DURHAM, NC – Cougars, also known as mountain lions, were once widespread across North Carolina, leaving a legacy in the form of place names such as Panther Creek and Painter Knob, derived from the regional terms for the large cats.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, historically, these apex predators roamed the forests and mountains, but they were extirpated from the state in the late 1800s due to habitat loss and hunting.
Despite their official extinction in North Carolina, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) continues to receive sporadic reports of cougar sightings.
Most of these reports, however, are determined to be misidentifications of other animals like bobcats, coyotes, domestic pets, or even foxes suffering from mange. In many cases, viral photos of cougars from western states are mistakenly linked to the region, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Photo byNorth Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
The last recorded sighting that garnered significant attention in North Carolina occurred in the 1980s when two cougars were found scavenging at a dumpster in Tyrrell County, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.