Name:	LakeStone83 -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/26/2014 11:31:32 PM

I thought it might be someone's dog but not so sure now. I saw a coyote around this time last year and have heard of other sightings in the area.  I had the windows open last night and it woke me up around 2 this morning.  I'm hearing it howl all times of the day now. Anyone around Smith Mountain hearing the constant howl?  (Serious...no jokes please :) )

Name:	10toLife -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/28/2014 9:28:30 AM

I have not noticed Coyotes-- but we have heard some kind of wild cat--- my neighbor thinks it's a bob cat.  I'm not sure I would know the difference between a holwing dog and a coyote though. We hear dogs holwing all the time at night and I thought it was coon hunting dogs. I have seen a fox running across Youngs Ferry several times though. 

Name:	10toLife -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/28/2014 9:30:13 AM

well I found this on you tube and that is not what I expected them to sound like....     its really high pitched.    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsZoIe3Czk

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/28/2014 12:11:43 PM

There are definitely coyotes in the area.  I was actually behind one running down the middle of Youngs Ferry a few years ago in broad daylight.  I also saw a full grown black panther on two different occasions in the area several years back.  I know a couple of other folks saw it also.  I am not sure if there is a difference in a panther/bobcat/mt. lion howl but you might google it up if you are curiuos.

Name:	Summer Lover -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/28/2014 5:08:59 PM

I thought I had seen a black panther back in 2012 just off Young's Ferry at the polling place across from Sigger's.  Think it was the same one?

Name:	lakemartintime -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/29/2014 12:11:39 PM

I saw a Coyote crossing Rt 34 about a mile east of Wildwood Rd last week about 6:30 AM. Seemed to be old and was in no hurry.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/29/2014 4:52:59 PM

It has been 8-10 years since my personal sighting but I have talked with others who know of sightings much more recent than mine.  I can't imagine that one would stay anywhere for very long without a mate though so it is very likely there is more than one around.  A very quick Google search did educate me just now to the fact that they are solitary and don't have ''packs" or "groups" of any kind but still have the urge to mate, as all animals.  I suspect we have a small population in the area.  When I looked up their range years ago I was a little surprised to learn that we are right on the northern edge of their range.  There is more than ample game in thre area to support them.  I live near the end of a slough and several winters ago there was a dead doe that showed up in the very end.  Cause of death was not obviuos to casual observation, but what makes it note worthy is that she dissapeared the next night.  Others credited Coyotes for the dissapearance, but I am skeptical as she was quite large and it would have taken substantial cooperation for a pack of coyotes to accomplish moving her.  The panther I saw however could have toted her off with little effort.  It was a very large cat.

I would like to see it again.  It was a magnificent animal.  I watched it cross an open field right at the tree line and had an unobstructed view for five to six seconds.  Head to tail tip it was as long as Madwind Road is wide.  I had two sightings about 2-3 weeks apart.  I know a couple folks that have trail cams set up in the area and check with them occasionally to see if they have caught an image of one.  I am sure it is only a matter of time.  I don't think there is any need for anyone to panic over them.  They have been around for a at least a decade and have caused no problems for humans that I know of. 

Name:	houseboat -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/29/2014 11:08:40 PM

I saw a blackish large stocky built cat with a very long tail crossed hwy 14 near Russell between Wetumpka and Elmore a few years ago. It had wide feet and fairly long hair, purpleish black, possibly a young cat. My heart almost jumped out of my chest. 

Name:	lakesideparadise -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/30/2014 10:35:11 AM

http://www.outdooralabama.com/truth-about-black-panthers-and-bears-alabama

I found this this to be interesting. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Who am I to beleive...
Date:	9/30/2014 12:27:45 PM

...his essay or my lying eyes!  I guess maybe I should have reported the sighting back then but didn't realize they were so rare.  Maybe somebody should send the guy a link to this thread.  Funny thing is I did run into a Game Warden in Dadeville after my first sighting and mentioned it to him and he just dismissed it as though it were impossible.  My first sighting was not as long or as clear as the second one.  After the second one I actually thought of contacing him again but he was so dismissive the first time I thought why bother.  But as I stated, since then I have heard of other sightings.

Name:	lakesideparadise -	Reply
Subject:	Who am I to beleive...
Date:	9/30/2014 1:12:31 PM

I have close friends that have also reported sightings . Strange there isn't any documented evidence by the authorities.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	I can tell you why now.
Date:	9/30/2014 2:11:02 PM

After reading the essay and making the post I decided to 'report' the sightings.  I spoke with 3 different individuals and each one cared less than the one before.  Never asked my name, contact info, details etc.  One did ask me what county before transferring me to someone whom apparrently I was botherig because they couldn't get off the phone fast enough.

This just proved to me that the essay/report wasn't worth the paper/pixels it took to print it.  I guess we count our wildlife these days only by the number that get hit on highways.  That being the case I count a Kazillion Armodillas!!

Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Coyotes Smith Mtn area
Date:	9/30/2014 11:52:39 PM

I have read reports on numerous boards, and the experts always seem to have the same response.  From what I have read, however, a Mountain Lion can have a home range of several hundred miles, so a Puma from Florida or the Smokies could easily wander through Alabama, especially if they spent most of their wandering in areas where humans avoided.  They could be loners just passing through, or they could be pets that grew too big and were released, but I don't doubt that Cougars can live around here without the experts knowing about them.  Maybe someone can find a Catamount Cutie game call and try to lure one in close enough to get a picture.  If anyone can come up with other names for Panthers, please feel free to throw them into the discussion.