The Last Recorded Mountain Lion Sighting in Georgia

Photo byDylan CrawfordonUnsplash

COLUMBUS, GA - Mountain lions, also known as cougars or panthers, are elusive creatures, and confirmed sightings in Georgia are exceedingly rare.

While historically these big cats roamed much of North America, their numbers dwindled as habitats were lost and hunting reduced their populations.

The closest population of mountain lions to Georgia is the Florida panther, primarily found in South Florida.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, in the past 25 years, only three credible mountain lion sightings have been reported in Georgia. Each of these sightings involved animals connected to the Florida panther population.

The most notable recent encounter occurred in 2008, when a hunter in LaGrange, GA (Troup County) shot and killed a large cat while deer hunting. Genetic testing later confirmed that the animal was a Florida panther, a federally endangered species, according to the Georgia Department of Wildlife Resources.

The hunter faced federal wildlife violations and received a fine of $2,000, along with two years of probation, during which he was barred from obtaining a hunting license, according to the Georgia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Despite these rare encounters, there is no established population of mountain lions in Georgia, and sightings remain infrequent.

The last confirmed sighting in 2008 stands as a stark reminder of the rarity of these creatures in the state, with many reported sightings often turning out to be misidentified animals, such as coyotes or bears.