Mountain Lion Sightings Reported in South Carolina Despite Extinction

Photo byZach KeyonUnsplash

SPARTANBURG, SC - The cougar, also known as the mountain lion, was once one of the most widely distributed mammals in the Western Hemisphere, including South Carolina.

Historically, this majestic predator occupied a vast range from Canada to South America, with a significant presence throughout the continental United States.

According to the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, however, today, the only known reproducing population of cougars in the eastern U.S. resides in South Florida's Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp.

In South Carolina, the cougar was a key predator in the state's forests and coastal swamps, where it preyed on deer, wild hogs, and other large animals.

According to the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, adult cougars, which can exceed 8 feet in length and weigh up to 200 pounds, were stealthy, nocturnal hunters. Their ability to cover up to 20 miles in a night and their preference for stalking prey made them formidable predators.

Despite their once prominent role in South Carolina's ecosystem, cougars were eradicated from the state by the late 1800s due to habitat loss and hunting, particularly as they began preying on livestock.

Today, there are no wild reproducing populations of cougars in South Carolina, though occasional sightings are reported, often linked to escaped or released captive animals, according to the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

While the eastern cougar is considered extinct, the legacy of this predator remains in South Carolina through place names like "panther" and "catamount" attached to natural landmarks, serving as a testament to the cougar's once significant presence in the region.