What was thought to be a Mountain Lion in Lebanon, TN is a Bobcat

Sep 04, 2017 at 06:08 am by bryan


Imagine finding a Mountain Lion in your back yard. Well, that is what Jim Kutz in Lebanon, Tennessee thought he stumbled upon...

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Kutz, who lives at the KOA Campground in Wilson County, saw signs of a possible cougar living on a 200 acre tract of land behind the campground. So, Kutz set up a nighttime wildlife camera and told us what he caught on video...

In the video you can see a large adult cat and about three cubs. However, the spotting was later confirmed to be a Bobcat.

As for where the Bobcats were spotted...

According to the TWRA, the cougar is the largest feline animal in North America. Until very recently, there haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900's. Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was near extinct due to over hunting and habitat loss. However, the cougar may be making a comeback in Tennessee. However, they are not often seen by most. Instead, Bobcats are routinely spotted throughout Tennessee and sometimes confused by observers.

Hear the entire 4 MIN and 12 SEC interview with Jim Kutz below:

BELOW: Jim showing WGNS' Scott Walker his wildlife camera video of the what later turned out to be Bobcats in Lebanon, TN

Confirmed Cougar Sightings in TN:

Date County Evidence
9/20/2015 Obion Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
9/26/2015 Carroll Hair sample was submitted by a hunter; DNA analysis indicated a female with genetics similar to cougars in South Dakota
11/11/2015 Humphreys Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
11/24/2015 Humphreys Trail camera video and photos submitted by a landowner
12/11/2015 Humphreys Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
12/18/2015 Humphreys Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
02/04/2016 Humphreys Trail Camera photos submitted by a landowner
08/03/2016 Humphreys Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
09/04/2016 Wayne Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner
09/04/2016 Wayne Trail camera photo submitted by a landowner

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