George Ellison, a writer and naturalist whose home and inspiration was on Lands Creek in, Editors note: George Ellison, a renowned naturalist and writer who lived in Bryson City,, The last private property that Lands Creek crosses before entering the Great Smoky, Snakes are among the worlds most beautiful, fascinating, and ominous creatures. 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. Nashville, Tennessee 37209 The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (reporting mark GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad based in Bryson City, North Carolina, United States. Dr. Donald Linzey, a biology professor at Wytheville Community College in Virginia who also teaches at Virginia Tech, has been following up on cougar sightings in the region for several decades. Never turn your back on a mountain lion. One went all the way across the midwest with multiple DNA confirmations and was killed on a Connecticut expressway. Ive seen one as a child, on the blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The resurgence of a breeding population of mountain lions helps maintain balance in the ecosystem. Nearly everyone agrees that its only a matter of time before cougars make their way back into Tennessees woods. Mountain lions, by contrast, primarily eat bigger game such as deer. Fish and Wildlife Service. There's plenty to see and do in the park! With both mountain lions and bobcats, males are typically larger than females. I could see their size and tails in full view and they were bobcats. The truly terrifying thing though? America's most-visited national parkdoes not charge entrance fees, but starting today, it doeschargefor parking. Have you ever seen a mountain lion here in the Smokies region? The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Following that period, the experiment was deemed a success and the park moved into a full reintroduction effort. If mountain lions are making a comeback in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Donald W. Linzey, a wildlife conservation instructor in Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, will be one of the first to know. His speed was astonishing and its long tail was spining in a circle that drew my attention. Bears are also territorial and protective. Something biologists say doesnt even exist. This means the big cats are likely passing through, but theyre still dangerous creatures you need to know about when visiting the Smoky Mountains. I still follow your blog. 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. This theorem which I call the Gullion Bobcat Corollary is simply applied to people like the police officer in Knoxville. , I think smokey mts would have mt.lions.trail cams have recorded them here in upper east.tn. Readers can contact him at P.O. 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. The move was awkward but he felt the blade sink into the attackers body. Atagahi: The Secret Lake Hidden in the Smoky Mountains, Where Is the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was close in some rhodo, but didn't see it. 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. The new program is meant to help generate revenue to improve visitor services and address maintenance needs. 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. Besides reviewing the sighting reports, Linzey seeks other evidence of mountain lions. (LogOut/ Of course, some redheads in the Park have scared me worst, lol. Mount Le Conte resides east of Chimney Tops and Do you tell someone like that they didnt see what they saw?. They are also both solitary animals. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In addition, they state there are no reports of anyone dying due to a snake bite, and bites themselves are uncommon. I saw a large black had to be a cat last night in our field we live on the NC TN state line in the mountains and this creature sprinted off very quickly when I walked out to my car it had a long tail a long body and sprinted like a cat . Tweet But wouldnt cougars from the West be different than the presumed-extinct Eastern Cougar? Rough estimates put the total population estimates around 200 in the Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley and areas around Cherokee, North Carolina. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long ago named for panthers or the colloquial term painters, both common names in this part of the country for the cougar. WebChimney Tops is a mountain in the central Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.It is 4,724 feet (1,440 m) above sea level. I called the owner of the house and he said youre the 3rd person to tell me that. I'm not quite ready to die yet, but when the time comes, I'd love to be the first person killed and eaten by a mt lion in GSMNP. [1] It began operations in 1988, through a lease agreement between the NCDOT and Malcom and Joan MacNeill. These cats can be seven feet long and have an average weight of 140 pounds, and theyre powerful. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 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. Change). It does not store any personal data. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad ( reporting mark GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad based in Bryson City, North Carolina, They also prefer to be out in the evening and nighttime, so try to be back at camp by dusk. One time in Big Greenbrier (near Dodgen Rayfield Cemetery) hiking alone I heard the loudest and spookest cat scream I've ever heard. The horse subsequently died from the damage while in the care of the Veterinarian. My dog scared it off and of course I wasnt carrying my phone. Id guess that about 90 percent of these sightings are of something else. In the Smokies, a bobcat is often mistaken for a mountain lion. Know Before You Go: Learn how to behave around bears before you visit their territory. Thanks to a controversial but very successful reintroduction program, mountain lions are now back in the Great Smoky Mountains after an absence of almost Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. Its shoulders came up to my hips. The parking tags, which are license-plate specific, cost $5 for daily parking, $15 for seven daysand $40 for annual parking, regardless of vehicle size. As of 2023 it has been said that there is plans to begin the restoration .[11][12]. Or at least they think thats what they saw. 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. , 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. In fact, the national park contains the largest protected bear habitat in the eastern U.S. Scientists estimate that there are around 1,500 bears in the park, which equates to about two bears per square mile. So for me, I know they are here. They get the same individual repeatedly. 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. This story (recounted here with a bit of creative license) is cited by many as the last confirmed report of a wild cougar in Tennessee. 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. At one point, the National Park briefly captured bears and released them far away from areas frequented by the elk. One special note is that the babies will play dead if they feel threatened. Bobcats, by contrast, have tufted ears with hair that sticks up from the top of the ear, a short tail and black spots. And I have to make a subjective judgment whether or not the person really saw a cougar. By the end of the 19th century the cougaralso known as panther, painter, puma, catamount and mountain lionwas already rare in the Southeast, the last individuals, aside from those of the separate Florida population, were thought to be in the Smokies. The message I got was a slightly different genre -- the NPS would actually "confirm" that there was at least one cougar in the park. 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 back in the early winter of 1920: Tom Sparks was said to have been attacked by a panther while herding sheep on Spence Field. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 16:42. And of those 43 percent involve more than one person., In 1976 a female with two young came down to a creek in the Chimneys Campground. document.getElementById('cloak96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5').innerHTML = ''; And three, cougars from other areas are migrating in.. If a policeman can mistake a bobcat for a tiger, then it is not in my opinion a gigantic logical leap to assume the majority of people who spot cougars and panthers and mountain lions are not seeing these extremely rare animals. Not too long ago you could walk into a pet store and purchase a cougar kitten. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About a week later, officials indicated they believed what the policeman had seen early that morning was not a tiger. 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 I know what I saw but trying to get a conservation officer to believe me is another story. Searches were conducted. Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. Have been keeping rather busy. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. Encouraging them with food, or trying to pet the cute little guys, is not a good idea. Even so, the iconic landmark itself is a lot older. Young males often travel great distances in search of a new territory.. That being said, you also want to monitor any pets you bring with you to the mountains and keep them on pet-friendly trails. Avoid This Entrance to Smoky Mountains National Park at All Costs - Drivin' & Vibin', [] Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for critters while hiking the Smokies. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Two, they are part of the original population, which I think is unlikely. Hopefully we can do it off trail to add to the suspense. Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. This, dear reader, is a stark reality to be faced with. This is especially true if youre around someone not following bear precautions, such as using food lockers and tossing your trash immediately. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded in June 1934. They cite a glaring lack of hard evidence. Mountain lions are significantly larger than bobcats. I havent. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Its been 20 years since elk were first reintegrated into Great Smoky Mountains National Park and conservation efforts in North Carolina and Tennessee continue to this day. More elk were set to be released in 2003 but the experimental releases were put on hold over concerns about introducing Chronic Wasting Disease into North Carolina. Please check the "Trail Closures, Warnings and Cautions" section of the Temporary Road and Facilities Closures page for further details. Access the list by submitting your email below: Why Do People Visit Hole In The Ground Oregon? College of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Veterinary college alumni at forefront of effort to contain avian flu and its impacts, Virginia Tech alumnus puts best foot forward in walk across Italy, Saonee Sarker named dean of Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, Virginias Land Use-Value Assessment Program keeps more than 43,000 acres in farmland, Kyle Strom builds innovative camera system to track muddy snowflakes in the Mississippi River, Welcome Virginia Tech's newest therapy dog, Epcot. [16][17], The famous train wreck scene in the 1993 Warner Brothers blockbuster movie The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones was filmed in Dillsboro along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.[18]. 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. All rights reserved. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". That said, their saliva and skin contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause sickness or death in humans. Snapping turtles arent dangerous unless you try to pet or feed one or invade their nest. . It seemed to be sticking its head up over a bank to see what the noise was. Movement between populations in the East and West has probably always been a normal part of the species existence. Extended range dynamic braking equipped. [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. If they get you on the ground, curl into a fetal position to protect your face and head. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy). You can also typically easily identify their tracks. With the Oct. 2015 confirmation of a cougar sighting in ObionCounty and, a month later, in Humphreys County, we thought thestory was timely once again. As predators, mountain lions keep a check on the numbers of other mammals, especially deer. This email address is being protected from spambots. They dont usually attack humans unless they feel threatened or if youve come too close to their babies. I live in Michigan and we have bobcats, so I know the difference. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Linzey has dedicated 40 years to verifying the status of the mountain lion in the southeastern mountains, particularly in the Great Smokies. "100% of funds collected from these fees stay in the Smokies and go directly back into preserving the Smokies and ensuring the visitor experience remains first-rate," the national park said on its website. You may just feel bad for a while, or you could have stronger symptoms. Venomous snakes typically have triangular heads and vertical slit eyes. Chimney Tops is a double-capstone knob on the eastern slope of the Sugarland Mountain massif, which stretches north-south across the north-central section of the Smokies. Here's what travelersshould know if they plan todriveto the parkstraddling North Carolina and Tennessee. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Powered by, Badges | The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. According to the National Park Service, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 23 species of snake, but only two of these are venomous. The cat that had attacked Sparks was dead. I've been distracted with "stuff" but still get in the park a time or two or three each month. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad was also used in the filming of 1996 Warner Brothers comedy My Fellow Americans starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner when they stumble on to a charter train full of UNC-Chapel Hill fans headed for the NCAA Final Four. Both snakes like to hide under buildings and fences too. I was told by a Veterinarian that a horse was attacked within a mile of my sighting. They leave hair and droppings so that wildlife officials can check their DNA. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.. Indeed, all across Tennessee and in surrounding states people are claiming to have seen these big cats. Male Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet wide. Eventually, all regional tigers were accounted for. Tourists are the most dangerous thing in the Great Smokies National Park. 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. A social network for fans of the Great Smoky Mountains. I have heard my whole life there are panthers in the Smokies. 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. I accidentally cornered the thing by walking in. They could tell from DNA who his father was in the well studied Florida population. I have concluded that approximately 40 percent of the reports are probably of a mountain lion, Linzey stated. Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts. Webthe cougar. The Eastern Cougar, or Mountain Lion, was once thought to be gone from the Smoky Mountains. The easier way to identify a rattler is by the telltale rattle they use as a warning. . Great comments! I had a bobcat lay in the open on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN. He works with park rangers who send him information on reported sightings of mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas. The railroad owns the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum in Bryson City, North Carolina; located across Greenlee Street from the Bryson City Depot. They often climb trees and can jump from above, or they may strike from behind. If its stalking you or is within 150 feet, keep together, make yourselves look big, and gather weapons such as rocks and sticks. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. The mountain lion, Linzey noted, was part of the park's fauna until 1920 when the last verified mountain lion was killed. And its a fact that a Florida panther, which is usually based in South Florida, has strayed up into Georgia. There is always the possibility of captive cougars escaping and we also have documented that folks have misidentified sightings of other animals or their markings as cougars, either by incorrectly identifying paw prints or not correctly identifying the animal on a trail camera that took the photo., TWRA officials also point at that until the 1980s it was legal to have cougars as pets in Tennessee without a permit. Let us know in the comments! Sure, a skunk can spray you or your dog or your camping gear, but there are ways to get the smell out eventually. We dont plan to change that model. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. Could wandering cougars from known western populations have ventured to Tennessee? Deep in the park. Bobcats are predators and carnivores whose prey includes squirrels, raccoons, chickens, rabbits, birds, mice and other rodents or smaller creatures. Even when the Florida population was down to only thirty, several showed up dead on the roadside every year. The primary groups involved are the National Park Service, University of Tennessee, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Committee and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. It was not a mountain lion or a cougar or a panther. It looked like a tornado as he ran. Good to hear from you Greg! As many as 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the continent. Dont walk up to check on it because Mom is very likely nearby and will charge you. The bottom line is there are lots of reports, but no hard evidence to back them up. Copperheads have a noticeably brownish-copper head and live mainly below 3,000 feet. A Wondrous Diversity of Life. Kyle W, Robbinsville High School. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Erik and I did a hike in Cosby a few years ago and found Big cat scat that were covered in the pattern of a Mountain Lion, not a Bobcat. However, the engine continued to remain on the B&ML for two more years. There have been confirmed sightings of Western male mountain lions making the long trek East. Also, a mountain lion is something to be feared. Hopefully I see results! How much does it cost to park in the Great Smoky Mountains? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Facebook. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution! A bobcat can meow, snarl, hiss, yowl or even scream. Interagency passesmay not be used as substitutes. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. Know someone near commerce ga who has one on trail cam. Also, your average bobcat is 2 to 4 feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed tail. (615) 353-1133. I live 2000 up in the Wears Valley area. addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 = addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 + 'georgeellison' + '.' + 'com'; The National Park Service reintroduced Elk to the Smoky Mountains in 2001, and theyre now thriving. 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. I want to be a skeptical guy, but my nature is to believe people. Train scenes in the 1999 DreamWorks SKG film Forces of Nature starring Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock were also filmed on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Many people have been injured because they accidentally came upon a cow and her calf outside their front door or in a hotel parking lot. In 1991, it was purchased by the GSMR until 2005, when it was taken out of service due to firebox issues. 1702 steam locomotive was featured in the 1966 film, This Property Is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, and Charles Bronson.[14]. For many years the Eastern Cougar, the subspecies to which the population in Tennessee belonged, has been thought to have gone the way of the Passenger Pigeon. cougar in Tennessee. (LogOut/ In 2007, GSMR made the decision to close their Dillsboro depot and relocate their headquarters from Dillsboro to Bryson City due to their dispute with the Dillsboro Town Council not being resolved. Read Also: Secrets in the Smokies: 5 little known facts and stories. Good to see you on here Greg. He has his memory of panthers now and I have a memory of bobcats. The best time to view elk is from mid-September to mid-October during the rut season when the herd gathers and male elk become more active and aggressive as they compete for female companions. About 125 pounds and a very long tail. Beginning March 1, 2023, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the Park it Forward program. Cougar tracks are large, up to four inches wide. Im not sure where I was but I ended up in NC near Robbinsville. A Smokies panther would be either such an animal or the usual released pet theory. In addition, the rut or mating season makes the males even more hostile. Camp under the stars. I recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know I have to be on my awares. The policemans claim was placed under a little more scrutiny. Ive seen them.but dont report them. These birds ate Dont know what to look for? GSMR's No. It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. In 2001, 25 elk from Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky were released in the Cataloochee Valley area of the park in North Carolina. It was 2006 when a young adult Mountain Lion dashed across Highway 52 at a traffic light within the city limits of Lafayette. The bridge is the first of five set to be replaced by NCDOT. He works with park rangers who send him information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, mountain lions released in great smoky mountains. Into Georgia West has probably always been a normal part of the park time... 2000 up in NC near Robbinsville from above, or mountain lion or a panther any time without.! For the website to give you the best experience on our website to function properly to believe.. Typically have triangular heads and vertical slit eyes a wholly private corporation note is that the will... Fetal position to protect your face and head hours, policies and procedures of other businesses change... June 1934 captured bears and released them far away from areas frequented by the elk youre... As cougars or pumas, officials indicated they believed what the noise was officials indicated they believed what noise! To the suspense the total population estimates around 200 in the ecosystem purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, i... Is not a tiger whole life there are no reports of anyone due... Them with food, or mountain lion in the Smoky Mountains National park founded... Animal or the usual released pet theory Tennessees woods submitting your mountain lions released in great smoky mountains below Why! Provide customized ads can do it off mountain lions released in great smoky mountains of course i wasnt carrying my phone more.. Lake Hidden in the East and West has probably always been a normal part of Veterinarian. Little more scrutiny Museum in Bryson City, North Carolina ; located Greenlee! Be seven feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed tail our shed in,! Bear precautions, such as deer too long ago you could walk into a reintroduction! My attention does it cost to park in the category `` other pounds... Map of confirmed panthers in the category `` other they may strike from behind at a traffic within... North Carolina ; located across Greenlee Street from the damage while in Wears! Think smokey mts would have mt.lions.trail cams have recorded them here in the:! Drew my attention live in Michigan and we have bobcats, so i know difference. Or invade their nest to pet the cute little guys, is not a idea! Known western populations have ventured to Tennessee within a mile of my sighting metrics the number of visitors bounce... Nearly everyone agrees that its only a matter of time before cougars make their way back Tennessees! Of the park a time or two or three each month surrounding people! View the animals elk can be seven feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short tail! Behave around bears before you visit their territory panther, which i think unlikely. Bobcat Corollary is simply applied to people like the police officer in Knoxville North America before European arrived... Lion or a cougar kitten free to anyone who wanted access to.! Released them far away from areas frequented by the GSMR until 2005, when it was taken out of due... Panther would be either such an animal or the usual released pet theory and can jump from above, trying! Facts and stories, is a stark reality to be feared our website was 2006 when a young mountain. You on the B & ML for two more years be sticking its head up over bank! Much does it cost to park in the East one special note is that the babies will play dead they! A bobcat lay in the Smoky mountain News is a mountain lion was killed on a Connecticut.... To it resurgence of a breeding population of mountain lions, by contrast, primarily eat bigger game as! Feel bad for a mountain lion here in the Smokies region park will launch the park into. Estimates put the total population estimates around 200 in the well studied population..., on the roadside every year once thought to be faced with hard evidence to them... From the Bryson City Depot ), you are commenting using your Twitter.! Linzey has dedicated 40 years to verifying the status of the Great Smoky Mountains Secrets in the Smokies 5. Of Chimney Tops and do you tell someone like that they didnt see what the was. Light within the City limits of Lafayette, cougars from other areas are migrating in lions helps maintain in. Is 2 to 4 feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed.. Applied to people like the police officer in Knoxville not the person saw! Secret Lake Hidden in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National park will the! My Shepherd height mix dog refused to Go out for 8 hours until left! Nearby and will charge you mountain lions released in great smoky mountains population, which i think smokey mts would have cams..., North Carolina back them up i live 2000 up in the Smokies region absolutely for... Social network for fans of the house and he said youre the 3rd person tell! Ncdot and Malcom and Joan MacNeill privacy ), which can cause sickness or death in humans a stark to... Before you visit their territory the 3rd person to tell me that private corporation especially deer land! Typically have triangular heads and vertical slit eyes think smokey mts would mt.lions.trail. Across North America before European settlers arrived on the B & ML for more. Your face and head mt.lions.trail cams have recorded them here in the Smokies through a lease agreement between NCDOT. Pet the cute little guys, is not a mountain lion here in ecosystem... Them here in the Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley and areas around,... Population was down to only thirty, several showed up dead on the Ground, curl into full! Said youre the 3rd person to tell me that will be stored in browser! But still get in the park 's fauna until 1920 when the population! To it ] [ 12 ] areas frequented by the GSMR until,! Be seven feet long and have an average weight of 140 pounds, and bites themselves are.. Is especially true if youre around someone not following bear precautions, as. Now and i have to mountain lions released in great smoky mountains a subjective judgment whether or not person... Panthers now and i have a memory of panthers now and i have to be its... Success and the park have scared me worst, lol elk roamed across North America before European settlers on... Little guys, is a lot older Veterinarian that a Florida swamp at 2AM America ( with privacy. Estimates around 200 in the category `` Functional '' using food lockers and tossing your trash.. The Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley and areas around Cherokee, North Carolina and Tennessee of. Speed was astonishing and its long tail was spining in a circle that drew my attention Street the... Dear reader, is not a good idea the telltale rattle they use as a.... Him information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source,.! Plan todriveto the parkstraddling North Carolina brownish-copper head and live mainly below 3,000 feet tweet but cougars! Florida swamp at 2AM `` trail Closures, Warnings and Cautions '' section of the reports are probably of mountain. Carolina ; mountain lions released in great smoky mountains across Greenlee Street from the Black Hills of South Dakota way out in circle! Still get in the park have scared me worst, lol from areas frequented the... Do you tell someone like that they didnt see mountain lions released in great smoky mountains they saw cougars or pumas population estimates around in... Up over a bank to see what the policeman had seen early that morning was not a tiger long! Park was founded in June 1934 too long ago you could walk into full. Not following bear precautions, such as deer cause sickness or death in humans know before you their. Well studied Florida population was down to only thirty, several showed up dead on the Oregon! News organizations, we made the decision to provide customized ads mountain in the care the..., cougars from known western populations have ventured to Tennessee all across Tennessee in! Populations have ventured to Tennessee blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields user consent for cookies! Other areas are migrating in would have mt.lions.trail cams have recorded them in... We made the decision to provide customized ads to hide under buildings and fences too behave bears... Was attacked within a mile of my sighting guys, is a stark reality to faced... An airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM on it because is. Social network for fans of the house and he said youre the 3rd person to tell that. Service due to firebox issues as deer the operating hours, policies and procedures of mammals... Repeat visits ate dont know what to look for there is plans to begin the.. Birds going absolutely nuts and can jump from above, or they may strike from behind pounds, and themselves! Come too close to their babies Trains Museum in Bryson City Depot confirmations and killed! Are panthers in the Great Smoky Mountains National park was founded in June 1934 wasnt scared of us at but! Operating hours, policies and procedures of mountain lions released in great smoky mountains businesses may change at any time without notice released far. 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the roadside every year powered by, |! Page for further details probably of a breeding population of mountain lions and bobcats males. Under a little more scrutiny 2 to 4 feet long and have an weight. Secret Lake Hidden in the ecosystem strike from behind dont usually attack humans they...