Though there is accounts off sightings outside the cougar’s latest recognized range, barely try such as for instance sightings proven
- Released of the: Jesse Boulerice, Draw D. Smith, Stephen S. Ditchkoff
- for the Forestry & WildlifePrint
Incorporated try tips for determining whether an effective cougar in the great outdoors otherwise a photo was a genuine sighting from a crazy “Alabama cougar.”
The fresh wild cougar is actually assumed extinct east of one’s Mississippi Lake, with the exception of a small protected society within the southwestern Florida, so there was not a verified cougar sighting in Alabama to have 50 years
Along side eastern All of us, you’ll find constant records off cougar sightings within the areas where the fresh big cat is thought so you’re able to no longer are present. Alabama isn’t any different, and you can creatures officials regularly discovered phone calls and you will elizabeth-mails on cougars seen in the state. Yet not, there has maybe not already been a reliable, verified sighting inside Alabama for the more than half a century. Will there be extremely a population of these large kittens roaming the fresh new wilderness away from Alabama, or perhaps is it-all merely a myth?
Cougar, panther, Fl panther, puma, slope lion, Mexican lion, lion, catamount, king cat, deer cat, hill devil, hill screamer, and you may artist are among the brands widely used to refer into same animal (scientific term Puma concolor). That it large cat ‘s the 2nd-prominent felid inside United states, weighing off 65 in order to 265 weight (having assessment, the average Italian language shepherd weighs in at 75 weight). The distance away from check out rump off adult cougars try between step three and you can 5 feet, which have an extra 2 to 3 . legs off tail. From base so you can neck, the fresh cougar really stands everything 2 . feet-on the mid-leg towards mediocre mature kid. This new mature cougar try exotic brownish in order to tawny grey having a beneficial whitish belly. Cougars lack spots or stripes. Your mind is relatively quick having brief, round ears, additionally the tail try enough time, heavy, and often ends up with a black idea.
Brand new cougar immediately after roamed all over all western hemisphere regarding the top reaches off Canada’s boreal forest, on All of us, and all the best way to their south constraints during the suggestion out-of South america. Loss of appropriate environment along with decades out of unregulated browse and you will capturing and you may reduction programs provides significantly quicker this new cougar’s range. Now, the cat’s range during the Us is bound to help you nations within the Rugged Slopes of the Western. The fresh cat is actually presumed becoming extinct east of your Mississippi Lake, except for a small protected society in the extreme southwest piece out of Fl (new Florida panther). Those people that is verified always is create otherwise fled some one previously remaining since the pet or perhaps in zoos.
The fresh closest recognized cougar communities in order to Alabama exist for the west Texas and you can southwest Florida. Dispersing crazy cougars was basically defined as near due to the fact Louisiana and you can Arkansas, however, none was sighted east of Mississippi away from Fl. The final affirmed cougar into the Alabama was killed inside 1956 within the Tuscaloosa Condition. Since that time, Alabama wildlife authorities have not been able to show any kind of the frequent reports away from cougar sightings. Because the recently given that 2008, good cougar was sample of the a seeker into the Georgia, and you may up on subsequent investigation, new cat try computed becoming a great descendant on the quick southwestern Florida inhabitants. Many somebody hate to help you admit it, the newest Alabama cougar is likely a lot more a misconception than simply possible.
In the event that a few of these accounts out-of cougars during the Alabama are not very cougars, then what are it? Many of the sightings come from individuals who are unfamiliar with cougars, specifically because they are not likely getting viewed one out of the crazy prior to. Oftentimes, almost every other pet try misidentified as cougars. Bobcats occur in large numbers throughout Alabama plus the southeastern Joined Says. A great bobcat (Lynx rufus) try a special types than simply an effective cougar; it’s much reduced, weigh anywhere between fifteen and 35 pounds and it has a primary cuatro- to eight-inches end and you may spotted coating. Because these animals will end individuals, it may be tough to share with the essential difference between cougars and you may bobcats about short term glance a man may get. Feral kittens, home-based pets that today manage 
crazy, can also be to blame trailing of numerous advertised cougar sightings. An excellent consistent brown feral cat appears much like the cougar, but it’s far less. In reality, many images and you will films regarding going cougar sightings on the Internet sites come to be feral kittens (while the measurements of your pet is
