We have lived on the side of the mountain in Tennessee for 4 years. Last Sunday afternoon for the first time we heard a very large cat in the front yard. We never saw it, but the sound was unmistakable.
I called the local game warden and he said there had been no reports for years, but the local people say they are common... Cougars, Panthers, Mountain Lions... I think they are all basically the same, just go by different names. People just don't report them any more to keep the local "government" off of their property.
We know very little about these big cats. I have read some on the internet and know they are indigenous to this area. Is there any way to discourage them from coming so close to the house? We have 60 acres with dogs, cats, guineas, chickens... not to mention kids. There are caves and old coal mines at the top of the property, which I am sure makes great dens for these creatures. I'm almost afraid to go outside right now. I understand this is breeding season for them and that's probably why we heard them in the middle of the afternoon. I also know if you hear something like that in the day time it could be sick or injured and very dangerous.
Any suggestions??
I called the local game warden and he said there had been no reports for years, but the local people say they are common... Cougars, Panthers, Mountain Lions... I think they are all basically the same, just go by different names. People just don't report them any more to keep the local "government" off of their property.
We know very little about these big cats. I have read some on the internet and know they are indigenous to this area. Is there any way to discourage them from coming so close to the house? We have 60 acres with dogs, cats, guineas, chickens... not to mention kids. There are caves and old coal mines at the top of the property, which I am sure makes great dens for these creatures. I'm almost afraid to go outside right now. I understand this is breeding season for them and that's probably why we heard them in the middle of the afternoon. I also know if you hear something like that in the day time it could be sick or injured and very dangerous.
Any suggestions??