If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. [5] However, the Tuckasegee River excursions between Dillsboro and Bryson City continued with the trips starting at Bryson City and lay over in Dillsboro. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. So how does Linzey, author of several guidebooks including Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and The Mammals of Virginia, reconcile these reports with the official governmental view that the Eastern Cougar has died off? Exploring crevices around bluff on Falling Water Mtn. The railroad owns the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum in Bryson City, North Carolina; located across Greenlee Street from the Bryson City Depot. Certainly, you can find many of these animals across the country in urban or suburban areas. Who knows what happened to all those animals.. One of the biggest dangers with bears in the Smokies is that theyre known to sniff out food as youre carrying it from your car to your cabin or RV. . [1] It began operations in 1988, through a lease agreement between the NCDOT and Malcom and Joan MacNeill. [9] Afterwards, the restoration work of No. Its my supposition that any mountain lions living in this region today arent descendents of the genetic stock that were originally here. 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. If you come across a cub, do not approach it! We dont mean to scare you away from the Smoky Mountains. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. Its true there are also bobcats but it know the difference. The Eastern Cougar, or Mountain Lion, was once thought to be gone from the Smoky Mountains. 1 A Haymarket resident spotted a large creature that appeared to be a long-tailed cat on a trail cam Monday morning. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. Game cameras or genetic testing of fur left behind provide evidence. 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. Even now, I can vividly recall the combined grace and power of that animal. Please, however, do not try to pet a bobcat. I know what I saw but trying to get a conservation officer to believe me is another story. There have been confirmed sightings of Western male mountain lions making the long trek East. They also prefer to be out in the evening and nighttime, so try to be back at camp by dusk. Even if only 10 percent of these reports are valid, that still allows for a relatively significant mountain lion population in the Smokes region. Gatlinburg Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). 2023 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The railroad operates excursion trains on the former Southern Railway Murphy branch line between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. DNA analysis of the hair could potentially confirm the animals presence in the park. What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? Visiting the Historic Barn, Is Mountain Monsters Real? Popular National Parks: The Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah ; While the Great Smoky Mountains national park doesn't have the oldest mountains, its mountains are definitely up there. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It came up from the creek, crossed the road and went up the little ridge on the other side. The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently announced preparations for construction on I-40 over Harmon Den Road that would integrate a wildlife crossing into the new structure. cougar in Tennessee. The resurgence of a breeding population of mountain lions helps maintain balance in the ecosystem. Exploration brought unsustainable hunting practices, new diseases and competition with domestic livestock for food resources. 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. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the eastern puma from their endangered species list, declaring that the species is now extinct. "the nettle diesthe slow and painful death that it deserves" Haha. Regardless, you should seek medical attention if bitten by a snake to ensure you receive proper treatment in case of neurological problems, soft tissue damage, or other symptoms. 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. 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. (NOTE: This story, reprinted courtesy of The Tennessee Conservationistmagazine, first appeared in that publication in 2012. One went all the way across the midwest with multiple DNA confirmations and was killed on a Connecticut expressway. Buckskin color with a long tail is no Bobcat! Bobcats are very common in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive and are seldom seen. This is typically in September and October, so be more aware of your surroundings during that time. These fearless animals were large, and often weighed upwards to 1000 pounds. A Smokies panther would be either such an animal or the usual released pet theory. 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. The new program is meant to help generate revenue to improve visitor services and address maintenance needs. The DNR says not aware of any populations? This is recent info. Adding even more confusion are the many hoaxes that have made their way across the Internet. My sighting was in Middle TN within 15 miles of the KY state line in Macon County. All rights reserved. Here's the gold standard map of confirmed panthers in the East. Camp under the stars. Deep in the park. About 125 pounds and a very long tail. 1702, which was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September 1942 for the U.S. Army during World War II. Seen one on a hunting trip leaped across forestry rd.42 in Blueridge WMA. I kept a close eye over my shoulder the rest of that day. 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. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. Dont walk up to check on it because Mom is very likely nearby and will charge you. We are. [5], In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused the GSMR to suspend operations. 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. Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website to learn about elk biology. GSMNP biologist Joe Yarkovich recently conducted an informative seminar about elk reintroduction with Discover Life in America which can be found on Youtube. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (reporting mark GSMR) is a freight and heritage railroad based in Bryson City, North Carolina, United States. Cougar tracks are large, up to four inches wide. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I told the story and it was put in the local paper. Give a Gift, 2023 Created by Angela Gosnell. Orobably a momither and off spring. Any large forested area such as the Smoky Mountains is bound to have some dangerous creatures. Also, I have a friend who lives just off Rocky Flats who worked for years in the Forest Service out West where there are big cats and she says one came very close to her while she was gardening. Readers can contact him at P.O. Be aware, though, and take precautions when youre in their territory. As many as 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the continent. 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. 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. The Cougar Network, a non-profit science organization, lists on its website sightings documented with physical evidence in a number of nearby states including Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Mountain lions are significantly larger than bobcats. Male Elk can be as heavy as 700 pounds with antlers up to five feet wide. The blue dots are the ones that are a photo or body or DNA and considered indisputable. So for me, I know they are here. 1702 steam locomotive was featured in the 1966 film, This Property Is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, and Charles Bronson.[14]. Nearly everyone agrees that its only a matter of time before cougars make their way back into Tennessees woods. [6], The railroad has five operational diesel locomotives, GP9s Nos. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Also, a mountain lion is something to be feared. Recently delivered to the GSMR on June 28, 2021. Wapiti or elk Cervus elaphus I frequently hear from people who have spotted a mountain lion in Western North Carolina. I then called the Crossville,Tennessee wildlife conservation center and the officer thought I was crazy. These people are not lying. For some reason they were fidgety and staying close together, lifting their heads up from the thick grass that covered the mountaintop bald to sniff the air more often than usual. 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. Results of the study are expected in 2023. Young males often travel great distances in search of a new territory.. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, biologists think our native Eastern cougars have been extinct for many years. 2021 The Smoky Mountain News. 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. It was not a mountain lion or a cougar or a panther. Several months later a cougar was shot near what is now Fontana Village. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Cades Cove Lake: The effort to turn the Cove into a body of water, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward, 5 Reasons Why Dollywood Is Better Than Disney World, What To Expect at the Dolly Parton Stampede in Pigeon Forge, The Best Places To Stay in the Smoky Mountains, What You Should Know. They are in the WMAS of North Georgia. About a week later, officials indicated they believed what the policeman had seen early that morning was not a tiger. In fact, the only one Ive ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. Kyle W, Robbinsville High School. As with most animals, theyll typically only attack if they feel threatened. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There are many stories about cougars that have made their way to the agency over the years. Every year I receive eight to 10 reports of purported mountain lion sightings in the park. I mean an 8 hour view is not just adrenaline. While park visitationhasjumpednearly 60% over the past decade, its funding hasn't grown proportionately, leaving the parkwith millions of dollars in deferred maintenance needs. Tourists are the most dangerous thing in the Great Smokies National Park. 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. Undermining the credibility of a number of Tennessee cougar reports is the fact that many are described as black panthers. Still, youll want to be cautious, especially when hiking through grassy areas. I actually walked an extra 4 miles to avoid going back the way I came on that morning. It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. 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. 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. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Report an Issue | 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. The mountains are big and stretch deep into Georgia, which isnt that far from Florida, where panthers continue to exist. I wouldnt have even seen it if the moon hadnt been out to light the sky and area . 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. Are Some RV Campgrounds Requiring Vaccination Cards? Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands. (LogOut/ WebThis small part of Smoky Mountain Light is dedicated to the effort to confirm effort to record the continuing existence of mountain lions in Western North Carolina in general. [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 mountain lion, Linzey noted, was part of the park's fauna until 1920 when the last verified mountain lion was killed. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. I welcome your reports and would love to see photographic evidence you may have collected. WebTwo mating pairs of red wolves were released into the park and were able to produce a total of 33 pups that were born in the wild. The bridge is the first of five set to be replaced by NCDOT. Gerry Broome, Associated Press Editors note: A longer version of this column by George Ellison first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2003. Drop the food, and back away slowly with your arms raised until youre safe inside a building or your RV. Cow elks soon learned how to better protect themselves and their calves from predators. 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. Have you ever come across any of these animals? 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The sky and area seen early that morning June 28, 2021 of No undermining the credibility a! This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused GSMR. Usual released pet theory elk reintroduction with Discover Life in America which be. What i saw but trying to get a conservation officer to believe me another...