TENNESSEE — After more than a century without an established population, evidence suggests mountain lions — also known as cougars or panthers — may be slowly returning to Tennessee.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the last confirmed mountain lion in the state was killed in 1902.
For decades, the species was considered extirpated, meaning it no longer had a breeding population in the region. However, in recent years, verified sightings and trail camera photos have sparked renewed discussion about their presence…