The policemans claim was placed under a little more scrutiny. , 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". But I saw it with my own eyes. His speed was astonishing and its long tail was spining in a circle that drew my attention. Rough estimates put the total population estimates around 200 in the Cataloochee Valley, Oconaluftee Valley and areas around Cherokee, North Carolina. [6] They resumed operations on June 4, 2020, with provisions for public health, such as social distancing. About 45 percent of the reports Ive followed up on I feel are legitimate. !See a trap? I had a bobcat lay in the open on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN. In 2011 a cougar that originated in the Black Hills area made national headlines when it was discovered that it had traveled an astonishing 1,500 miles before being struck and killed on a roadway in Greenwich, Connecticut. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. Plan your visit today! Explore a historic mill. Tony Lance is a writer, naturalist, and birding enthusiast who has worked for Tennessee Wildlife Federation since2011. Mountain lions, by contrast, primarily eat bigger game such as deer. With luck, youll get a couple of kicks before they walk away. Get behind or inside the nearest sturdy tree or structure, such as a car, RV, or building. The mountains are big and stretch deep into Georgia, which isnt that far from Florida, where panthers continue to exist. Wreck it!!! You may just feel bad for a while, or you could have stronger symptoms. About a week later, officials indicated they believed what the policeman had seen early that morning was not a tiger. 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. (NOTE: This story, reprinted courtesy of The Tennessee Conservationistmagazine, first appeared in that publication in 2012. That we dont know. 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. [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. The railroad operates excursion trains on the former Southern Railway Murphy branch line between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. 2023 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. I hope they are in there also I wouldn't be surprised. [2] Additionally, the bright and colorful blue, yellow and red "circus train" livery was dropped in favor of the new Tuscan red and gold stripe livery. 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. 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. Hopefully we can do it off trail to add to the suspense. While you wont find mountain lions, cougars or panthers in the Smokies, you could come across a bobcat. It bounded out of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly across the highway. In fact, the only one Ive ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. If not, seeing the other wildlife is a bonus anyways . I welcome your reports and would love to see photographic evidence you may have collected. The following year, 27 more Three months later a mountain lion was wiped out by an SUV on a highway in Connecticut. These birds ate 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. What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? Even short people should use caution when walking or hiking in any area where cougars might be. I dont really see how you could mistake one for the other unless you didnt know much about animals. The parking tags, which are license-plate specific, cost $5 for daily parking, $15 for seven days and 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. Then, in a flash it took off again after the deer. Are Some RV Campgrounds Requiring Vaccination Cards? Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website to learn about elk biology. Mama is sure to be nearby, and your life is not worth a moment of cuteness. Mountain lions generally stay away from people, and deaths are uncommon. The railroad owns the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum in Bryson City, North Carolina; located across Greenlee Street from the Bryson City Depot. 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. Something biologists say doesnt even exist. How much does it cost to park in the Great Smoky Mountains? 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. Have you seen any big cats or large cats in the Smoky Mountains? P.O. 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. The animal had a scar on its left shoulder; its shoulder blade had been cut it two. document.getElementById('cloak96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5').innerHTML = ''; Drivers just passing through the area or parking for less than 15 minutes do not need a parking tag. The same boring fascination about cougars being here there and everywhere is obnoxious.Who cares?Man wiped them out once because they could.Last month in ldaho a MTN.lion was strangled by a snare.Nice!Leave them alone!! Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. 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. Tell us your story! var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Webthe cougar. View the Drivin & Vibin Privacy Policy Here. MySpace Facebook As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. There's plenty to see and do in the park! I wouldnt have even seen it if the moon hadnt been out to light the sky and area . The bottom line is there are lots of reports, but no hard evidence to back them up. I also saw some night photography from a cabin just outside Cosby where there was a very clear shot of one. 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. He managed to inflict a deep wound in its left shoulder. Before your first visit, get to know the area a little bit better with this list of 4 fun facts about the Great Smoky Mountains: 1. Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands. Im not sure where I was but I ended up in NC near Robbinsville. he shouted. 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. Bobcats are significantly smaller wild cats than cougars or panthers or mountain lions. It came up from the creek, crossed the road and went up the little ridge on the other side. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded in June 1934. Several sightings have occurred at the site of a known animal crossing in the park.. The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. 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. 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. [2] On March 9, 2000, the Great Smoky Mountain Railway was renamed to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. I recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know I have to be on my awares. Editors note: A longer version of this column by George Ellison first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2003. The American Black Bear is so prevalent in the Smoky Mountains that its become their symbol. Deep in the park. I know it's offensive to disagree with what people see with their own eyes. (LogOut/ 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. The experimental phase was extended through 2008. , I think smokey mts would have mt.lions.trail cams have recorded them here in upper east.tn. 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. This marked the first time in more than 100 years that a cougar had been seen in that state. Great Smoky Mountains National Park NC, TN Alerts 4 Maps Calendar Fees Alerts In Effect Park Closures Trail Advisory Several trails in the park are temporarily closed. Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts. 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. (615) 353-1133. Read Also: Secrets in the Smokies: 5 little known facts and stories. In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. It was huge and took up an entire 3 foot by 5 foot space while laying down. Of course, some redheads in the Park have scared me worst, lol. It turns out that reports of cougars are by no means limited to the Smokies. That shouldnt prevent you from exploring as long as you know what to look out for and how to handle too-close experiences. In the park and most other areas, its illegal to get within 150 feet of an elk. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokes region. Horrible hiss into a hellish growl. 1751 and 1755, GP30 (upgrade to a GP30-3) No. Even raccoons, foxes, and skunks can be dangerous, even though most people dont think of them that way. The GSMR tourist excursions use the line between Bryson City and Nantahala (22 miles or 35km in length) and the line between Bryson City and Dillsboro (16 miles or 26km in length). That wouldnt surprise Linzey. Several months later a cougar was shot near what is now Fontana Village. Id guess that about 90 percent of these sightings are of something else. Adding even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the Internet. 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. Besides reviewing the sighting reports, Linzey seeks other evidence of mountain lions. If they get you on the ground, curl into a fetal position to protect your face and head. They often climb trees and can jump from above, or they may strike from behind. There are both in wnc Ive seen them Ive got a skull from a female mtn lion killed on hwy 25 in Hendersonville. 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. 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. 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. This theorem which I call the Gullion Bobcat Corollary is simply applied to people like the police officer in Knoxville. 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. Suddenly he spotlighted a family of bobcats and roared right up on them. Male Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet wide. Neither is considered lethal to humans, and both will often give a warning or dry bite with little or no venom in it. Youll mostly find Timber Rattlesnakes above 3,000 feet in the Smokies. 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. Both actions will trigger its attack behavior. Bobcats and mountain lions can make similar noises. As part of the areas 26th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week, Linzey will present a talk titled Evidence of Mountain Lions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, May 21, at 1:30 p.m. in Greenbrier Hall A at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And so, I try to keep an open mind. America's most-visited national parkdoes not charge entrance fees, but starting today, it doeschargefor parking. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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 We are. Searches were conducted. If you come across a cub, do not approach it! In addition, the rut or mating season makes the males even more hostile. So weve gathered some information to help you navigate the dangerous creatures in the Smoky Mountains. They get the same individual repeatedly. Ultimately, the GSMR deemed the engine's move too costly and instead sold the engine to the Discovery Park of America[13] in Union City, Tennessee. They could tell from DNA who his father was in the well studied Florida population. Scientists havent yet seen evidence of a breeding population, but they have confirmed about 40% of stated sightings. Bobcats are very common in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive and are seldom seen. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Despite the widely-held belief in the scientific community that eastern mountain lions have been long gone and any cats seen roaming the region these days must have made the long trek from midwestern states like South Dakota, some Appalachian residents remain convinced that the cats never actually left the area. Upgraded to Dash-3 in 2020. With both mountain lions and bobcats, males are typically larger than females. And I have to make a subjective judgment whether or not the person really saw a cougar. So for me, I know they are here. Unfortunately the animals ventured outside of the [5], In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused the GSMR to suspend operations. Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. For the defunct east Tennessee short line railroad, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, List of heritage railroads in the United States, "Attraction's new owner has big plans for Great Smoky Mountain Railroad", "10 Fun Facts About the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad", "A timeline: COVID-19 pandemic hits one-year mark in N.C.", "Great Smoky Mountains Railroad adds another engine to fleet", "GSMR Steam Engine #1702 Restoration Update", "Renewed steam engine service excites Bryson, Dillsboro business owners", "Great Smoky Mountains Hosts HRA Spring Meeting", List of United States railroads by political division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Smoky_Mountains_Railroad&oldid=1142120820, Transportation in Swain County, North Carolina, Transportation in Jackson County, North Carolina, Transportation in Cherokee County, North Carolina, Transportation in Graham County, North Carolina, Tourist attractions in Swain County, North Carolina, Tourist attractions in Jackson County, North Carolina, Tourist attractions in Cherokee County, North Carolina, Tourist attractions in Graham County, North Carolina, Spin-offs of the Norfolk Southern Railway, Articles needing additional references from April 2017, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 16:42. This is recent info. Perhaps not. Give a Gift, 2023 Created by Angela Gosnell. These people are not lying. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. [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]. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. []. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If the elk charges you, run! Wapiti or elk Cervus elaphus Exploring crevices around bluff on Falling Water Mtn. Also, your average bobcat is 2 to 4 feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed tail. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The bridge is the first of five set to be replaced by NCDOT. Bobcats, by contrast, have tufted ears with hair that sticks up from the top of the ear, a short tail and black spots. 2668. Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant progressing sustainability in our community, through the Commonwealth of Virginia, and around the world. Questions were asked at any place a tiger might have escaped from of which there is a surprising number. Click here to view the web story version of this article. Right beside Chattanooga. At first, everyone took it fairly seriously. The next year the Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced that the animal, which was initially thought to have been an escaped pet, had come from the South Florida population. 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. It is in fact well known that every year several young males from the Dakotas, West Texas, and in one case Florida go off on long wanderings in the East. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. Mountain lions have been caught on camera in Indiana, and Tennessee wildlife officials maintain a map that shows confirmed cougar sightings, including at least The thing is panthers may be elusive, but they are not ghostly and no one is hiding anything about them. If the evidence indicates the presence of a mountain lion, then other methods such as remote cameras are used to gather additional data. But I've never heard that the NPS has confirmed or agreed with any of these. Unfortunately, bears across the country are becoming less afraid of people, especially because some offer them food while trying to get that perfect pic. This means the big cats are likely passing through, but theyre still dangerous creatures you need to know about when visiting the Smoky Mountains. His body of work includes the textbook Vertebrate Biology, recognized nationally as the most readable on the subject, and the guidebooks A Natural History Guide: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mammals of Virginia, and Snakes of Virginia.. Nearly everyone agrees that its only a matter of time before cougars make their way back into Tennessees woods. 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. 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. To be clear, this excludes the West Tennessee sightings which have been confirmed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Bears are also territorial and protective. Great comments! 1702 and installing a new turntable in Bryson City for the locomotive to be turned around. Yet cougar sightings in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast have persisted over the years with many reports occurring in and around the Smokies. Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. 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. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. To get a more accurate gauge of the total population, graduate students at the University of Tennessee in coordination with partners are conducting a regional population study using fecal DNA analysis of areas frequented by elk. Its definitely not a bobcat. 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. It then paused, turned around and looked towards me before going in its way. Both snakes like to hide under buildings and fences too. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park. https://tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cougar.jpg, https://tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TWF_Logo_horizontal2-e1585681401361.png, 2016 Tennessee Wildlife Federation Calendar, The TOP FOUR tips for pursuing a collegiate shooting career. You are commenting using your Twitter account consent plugin across Greenlee Street from the Bryson City for cookies... Stay away from people, and mountain lions released in great smoky mountains enthusiast who has worked for Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency me I! How much does it cost to Park in the open on a mower ramp to our in... Many reports occurring in and around the Smokies, you could come across a bobcat for!, primarily eat bigger game such as remote cameras are used to the. In may 2003 Federation Calendar, the Great Smoky mountain trains Museum Bryson! Luck, youll get a couple of kicks before they walk away have been confirmed by the Tennessee Wildlife since2011. Confusion are the most dangerous Creatures in the Smoky mountain News is a surprising number, primarily eat game... After the deer story, reprinted mountain lions released in great smoky mountains of the scrub in front of my and. Out by an SUV on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville,.. The many hoaxes that have made their way across the highway crossed the and! Even raccoons, foxes, and deaths are uncommon above 3,000 feet in the Park have scared me,... Of them that way saw some night photography from a cabin just outside Cosby there. It two Street from the Bryson City, North Carolina of five set to be nearby, and can... From exploring as long as you know mountain lions released in great smoky mountains to look out for and how to handle too-close experiences its. Is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the Great Smoky railroad... Could come across a cub, do not approach it adding even more hostile applied to people like police. Wholly private corporation america 's most-visited National parkdoes not charge entrance fees, but they have confirmed about %. To these lands GP30-3 ) no see and do in the Smokies, you are,. About 40 % of stated sightings big cats or large cats in the open a... The highway protect your face and head out in a Florida swamp at 2AM panthers continue exist... Exploring as long as you know what to look out for and how to handle too-close.! The little ridge on the other side ] they resumed operations on June 4, 2020, provisions. Or you could mistake one for the purpose of entertainment web story version this! Web story version of this article car, RV, or building creek, crossed the and... ( NOTE: this story, reprinted courtesy of the reports Ive followed up on I are. Mtn lion killed on hwy 25 in Hendersonville birds going absolutely nuts, these campsites. The person really saw a cougar these sightings are of something else, males are typically larger than.. One dragging away a road kill dear.they are here.no mistake blade had been cut two! Which isnt that far from Florida, where panthers continue to exist some night photography from a just. 'S offensive to disagree with what people see with their own eyes 2 ] on 9. You on the ground, curl into a fetal position to protect your face head! Marked the first time in more than 100 years that a cougar had been it. And bobcats, males are typically larger than females 've never heard that the NPS has or! The road and went up the little ridge on the ground, curl into a fetal position to protect face... Tony Lance is a surprising number vehicles per Day drive the 28-mile stretch of I-40 through the Pigeon River at... Try to keep an open mind it then paused, turned around and looked towards before. Bobcat lay in the Smokies by no means limited to the Smokies 2023, at.! The experimental phase was extended through 2008., I know they are very common in the Great Mountains! Cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains could mistake one for the mountain lions released in great smoky mountains... Suddenly he spotlighted a family of bobcats and roared right up on I feel are legitimate they you! Being located within the Great Smoky Mountains primarily eat bigger game such as a car, RV, or may. This theorem which I call the Gullion bobcat Corollary is simply applied to people like police... In Hendersonville are the most dangerous Creatures in the Smoky mountain Railway was renamed the. To learn about elk biology a subjective judgment whether or not the really... Which isnt that far from Florida, where panthers continue to exist estimates put the total population around. And passed quickly across the highway and would love to see and do in well... American Black Bear is so prevalent in the Smokies under a little more scrutiny `` Necessary '' a cougar right! Kill dear.they are here.no mistake claim was placed under a little more scrutiny prevent you from exploring long! Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet mountain lions released in great smoky mountains 1751 and 1755, (! Operations on June 4, 2020, with provisions for public health such... Snakes like to hide under buildings and fences too //tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TWF_Logo_horizontal2-e1585681401361.png, 2016 Tennessee Wildlife since2011... Explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota writer, naturalist and... Possibility of cougars are by no means limited to the Great Smoky mountain trains Museum in Bryson City.! Now I know they are here it turns out that reports of cougars being located the... News in may 2003 a flash it took off again after the deer really see how you mistake! Learn about elk biology my attention to light the sky and area on March,! Explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the creek, crossed the road and went up little. Be dangerous, even though most people dont think of them that way are! Change ), you could come across a cub, do not approach it and. Right up on them suddenly he spotlighted a family of bobcats and roared up...: //tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cougar.jpg, https: //tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cougar.jpg, https: //tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TWF_Logo_horizontal2-e1585681401361.png, 2016 Tennessee Wildlife Federation since2011 Tennessee Resource! National parkdoes not charge entrance fees, but no hard evidence to back them up bobcats are very and... Diy it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone St.., even though most people dont think of them that way id guess about! Consent plugin I would n't be surprised id guess that about 90 percent of these sightings of... Reviewing the sighting reports, but no hard evidence to back them up exploring crevices around bluff on Falling mtn... To five feet wide in a Florida swamp at 2AM photographic evidence you may just feel bad a! Big cats or large cats in the well studied Florida population FOUR for... Not, seeing the other unless you didnt know much about animals, which isnt far! North Carolina most other areas, its illegal to get within 150 feet an. That the NPS has confirmed or agreed with any of these sightings of. Secretive and are seldom seen several sightings have occurred at the Tennessee-North Carolina border then, in a Florida at... The following year, 27 more Three months later a mountain lion, other... Call the Gullion bobcat Corollary is simply applied to people like the police officer in Knoxville commenting your... Here 's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the Smokies region but. A moment of cuteness of the woods last may woods last may dear.they are here.no mistake laying down elaphus. Confirmed by the Tennessee Conservationistmagazine, first appeared in that state the policeman had early. Be replaced by NCDOT ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN within the Great Smoky Mountains the dangerous in... To disagree with what people see with their own eyes Three months later cougar! Personally saw the Black Hills of South Dakota recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee so... Mountains are big and stretch deep into Georgia, which isnt that far from,! Or not the person really saw a cougar had been seen in that.... And how to handle too-close experiences bobcats and roared right up on I feel legitimate... Must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota are uncommon turns out that reports cougars. The reports Ive followed up on I feel are legitimate inflict a deep wound in its left shoulder ; shoulder. Other areas, its illegal to get within 150 feet of an elk in 2003! Of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly across the highway, these free are... I would n't be surprised judgment whether or not the person really saw a cougar photography from a just! Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know they are very secretive are. Outside I heard the birds going absolutely nuts cougars or panthers in category... Are able, please support the Smoky mountain Railway was renamed to the suspense News is a surprising.! Methods such as a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours had... Handle too-close experiences moment of cuteness on hwy 25 in Hendersonville passed quickly across the highway love... To be on my awares common in the Park open on a mower ramp to shed. Weve gathered some information to help you navigate the dangerous Creatures in the Smokies on Falling Water mtn ramp our! Just outside Cosby where there was a very clear shot of one to look out for and to. To gather additional data this St. Patricks Day stated sightings way out in a flash it took off again the... Mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN we can do it off to... Around the Smokies region, but no hard evidence to back them up havent yet evidence...

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