I kept a close eye over my shoulder the rest of that day. 2467, GP35 (upgrade to a GP38-3M) No. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In addition, the rut or mating season makes the males even more hostile. 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 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. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. You couldnt miss the facial markings and the stripes as it quickly turned away. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. DNA analysis of the hair could potentially confirm the animals presence in the park. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rattlesnakes are usually brown, sometimes with orange or black. Find out What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. But I've never heard that the NPS has confirmed or agreed with any of these. 777, GP7 No. This is recent info. It looked like a tornado as he ran. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokes region. State wildlife agencies excitedly put out press releases as they get confirmations. He squinted his eyes and looked around but saw nothing. the nettle diesthe slow and painful death that it deserves" Haha. 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!! addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 = addy96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5 + 'georgeellison' + '.' + 'com'; And I have to make a subjective judgment whether or not the person really saw a cougar. 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. In fact, the only one Ive ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. The DNR says not aware of any populations? They also prefer to be out in the evening and nighttime, so try to be back at camp by dusk. He has his memory of panthers now and I have a memory of bobcats. Both actions will trigger its attack behavior. Indeed, all across Tennessee and in surrounding states people are claiming to have seen these big cats. As predators, mountain lions keep a check on the numbers of other 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. This marked the first time in more than 100 years that a cougar had been seen in that state. The bridge is the first of five set to be replaced by NCDOT. State wildlife agencies in every state are deluged with thousands of reports a year. Copperheads have a noticeably brownish-copper head and live mainly below 3,000 feet. Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. []. 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. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; WebChimney Tops is a mountain in the central Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.It is 4,724 feet (1,440 m) above sea level. he shouted. Plan your visit today! cougar in Tennessee. 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. All rights reserved. Every year I receive eight to 10 reports of purported mountain lion sightings in the park. Of course, some redheads in the Park have scared me worst, lol. Be aware, though, and take precautions when youre in their territory. 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. (615) 353-1133. This, dear reader, is a stark reality to be faced with. Love national parks, but hate crowds? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. Facebook. Have you ever seen a mountain lion here in the Smokies region? Youll mostly find Timber Rattlesnakes above 3,000 feet in the Smokies. 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. He organized Virginias first Symposium on Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals at Virginia Tech in 1978 and edited the 665-page proceedings. 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. 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. Learn more about the park's fee program changes for 2023, including a new initiative: the Smokies Parking Tag program. 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). WebVisitors occasionally report seeing mountain lions, however, no concrete scientific evidence of their existence (such as tracks, scat, or other signs) has been found in the 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. It came up from the creek, crossed the road and went up the little ridge on the other side. The horse subsequently died from the damage while in the care of the Veterinarian. The National Park Service reintroduced Elk to the Smoky Mountains in 2001, and theyre now thriving. Let us know in the comments! One went all the way across the midwest with multiple DNA confirmations and was killed on a Connecticut expressway. You can start building your own collection of David Bowie memorabilia thanks to his extensive body of music, film and more. Greg when you are ready to die from being old or what not let me know and I will come film your valiant yet hopeless last fight with the cougars. Whatever the source, Im reasonably certain that we have mountain lions in the Smokies region. The mountain lion, Linzey noted, was part of the park's fauna until 1920 when the last verified mountain lion was killed. 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. The cat that had attacked Sparks was dead. Its been more than 100 years since mountain lions referred to as panthers by the mountain folk lived in the Smokies. These birds ate Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV. GSMR's No. In addition, they state there are no reports of anyone dying due to a snake bite, and bites themselves are uncommon. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Webthe cougar. Neither is considered lethal to humans, and both will often give a warning or dry bite with little or no venom in it. It's the closest I'll ever come to being famous! Scientists have estimated that the mountain range Never ran so fast in my life. I had a bobcat lay in the open on a mower ramp to our shed in Maryville, TN. By the end of the There have been confirmed sightings of Western male mountain lions making the long trek East. Sometimes I wish that would happen to a certain other type of plant. "All revenue generated through the Park it Forward program will remain in the park to support operational costs for managing and improving visitor services such as trail maintenance, custodial services, and trash removal," the park said in a press release. What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? Could wandering cougars from known western populations have ventured to Tennessee? I told the story and it was put in the local paper. They Are Some of the Oldest Mountains in the World. Game cameras or genetic testing of fur left behind provide evidence. !See a trap? I could see their size and tails in full view and they were bobcats. In 2004, GSMR debuted its "Polar Express" train ride, based on the newly released movie and licensed through Warner Brothers. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Because of their population density, your chance of seeing a bear in the Smoky Mountains is relatively high. 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. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. Questions were asked at any place a tiger might have escaped from of which there is a surprising number. 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. Large bobcats can kill a grown deer and bobcats do kill fawns. America's most-visited national parkdoes not charge entrance fees, but starting today, it doeschargefor parking. Even raccoons, foxes, and skunks can be dangerous, even though most people dont think of them that way. But the other 10 percent seem to be pretty reliable. 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. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution! [5] However, the Tuckasegee River excursions between Dillsboro and Bryson City continued with the trips starting at Bryson City and lay over in Dillsboro. A policeman reported a tiger loose in Knox County. If you do come across a mountain lion, do not run and do not approach it. I recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know I have to be on my awares. There is only one case with good physical evidence within 500 miles of the Smokies. Undermining the credibility of a number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described as black panthers. 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. Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Report an Issue | 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. Nearly everyone agrees that its only a matter of time before cougars make their way back into Tennessees woods. It was close in some rhodo, but didn't see it. 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. If you come across a cub, do not approach it! That way, you and the animals can enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains. Tom Sparks could tell something wasnt right that day in 1920 high up on Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Also, several National Park Service rangers have told me that they have spotted mountain lions while patrolling the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy wildlife viewing, historic homes and churches, and beautiful mountain scenery while biking or walking the 11-mile loop. Know someone near commerce ga who has one on trail cam. 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 SUIDAE. Either way, its best to have a professional take a look. Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts. Parks for every body:What national parks can do to make the outdoors more accessible. With help of a team of investors, the MacNeils secured the lease within 48 hours of the Norfolk Southern Railway dispatching work trains to the Murphy Branch to begin dismantling the track. Fish and Wildlife Service. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In 2019, GSMR broke all attendance records, with more than 91,000 people riding the Polar Express excursion alone. It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. They dont usually attack humans unless they feel threatened or if youve come too close to their babies. Would make a good story. Several sightings have occurred at the site of a known animal crossing in the park.. I dont really see how you could mistake one for the other unless you didnt know much about animals. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Those that have lived here all their lives can tell the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. According to the National Park Service, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 23 species of snake, but only two of these are venomous. 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. The following year, 27 more elk from Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada were released. WebThe Carolina parakeet was hunted to extinction in the Smoky Mountains. They have in their mind's eye what they saw. I live 2000 up in the Wears Valley area. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. While you wont find mountain lions, cougars or panthers in the Smokies, you could come across a bobcat. 1009, GP9 No. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Let them be..they were here first.. Speedwell Tennessee has all three black panther, mountain lion and Bob cats I have pictures of black panther and Bob cats but only seen one mountain lion..it has been a few years since last encounter. Watch this video created by GSMNP about how you can safely view elk while promoting the well-being of the herd. Give a Gift, 2023 Created by Angela Gosnell. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. Nashville, Tennessee 37209 A Wondrous Diversity of Life. 2023 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. I stayed at an AirB&B in Rock Island, Tennessee right after Thanksgiving last month and saw a mountain lion run right in front of me in the pasture next to the house. 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. It bounded out of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly across the highway. I Was hiking with family, and the big cat crossed the trail. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Movement between populations in the East and West has probably always been a normal part of the species existence. They leave hair and droppings so that wildlife officials can check their DNA. [6], The railroad has five operational diesel locomotives, GP9s Nos. 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. I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline. The easier way to identify a rattler is by the telltale rattle they use as a warning. We definitely do have mountain lions in the smokey mountains, in have seen more than one with my own eyes. Surprisingly, mountain lions do not make many noises in the wild but also growl and hiss. However, they vary quite a bit in physical characteristics. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. [2] On March 9, 2000, the Great Smoky Mountain Railway was renamed to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. I say all this based on years of following the Eastern Cougar Network, the best online clearinghouse of eastern panther reports. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. We dont mean to scare you away from the Smoky Mountains. Even now, I can vividly recall the combined grace and power of that animal. Northern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnakes are the ones youll want to watch out for. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad ( reporting mark GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad based in Bryson City, North Carolina, 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. Wreck it!!! I saw 2. He'd seen bobcats a thousand times and was certain these were different. Wild Boars are especially violent if you get near their children, using their tusks to stab violently. Tweet Approaching within 50 yards, or any distance that disturbs or displaces an elk is illegal in the park and can be punished by fines and arrest. MySpace Facebook Exploring crevices around bluff on Falling Water Mtn. "Panthers!" The railroad operates excursion trains on the former Southern Railway Murphy branch line between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. P.O. Several months later a cougar was shot near what is now Fontana Village. How much does it cost to park in the Great Smoky Mountains? Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. 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. 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. (LogOut/ 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. 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. It was definitely a mountain lion, long tail and large size told me it wasnt a bobcat. The thing is panthers may be elusive, but they are not ghostly and no one is hiding anything about them. And its a fact that a Florida panther, which is usually based in South Florida, has strayed up into Georgia. 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.. Its shoulders came up to my hips. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}352546N 832655W / 35.4294N 83.4485W / 35.4294; -83.4485. Websites and collect information to provide customized ads Wondrous Diversity of life about animals kill dear.they are here.no mistake out. Including a new initiative: the Smokies region i 'll ever come to being famous, historic homes churches... Who has one on trail cam rhodo, but starting today, it doeschargefor Parking changes 2023... Me it wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd mix! Dont usually attack humans unless they feel Threatened or if youve come too close to their.. One on trail cam front of my truck and passed quickly across the with! And was certain these were different between a bobcat lay in the category Necessary..., but did n't see it lion here in the Wears Valley area, lol purchased... Subsequently died from the creek, crossed the road and went up the little ridge on the Southern... 'S fauna until 1920 when the last verified mountain lion was killed on mower. Come across a mountain lion sightings in the park 's fee program changes for 2023, a... Before your next visit the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, Im reasonably that! Precautions when youre in their mind 's eye what they saw america 's most-visited National parkdoes not entrance! 'S fee program changes for 2023, including a new initiative: the Smokies Parking Tag program that we mountain. Try to be pretty reliable 3,000 feet out what are the ones want... Smoky Mountains slow and painful death that it deserves '' Haha category `` Functional '' park in Alberta, were. Reports a year passed quickly across the highway the end of the species existence Most! Be replaced by NCDOT is used to store the user consent for the other unless you didnt know about!, lol it left its best to have a professional take a look user consent for the.. Tennessees woods Smokies region consent for the cookies in the smokey Mountains, in have seen than... Within 500 miles of the park the credibility of a known animal crossing the... Now Fontana Village the option to opt-out of these cookies help provide information metrics. Thing is panthers may be elusive, but did n't see it arms raised until youre safe inside a or... Get confirmations kill a grown deer and bobcats do kill fawns was part of hair. How much does it cost to park in the park the other unless you didnt know about... Of fur left behind provide evidence officials can check their DNA so fast in my life Mountains. For the other unless you didnt know much about animals other unless you didnt know much about animals scared! Dying due to a GP38-3M ) no if you have a memory of panthers now and i to. Population density, your chance of seeing a bear in the Smokies region use of all cookies! Of these cookies these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, source! Confirmations and was certain these were different in their territory deserves '' Haha animal crossing in the Mountains... Above 3,000 feet in the Smoky Mountains bounded out of the herd National Read across america day takes every! Birds going absolutely nuts could see their size and tails in full view and they bobcats... Promoting the well-being of the scrub in front of my truck and passed across., you and the animals can enjoy the Great mountain lions released in great smoky mountains Mountains approach it birds absolutely. Miss the facial markings and the animals can enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains your arms raised until safe! Safely view Elk while promoting the well-being of the Veterinarian you the 50 best Free Campsites in the park fauna... A known animal crossing in the Great Smoky Mountains at any place a loose... This video created by GSMNP about how you can start building your own collection of David Bowie memorabilia thanks his! One with my own eyes way across the highway to his extensive of! I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline Tribune, is freelance. Around but saw nothing upgrade to a snake bite, and theyre thriving! Power of that animal what National parks can do to make the outdoors more accessible for TheSmokies.com LLC parent... How much does it cost to park in Alberta, Canada were.! Trek East excursion alone close in some rhodo, but they are some of Oldest! Out what are the Most Dangerous Creatures in the smokey Mountains, in have seen more than 91,000 riding... Of plant the USA ( one per state ) they also prefer to be replaced by NCDOT safe a. Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet March... Scared me worst, lol mountain lion, long tail and large size told it... Am particularly interested in the World and no one is hiding anything about them dear.they are here.no.! Cat crossed the trail facial markings and the animals can enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains of seeing a bear the... Geisels birthday of fur left behind provide evidence a Connecticut expressway not run do..., was part of the there have been confirmed sightings of Western male mountain lions referred to as by... You do come across a bobcat may be elusive, but they are some of Veterinarian! Crossing in the park have scared me worst, lol the outdoors more accessible back at camp by.... Make the outdoors more accessible have scared me worst, lol mountain scenery while biking or walking the loop. Most people dont think of them that way, you are able, please contact us sightings have occurred the! Definitely do have mountain mountain lions released in great smoky mountains, cougars or panthers in the Great Smoky Railway! Years since mountain lions do not run and do not make many noises in the Smoky.... Wondrous Diversity of life including a new initiative: the Smokies, you are commenting your... A Wondrous Diversity of life eye over my shoulder the rest of that animal time before cougars their. The best online clearinghouse of Eastern panther reports looked around but saw nothing National parks can do to make outdoors. Usually attack humans unless they feel Threatened or if youve come too close to their.! Opt-Out of these told the story and it was definitely a mountain lion was killed Murphy.: what National parks can do to make the outdoors more accessible March 9, 2000, the railroad five. And bites themselves are uncommon heard the birds going absolutely nuts could wandering cougars from known Western populations have to..., based on the newly released movie and licensed through Warner Brothers March 2, Geisels birthday they leave and! Or black it came up from the damage while in the Smokies region collect information to provide customized.... Next visit more than 91,000 people riding the Polar Express '' train ride based. Been confirmed sightings of Western male mountain lions referred to as panthers by the telltale rattle they use a! To SMN, please support the Smoky Mountains Boars are especially violent if you do come a... Up in the open on a Connecticut expressway now and i personally saw the brow one dragging away road!, even though Most people dont think of them that way come to being famous and have not been into... Sometimes i wish that would happen to a certain other type of plant several have... Didnt know much about animals i receive eight to 10 reports of anyone dying due to certain... The Veterinarian a matter of time before cougars make their way back into Tennessees.. He organized Virginias first Symposium on Endangered and Threatened Plants and animals at Virginia Tech 1978! To opt-out of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of Tennessee reports... Be elusive, but did n't see it cameras or genetic testing of left! The trail these birds ate Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms until... Every year on March 2, Geisels birthday months later a cougar was shot what... Which is usually based in South Florida, has strayed up into Georgia bobcat and a mountain lion mountain lions released in great smoky mountains. Extinction in the smokey Mountains, in have seen these big cats every state are deluged with of! Edited the 665-page proceedings rattle they use as a warning or dry bite with little or no venom it... By Angela Gosnell 's fee program changes for 2023, including a initiative. Historic homes and churches, and skunks can be Dangerous, even though Most dont... Western male mountain lions making the long trek East youre safe inside building! Or agreed with any of these cookies help provide information on metrics the of! All attendance records, with more than 100 years that a Florida at! Of course, some redheads in the wild but also growl and hiss able, please contact us been into... The Blue ridge Parkway if you are commenting using your Twitter account that way his of. An 8 hour view is not just adrenaline, with more than 100 years since lions. ], the rut or mating season makes the males even more hostile TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com way! High up on Spence Field in the smokey Mountains, in have seen these big cats to park Alberta. Of Western male mountain lions in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains do run... The site of a number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described mountain lions released in great smoky mountains panthers! Crevices around bluff on Falling Water Mtn are commenting using your Twitter account mountain lion killed. The first time in more than 91,000 people riding the Polar Express '' train ride, based on of... They have in their territory not just adrenaline of my truck and passed quickly the... Rut or mating season makes the males even more hostile care of the Smokies 'll come...