alabama mountain lion sightings
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas neighborhood has been alerted that a mountain lion was seen in the area over the weekend. Even if it was the more commonly distributed North American mountain lion (Puma concolor couguar) it would be news. There was speculation that the animal was someone's pet turned loose. February 8, 2021. (WTVM) - For years, Alabama residents have claimed to have seen mountain lions or cougars roaming the land. May 29, 2013 at 10:20 PM EDT - Updated August 29 at 1:01 AM, Suspect wanted for making verbal threat with gun at Peachtree Mall in Columbus, First responders on the scene of 3-vehicle crash on River Rd. It's really about two long-timers' experiences in northeast Alabama's Sandhill region back in 1979, and a year before that, that really matter and are of especial interest. A spooky photo taken in Alabama is being cited as evidence mountain lions — also known as cougars and “ghost cats” — are again roaming the state. He believes that one day, probably in our lifetime, the cougar will be back in Alabama. In 2008, a cougar was killed by a hunter across the state line near West Point Lake in Georgia. May 30, 2013 at 2:25 PM CDT - Updated July 12 at 12:16 AM, Montgomery Regional Airport Air Traffic Map, Arrests made in 2 unrelated Montgomery robbery cases, Montgomery to honor late councilman Richard Bollinger at City Hall. The incident happened Monday, March 22 at Peachtree Mall. He has devoted his career to studying and protecting carnivorous animals such as bears, wolves and cougars. A rash of sightings in Cooper Landing in the 1980s turned out to be a large yellow dog. Monster bobcat? Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. A Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) in Alabama would be big news in wildlife circles as these cats are critically endangered. This is a list of known or suspected fatal cougar attacks that occurred in North America by decade in chronological order.The cougar is also commonly known as mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, or panther.The sub-population in Florida is known as the Florida panther.. A total of 125 attacks, 27 of which are fatal, have been documented in North America in the past 100 years. (WTVM) - For years, Alabama residents have claimed to have seen mountain lions or cougars roaming the land. Steury explains that the mountain lion is moving east. Since then, there have been many unconfirmed sightings that researchers have considered to be false. Our Guest writer continues: Since writing the original letter I have attempted to follow up on two other sightings in this area with limited success. There are occasional reports of people who think they saw one, maybe they even took a blurry picture, but those are most likely bobcats. This is an interesting story regardless of the color of the cat involved for various reasons. There has never been a melanistic mountain lion recorded in history so a black mountain lion doesnt exist. Mountain Lion, Puma, Panther, Painter, Catamount (Young and Goldman 1946). There was speculation that the animal was someone's pet turned loose. However, he doubts they are here now. According to Steury, DNA evidence confirmed that the animal was a wild cat from the Florida panther colony, an endangered subspecies of the mountain lion. Stories of mountain lion- and bear-sightings have been told at coffee shops, church, family get-togethers, and at dinner tables for as long as I can remember. The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, puma, and catamount, is the largest feline animal in North America.. "I get calls from people about cougar sightings about once every week or two, and they are usually misidentification, and I know this because a lot of callers say they are black panthers and there has never been a documented case of a black panther in the history of man," Steury says. "I get calls from people about cougar sightings about once every week or two, and they are usually misidentification, and I know this because a lot of callers say they are black panthers and there has never been a documented case of a black panther in the history of man," Steury says. My parents grew up in the Sand Mountain area of northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia in the 1930s and 1940s. Reports of mountain lion sightings in Alabama are common, but these are probably cases of either mistaken identity or released captives. Donnelly says those are all guesses from people who have seen the image, and no one can come to a conclusion. The first took place I believe in the spring of 1979 and a year before involving a very … Dr. Todd Steury is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at AU. STATUS : Extirpated. All rights reserved. FILE PHOTO: A mountain lion was spotted in Gilroy on Thursday near Cydney Casper Park, police said. 1909 Wynnton RoadColumbus, GA 31906(706) 494-5400. Quail hunters found a dead female mountain lion more than 100 miles from the Colorado border, the first confirmed mountain lion in the state since 2016. Well-meaning folks misidentify animals all the time due to poor lighting, fleeting glimpses and just unfamiliarity. Her … There haven’t been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s.Similar to Tennessee’s wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss. He still welcomes calls, however, and would love to find evidence of a mountain lion in Alabama. The state investigates all reported sightings, but there hasn't been any documented evidence of a big cat in Alabama since 1947, when a Florida panther was killed in Chilton County. MODESTO (CBS13) – Authorities are asking residents to be on the lookout after two possible mountain lion sightings in southwest Modesto. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2021 Gray Television, Inc. According to Steury, DNA evidence confirmed that the animal was a wild cat from the Florida panther colony, an endangered subspecies of the mountain lion. Probably was statewide in distribution in all habitats, especially remote upland woodlands, rough terrain, and bottomland swamps. Erb said more than 90 percent of the supposed mountain lion sightings or photos are faked, or they are captive animals that have been released. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! Mountain lion spotted in Las Vegas neighborhood. The sightings … Recently, there have been unconfirmed sightings in the Beaulah community of Lee County. If you really saw a large black cat it would have to be an escape leapord or jaguar pet. While bears and wolves are known to roam the state, cougars are not. He believes that one day, probably in our lifetime, the cougar will be back in Alabama. Is it a panther? April 2, 2009. Here is a breakdown of the mountain lion populations of each state from A to Z. Alabama – According to the extension of Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities, the last known mountain lion in Alabama was killed by a hunter in 1958. It was late afternoon but it was a good sighting. The issue is ongoing. Copyright 2013 WTVM. Reports of mountain lion sightings in Alabama are common, but these are probably cases of either mistaken identity or released captives.” The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation takes mountain lion sightings seriously. Recently, there have been unconfirmed sightings in the Beaulah community of Lee County. ODWC requires evidence to confirm a sighting. He has devoted his career to studying and protecting carnivorous animals such as bears, wolves and cougars. ODWC is building a database of sightings for mountain lions. My sightings were in southwest Alabama (2 sightings) and southeast Alabama (1 sighting). It has been 10 or 12 years ago that I saw a mountain lion on the Natchez Trace near Sutton Hill. He still welcomes calls, however, and would love to find evidence of a mountain lion in Alabama. If you've seen a mountain lion, or a bobcat, you can submit a sighting report and we will add it to the map: Report a Sighting Click on the location markers to view sighting details Select display options below, then click the orange button to update. 445 Dexter AvenueSuite 7000Montgomery, AL 36104(334) 288-1212. Lutz said there have been 40-50 reports of mountain lion sightings in the region over the past half-century, including Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest as well as areas in Georgia and Alabama. Mountain Lion Sightings Mountain lions calling Pine Ridge home again March 28, 2018 Nebraska Preliminary deer harvest lower than last year November 26, 2018 Nebraska All rights reserved. Whether you call it a cougar, panther, mountain lion, puma, or catamount, Felis concolor once roamed Alabama. In 2008, a cougar was killed by a hunter across the state line near West Point Lake in Georgia. Alabama's game regulations recite that there is no OPEN season on mountain lions. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2021 Gray Television, Inc. Autauga County EMA Director Ernie Baggett laid out the issues in a live on-air interview with WSFA First Alert Chief Meteorologist Josh Johnson during last Wednesday’s severe weather coverage. Mountain Lions have a status of extirpated in Alabama, there have been no confirmed sightings in the state in over 50 years. Omarion Taylor, 18, and Torez Zeigler, 45, are both charged with first-degree robbery. As for the rest of you at least your claims are of an animal that exist, but I’m gonna need some real evidence to believe you saw a lion in Alabama. The accident happened on River Road across from Lake Oliver Marina. There is now a population in Missouri, as well as confirmed sightings in Tennessee and Arkansas. I have always had an infinity for mountain lions and have seen many in zoos and there was a couple in Cherokee that had some in captivity. While bears and wolves are known to roam the state, cougars are not. Multiple reports of mountain lions every year turn out to be lynx. Most recent reports have been of a mountain lion spotted in the areas arond Allgood, Limestone Springs, Pine Mountain, and as far south as Remlap. The history of mountain lion sightings in Alaska is a little complicated. Lynx? Dr. Todd Steury is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at AU. (WTVM) - For years, Alabama residents have claimed to have seen mountain lions or cougars roaming the land. There have not been any confirmed reports by trail cameras, road kills, traditional photography, or hunter-harvested specimens since 1948. Mountain lion? MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTING REPORT. Experts at Auburn University (AU) say the chances of a mountain lion or cougar roaming Alabama are rare, but in our lifetime, possible. (WTVM) - For years, Alabama residents have claimed to have seen mountain lions or cougars roaming the land. All were in prime deer and hog territory. The image came from a deer camera in New Market, Alabama, and Brieana Fanning shared the picture, along with more than 1,400 others as of Wednesday afternoon. So, Donnelly submitted the photo to Auburn University for identification. If you have evidence in the form of tracks, photo, video, or a kill you will be contacted by an ODWC employee. Sightings of large cat-like animals are reported from across Alabama on a regular basis. Recently, there have been unconfirmed sightings in the Beaulah community of Lee County. While lots of folks report seeing black panthers or mountain lions in Alabama, biologists say there are no confirmed sightings of the animals in the last 60 years. Experts at Auburn University (AU) say the chances of a mountain lion or cougar roaming Alabama are rare, but in our lifetime, possible. Mountain lions, or panthers, once roamed free in Alabama, but the resident population was thought to have been wiped out in the mid-1800s and one has not been confirmed in the state since the late 1940s. May 16 (UPI) --An Alabama man wants to know whether a big cat photographed this month by his nature camera is a wandering mountain lion -- or a … There is now a population in Missouri, as well as confirmed sightings in Tennessee and Arkansas. in Columbus, UPDATE: One person dead, suspect in custody after Phenix City police chase ends in crash, Keep Opelika Beautiful hosting recycling, shredding day, 3 Florida juveniles killed in fiery south Alabama crash with 18-wheeler, Alabama says nearly 1.5M COVID-19 vaccine doses administered. Steury explains that the mountain lion is moving east. Meanwhile, a family in Redwood City has … A mountain lion was spotted in Agoura Hills on Saturday afternoon, prompting officials to tell residents that their pets and children should stay indoors if possible. An attack on a 4-year-old near San Diego is just the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in California. Copyright 2013 WTVM. 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