But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Report an Issue | Cow elks soon learned how to better protect themselves and their calves from predators. 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. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The railroad operates excursion trains on the former Southern Railway Murphy branch line between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. 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. 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!! Plan your visit today! Purchased in 2020 from Western Rail Locomotive in. Besides reviewing the sighting reports, Linzey seeks other evidence of mountain lions. Whatever the source, Im reasonably certain that we have mountain lions in the Smokies region. Stand outside i heard the birds going absolutely nuts. As of right now the population in the Black Hills of South Dakota is breeding and expanding. If true, Iwould guess that the park service would not advertise this widely, but I hope they will at least give us a clear, honest "yes" or "no" on this one. These people are not lying. document.getElementById('cloak96fa7cd342640a6f100bd7fba15504d5').innerHTML = ''; I have concluded that approximately 40 percent of the reports are probably of a mountain lion, Linzey stated. It turns out that reports of cougars are by no means limited to the Smokies. Explore a historic mill. They have in their mind's eye what they saw. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. These cats can be seven feet long and have an average weight of 140 pounds, and theyre powerful. WebHundreds of years ago, extensive herds of the great Eastern Elk roamed the Southern Appalachian mountains, which the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains are part of. The move was awkward but he felt the blade sink into the attackers body. 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. I then called the Crossville,Tennessee wildlife conservation center and the officer thought I was crazy. There are both in wnc Ive seen them Ive got a skull from a female mtn lion killed on hwy 25 in Hendersonville. Thanks to a controversial but very successful reintroduction program, mountain lions are now back in the Great Smoky Mountains after an absence of almost Any large forested area such as the Smoky Mountains is bound to have some dangerous creatures. Fish and Wildlife Service. Probably keep it somewhat quiet like the early years of peregrine falcons. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, biologists think our native Eastern cougars have been extinct for many years. Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. One, people are releasing them. On June 17, 2015, the U.S. Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV. WebCoordinates: 35.4294N 83.4485W. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Ive seen one as a child, on the blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields. Unfortunately the animals ventured outside of the How much does it cost to park in the Great Smoky Mountains? [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. Have you seen any big cats or large cats in the Smoky Mountains? 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. Mountain lions are significantly larger than bobcats. I know it's offensive to disagree with what people see with their own eyes. The easier way to identify a rattler is by the telltale rattle they use as a warning. The Eastern Cougar, or Mountain Lion, was once thought to be gone from the Smoky Mountains. I really, really hope this is true. Undermining the credibility of a number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described as black panthers. 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. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the most interesting monsters mentioned on Travel Channel's Mountain Monsters (media photo from Travel Channel, werewolf rendering from Adobe stock), Lake proponents argued that turning Cades Cove into a body of water would promote tourism (photo by Patrick Jennings/stock.adobe.com), While I havent seen any, I have been conducting my own research and have set up various trail cameras in areas they have supposedly been spotted. I hope they are in there also I wouldn't be surprised. Wild Boars are especially violent if you get near their children, using their tusks to stab violently. Ive talked with 2 different GSMNP employees, one attached to wildlife biology, whove seen lions themselves in or near the park. I didnt have time to exaggerate a bobcat. To be honest with you,we hate paying for camping. As of 2023 it has been said that there is plans to begin the restoration .[11][12]. You might be wondering if youll run across any wildlife or animals in the smoky mountains, and what those animals might be. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, some more interesting than others. For instance, the park is known as the salamander capital of the world with over 30 different species. Theoretically, a bobcat encounter could be fatal, but the more likely result of a bobcat is some nasty scratches, a few deep cuts and a lot of pain. Dont walk up to check on it because Mom is very likely nearby and will charge you. Weighing in at three to four or even five times larger than a bobcat, the mountain lion is up to 6 feet long, has an orange-brown to yellow-brown coat, a slender body, a rounded head and a long, cylindrical tail with a dark tip. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Game cameras or genetic testing of fur left behind provide evidence. Of course, some redheads in the Park have scared me worst, lol. There's plenty to see and do in the park! Bears are also territorial and protective. Good to hear from you Greg! About a week later, officials indicated they believed what the policeman had seen early that morning was not a tiger. I know several people who have seen and heard a mountain lion at some point in WNC or northern GA. Not only have I heard them but I have seen a black one. This marked the first time in more than 100 years that a cougar had been seen in that state. Both snakes like to hide under buildings and fences too. 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. (615) 353-1133. The Smoky Mountains are smoky in the same way that the Blue Ridge Mountains are blue: We gaze at the peaks through a subtle blue-gray filter, and Kephart captured its beauty better than anyone. Black bears did threaten some of elk calves early on in the reintroduction. Pictures of cougars taken in other states have in recent years been passed off as being from any of a number of Tennessee counties. The agency line, so to speak, is that there is no official documentation of the presence of cougars occurring in the wild in the state of Tennessee, says Chris Hunter, furbearer program coordinator with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. Several miles of the line between the far western end of the Nantahala Gorge and Andrews are out of service. . Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Cougar tracks are large, up to four inches wide. The animal had a scar on its left shoulder; its shoulder blade had been cut it two. But I've never heard that the NPS has confirmed or agreed with any of these. Camp under the stars. And, again, if one does bite you, seek proper medical attention. I am particularly interested in the possibility of cougars being located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. Male Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet wide. 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. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Also, several National Park Service rangers have told me that they have spotted mountain lions while patrolling the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokies region. However, rare sightings have become more prevalent in recent years. Camping details and reservation information. If you feel an elk is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report it. He managed to inflict a deep wound in its left shoulder. I welcome your reports and would love to see photographic evidence you may have collected. 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. He has his memory of panthers now and I have a memory of bobcats. We definitely do have mountain lions in the smokey mountains, in have seen more than one with my own eyes. 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. He organized Virginias first Symposium on Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals at Virginia Tech in 1978 and edited the 665-page proceedings. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.. I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline. The last time Sparks had seen them behave like this a bear was in the area. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. In fact, the only one Ive ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. Read Also: Secrets in the Smokies: 5 little known facts and stories. 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. I live 2000 up in the Wears Valley area. Theres never been a melanistic cougar found anywhere.. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokes region. Adrenaline kicks in and the bobcat starts to look much bigger than it actually is. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Certainly, you can find many of these animals across the country in urban or suburban areas. Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant progressing sustainability in our community, through the Commonwealth of Virginia, and around the world. The following year, 27 more elk from Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada were released. However, the engine continued to remain on the B&ML for two more years. Youll mostly find Timber Rattlesnakes above 3,000 feet 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. Kyle W, Robbinsville High School. A dispersing male was shot in central Georgia a few years ago. Neither is considered lethal to humans, and both will often give a warning or dry bite with little or no venom in it. 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. 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. 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. 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. It was definitely a mountain lion, long tail and large size told me it wasnt a bobcat. However, if theyre hungry and presented with easy prey, they may attack children or your pets. Several persons who have submitted recent reports have said that they were planning to attend my presentation this year, so we should have an interesting discussion. [9] Afterwards, the restoration work of No. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. In cooler months, they tend to hide in rock fissures or under stumps and along streams. Road Closures Due to Weather The new program is meant to help generate revenue to improve visitor services and address maintenance needs. Mountain lion, rhodo, nettle.I gotta get back soon. George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kepharts Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooneys History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. [5] However, the Tuckasegee River excursions between Dillsboro and Bryson City continued with the trips starting at Bryson City and lay over in Dillsboro. Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site! 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