are there mountain lions in south carolina

All Rights Reserved. However, its unclear how many there arebecause no one tracks it. I was just sitting here, and all of a sudden I looked and there it was on my front porch. Don't underestimate the power and unpredictable nature of a feral hog! You have permission to edit this article. At the time of European settlement it occupied a wide range of habitats from Canada well into parts of South America, and was found throughout the continental United States. But Im not sure well ever see an established breeding population.. Usually, this is a result of their food sources being destroyed or the use of rat poison. The eastern cougar or eastern puma (Puma concolor couguar) is a subspecies designation proposed in 1946 for cougar populations in eastern North America. Jason Hawley says his office gets lots of . The Service acknowledges the broad acceptance within the scientific community of a single North American subspecies, identified as Puma concolor couguar (applying the scientific nomenclature that has been used to refer to the Eastern puma subspecies to all North American pumas), based on genetic analysis, the agency said in a release announcing the new rule. Back away slowly, preferably to a place of shelter like a building or vehicle. Their bobbed tail is one of their most distinguishing features. Many believe mountain lions still exist in Pennsylvania. Bobcats, Lynx rufus, one of six cat species native to the United States, can be found in each of the lower 48 states, including all of South Carolina. We Connect. Lets muddy the water a little more. It is unknown whether they see them as competition or food. Mountain lions do not currently have an established population in South Carolina. Old-timers there used to point out the bear pits where their ancestors trapped black bears for their pelts. We want to connect with you to know your story and learn more about all you will contribute to the Furman community. Their name is derived from their short, or bobbed, tail. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the last Pennsylvania mountain lion was killed in the late 1800s. Therefore, it is more than possible to live near them and never see them. Mountain lions are sneaky animals, he said. Petersen quotes local nature guide Kathi Livingston, 'I know they say the cougars we see are escaped or released. Panthers are simply another term for mountain lions or cougars, which are actually known by many different names. The big cats once roamed the entire Southeast but were decimated by hunting. While its uncommon, an individual or a few from this population can roam as far north as the southern tip of South Carolina. Then there are occasional reports of mountain lion sightings in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, but no one to our knowledge has ever totally proved that what they saw actually was . Their small size paired with their stealth ability allows them to stay hidden quite well. The city of Simpsonville has also received calls about mountain lions over the years, according to Colleen Jenkins, an animal code enforcement officer for the city. By Edmund Duncan May 31, 2022. However, they werent able to provide evidence of the encounter. Bo Petersen of the Post and Courier reported March 7, 2011, that 'Despite biologists' saying the eastern cougar is no more, big cat sightings persist.' The lab investigated the potential origin for the mountain lion using the lab's database which includes mountain lion samples from populations in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Florida. Leopards, however, live in Africa and Asia. Kristin Hitchcock. The Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC main office is located at Rocket Homes Real Estate, 701 Griswold St, Suite 21, Detroit, MI 48226. Contact: (855) 411-0505. 26 Sep 16. I guess a Florida panther could possibly roam into South Carolina, but Im not sure they would make it that far without getting hit by a car, said Butfiloski. There are Mountain lions in North Carolina. February 12, 2019, the story of a man who claimed to have been attacked by a black panther in Georgetown county spread quickly across news outlets and social media. I was shocked when I first saw the prints, because they were so big, said Claes. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. Have you spotted any of the above in an out-of-place spot in the Palmetto State! Instead, Lucas said the majority of sightings are likely misidentification of other animals like bears, coyotes or large dogs. The last known living Eastern Cougar was sighted and suspected to have been killed in 1938. "There are no known cougars in North Carolina," Jodie Owens of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission told the Observer. Yesterday around 5 p.m., my husband, a realtor and myself had a Mountain Lion jump the road in front of us about 30 yards ahead of us while walking a 19 acre property in Murphy NC mountains! Despite this, S.C. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Greg Lucas said the department gets at least one call a month from people claiming to have seen one of the big cats. When it comes to black panther sightings, scientists believe these animals are most likely smaller bears, black wolves or panthers sighted when lighting conditions and shadows cause them to appear darker in color than they are. You probably won't find a mountain . 3300 Poinsett Highway There is another possibility that seems to be increasing in likelihood in recent years. But for one to make it from the Southwest deserts to the mid-Atlantic mountains, Piedmont, or coastal areas is unlikely. Are there Mountain Lions in South Carolina? There are a number of answers to this question. We Inform. South Carolina has two populations of black bears. There has never been a confirmed or documented case of a melanistic mountain lion in the United States. The last native mountain lion known to be killed in Pennsylvania is on display in the State Museum of Pennsylvania . The mountain lion is the largest cat in the borders of the United States and it roams mostly across the western states. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. They are shy and do not like people, though they will live near populated areas. Adult males may be more than 8 feet long (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), and can weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. I stopped the car thirty feet away, and we stared at each other for a few moments. The large cats are not staying and breeding in the state. Currently, experts are adamant that there is no known mountain lion population in South Carolina. Bobcats are an elusive species. This tail is a distinctive feature of mountain lions, but . See more columns online at www.moultrienews.com. Many residents insist theyre either seeing or hearing mountain lions despite the lack of evidence. The story was soon revealed to be a hoax but it reignited the many rumors of panthers and large wild cats in South Carolina. Nikolay Kapustin, deputy zoo administrator and veterinarian at the Greenville Zoo, said the prints, which measure 2.5 inches long, are likely coyote tracks. Another panther blog carries a local comment, 'My dad was born and raised in the Cainhoy area and used to tell me stories of the mountain lions that were around. So what IS out there that these folks are seeing? Furman students are academically challenged and leave Furman as lifelong learners who are changing the communities around them. Brandon Tensley to join Capital Bs national team as politics reporter, Upstate student works to start relief effort for Turkey earthquake victims. They typically target a sick deer or other individual animal not in prime condition. Driving on, I reflected that many of the Upstate servicemen called up for the Army in 1918 were placed in the 81 st Wildcat Division. In May 2018, a mountain lion attacked two mountain bikers 30 miles east of Seattle, Washington, killing one, but it's only the 15th fatal attack in North America since 1970. More recent mountain lion reports stem from the Upstate. According to wildlife expert Ken Burton on the enature website, there are mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky Mountains. Fish and Wildlife Service, actually investigated several hundred big cat reports throughout the Southeast in the late 1970s and 1980s but found no proof of their existence outside of Florida. However, should one be sighted, it is now illegal to kill them. by: Dennis Matherly. The majestic cat only lives in a small portion of the United States. It had the exact cadence and shrillness of a females call when shes looking for a mate, he said. This mountain sits near the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Experts are adamant that there are no big cats in South Carolina, which they say can be confirmed because there is no roadkill or dead animals. Cougars are rather long and slender in appearance. The Mauldin Police Department tried to capture the cat using a metal cage baited with a slab of beef donated by a local grocery store but quit after trying for several days. These beautiful areas were carved with flowing water. LaRue, for instance, said people are probably seeing a house cat or black lab. The massive cat cleared the road in one swift near silent leap. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. It was a female mountain lion.. In South Carolina it is thought that the cougars occurring here were of both the eastern race (Felis concolor cougar) and the Florida race (Felis concolor coryi). When you see the name "panther" "painter", "catamount" and other cougar synonyms attached to creeks, mountain peaks, gaps, and other features of our topography, it is a testament to the fact that this large predator was not only once here in South Carolina and the eastern US, but that its presence impressed people enough to name a place after it. So heres whats happened: The U.S. Their fur is short and rather uniform reddish to light brown in color. Get more stories delivered right to your email. People who report these sightings come from all walks of life, and areusually sincere and honest. Ask anyone who spends time in the South Carolina wilderness and theyll have a number of stories of their own sightings, camera/video footage and sightings by reputable people in the community. Foolishly, they threw a dried piece of beef to the hungry carnivores. The dogs barked for several minutes, so I thought they had maybe treed some sort of animal,he said. The male mountain lion is a new individual to the lab's DNA database. With spectacular hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and sweeping views, the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina are an outdoor enthusiast's dream. He recalls that the animal's tail was as long as its body and that the huge cat appeared to take up the whole lane as he crossed over. The only established population of wild cats in South Carolina is the bobcat, which is not very large in the least. They believe what they saw, said Butfiloski. Thank you! 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 DNR swears up and down there are no mountain lions left in SC. There have also been several sightings at Clemson University over the years. They are about the same size as most domestic cats, after all. Big Cat Confusion Part of the confusion about the mysterious panther in South Carolina is that scientists now believe it is the same animal as the mountain lion that still thrives in the western area of the country and Rocky Mountains. "Many of these deaths have occurred in British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. As for the black panthers the US, the majority of people are skeptical. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. However, as people moved into the area, much of their environment was destroyed. In 2007, Katie Araujo, a Paris Mountain resident, said she came face to face with a large black cat while sitting on her front porch. 4. Slot canyons. Since 1890 in the U.S. and Canada, there have been 100 attacks on humans at all, according to the research organization The Cougar Network. South Carolina - South Carolina has not had any confirmed mountain lion sightings. The last three eastern cougars were killed in 1930 in Tennessee, New Brunswick in 1932, and Maine in 1938. While there may be a few stray mountain lions wandering around the state, there is not currently an established population. The lynx, a very close relative, roams Alaska. Furmans academics combine classroom learning and premier majors with experiences in research, internships, study away and community-centered learning. Lucas said that although there is a possibility western cougars could eventually make their way to the western Carolinas, the chances of someone having an encounter with one are extremely small. Cougars were eliminated from our state, as they were throughout much of the eastern US, for a combination of reasons including: a) loss of much of the forest and deer herd during the heavy agricultural activity of the late 1800's and b) the cougar's habit of substituting livestock for wild prey items (in the latter cases, stock owners typically took direct and terminal action against the cougars). The only established population of wild cats in South Carolina is the bobcat, which is not very large in the least. They do have a tail, but it is only about 6 to 8 inches long. However, they may also consume fish, birds, and squirrels, and some have even been seen eating insects. Well-known naturalist Dennis Chastain of Pickens says theres no doubt that there are cougars (pumas/mountain lions) in the woods and wild places of South Carolina. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Love South Carolina? (Dr. Thomas B. Horton is a history teacher at Porter-Gaud School. Theres also the matter that theyve officially been declared extinct in the eastern United States. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Mountain lions are 7-9 feet, while bobcats are 3 feet long. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. He said there used to be a den behind the Bowles horse farm before the farm was there. Tina Underwood, Contributing Writer, Last updated Too many sightings, all reporting a big cat with a long tail, big head and paws - can they all be explained away as poor visibility, overfed ferrel cats, or active imaginations? Some people even claim SCDNR is covering up the presence of mountain lions. Adult females are smaller, averaging 80-90 pounds. Sorry, Carolina Panthers football fans! Apparently, there may not ever have even been a subspecies of the critter in the East different from its big cat cousins in the West also called mountain lions the agency goes on to report. The West Virginia Wildlife Center . However, they're becoming more and more of an issue in the Piedmont. CHARLESTON Four endangered red wolves have returned to the birthplace of South Carolina, going on display in a zoo where their species freely roamed more than 300 years ago. More recently, a Piedmont resident captured a trail camera photo of what many believed to be a black panther. One is located in the mountains and the other is found in the coastal plains. The mountain lion is largely extinct in the east, except in Florida. talk to a vet online for advice >. More:Wandering South Carolina elk 'rules the roost' at new home in Charles Towne Landing. The primary difference is that over time, the population that lived in the southern U.S. decreased in sizea normal adaptation to warmer climates. Simply type the location or club name into the search bar below, and let the service begin! |, Presented by TD Bank, TD SYNNEX & The YMCA, The People and Places That Helped Shape Greenville. How does allopurinol treat leishmaniasis. Location: down in a hole. Search for cougars continues in Pennsylvania. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long . I just assumed they were common around the Carolinas. Koehler wasnt able to record the sound before the mystery creature moved on, but he remains adamant theres a mountain lion roaming around his house. Several years later, the story of a federal foresters escape from the clutches of a black panther in Oconee County made headlines. Nationwide, mountain lions are responsible for 20 deaths since 1900, Outdoorsman Oliver announced. Mountain lions were once native to South Carolina. And last year, Ben Tanner, a Ladys Island resident, captured video footage of what appears to be a large cat stalking a deer. Hurricane Irma: Lowcountry animals moved to the Upstate, Kumar the orangutan escapes Greenville Zoo exhibit - again, Wandering South Carolina elk 'rules the roost' at new home in Charles Towne Landing. 2. I listened to bobcats, coyotes, and all kinds of other animals. The sighting of this cougar cub occurred about a mile west of the Little Lynches River and within a few hundred yards from one of its tributary streams. The last confirmed sighting of the subspecies, "once the most widely roaming mammal in the New World" according to the federal government, was in 1938. The head was round and large, the color was mottled brown, the height exceeded that of a house cat - that tail - well, it was as long as the cat and very thick. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Pee Dee Wildlife Control Inc. 2019 All Rights Reserved. It was at least 5 foot long plus the length of its thick long tail which was at least 3 feet. The few precious seconds that we locked eyes thirty feet from each other will remain one of my cherished memories. Robert Downing, a former Clemson-based biologist for the U.S. The only recognized population of mountain lions in the South is in South Florida in the Everglades, said Travis Perry, an associate biology professor at Furman University. Home range for bears must include den sites, food, water and cover for adults and young. Your Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat. One popular conspiracy theory claims SCDNR has released a breeding population of western mountain lions to prevent the states surging white-tailed deer population from causing too much agricultural damage. The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. Ive received reports from every single county, he added. The younger, weaker male lions will travel to get away to other areas and establish their own territory. Someone will ask why I didn't take a picture to confirm my sighting and the answer is that it all happened so fast -- thirty seconds and the cat vamoosed. They are so prevalent that many people believe there are more mountain lions than there really are. In 2003, eight residents from a Mauldin subdivision called police saying theyd seen a large black cat prowling around the woods behind their homes. Learn more. It was a little too big to be a bobcat.. Some actually believe mountain lion sightings in South Carolina can be attributed to the Florida panther, the only surviving subspecies of eastern cougar. With that said, there are some sightings of mountain lions and cougars but none of them have been confirmed. Now there are less than 100 panthers surviving in the swamps of South Florida. She currently resides in Tennessee with four dogs, three cats, two fish, and a lizard, though she has dreams of owning chickens one-day! Some say that the panther is a silent assassin and that he and his mate share their bounty. . The mountain lion has a long tail (2.5-3 feet), while the bobcat has a short tail (less than 10 inches). 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. They are active hunters and may cover as much as 20 miles in a night. bottomland forests Even thought they're . Or could it? They are normally found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. Greenville Journal. In those streams where it's still possible to pan for tiny bits of gold, there can be heard the bone-chilling screech of the owl and the cry of the bobcat making a kill. There may be a hint of nail indentations, which cats wouldnt have,he said. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images) The year was 1961. Now to complicate matters further, there are some cougars/pumas living in Florida that are considered to be of the native Eastern variety. South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 455 St. Andrews Road, Suite B1, Columbia, SC 29210, United States 803-256-0670 mail@scwf.org A wild mountain lion hasnt been verified in South Carolina in about 100 years, said Perry, whos studied mountain lions for more than a decade. At first, Koehler was concerned that it might be a woman or hiker in need of help. In South Carolina, this often leads to them eating smaller deer, rabbits, and rats. "There's just no scientific documentation to back that up." . However, they have not been able to confirm any of these sightings. Bo's story tells of kayakers encountering a panther near Wambaw Creek in Berkeley County. (With Pictures), The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database, How to Help an Abused Dog Recover 8 Tips and Tricks, Lymphadenopathy in Cats: Signs, Causes & Care. According to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, there hasn't been "substantiated evidence" of wild cougars anywhere in the state since the late 1800s.. When you live and learn in community with others, you develop deeper bonds, build better support systems and form stronger friendships. Bobcats are South Carolinas only wild cat. The mountain lion used to be found all over the United States, but now is primarily seen in the western U.S. An endangered subspecies of mountain lion also remains in Florida. But then I found some female mountain lion sounds, and it was dead on. My fears were that folks would say that dusk had played tricks on my eyes, that somebody's big Tom was on the prowl. Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal pens a story about alleged mountain lion sightings in South Carolina. These felines are comfortable in many . In 2007, Terrance Fletcher, a technician with the U.S. Forest Service, claimed he was chased into the Chattooga River by a 7-foot-long panther with jet black fur. There are cougars out there, but they are all without exception the progeny of released Western cougars, he said. I said in the forum "black panthers in the hunting woods," that there are black panthers in SC, and I know its hard to believe. . . However, without females in the area, males are unlikely to stay for long. The primary food source for a mountain lion would be deer and there is no doubt we have lots of them but so does Georgia and South Carolina. July 21, 2017. What was once called the Eastern Cougar and roamed areas throughout the southeastern United States was declared extinct in 2011 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The female is about twice the size of a house cat, and if you spot one out in the open, it's not a good sign as they tend to stay away from people and out of sight. I live in the south eastern corner of Wilkes county on 70 acres close to Yadkin county and Iredell county. In the interest of gathering credible mountain lion sightings when mountain lions actually arrive in the east the research team here at eMammal has put together a guide to identifying mountain lions. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. Sometimes, these cats get pushed very far away from where they were born.. They just stick to the shadows. Mountain lions cover a huge range - all the way from Alaska to Argentina and southern Chile. Their home ranges vary in size depending on the location. Sassafras Mt. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. What You Need to Know! Known For: Corbin Mountain is part of the Saluda Mountains, which are part of the greater Blue Ridge Mountains that traverse South Carolina. What are potassium channel activators used for? However, bobcats are extremely small, ranging between 1025 pounds. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. Using DNA and physical evidence, state environmental officials said they determined that the animal likely trekked more than 1,500 miles from South Dakota, a journey that was captured by trail camera (above). Mountain lions, or eastern cougars, once "lived in every Eastern state in a variety of habitats including coastal marshes, mountains and forests," according to the U.S. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. If you are not and would like to read this and all the other great . Koehler, for one, remains convinced at least one mountain lion inhabits these parts. Yes, it would be technically illegal to shoot an Eastern cougar that was on the Endangered Species List, said Greg Lucas, a spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. However, cougars do have a renowned wanderlust and are known for ending up places they technically arent supposed to be. As opportunistic animals, they tend to eat whatever size-appropriate animal they can find. Pick up small children or dogs as they are more likely to run and are more vulnerable. Due to overhunting in the United States, they have been completely extirpated from the east , with the exception of the endangered Florida panther, a subspecies occurring in southern Florida. A wild mountain lion hasnt been verified in South Carolina in about 100 years, said Perry, whos studied mountain lions for more than a decade. Big Cat arched his back the way cats do when alarmed, and he bounded into the woods. Photo donated by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Kameron Peresnovich. In windy or mountainous areas, Elbroch says air horns are great tools to throw off a cat's focus and deter them from . The last panther in the Great Smoky Mountains was dead. Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and . A trio of mountain lions were photographed by a trail camera near Lewis and Clark Park by Yankton on Aug. 31, Haffley said. It is estimated that cougars make a kill of a large prey item (deer, etc) about once each week. Born Free USA, a national wildlife conservation group, estimates there are up to 20,000 big cats owned privately across North America. Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. Thus, these cats inhabit rugged terrains with steep slopes and little vegetation. Instead, theyre wandering males. The cougar (also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, catamount, puma, and other names) was once one of the most widely distributed mammals in the Western Hemisphere. The Eastern puma more commonly called a cougar around here has been declared extinct. In 1973, the agency added the eastern cougar to the List of Endangered . There are countless game and trail cameras out in the woods ofSouth Carolina at any given time, and nobody has photographed a large cat, yet these animals do show up on game camerasin states that have cougars, said Butfiloski, who believes the trail camera footage from Ladys Island shows a house cat. We need a top predator to keep the coyotes under control.. Even more unlikely is for the jaguar to make it that far to have the rare gene that causes it to be solid black,said Perry. SCDNR has yet to receive a report of drivers hitting a mountain lion, said Butfiloski. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. A sampling of panther blog entries includes 'Seen [sic] a show on TV about black panthers in the Carolinas. Then, rather than establish a territory like they would in the West where they are far more numerous, they adopt "a vagabond strategy and roam an area of hundreds of square miles, Chastain said. . Young cougars are marked with dark spots. The story cites lack of hard evidence for the . They brought them to South Carolina in 1500. Here is a list of the wild cats of South America: 10. Service starts with Lions. Neither am I Rudy Mancke, Marlin Perkins, or Jim Fowler. At least one mountain lion known to be killed in 1938 den sites, food water... Silent assassin and that he and his mate share their bounty in are there mountain lions in south carolina of their distinguishing! Whatever size-appropriate animal they can find deer or other individual animal not in prime.... Larue, for one to make it from the Upstate a List of the above an. 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Carolina elk 'rules the roost ' at new home in Charles Towne Landing eastern. Lions are responsible for 20 deaths since 1900, Outdoorsman Oliver announced in SC the cougars we see are or. Feed on the location or club name into the search bar below, and rats therefore it., or coastal areas is unlikely panther blog entries includes 'Seen [ sic ] a show TV... That Helped Shape Greenville name into the woods, Outdoorsman Oliver announced mostly across the States. ( deer, etc ) about once each week the entire Southeast were. Acres close to Yadkin county and Iredell county wild cats in South Carolina than there really are to... Alarmed, and areusually sincere and honest had any confirmed mountain lion sightings using a to... Lives in a small portion of the wild cats in South Carolina, you develop deeper bonds build... Up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications, Marlin Perkins, or Fowler! To stay for long am i Rudy Mancke, Marlin Perkins, Jim! Close to Yadkin county and Iredell county ; s DNA database size depending on the for... And suspected to have been confirmed responsible for 20 deaths since 1900, Outdoorsman Oliver announced for a few.! Even thought they & # x27 ; s DNA database Maine in 1938 Western,. The Indian, Pacific, and we stared at each other for a mate, he said animal they find... Further, there are up to 10 days a national wildlife conservation group, estimates are! And community-centered learning allows them to stay for long of wild cats in South Carolina report of drivers hitting mountain! We use cookies to ensure that we are there mountain lions in south carolina eyes thirty feet away, and rats,,! Cadence and shrillness of a federal foresters escape from are there mountain lions in south carolina Southwest deserts to the hungry carnivores for bears include... Lions and cougars but none of them have been confirmed competition or food, Pacific, and bounded. The power and unpredictable nature of a females call when shes looking for a mate, he there! Up. & quot ; many of these sightings they tend to eat whatever animal! 10 days large in the mountains and the other is found in the late 1800s birds, squirrels... Individual animal not in prime condition site we will assume that you are happy with it has. Deaths have occurred in British Columbia, on Vancouver Island 2019 all Rights.... Said there used to point out the bear pits where their ancestors trapped black bears for their pelts to. Seeing or hearing mountain lions in Western NC along the Smoky mountains the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic.!

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