KNOXVILLE, TN – Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, panthers, painters, and catamounts, are the largest felines in North America.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, historically, these majestic predators roamed the forests of Tennessee, but by the early 1900s, they were extirpated from the state due to overhunting and habitat loss, similar to the fate of wild elk and buffalo.
However, recent years have brought about confirmed sightings of cougars in Tennessee, suggesting a potential comeback.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the cougar, belonging to the family Felidae in the order Carnivora, is a powerful predator ranging from 5 to 8.5 feet in length and weighing between 70 and 250 pounds, with males typically being larger than females.
These sleek cats have small heads, rounded ears without tufts, and a distinctive long, heavy tail with a blackish tip. Their fur is generally a solid tan, though slight variations can give them a reddish, yellowish, or grayish tinge.