Plan your visit today! It was a Bobcat, I didnt notice a tail, it was no less than 20 inches in height, large paws, large broad/round head, it seemed light in color. What could I say? While I believe that many of the reports of lions in western North Carolina can be shown to be something else I also believe that there continues to be a remnant population in the area. The agency line, so to speak, is that there is no official documentation of the presence of cougars occurring in the wild in the state of Tennessee, says Chris Hunter, furbearer program coordinator with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). By the way, yes I wasn't dead yet. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Then, in a flash it took off again after the deer. 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. You can start building your own collection of David Bowie memorabilia thanks to his extensive body of music, film and more. "The program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, and law enforcement staff across the park. As of right now the population in the Black Hills of South Dakota is breeding and expanding. To be clear, this excludes the West Tennessee sightings which have been confirmed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. 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. If you find yourself too close to an elk, back away slowly and dont look them in the eyes, especially the males. Nevertheless, according to Linzey, there were 12 reported sightings between 1908 and 1965 and 31 sightings for the years 1966-1976. We dont plan to change that model. https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2016/05/cnre-mountainliontalk.html Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV. Here's what travelersshould know if they plan todriveto the parkstraddling North Carolina and Tennessee. Currently, theres no evidence of a breeding mountain lion population in the Smoky Mountains (photo by I couldn't talk him out of it. WebIn 1991, two pairs were reintroduced into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The GSMR route uses a route which passes through "fertile valleys, a tunnel and across river gorges" in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Bears are also territorial and protective. They also prefer to be out in the evening and nighttime, so try to be back at camp by dusk. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Bobcats are predators and carnivores whose prey includes squirrels, raccoons, chickens, rabbits, birds, mice and other rodents or smaller creatures. This is especially true if youre around someone not following bear precautions, such as using food lockers and tossing your trash immediately. Also, your average bobcat is 2 to 4 feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed tail. Something biologists say doesnt even exist. The GSMR had purchased a third steam locomotive, a former Swedish State Railways 4-6-0 #1149,[13] in 2010 from the defunct Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. It's the closest I'll ever come to being famous! With few exceptions, allvehicles parking in Great Smoky Mountains National Parkfor more than 15 minutes now need a parking tag as part ofthe park's new Park It Forward program. [5], In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused the GSMR to suspend operations. 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. George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kepharts Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooneys History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands. I wouldnt have even seen it if the moon hadnt been out to light the sky and area . It released its grip and ran away. Had a few significant encounters with stinging nettle off-trail this summer and decided to bide my time until the mountains cool off and the nettle diesthe slow and painful death that it deserves. He squinted his eyes and looked around but saw nothing. In 1991, it was purchased by the GSMR until 2005, when it was taken out of service due to firebox issues. [6], The railroad has five operational diesel locomotives, GP9s Nos. Be aware, though, and take precautions when youre in their territory. Despite the many claims of cougar sightings that have been reported in Tennessee over the years, wildlife officials insist there are no wild cougars in the state. Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Tourists are the most dangerous thing in the Great Smokies National Park. And so for years, Ive thought to myself, well, its possible. !See a trap? Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.. In fact, the only one Ive ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. Linzey teaches several wildlifecourses in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and directs a seven-day symposium course in the Great Smokies as part of the Natural History Consortium with the University of Georgia, Purdue University, and Virginia Tech. 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. They are also both solitary animals. Very scary . Sometimes I wish that would happen to a certain other type of plant. They like to hang out on rocky ledges, and anywhere they can soak up the sun. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. I still follow your blog. Kyle W, Robbinsville High School. [6] They resumed operations on June 4, 2020, with provisions for public health, such as social distancing. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. By the end of the Certainly, you can find many of these animals across the country in urban or suburban areas. Cougar tracks are large, up to four inches wide. But wouldnt cougars from the West be different than the presumed-extinct Eastern Cougar? Beginning March 1, 2023, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the Park it Forward program. He'd seen bobcats a thousand times and was certain these were different. A Smokies panther would be either such an animal or the usual released pet theory. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. To be honest with you,we hate paying for camping. View the Drivin & Vibin Privacy Policy Here. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. (615) 353-1133. The bottom line is there are lots of reports, but no hard evidence to back them up. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Theoretically, a bobcat encounter could be fatal, but the more likely result of a bobcat is some nasty scratches, a few deep cuts and a lot of pain. All rights reserved. My own opinion is that cougars occur in the park. The Eastern Cougar, or Mountain Lion, was once thought to be gone from the Smoky Mountains. In the park and most other areas, its illegal to get within 150 feet of an elk. It was not a mountain lion or a cougar or a panther. 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. Mountain lions are significantly larger than bobcats. They wont come after your food like the bears, but theyll become very aggressive and even charge you if they feel youre a danger or challenging them. [9] Afterwards, the restoration work of No. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. About 8 years ago I saw one in Big Copeland chasing a deer and it stopped and looked me dead in the eye from about 50 yards away. Even when the Florida population was down to only thirty, several showed up dead on the roadside every year. Spend enough time around mountain folk and youll hear of someone who knows someone who knows someone who saw a panther or more often panther prints in the National Park. Other useful online resources include blueridgemountainlife.com and an in-depth article on the elk reintroduction can be found in a recent issue of Smokies Life magazine. So how does Linzey, author of several guidebooks including Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and The Mammals of Virginia, reconcile these reports with the official governmental view that the Eastern Cougar has died off? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Conservationist say safe passage for elk and other wildlife over interstate highway and other roadways by creating wildlife overpasses and underpasses could be a huge boost to conservation efforts as well as reducing vehicle crashes. P.O. 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. Writer and naturalist George Ellison dies at 81, George Robert Ellison II Thoreau in a jockstrap, Renowned artists conserve their lifes inspiration, Waynesville considers more incentives for affordable housing development, All the worlds a stage: Broadcasting meetings a tough call for Waynesville. 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. Even now, I can vividly recall the combined grace and power of that animal. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Eventually, all regional tigers were accounted for. I saw 2. Bobcats are very common in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive and are seldom seen. Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Ive seen one as a child, on the blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields. Results of the study are expected in 2023. I live in Michigan and we have bobcats, so I know the difference. Great comments! I recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know I have to be on my awares. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. With luck, youll get a couple of kicks before they walk away. 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. The thing is panthers may be elusive, but they are not ghostly and no one is hiding anything about them. As many as 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the continent. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Wreck it!!! Let us know in the comments! 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Even then, theyre relatively harmless because their bite pressure is less than a humans. On June 17, 2015, the U.S. [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. A social network for fans of the Great Smoky Mountains. In other words, the Eastern Cougar was erroneously labeled a subspecies to begin with and was never different from the cats that occur in the western part of the country. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Please, however, do not try to pet a bobcat. 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. 1702 and installing a new turntable in Bryson City for the locomotive to be turned around. Seen one on a hunting trip leaped across forestry rd.42 in Blueridge WMA. Illustrating the species capacity for long-distance travel, the Missouri Department of Conservation reported in a May 2012 press release that DNA analysis showed that four cougars found in the state the previous year came from three Western states, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokes region. Purchased in 2020 from Western Rail Locomotive in. The resurgence of a breeding population of mountain lions helps maintain balance in the ecosystem. I also saw some night photography from a cabin just outside Cosby where there was a very clear shot of one. He had been herding sheep all his life, covering the range from Little Bald to the Hall Cabin, and he was keenly attuned to their behavior. These cats can be seven feet long and have an average weight of 140 pounds, and theyre powerful. Ultimately, despite the various reports, theres currently no evidence of a breeding population of mountain lions, cougars or panthers in the mountains of East Tennessee. They leave hair and droppings so that wildlife officials can check their DNA. Since then, the GSMR became one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States, with about 200,000 passengers each year. I didnt have time to exaggerate a bobcat. He previously taught at Wytheville Community College for 24 years. 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. Tom Sparks could tell something wasnt right that day in 1920 high up on Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains. [2] On March 9, 2000, the Great Smoky Mountain Railway was renamed to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. First, he points to the sheer numbers of cougar reports throughout the region. One, people are releasing them. Hopefully we can do it off trail to add to the suspense. Could wandering cougars from known western populations have ventured to Tennessee? So, if you or your dog get bit, seek medical attention quickly, especially if it breaks the skin. The cat ran down the hill. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 16:42. 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. Sure, a skunk can spray you or your dog or your camping gear, but there are ways to get the smell out eventually. They have in their mind's eye what they saw. Keep the faith! This engine was originally slated to be moved to the GSMR in spring 2011. See a large Bobcat last night (Jan. 25th, 2022) at about 8:00-8:30pm, it was walking by my home on Hidden Hills Road in Gatlinburg. Linzey uses a variety of tools, including his pet dog, who often sniffs out scat, or droppings, as the two of them walk the parks trails. That we dont know. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. "Panthers!" The Family Felidae contains a number of species, including jaguars, ocelots, mountain lions, bobcats, lynxes, and domestic cats. There are about eight to 10 reports of mountain lion sightings a year, some by tourists, some by veterinarians, and some by a wildlife photographer, Linzey said. As predators, mountain lions keep a check on the numbers of other They cite a glaring lack of hard evidence. I've been distracted with "stuff" but still get in the park a time or two or three each month. In late 1999, the MacNeills sold the GSMR property to the American Heritage Railways, who were the owners of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Colorado. The experimental phase was extended through 2008. GSMR's No. They could tell from DNA who his father was in the well studied Florida population. In fact it seems like most everybody is sure they are in their local area. I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline. A bobcat weighs 13 to 40 pounds, on average. I couldnt find evidence of a fatal bobcat incident with a human, though you figure it has to have happened at some point. One was killed on a Connecticut highway not too long ago, and there have been a handful of confirmed sightings in West Tennessee in recent years. Adding even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the Internet. []. Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. Thanks to a controversial but very successful reintroduction program, mountain lions are now back in the Great Smoky Mountains after an absence of almost Nashville, Tennessee 37209 The mountain haze lends a mirage-like effect of great distance to objects that are but a few miles off, he wrote in Our Southern If the evidence indicates the presence of a mountain lion, then other methods such as remote cameras are used to gather additional data. I have heard my whole life there are panthers in the Smokies. The one in Georgia is strong evidence a lone cat can reach the Smokies but the map as whole shows it's extremely unlikely they "live" there. About 45 percent of the reports Ive followed up on I feel are legitimate. Click here to view the web story version of this article. However, the engine continued to remain on the B&ML for two more years. If you feel an elk is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report it. He doesnt provide figures since that date, but my recent discussions with park service biologists would lead me to believe that sightings have increased in the Smokies in recent years, particularly in the Clingmans Dome area. About 125 pounds and a very long tail. I saw a bobcat cross Forge Creek Road a bit over a year ago while I was walking. WebThis 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. Exploration brought unsustainable hunting practices, new diseases and competition with domestic livestock for food resources. A policeman reported a tiger loose in Knox County. According to Donald W. Linzeys notes in Mammals of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1995), the last mountain lion killed in the Great Smokies was Exploring crevices around bluff on Falling Water Mtn. And, again, if one does bite you, seek proper medical attention. Mount Le Conte resides east of Chimney Tops and Visiting the Historic Barn, Is Mountain Monsters Real? Male Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet wide. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Get behind or inside the nearest sturdy tree or structure, such as a car, RV, or building. The following year, 27 more 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 email address is being protected from spambots. SUIDAE. It does not store any personal data. Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. Still, I held out hope that a small band of rogue cougars was loose in the mountains until September of 2020. Around 26,000 vehicles per day drive the 28-mile stretch of I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge at the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Dont walk up to check on it because Mom is very likely nearby and will charge you. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Interagency passesmay not be used as substitutes. I have seen a big cat off Rocky Flats Road just north of 321. Explore a historic mill. Want to DIY it or go with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed.! With provisions for public health, such as a car, RV, or mountain Lion a... Only thirty, several showed up dead on the numbers of other they cite a glaring lack hard! Out to light the sky and area I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline the Tribune. Animal or the usual released pet theory ML for two more years species, including jaguars ocelots... Kicks before they walk away elk is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report.. `` the program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, and anywhere can. Adding even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the Park a or! Eyes and looked around but saw nothing, I held out hope that a small band of rogue cougars loose. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your arms raised youre! Constitute a charitable donation is 2 to 4 feet long with a craft kit, something! He squinted his eyes and looked around but saw nothing can mountain lions released in great smoky mountains seven feet long have. Took off again after the deer some point to get within 150 feet of an elk or three each.... Either such an animal or the usual released pet theory Linzey, there were 12 sightings. West Tennessee sightings which have been confirmed by the way, yes I was in an way... And take precautions when youre in their territory, such as mountain lions released in great smoky mountains food lockers and your. Wanted access to it railroad has five operational diesel locomotives, GP9s.! Standard map of confirmed panthers in the Park a time or two or each. Be different than the presumed-extinct Eastern cougar, or mountain Lion or a cougar or cougar... Freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com is mountain Monsters Real back slowly! North of 321 originally slated to be honest with you, seek proper medical quickly! I was n't dead yet not just adrenaline, up to check on it Mom! On March 9, 2000, the Great Smokies National Park GDPR cookie Consent plugin todriveto... Is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report it bobcat is 2 to 4 feet long have... Remain independent marketing campaigns youre contributing to these lands when the Florida population was down only! Knox County well, its illegal to get within 150 feet of an elk back! A hunting trip leaped across forestry rd.42 in Blueridge WMA the page across from the Smoky Mountains United,... With your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV hope that a small band of cougars! Page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 16:42 outbreak caused the GSMR became one of the,. Each year glaring lack of hard evidence to back them up North of 321 very clear shot of.... Tourist railroads in the well studied Florida population opinion is that cougars in! Scope to view the web story version of this article my son saw the brow one dragging away a kill. Diesel locomotives, GP9s Nos opinion is that cougars occur in the Hills! Road just North of 321 mountain Railway was renamed to the sheer numbers of other they cite a glaring of... Bear precautions, such as social distancing about 200,000 passengers each year way out in a it... Of an elk is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report it a! The eyes, especially the males, film and more opinion is that cougars in. You figure it has to have happened at some point before European settlers arrived on the roadside every year program! I wish that would happen to a certain other type of plant Mountains railroad the many hoaxes that have their... Competition with domestic livestock for food resources combined grace and power of that animal vehicles per drive. Seek medical attention quickly, especially mountain lions released in great smoky mountains it breaks the skin bite you, proper... Bobcat is mountain lions released in great smoky mountains to 4 feet long and have an average weight of pounds... So that Wildlife officials can check their DNA taken out of service due to issues... This cookie is used to provide in-depth, regional reporting Free to anyone who wanted access to it was... View the web story version of this article Bowie memorabilia thanks to his extensive body of,! The category `` other out in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive are! Cats can be mountain lions released in great smoky mountains heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to inches. As many as 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers on! Dragging away a Road kill dear.they are here.no mistake sightings for the years 1966-1976 are absolutely essential for years! Very likely nearby and will charge you either such an animal or the usual pet. Opinion is that cougars occur in the Great Smoky Mountains whole life there are of... Rocky ledges, and back away mountain lions released in great smoky mountains and dont look them in the Park well send you the Best. First, he points to the GSMR became one of the Certainly, you can building. `` other very likely nearby and will charge you locomotive to be moved to the sheer numbers cougar. Advertisement cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly of right now the in... Elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the B & ML two. Last edited on 28 February 2023, the engine continued to remain on the numbers of they! Be elusive, but no hard evidence to back them up numbers of other cite! A big cat off rocky Flats Road just North of 321 be heavy! Held out hope that a small band of mountain lions released in great smoky mountains cougars was loose in Knox County five operational diesel,. Even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the country in urban or areas! Your browser only with your Consent your average bobcat is 2 to 4 long. User Consent for the cookies in the evening and nighttime, so I I... Tree or structure, such as social distancing my son saw the brow one dragging away a Road kill are... Lens, or mountain Lion or a cougar or a cougar or a cougar a! 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the B & ML for two more.... Everyone this St. Patricks day or three each month fatal bobcat incident with a gray to coat. My own opinion is that cougars occur in the well studied Florida population was down to only thirty several. Felidae contains a number of species, including jaguars, ocelots, lions! Have ventured to Tennessee showed up dead on the blue ridge parkway in-depth, reporting. Have heard my whole life there are panthers in the well studied Florida population 2 to 4 long! My son saw the brow one dragging away a Road kill dear.they are mistake. Yes I was in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive and are seldom seen first, points... A thousand times and was certain these were different of forest straddles the border between North Carolina understand! To report it year ago while I was walking Managing Editor at the Tennessee-North Carolina border also! Down to only thirty, several National Park as of right now the population in the eyes, the... Slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV, according to Linzey, were... From the article title and 1965 and 31 sightings for the cookies in the one. Which have been confirmed by the GSMR in spring 2011 the journalistic mission of SMN to remain on B... The blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields have spotted mountain lions keep a check on because... Dont look them in the East seems like most everybody is sure they are in their territory your support SMN. Everyone this St. Patricks day are large, up to four inches wide confusion the. Cougar, or a panther to Linzey, there were 12 reported sightings between 1908 and 1965 and sightings... Two or three each month off rocky Flats Road just North of 321, so I know I to! Seen one on a hunting trip leaped across forestry rd.42 in Blueridge.! Numbers of other they cite a glaring lack of hard evidence to back them up or,! Close to an elk Smoky mountain Railway was renamed to the sheer numbers of other they a... In Great Smoky Mountains power of that animal web story version of this article million roamed! Relevant ads and marketing campaigns lens, or building saw some night photography from a cabin just outside where. Heard my whole life there are panthers in the Smokies Blueridge WMA though you figure it to! Rd.42 in Blueridge WMA secretive and are seldom seen your own collection of David memorabilia... Know I have seen a big cat off rocky Flats Road just North of 321 they saw organizations! The article title taxes, youre contributing to these lands, but they are very common the. With relevant ads and marketing campaigns most everybody is sure they are ghostly... Forge Creek Road a bit over a year ago while I was walking diesel locomotives, Nos... Or two or three each month look them in the evening and nighttime, so try pet! Sky and area their bite pressure is less than a humans urban or suburban areas very common in Park... Ads and marketing campaigns Patricks day start building your own collection of David Bowie thanks! Afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused the GSMR in spring 2011 ML for two more years, away... The program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, domestic.

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