Pull up a chair, crack open a cold one, and join us for another episode of Appalachian Ramblin’! Today, Sam and Dillon are joined by their best friend Autumn to tackle one of the most heavily debated topics in mountain lore: are there panthers and mountain lions secretly roaming the Appalachian Mountains?
First, we catch up on Appalachia Happenin’s with Autumn, get an update on Dillon’s book projects, and hear about Sam’s new spooky, cryptid-themed shirt designs dropping for Stonewall828. Then, we dive straight into feline biology and regional history; breaking down the differences between bobcats, extinct Eastern Cougars, expanding Western Cougars, and the endangered Florida Panther.
Next, Autumn shares her and her family's experience with Panther sightings. Dillon opens up about his own close encounters in Cashiers and Maggie Valley, and we investigate a famous viral photograph from 2008 claiming a massive 260 lb mountain lion was struck near Cashiers, NC. We also head over to Reddit to share chilling community encounters, from a deep-woods 2006 sighting of a black panther with piercing green eyes to tan, long-tailed cats darting across roads near Cherokee, NC. Finally, we break down official statements from the North Carolina and Tennessee wildlife agencies, ending with crucial survival tips on what to do if you ever face down a big cat in the wild.
What We’re Coverin’ in This Episode:
04:04 - Intro & Appalachia Happenin’s: Cracking open cold drinks, catching up with Autumn, updates on Dillon's writing, and Sam's new spooky cryptid shirt drops for Stonewall828!
08:51 - Cat Breakdown – Cougars vs. Bobcats: The biology, size, and markings of big cats. We examine the extinction status of the Eastern Cougar, the range expansion of Western Cougars, and the solitary population of Florida Panthers.
16:16 - Autumn’s Scary Night Encounter & Unexplainable Trail Cam Image: Autumn shares what she heard late one night and even photo proof of a Panther living in her “backyard.”
21:10 - Dillon’s Sightings & The Cashiers Hoax: Dillon shares personal encounters from Cashiers and Maggie Valley. Plus, we pull up a viral 2008 forum email about a 260 lb panther on US-64 and uncover the truth behind the photo.
42:39 - Deep-Woods Reddit Encounters: Real-life community accounts, including a 2006 sighting of an elusive black panther in Western NC, reports of all-black litter, and big cat sightings near the Great Smoky Mountains.
54:39 - What the Wildlife Agencies Say: Reviewing official stances from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) on transient big cats versus established breeding populations.
58:55 - Big Cat Safety Protocol: Essential survival steps if you meet a cougar in the woods: why you should never run, how to make yourself look large, and how to fight back if necessary.
Share Your Panther Stories! Have you ever seen a mountain lion, a black panther, or something completely unexplainable in the Appalachian woods? Send us your stories to be read on the show!
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Until next time... don’t whistle in the woods at night, and go touch some grass!