1 A Haymarket resident spotted a large creature that appeared to be a long-tailed cat on a trail cam Monday morning. [3] In addition to operating tourists trains, the railroad has transported freight via an interchange with the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad in Sylva near Jackson Paper Manufacturing.[4]. 10 seconds later they Sprinted by me (40 feet) and up the mountain. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. With luck, youll get a couple of kicks before they walk away. A policeman reported a tiger loose in Knox County. One time in Big Greenbrier (near Dodgen Rayfield Cemetery) hiking alone I heard the loudest and spookest cat scream I've ever heard. And so, I try to keep an open mind. They cite a glaring lack of hard evidence. So for me, I know they are here. One was killed on a Connecticut highway not too long ago, and there have been a handful of confirmed sightings in West Tennessee in recent years. 1009, GP9 No. 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. What national parks can do to make the outdoors more accessible, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Cherokee cty NC. I heard from a second or third hand source (but folks who are fairly reliable) that the park service has a confirmed sighting (and pictures) of mt. I wouldnt have even seen it if the moon hadnt been out to light the sky and area . Witness credibility is a key component of the effort to locate panthers in the Smokies. This marked the first time in more than 100 years that a cougar had been seen in that state. In 2004, GSMR debuted its "Polar Express" train ride, based on the newly released movie and licensed through Warner Brothers. He was long, lean and youthful looking. [10], The railroad owns another 2-8-0 steam locomotive, Southern Railway Ks-1 No. Interesting read on "the Barnes girls". Plan your visit today! Despite the possibility of a restoration, there were currently no known plans for one as of 2022. Wild black panthers have never existed in the wild in North America, said Hunter. But, its very hard to convince anybody of that fact. Either way, its best to have a professional take a look. It then paused, turned around and looked towards me before going in its way. TN Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands. These fearless animals were large, and often weighed upwards to 1000 pounds. Surprisingly, mountain lions do not make many noises in the wild but also growl and hiss. About 125 pounds and a very long tail. Would make a good story. 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. 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. While I believe that many of the [5] However, the Tuckasegee River excursions between Dillsboro and Bryson City continued with the trips starting at Bryson City and lay over in Dillsboro. [9] Afterwards, the restoration work of No. Young males often travel great distances in search of a new territory.. What happened to Dennis Martin. Bobcats are predators and carnivores whose prey includes squirrels, raccoons, chickens, rabbits, birds, mice and other rodents or smaller creatures. The move was awkward but he felt the blade sink into the attackers body. If you do come across a mountain lion, do not run and do not approach it. Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). [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]. Wild hog Sus scrofa (non-native) CERVIDAE. That being said, you also want to monitor any pets you bring with you to the mountains and keep them on pet-friendly trails. You may have to cut yourself to draw them in and all. Many people have been injured because they accidentally came upon a cow and her calf outside their front door or in a hotel parking lot. I want to be a skeptical guy, but my nature is to believe people. Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. I hope they are in there also I wouldn't be surprised. Have you seen any big cats or large cats in the Smoky Mountains? A social network for fans of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Family Felidae contains a number of species, including jaguars, ocelots, mountain lions, bobcats, lynxes, and domestic cats. On June 17, 2015, the U.S. Its shoulders came up to my hips. It wasnt scared of us at all but even my Shepherd height mix dog refused to go out for 8 hours until it left. 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.. 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. The horse subsequently died from the damage while in the care of the Veterinarian. And I have to make a subjective judgment whether or not the person really saw a cougar. A dispersing male was shot in central Georgia a few years ago. ", Contributing: Andrew Jones, Asheville Citizen Times. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Wapiti or elk Cervus elaphus The parking tags, which are license-plate specific, cost $5 for daily parking, $15 for seven days and [2] The GSMR would eventually become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States with about 200,000 passengers each year. Mountain lions have been caught on camera in Indiana, and Tennessee wildlife officials maintain a map that shows confirmed cougar sightings, including at least If you feel an elk is injured or ill, contact the rangers to report it. The driver was a man who has hunted in the area his whole life and has an ability to spot animals that is almost magical to me. Scent carries more strongly with hot food, so dont hang around outside if youve just picked up dinner to-go. Also, a mountain lion is something to be feared. You may just feel bad for a while, or you could have stronger symptoms. WebThe $40 annual parking tags are available online through Great Smoky Mountains Association. In late 1999, the MacNeills sold the GSMR property to the American Heritage Railways, who were the owners of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Colorado. This was generally believed to be the same cat Mr. Sparks had wounded. 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). You couldnt miss the facial markings and the stripes as it quickly turned away. That is, I think they are ones that have wandered into the eastern mountains from Florida or the western states; or, more likely, that they are ones that were trapped elsewhere and deliberately released. Ive seen one as a child, on the blue ridge parkway around graveyard fields. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. One bite and youre on your way to the hospital. 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. Currently, theres no evidence of a breeding mountain lion population in the Smoky Mountains (photo by 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. 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. 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. Linzey points to research published in 2000 that used genetic analysis to determine that all cougars in North America north of Nicaragua are actually part of the same subspecies. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. cougar in Tennessee. 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. Once I was in an airboat way out in a Florida swamp at 2AM. If they get you on the ground, curl into a fetal position to protect your face and head. Also, your average bobcat is 2 to 4 feet long with a gray to brown coat and a short bobbed tail. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In 1991, it was purchased by the GSMR until 2005, when it was taken out of service due to firebox issues. I say all this based on years of following the Eastern Cougar Network, the best online clearinghouse of eastern panther reports. Not just a re-hash of past sightings over the past few decades. (NOTE: This story, reprinted courtesy of The Tennessee Conservationistmagazine, first appeared in that publication in 2012. 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. Atagahi: The Secret Lake Hidden in the Smoky Mountains, Where Is the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin? My own opinion is that cougars occur in the park. The cat ran down the hill. 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. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, biologists think our native Eastern cougars have been extinct for many years. [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. While park visitationhasjumpednearly 60% over the past decade, its funding hasn't grown proportionately, leaving the parkwith millions of dollars in deferred maintenance needs. Rattlesnakes are usually brown, sometimes with orange or black. Soruce: Blue Ridge Parkway NPS. I recently purchased land in Quebeck, Tennessee, so now I know I have to be on my awares. The DNR says not aware of any populations? As the animal tried to bite into his neck he hunched forward instinctively to protect himself and blindly stabbed as hard as he could over his left shoulder. I've been distracted with "stuff" but still get in the park a time or two or three each month. Camping details and reservation information. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Bobcats are very common in the Smokies region, but they are very secretive and are seldom seen. 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. Its been more than 100 years since mountain lions referred to as panthers by the mountain folk lived in the Smokies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Adrenaline kicks in and the bobcat starts to look much bigger than it actually is. State wildlife agencies in every state are deluged with thousands of reports a year. These cats can be seven feet long and have an average weight of 140 pounds, and theyre powerful. Searches were conducted. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Learn more about the park's fee program changes for 2023, including a new initiative: the Smokies Parking Tag program. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution! 722, which originally worked on the former Murphy Branch from 1904 to 1952 and operated for the Southern Railway's steam excursion program from 1970 to 1980 until GSMR purchased it in late 2000, where it currently remains in storage. 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. Recently delivered to the GSMR on June 28, 2021. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WJHL) The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) experienced its second busiest year in 2022 with nearly 13 million visits. There are also exemptions for school groups, drivers with disabled parking placards or license pate holders, and people with certain special use permitsor who are conducting permitted research. I saw a bobcat cross Forge Creek Road a bit over a year ago while I was walking. Those that have lived here all their lives can tell the difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion. Orobably a momither and off spring. Let us know in the comments! They also prefer to be out in the evening and nighttime, so try to be back at camp by dusk. 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. This is especially true if youre around someone not following bear precautions, such as using food lockers and tossing your trash immediately. The thing is panthers may be elusive, but they are not ghostly and no one is hiding anything about them. Not too long ago you could walk into a pet store and purchase a cougar kitten. And the search turned up nothing. This, dear reader, is a stark reality to be faced with. I frequently hear from people who have spotted a mountain lion in Western North Carolina. There are many stories about cougars that have made their way to the agency over the years. This marks Linzeys 16th appearance at the event. They dont usually attack humans unless they feel threatened or if youve come too close to their babies. Keep the faith! Terms of Service. I didnt have time to exaggerate a bobcat. Mountain lions are significantly larger than bobcats. One of us is wrong but neither is lying. Oh yes they are here in E TN. Perhaps not. Even when the Florida population was down to only thirty, several showed up dead on the roadside every year. In 1928 Albert F. Ganier, writing in the Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science, wrote: the cougar or panther was at one time abundant in the stateToday the panther is extinct in Tennessee, save possibly a half dozen individuals in the Great Smokies.. Bobcat encounters are rare and often these animals completely avoid human contact unless they are rabid. Click here to view the web story version of this article. 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