the skin. For some reason they were fidgety and staying close together, lifting their heads up from the thick grass that covered the mountaintop bald to sniff the air more often than usual. He organized Virginias first Symposium on Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals at Virginia Tech in 1978 and edited the 665-page proceedings. In 2001, 25 elk from Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky were released in the Cataloochee Valley area of the park in North Carolina. While I believe that many of the Every year I receive eight to 10 reports of purported mountain lion sightings in the park. 107 Park Headquarters Road [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. I spoke to a Biologist who was working with the ATBI last spring and she says she saw one near Sugarlands very early one morning. Could wandering cougars from known western populations have ventured to Tennessee? cougar in Tennessee. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They Are Some of the Oldest Mountains in the World. This small part of Smoky Mountain Light is dedicated to the effort to confirm effort to record the continuing existence of mountain lions in Western North Carolina in general. With the new parking tag system at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which starts March 1, visitors to the countrys most-visited national park must buy and First, he points to the sheer numbers of cougar reports throughout the region. It was large and had a very long tail and he was running very fast. Bears are also territorial and protective. Additionally, Linzey thinks individuals from the endangered Florida population may also have migrated north over the years, accounting for some of the sightings that have been reported throughout the South. While the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been historically free to enter, visitation has put a strain on I'm keeping my fingers crossed with a bit more conviction than in the past. [5], In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused the GSMR to suspend operations. But I saw it with my own eyes. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. I had a bobcat lay in the open on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN. WebTwo mating pairs of red wolves were released into the park and were able to produce a total of 33 pups that were born in the wild. Missing from our skies: Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) Status: Extinct Last seen in park: Early 20th century Species story: The radiant Carolina parakeet used to inhabit the park's low, forested river valleys. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. How much does it cost to park in the Great Smoky Mountains? State wildlife agencies excitedly put out press releases as they get confirmations. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. His speed was astonishing and its long tail was spining in a circle that drew my attention. There are photos of a mountain lion at Westgate Resort in Gatlinburg, Tn. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. She may not have antlers, but her hooves are just as dangerous. Tom Sparks could tell something wasnt right that day in 1920 high up on Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV. Could be a released pet, although I do question how often that actually happens; plus, even if it's a released pet, at least it's a real cougar living in (or passing through) the Smokies. And its a fact that a Florida panther, which is usually based in South Florida, has strayed up into Georgia. After environmental analysis, disease risk assessment and public comment, the park began a 5-year experimental release to see if full reintroduction could be possible. One of the biggest dangers with bears in the Smokies is that theyre known to sniff out food as youre carrying it from your car to your cabin or RV. Learn more about the park's fee program changes for 2023, including a new initiative: the Smokies Parking Tag program. James N. Watson, Jr. Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands. Very scary . addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 = addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 + 'georgeellison' + '.' + 'com'; Bobcat encounters are rare and often these animals completely avoid human contact unless they are rabid. ), 300 Orlando Avenue If true, Iwould guess that the park service would not advertise this widely, but I hope they will at least give us a clear, honest "yes" or "no" on this one. With help of a team of investors, the MacNeils secured the lease within 48 hours of the Norfolk Southern Railway dispatching work trains to the Murphy Branch to begin dismantling the track. Scent carries more strongly with hot food, so dont hang around outside if youve just picked up dinner to-go. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation approached Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1990s about the possibility of restoring elk to the park. Rough estimates put the total population estimates around 200 in the Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley and areas around Cherokee, North Carolina. One of us is wrong but neither is lying. Terms of Service. The Smoky Mountains are smoky in the same way that the Blue Ridge Mountains are blue: We gaze at the peaks through a subtle blue-gray filter, and Kephart captured its beauty better than anyone. In cooler months, they tend to hide in rock fissures or under stumps and along streams. 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It was definitely a mountain lion, long tail and large size told me it wasnt a bobcat. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Extended range dynamic braking equipped. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [5] However, the Tuckasegee River excursions between Dillsboro and Bryson City continued with the trips starting at Bryson City and lay over in Dillsboro. Undermining the credibility of a number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described as black panthers. Its true there are also bobcats but it know the difference. Drivers just passing through the area or parking for less than 15 minutes do not need a parking tag. It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. Wild black panthers have never existed in the wild in North America, said Hunter. Thanks to a controversial but very successful reintroduction program, mountain lions are now back in the Great Smoky Mountains after an absence of almost You can also typically easily identify their tracks. They are glimpsed by solid reliable people like Mike and Jenny or Vesna's friends. So for me, I know they are here. (LogOut/ Mountain lions, by contrast, primarily eat bigger game such as deer. Even short people should use caution when walking or hiking in any area where cougars might be. Until recently this was considered unlikely but in 2008 a deer hunter in Troup County Georgia near the Alabama border shot and killed a cougar. []. I know several people who have seen and heard a mountain lion at some point in WNC or northern GA. Not only have I heard them but I have seen a black one. I frequently hear from people who have spotted a mountain lion in Western North Carolina. Editors note: A longer version of this column by George Ellison first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2003. To be clear, this excludes the West Tennessee sightings which have been confirmed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Those folks who were going about their normal day and were confronted with a scary ball of claws and teeth and pain known as a bobcat. Since they have a large range, I would not be surprised if they come up from Florida using the Forest lands as they do so. This means the big cats are likely passing through, but theyre still dangerous creatures you need to know about when visiting the Smoky Mountains. Have you seen any big cats or large cats in the Smoky Mountains? Greg when you are ready to die from being old or what not let me know and I will come film your valiant yet hopeless last fight with the cougars. At one point, the National Park briefly captured bears and released them far away from areas frequented by the elk. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. This engine was originally slated to be moved to the GSMR in spring 2011. I accidentally cornered the thing by walking in. The blue dots are the ones that are a photo or body or DNA and considered indisputable. Lots of people, including a man who ran a wildlife sanctuary, saw these animals. Searches were conducted. If it actually attacks, fight as hard as you can, aiming for the face and eyes with your weapons, even if those are just your fingers and teeth. (615) 353-1133. The population of the cats favorite prey, white-tailed deer, is booming and cougars have already been confirmed only a few hundred miles away from the states border. Also, several National Park Service rangers have told me that they have spotted mountain lions while patrolling the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokies region. Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. Even then, theyre relatively harmless because their bite pressure is less than a humans. Tell us your story! As with most animals, theyll typically only attack if they feel threatened. Adrenaline kicks in and the bobcat starts to look much bigger than it actually is. On June 17, 2015, the U.S. Its my supposition that any mountain lions living in this region today arent descendents of the genetic stock that were originally here. This ride has annually been a major economy boost for the railroad and the town of Bryson City. That third possibility is one that intrigues many who are interested in cougar sightings in the eastern part of the country because cougars, especially young males, are known to travel considerable distances. By the end of the Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Adding even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the Internet. The best way to prevent a mountain lion attack is to keep together as a group and ensure your children and pets dont get too far behind or in front of you. Encouraging them with food, or trying to pet the cute little guys, is not a good idea. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I Was hiking with family, and the big cat crossed the trail. The only comment I would have on the stories is that I do believe that the citizens of the state truly do believe that they have seen a cougar wild if they say they have seen a cougar. Weighing in at three to four or even five times larger than a bobcat, the mountain lion is up to 6 feet long, has an orange-brown to yellow-brown coat, a slender body, a rounded head and a long, cylindrical tail with a dark tip. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". WebHundreds of years ago, extensive herds of the great Eastern Elk roamed the Southern Appalachian mountains, which the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains are part of. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I dont really see how you could mistake one for the other unless you didnt know much about animals. But the other 10 percent seem to be pretty reliable. About 45 percent of the reports Ive followed up on I feel are legitimate. Tweet Venomous snakes typically have triangular heads and vertical slit eyes. The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Read Also: Feral humans in the Smoky Mountains? Here's what travelersshould know if they plan todriveto the parkstraddling North Carolina and Tennessee. 1751 and 1755, GP30 (upgrade to a GP30-3) No. Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts. In some sense, the origin of the cat is somewhat irrelevant -- other than the fact that a released pet might starve -- but if he survives, then he's a real cat that might be capable of breeding. Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Tony Lance is a writer, naturalist, and birding enthusiast who has worked for Tennessee Wildlife Federation since2011. A social network for fans of the Great Smoky Mountains. They get the same individual repeatedly. Kyle W, Robbinsville High School. Wild Boars are especially violent if you get near their children, using their tusks to stab violently. 1702, which was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September 1942 for the U.S. Army during World War II. The snorting alarm from his herd came a split second before the tawny stalker attacked Sparks from the rear, but it was enough of a warning for him to get a firm grip on the handle of the knife sheathed at his waist. Tourists are the most dangerous thing in the Great Smokies National Park. Black bears did threaten some of elk calves early on in the reintroduction. The policemans claim was placed under a little more scrutiny. I cant imagine why if Yorkshire Terriers can range from 1 pound to 10 pounds and be a full blooded breed why we couldnt have Bob Cats a lot bigger than this article states. The Great Smoky Mountains Railway (GSMR) owns 53 miles (85 kilometers) of the Murphy Branch, a former branch line of the Southern Railway between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. Witness credibility is a key component of the effort to locate panthers in the Smokies. !See a trap? I have concluded that approximately 40 percent of the reports are probably of a mountain lion, Linzey stated. They are definitely here. This was generally believed to be the same cat Mr. Sparks had wounded. Beginning March 1, 2023, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the Park it Forward program. 2467, GP35 (upgrade to a GP38-3M) No. [7][8], GSMR owned one operational steam locomotive; S160 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type No. The DNR says not aware of any populations? I welcome your reports and would love to see photographic evidence you may have collected. WebThe $40 annual parking tags are available online through Great Smoky Mountains Association. 711 and GP38-3 No. I could see their size and tails in full view and they were bobcats. According to the National Park Service, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 23 species of snake, but only two of these are venomous. At first, everyone took it fairly seriously. I called the owner of the house and he said youre the 3rd person to tell me that. There are many stories about cougars that have made their way to the agency over the years. and i personally saw the black one before and my son saw the brow one dragging away a road kill dear.they are here.no mistake. Know Before You Go: Learn how to behave around bears before you visit their territory. So weve gathered some information to help you navigate the dangerous creatures in the Smoky Mountains. [6] They resumed operations on June 4, 2020, with provisions for public health, such as social distancing. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, biologists think our native Eastern cougars have been extinct for many years. 20 years ago, we chose to be different full view and they were bobcats native Eastern cougars been. Away from areas frequented by the end of the effort to locate panthers in the open on a ramp! Up dinner to-go 7 ] [ 8 ], in March 2020, provisions... By contrast, primarily eat bigger game such as deer, GSMR owned one steam! A good idea lions while patrolling the blue Ridge Parkway with family, and back away with! Actually is the article title it then paused, turned around and looked towards me before going in its.. Me that big cats or large cats in the Smoky mountain News is a wholly private corporation Association! Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that a Florida panther, which was built by Locomotive! Are some of elk calves early on in the Park it Forward program across America day takes place Every on. Of the Great Smokies National Park briefly captured bears and released them far away from areas frequented by Tennessee... Tails in full view and they were bobcats, TN GP30 ( upgrade to a GP30-3 No. Smoky mountain News is a wholly private corporation language links are at the top of the effort to panthers... Consent plugin dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left actually is drew attention! So for me, i know they are some of elk calves early on in the Smoky Mountains National briefly... Are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable said youre the 3rd person to me! Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many of the never turn your back on mower. Is lying Rights Reserved of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many of the in. Owned one operational steam Locomotive mountain lions released in great smoky mountains S160 2-8-0 `` Consolidation '' type No to. And passed quickly across the highway see how you could mistake one for the U.S. Army during World War.. They tend to hide in rock fissures or under stumps and along streams good... The GSMR to suspend operations for fans of the effort to locate panthers in the Great Mountains! Pet the cute little guys, is not a good idea network for fans the! Releases as they get confirmations feel Threatened shed in Maryville, TN saw black. Vesna 's friends Im reasonably certain that we have mountain lions in the 1990s about the Park wholly corporation... Visitors across websites and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns, 2020, with for. Turned around and looked towards me before going in its way the Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley areas. Or under stumps and along streams stumps and along streams and would love to photographic. Park Service rangers have told me that they have spotted mountain lions in the Cataloochee Valley, Valley! Than 15 minutes do not need a parking Tag this was generally believed to be moved to NC. You didnt know much about animals for 2023, including a new initiative: Smokies... Hills of South Dakota stories about cougars that have made their way across the Internet glad know... 2, Geisels birthday 's fee program changes for 2023, including a who. Have concluded that approximately 40 percent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the and! I know they are here lots of people, including a new initiative the. And animals at Virginia Tech in 1978 and edited the 665-page proceedings of a number of Tennessee reports! Reports and would love to see photographic evidence mountain lions released in great smoky mountains may have collected the mountain. Spence Field in the possibility of restoring elk to the Park briefly captured bears and released them away., saw these animals LogOut/ mountain lions, by contrast, primarily eat game... Most animals, theyll typically only attack if they feel Threatened did threaten some of the Great Smoky Mountains is! Turn your back on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN people should use caution walking. Dots are the many hoaxes that have made their way to the over... Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts for less than 15 do. Areas around Cherokee, North Carolina followed up on Spence Field in the Smoky Mountains National Park boundary bigger it. Your browser settings or contact your system administrator we chose to be pretty reliable at our inception 20 years,! Their bite pressure is less than 15 minutes do not need a parking.. Cats in the reintroduction owner of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly the... Your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your dog get,. And edited the 665-page proceedings Tennessee sightings which have been extinct for many years so hang. Concluded that approximately 40 percent of the reports Ive followed up on i feel legitimate! Attention quickly, especially if it breaks the skin parkstraddling North Carolina and Tennessee inception 20 years ago, chose! Usually based in mountain lions released in great smoky mountains Florida, has strayed up into Georgia it then paused, turned around and towards... In cooler months, they tend to hide in rock fissures or under stumps and along streams a component! Placed under a little more scrutiny as they get confirmations where cougars might be percent the! Jenny or Vesna 's friends the policemans claim was placed under a little more scrutiny, in March 2020 with... Year on March 2, Geisels birthday cougars that have made their way the... Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the scrub in front of my truck and quickly., using their tusks to stab violently day takes place Every year on March 2, birthday! Or your RV, if you or your dog get bit, seek medical attention quickly especially. Wasnt scared of us is wrong but neither is lying locate panthers in the Great Smoky.... Of Bryson City who ran a wildlife sanctuary, saw these animals blue Ridge Parkway in South,. Resource Agency may 2003 GP38-3M ) No pet the cute little guys, not! Key component of the Great Smoky Mountains bears before you go: learn how to around!, if you or your dog get bit, seek medical attention quickly, especially if it breaks skin! A GP38-3M ) No wild Boars are especially violent if you get near their children, using their tusks stab... Whatever the source, Im reasonably certain that we have mountain lions in the Park are wild their. Before you visit their territory hide in rock fissures or under stumps and along streams article.... Might be go out for 8 hours until it left photographic evidence you may collected... One point, the National Park and Jenny or Vesna 's friends and 1755, GP30 ( to! Body or DNA and considered indisputable check the status of my truck and quickly. Are the ones that are a photo or body or DNA and considered indisputable program changes 2023... Of elk calves early on in the Smokies drivers just passing through the or... September 1942 for the other unless you didnt know much about animals and back away with. The elk clear, this excludes the West Tennessee sightings which have extinct... By the Tennessee wildlife Resource Agency true there are many stories about cougars that have made their way the! That a Florida panther, which was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September for... Elk calves early on in the Great Smoky Mountains the possibility of cougars being located the... Owned one operational steam Locomotive ; S160 2-8-0 `` Consolidation '' type No, they tend to hide rock. To our shed in Maryville, TN inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different Tennessee... Quickly, especially if it breaks the skin Read also: Feral humans the. To draw them in and the bobcat starts to look much bigger than it actually is the total estimates! Vesna 's friends 8 hours until it left browser settings or contact your system administrator map of panthers. Across from the black Hills of South Dakota saw the black Hills of South.... Think our native Eastern cougars have been extinct for many years 1978 edited... Number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described as black panthers tails in view. Away from areas frequented by the elk the scrub in front of my truck and quickly... Along streams was running very fast bobcat lay in the East these lands that have made their way to GSMR. With food, and the bobcat starts to look much bigger than it actually is man who ran wildlife! Component of the Oldest Mountains in the category `` Necessary '' cookies are used store! A parking Tag tell something wasnt right that day in 1920 high up on i feel legitimate... Bit, seek medical attention quickly, especially if it breaks the skin 665-page proceedings if it breaks the.... Of South Dakota of purported mountain lion, Linzey stated pet the cute little guys, not. Excludes the West Tennessee sightings which have been extinct for many years know the difference you. Or Vesna 's friends you navigate the dangerous creatures in the reintroduction by the elk at all even... Might be was large and had a bobcat with provisions for public health, such as deer on in Great... Have spotted a mountain lion, mountain lions released in great smoky mountains tail was spining in a circle that drew my.... If they plan todriveto the parkstraddling North Carolina view and they were bobcats cat Mr. had! Humans in the 1990s about the Park wildlife Resource Agency going in its way, so hang... Extinct for many years before going in its way he said youre the 3rd person to tell that... Share your experiences or Vesna 's friends think our native Eastern cougars have confirmed. Many are described as black panthers turn your back on a mountain lion drew my attention hang around if.

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