The mountain lion, also known as the cougar, puma, or panther, is a large, solitary cat that once roamed across North America. This predator is the second-largest feline on the continent, with adults typically weighing between 65 and 265 pounds. It is instantly recognizable by its uniform sandy brown or tawny gray coat and its most distinctive feature: a long, thick, rope-like tail that can measure nearly three feet in length. Despite its wide historical range, the mountain lion’s presence in Alabama remains a subject of persistent public debate and frequent anecdotal reports. This confusion necessitates a definitive, official answer on the cat’s current status in the state.
Alabama’s Official Position on Established Populations
The official position of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is that the mountain lion has been extirpated from the state. This means the species once existed in Alabama but has been locally made extinct. Biologically, an established population requires a self-sustaining group that includes breeding males and females with sufficient numbers to maintain genetic diversity.
Wildlife officials confirm that no established, breeding population has existed in Alabama for decades. The last confirmed instance of a mountain lion in the state occurred in 1956 in Tuscaloosa County. Since then, hundreds of reports received by the ADCNR have not yielded verifiable evidence of a permanent population.
The lack of clear trail camera images or road-killed animals, which are common indicators in states with known populations, supports the absence of an established population. The nearest known self-sustaining populations are located far to the west in Texas and in the extreme southwestern portion of Florida, home of the endangered Florida panther. The vast distance makes natural recolonization a rare event.
How Confirmed Transient Sightings Occur
Although no established population exists, the ADCNR acknowledges the possibility of extremely rare, individual mountain lions passing through the state. These animals are almost always transient, subadult males dispersing from established populations far outside Alabama. Young males often travel hundreds or even thousands of miles from their birth ranges in search of new territory and mates.
These transient animals are typically traced through scientific methods like DNA analysis of hair, scat, or tissue samples. For example, a mountain lion confirmed in Connecticut, thousands of miles from the nearest known population, was traced via DNA to the Black Hills of South Dakota. This genetic fingerprinting allows biologists to determine the cat’s origin, confirming it is a dispersing male rather than part of a local population.
This tracing demonstrates how a wild cougar could occasionally appear in Alabama without a local breeding group. The animals may also be escaped or released pets, which accounts for a few verified sightings in the Southeast. Since females do not disperse over such long distances, any transient male that reaches Alabama cannot reproduce, preventing the establishment of a new population.
Animals Commonly Mistaken for Mountain Lions
The vast majority of mountain lion reports in Alabama are cases of mistaken identity, often driven by brief glimpses or poor lighting conditions. The bobcat is one of the most frequently misidentified animals, though it is significantly smaller, weighing only 15 to 35 pounds, and possesses a short, bobbed tail. Bobcats also have a spotted coat, unlike the uniform sandy color of an adult cougar.
Domestic dogs, coyotes, and feral cats are also commonly mistaken for the large cat. A key feature for identification is the tail: mountain lions have a long, thick tail held low to the ground, which is absent on bobcats and different from the bushy tails of coyotes and many dogs. In some cases, black feral cats or even black bears are reported as the mythical “black panther,” a color phase never scientifically documented in cougars.
The sheer size difference is a major distinguishing factor. An adult cougar stands about 2.5 feet tall at the shoulder, which is approximately mid-thigh on an average adult person. Seeing an animal quickly or at a distance can distort its size and features, leading to the high number of unconfirmed public reports versus the lack of verifiable scientific evidence.
Reporting Protocols and Legal Status
If a person believes they have encountered a mountain lion in Alabama, they should contact the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the ADCNR. Providing physical evidence is the most useful step, such as clear photographs, video footage, or detailed images of tracks or scat. When documenting tracks, placing a recognizable object next to the print, like a ruler or a coin, helps biologists accurately judge the size and species.
The ADCNR encourages the public to document any potential sighting to allow investigation of a rare transient individual. Any mountain lion confirmed in Alabama is protected under state law, despite the species not being established. Current regulations place mountain lions on a “No Open Season” status, meaning it is illegal to hunt, capture, or harm the animal.