Around 4:40 p.m., mother and son walked across the field, but they could not find any tracks because the ground was harder than they expected. Even if you strike out, you can still get some grocery shopping done. Its dark and the image is grainy, but its obvious the hind legs pushing the animal forward are tense with muscle. Our growing understanding of the cats and the benefits they provide to ecosystems, other wildlife and people should inform that decision. Heavy rains that came through the area Thursday and Friday night, as well as a light rain Monday night, washed away any possible new tracks the animal might have left, Rummel said. The Peabody is already impressive enough on its own, but its famous Lobby Bar draws both locals and tourists. The doors to bringing back the mountain lion are officially wide open. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Thinking that deer must be moving and that he had just bagged one, I kept a close vigil on the creek crossing I overlooked. To my absolute surprise, the half-page main Outdoors section article was titled Panther tracks in Miss?. My second encounter occurred back in the mid- to late 1970s when I was invited to accompany a friend on a deer hunt in Southwest Mississippi. My latest personal eyeball encounter occurred in northwest Hinds County in the hills about 2 miles from the Big Black River about 10 years ago. Published April 28, 2023 1:19 p.m. PDT. Cougars are North America's second-largest wild cat and have been present in Mississippi since the late 1990s. For over 80 years, there were no signs of cougars in the Eastern states, so federal wildlife officials declared them an extinct subspecies. The Minnesota DNR reports that, since 2004, there have been about 50 verified cougar sightings in the state. I did the calculations once, and for a cougar to come from southern Florida, where they are most prevalent, to the Mississippi state line would be 600 miles, and that includes them crossing the Mobile Bay. There is no way of knowing.". Would I like to see it? With confirmed sightings so close to Mississippi, he feels finding one in Mississippi is not out of the question. And finally, the TWRA confirmed the location by returning to the scene and matching the tree, soybeans and path the cat walked along. A full-grown cat would measure around 7 feet from nose to tip of tail and stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulders. An animal enthusiast with an interest in zoology, studying the behavior and activities of animals in the wild habitat. Many photos turn out to be other animals caught in a position in which they look like a cougar. The scientific name for the Florida panther variation of cougar that once called Mississippi and Louisiana home is Puma concolor couguar. Today, many notes that cougars are not common within this portion of the United States primarily due to habitat destruction. Colwood cougar encounters prompt warning from B.C. conservation They ARE, however, searching for guys online because it tends to be a better use of their time, and eHarmony is a favorite among the cougar crowd. A trail camera glimpsed one in northern Minnesota, for instance, while authorities captured another in Springfield, Ill., after it had made its way there from Nebraska. All of it had Sluder laughing because he said the cat was large, but nowhere near the size of a panther. A red fox, gray fox and raccoon appeared on the 74 pictures the game camera took from Thursday to Tuesday, but not the creature that left the large paw prints. This photo was different. Sightings of cougars or their tracks are still reported occasionally in parts of . Brittney Lohmiller / The Natchez Democrat Michael Mascagni shows Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks employee Richard Rummel where Mascagni found tracks that might be from a cougar on his property. Do not run, crouch or lay on the ground. Photographic evidence must be examined to rule out these possibilities. : Answers and Explanations. Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Yes, TWRA says cougars and alligators are migrating to the state, but (Males range in size from 120 to 180 pounds, depending on where they live; females are much smaller, ranging from 70 to 110 pounds.) Midwest sightings are increasing, with hundreds of cougars spotted east of established populations over the past three decades. Coyotes and large dogs are also often mistaken for cougars. Its a great way to have a relaxed encounter with a sexy older woman. ", Youth hunters: Win big with C-L Outdoors and B&B Archery. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 76:13641369. Unlike the dog, the toes are teardrop-shaped and the pad at the opposite end of the paw has three lobes, while the dogs pad has two lobes. A trail camera glimpsed one in northern Minnesota,. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. With the difficulties associated with cougars naturally making their way east, the more likelyand certainly quickeroption for returning the cougar to its native habitat in the East is a human-led reintroduction. They are generally described as being tan in color with a long, black-tipped tail, with adults weighing between 70 and 120 pounds. "And . River, Natchez topples Wilkinson to start season, Green Wave drown WCCA 35-6 in jamboree encounter, 2023, Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper. According to the Tennessee Natural Resources Agency, two photos of a cougar were captured. For years, the cats have been spotted all across their old habitat, including through Appalachia and the Northeast. Mandy said she was pulling up to a stop sign on her road when she saw a truck slowing down in front of her. "I'm not going to just blow it off when someone sends me pictures or video." "It was in Morehouse Parish," saidMaria Davidson, LDWFs Large Carnivore Program manager. Scientists estimate a recolonization of the Eastern United States by cougars could reduce deer-vehicle collisions by 22 percent over 30 years, averting 21,400 human injuries, 155 human fatalities and over $2 billion in costs. Now, regarding my qualifications when it comes to knowledge about identification of large cats at close range, I have had my full share of encounters over the years. On January 22, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced that, starting in late February, the eastern cougar would be removed from the federal Endangered Species list and . Likely gone roughly 35 years before the Endangered Species Act was signed into law, it took another 45 years for the cats to be officially labeled extinct and removed from protection. Then there are the black panther sightings. With that out of the way, lets circle back to the purported existence of panthers in this area of the Southeastern United States. There is plenty of room to meet local cougars, as the space spans 18,000 square feet with 32 stalls. Just because the landscape in the photo has been confirmed as real, doesnt mean the sighting itself has been confirmed. The cat reversed course in mid-air and vanished in a flash. So why would you put yourself through this when theres a better way? The Crossing is a top choice for snagging cougars because everyone here is friendly. So what are you waiting for? We vote you test it out and see! It boggles the mind the number of cougar hoaxes that are out there. The muzzle is white on the end and black where it joins the head. Check out our list below and get your search on the right track today. Today, only a handful of Florida cougars still survive . Its ideal for having a stiff drink with a Mississippi cougar in a retro lounge environment. Cougars there enjoy full protection from hunting and trapping under state law, although individuals may procure licenses for certain activities such as scientific research or population management. The scientific name for the "Florida panther" variation of cougar that once called Mississippi and Louisiana home is Puma concolor couguar. You bet.. The flash of the game camera extends to a narrow strip of open dirt, worn with muddy boot prints, the deep tread of machineryand cat tracks. Are there cougars east of the Mississippi? The vibe is upscale and sophisticated enough that the rowdy college crowd wont go there. Superimposing photos of deer taken with the same camera showed the feline was far larger than a house catnearly as long as the deer. A study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management in 2012 compiled confirmed locations of cougars collected outside of their established range during 1990-2008. Cougars once had the run of the continent, ranging far and wide. Whether it's phone calls, e-mails or social media, every day wildlife biologists are besieged with reports of unusual wildlife sightings. eHarmonys great trial makes it fast and easy to meet lots of women near you. Mandy said the truck drove off as she was recording. After exploring the stretch of the creek on Mascagnis property, as well as other wooded areas, the MDWFP officials set up their own game camera near the one Mascagni placed. Brittney Lohmiller | The Natchez Democrat Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Park employee Ricky Flynt sets up a motion detector camera next to Michael Mascagnis camera in hopes of getting an image of a cougar on Mascagnis property. 1991;19:403412. According to the Tennessee Natural Resources Agency, two photos of a cougar were captured with trail cameras in Wayne County about 40 or 50 miles from the Mississippi state line. The adult cougar is sandy brown to tawny gray with a whitish belly. The recent confirmed sightings in Tennessee could be a result of this range expansion and long exploratory treks by transient cougars. Getting the call from the wildlife representatives, Mascagni said, helped reassure him of what he saw and heard that day driving to his house. Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State) - Wildlife Informer Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But it will require planning that must begin now, new state policies, public outreach, and education and support from the public for a creature that was once purposefully pushed toward oblivion. We now know that large carnivores greatly benefit entire ecosystems and hold those ecosystems together. Reports of sightings of these wild felines from local residents near the Mississippi/Louisiana border are increasing, mostly along the Pearl and Bogue Chitto Rivers. Copyright 2023 WDAM. ", Wildlife Bureau director Dacus leaves MDWFP. But between a human assault and a dwindling food source, the Eastern cougar became an early casualty of American expansion. At least two cougar sightings were reported near Royal Roads University in Colwood on Sunday morning. And cougars in Mississippi know it! As if freshly cooked burgers, chicken wings and ribeye steaks arent mouthwatering enough, you might have a lush older woman nabbing your attention. But when we do, its usually AFF. In the 100 years between 1890 to 1990, in the U.S. and Canada, only 10 humans died due to cougar attacks. Do not play dead. Pepper spray may also be effective. Cougar spotted on trail cam in Northern Minnesota TWRA plans to monitor the natural expansion of the cougar from the western US as it pertains to Tennessee. Report the encounter to local authorities and TWRA as soon as possible. Claws are retractable and are very seldom part of a track. []. 1-Beier, P. Cougar attacks on humans in the United States and Canada. Eastern cougars or "pumas" once roamed every U.S. state east of the Mississippi River, but it's been 80 . After the encounter, Mandy called her son, Dylan, at 7:50 a.m., and sent him the video via Google Photos shortly thereafter. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/opinion/cougars-migrating-east.html. Studies that have examined the rate of female mountain lion movementa far more telling statistichave concluded that the predators are heading east at a rate of roughly 25 miles every year, though Elbroch says humans have a way of slowing that down. There were three times more Americans attacked by sharks in 2017 alone than people attacked by cougars on the continent since 1970. Bands sing their heart out twice a week, DJs take control of the dance floor every Friday and Saturday, and you can wow the older ladies at karaoke on Tuesdays. With a population of over three million, there are a lot of older women for you to choose from in Mississippi. Often perception in a photo can be distorted, making house cats and bobcats appear cougar like. It is illegal to kill a cougar in Tennessee except in the case of imminent threat of life and injury. The photo must be authentic. Wildlife Society Bulletin. My experience falls into two main categories: experience in Mississippi and experience while living for a time in Montana. Cougar sightings in Wisconsin are uncommon but are no longer unexpected. With the exception of Southern Florida's small, endangered panther population, cougars have been extinct east of the Mississippi River since the 1930s. Cougars have a long heavy cylindrical tail ranging in length from 20 to 30 inches, with the last couple of inches blackish in color. Others commented that Sluder had found proof of black panthers. However, because of the eastern migration of western cougar populations, Davidson said it's possible they have traveled to Mississippi. Considering that there are large expanses between Tennessee and the established populations, it will likely be a long time before cougars make their home here. The cat, having already been shot at and spooked, stopped in mid-stream in a crouch peering intently into the opposing brushy creek bank. Understory foliage, in turn, impacts birds and smaller animals, all of which would be impacted by cougars and the subsequent decline in the deer population. I think it should be discussed, said Robinson, who pointed to areas like New Yorks Adirondack region and National Parks in Appalachia as prime reintroduction locations because of their high deer numbers, ready-to-go protections, a low road density, and smaller winter snowpack. No, I held my fire and did not shoot the cat because it was not cougar season, but I stayed stock still while looking down my rifle barrel with finger poised over the trigger. The video was taken by Mandy Dye around 7:30. As I yanked off the lens cover and fiddled with the on-off button, the cat got up and started slowly walking toward the wood line. This is especially true when theyre trying to meet older women. So its hard to recommend another app. Hitting pause on the suggestion that mountain lions are moving through The TWRA can confirm there was, on September 20, 2015, a cougar in Obion County, Tennessee, a statement read. From shopping sprees at Northpark to scouting for green buys at Whole Family Nutrition & Market, most Mississippi cougars enjoy a diverse lifestyle, and they like having their fun too. It wasnt long before I heard a loud crack-boom in the direction of my friend, who was also situated on a high bank of the creek watching several deer crossings. My Montana experience includes personally having cougars at the eight- to 10-step range on at least two occasions. Also, many trail camera photos are taken at night and are too unclear to make out the details to really know what kind of animal is in the photo. Their coat is not uniform in color like the cougars but is marked with black spots and streaks. . We have previously exterminated cougars in the East and we can do it again, he said. Another study separate from ours showed similar results. You dont want to waste time and money hanging out at the wrong places--for example, clubs filled with college kids. "They can walk great distances," Davidson said. For Elbroch, the ecological impacts of reintroducing a big cat to the East would be tremendous. Video submitted by Mandy Dye. Bears have 5 toes and a pad. As the cats migrate first into populated areasgenerally broad river valleys, which humans also like to populatescared residents are likely slow or stop their spread entirely. Scott Mahoney is a Dating Coach for BeyondAges.com. Recounting the day of the incident, Mandy said the animal was very light-colored, and she could clearly see its tail touching the ground. Here are some tips. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The two of you can then chill on one of the couches, surrounded by classy architecture and serenaded by a pianist. A detailed study to examine reports of sightings dating back as far as 1900 concluded the animals were long gone and the U.S. They are much smaller than cougars, ranging in weight from 10 to 40 pounds, whereas a cougar starts at 70 pounds. The video was taken by Mandy Dye around 7:30 a.m., as she was heading to work. Sightings have been recorded in states like Arkansas and Missouri, but it is still highly unlikely to find populations of these iconic cats when crossing east of the Mississippi banks. Massachusetts In May 2018, a mountain lion attacked two mountain bikers 30 miles east of Seattle, Washington, killing one, but its only the 15th fatal attack in North America since 1970. The Louisiana cougar is the third confirmed sighting near Mississippi's borders in recent months. The cougar belongs to the family Felidae (cat family) which is in the order Carnivora. Your email address will not be published. Adults are large sleek cats with small heads. State laws across the United States recognize cougars importance as a crucial element in the ecosystems they inhabit, and this is certainly true in Mississippi. When photographing suspected cougar tracks it is helpful to place a ruler or object such as a coin to enable size judgment.