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Species Description

• Adult total length: 70 - 105 in. (1,800 - 2,700 mm)

• Tail: 29 - 35 in. (750 - 900 mm)

• Hind foot: 10 1/2 - 11 1/4 in. (260 - 280 mm)

• Weight: 100 - 220 lbs. (45 - 100 kg)

• Physical Characteristics: The mountain lion is the largest cat in the park. It can easily be distinguished from the bobcat not only by its larger size, but also by its long tail. Also known as "panther" or "painter" in the southern Appalachians, this animal is generally tawny or yellowish-brown above and dull whitish to buff below. The sides of the muzzle, the backs of the ears, and the tip of the tail are black or dark brown.

left lateral view of skull and mandible	dorsal view of skull	ventral view of skull

• Range Maps

  North America	Great Smokies

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Linzey and Linzey (1968) summarized the history of the mountain lion in the park and surrounding regions:
  The first record of this species dates back to 1840-50 when John Oliver reported that he heard of two "panthers" being killed in Cades Cove. In 1859, Buckley noted that the "panther" was troublesome to the mountain farmers of North Carolina and Tennessee, destroying their sheep and hogs. Brimley (1944), writing about the mammals of North Carolina, recorded the cougar as being "apparently extinct," the last specimens having been killed near Highlands and in Craven County, North Carolina, about 1886. After a journey through the Great Smoky Mountains during the summer of 1887, Merriam (1888) reported that the panther was "unknown." Between 1895 and 1905, a "panther" was reported by Wm. Barnes on Big Creek. There are reports that two cougars were killed about 1899-one near Smokemont and the other in the Greenbrier area.

  The last report of a cougar being killed in the Great Smokies comes from the winter of 1920 (Brewer, 1964): Tom Sparks was attacked by a cougar while herding sheep on Spence Field. He inflicted a deep wound in its left shoulder. Several months later, a cougar was killed near what is now Fontana Village, and its left shoulder blade had been cut in two. It was believed to be the same cat that Sparks had wounded.

  Several years later, Ganier (1928) reported that the panther was extinct in Tennessee, "save possibly a half dozen individuals in the Great Smokies."

  Hamnett and Thornton (1953), in discussing the status of this cat in North Carolina, stated that it is "now believed to be extinct... Last positive records for the State were from the Coastal Region... in the early 1900s... Until positive proof of the cougar's existence is furnished... we must continue to regard this animal as virtually extinct in North Carolina."

  Culbertson (1977) examined the status and history of this species in the park. Twelve sightings were reported for the years 1908-1965 and 31 sightings for the years 1966-1976. Culbertson stated: "The number of lion sightings through the years suggest that the mountain lion may never have actually been extinct in the Great Smoky Mountains area. The lion may have been able to maintain itself in small numbers in the more inaccessible mountainous regions in or around the park. The present lion population could be derived in part from this small reservoir... It is believed that there were three to six mountain lions living in the park in 1975, and other lions were reported to the southeast and northeast of the park as well. Lions were seen most frequently near areas of high deer density."

  Park files contain many interesting reports of purported mountain lion sightings. Every year, several additional reports are received. If, in fact, the animals being observed are mountain lions, they may be part of the original population as Culbertson suggested, or more likely, they may be captive animals that have either escaped or been released. Tennessee residents may legally possess captive western mountain lions; North Carolina residents may not. Mountain lions that have been found in eastern states have shown signs of being in captivity (tattoos, defanged, declawed, etc.).

Index

Natural History

• Reproduction
  Although mountain lions may breed throughout the year, mating is believed to be most common from December to March. Young mountain lions are generally born from April to September after a gestation of 82 to 96 days (Young and Goldman, 1946; Eaton and Verlander, 1977). The usual litter consists of two to three kittens, and litters may be spaced as far as two to three years apart. The young are born in the den, but no nest is constructed.

  Newborn mountain lions are well furred, have their eyes closed, weigh about 400 g, and are between 200 and 300 mm long. The eyes open between 10 and 14 days. By about 6 weeks of age, the young can consume fresh meat. Until approximately three months of age, young mountain lions have distinct black spots on their yellowish-brown coats and bands on their tails and legs. These markings fade rapidly but some may still be visible after 12 months. Young mountain lions remain with the female for an indefinate time, in some instances up to 18 to 24 months. Mountain lions are at least two, and probably three, years old when they begin breeding.

• Longevity
  Mountain lions probably live about 12 years in the wild.

• Terrestrial Ecology
  Mountain lions are solitary and mainly nocturnal. They are active during all seasons. Although they remain on the ground most of the time, they are adept at climbing, particularly when being pursued.

  The home range of a mountain lion is highly variable and depends on sex, age, food availability, and reproductive condition. An adult may regularly cover an area of 25 to 50 km.

  Deer are the preferred food, but rabbits, rodents, and turkeys may also be taken. A large kill is usually covered with brush after being partially consumed, and the animal returns for additional meals.

• Predators and Defense
  The mountain lion's main enemy is man.

• Parasites
  None recorded from the park.

• University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology
• eNature

Index

Acknowledgements

• Text
  • Dr. Donald W. Linzey, Wytheville Community College - wclinzd@wcc.vccs.edu
  • Christy Brecht, Wytheville Community College - wcbrecc@wcc.vccs.edu

• Photographs
  • Roger Barbour

• Map development
  • Richard Schulz, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - richard_schulz@nps.gov

• Web page design & coding
  • Denise Lim, University of Georgia, Athens
  • John Pickering, University of Georgia, Athens

• Brewer, C. 1964. Hike recalls tales of tall guide, panther wrestling. The Knoxville News-Sentinel. June 28.

• Brimley, C. S. 1944-46. The mammals of North Carolina. Eighteen installments in Carolina Tips. Carolina Biological Supply Co., Elon College, NC.

• Culbertson, N. 1977. Status and history of the mountain lion in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Uplands Field Research Laboratory Research/Resource Management Report No. 15.

• Currier, M. J. P. 1983. Felis concolor. Mammalian Species No. 200: 1-7. American Society of Mammalogists.

• Eaton, R. L., and K. A. Verlander. 1977. Reproduction in the puma: biology, behavior, and ontogeny. Pages 435-470. In: Eaton, R. L. (editor). The World's Cats. Volume 3, Number 3. Seattle: Carnivore Research Institute, Burke Museum, University of Washington.

• Ganier, A. F. 1928. The wild life of Tennessee. Journal of theTennessee Academy of Science 3 (3): 10-22.

• Hamnett, W. L., and D. C. Thornton. 1953. Tar Heel Wildlife. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC.

• Linzey, D.W., and A.V. Linzey. 1968. Mammals of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 84 (3): 384-414.

• Linzey, D. W. 1995a. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Blacksburg, Virginia: The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Inc.

• Linzey, D. W. 1995b. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park-1995 Update. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 111(1):1-81.

• Linzey, D.W. 1998. The Mammals of Virginia. Blacksburg, Virginia: The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Inc.

• Merriam, C. H. 1888. Remarks on the fauna of the Great Smoky Mountains; with description of a new species of red-backed mouse (Evotomys Carolinensis). American Journal of Science, 3rd Series 36 (216): 458-460.

• Young, S. P., and E. A. Goldman. 1946. The Puma, Mysterious American Cat. Washington, D.C.: American Wildlife Institute.