South Carolina BS thread under new MANAGEMENT and lives in SC

Last (I think) post on panthers ...
The above discussion is why I find the whole matter so fascinating. There is absolute, official statements of: “They are extinct, last seen anywhere in 1938.”
BUT, there is a decent amount of evidence by 1. those who don’t know they are supposed to be extinct (no reason to twist the evidence to “prove” something, like Bigfoot people often do) or 2. Don’t know they ever existed (shocked, terrified, & horrified to see a big wild cat they have no idea could exist here- so not looking for it at all).
Meanwhile locals be like: “Yup, they are over there.”

I find the dynamic completely fascinating.



Edit: My working hypothesis-
10 years ago, there were small pockets of surviving cougars (tan) scattered in remote mountain valleys & peaks, set far enough from settled areas to have few visitors & the cats there knew to avoid humans at all costs.
This population may have had wandering florida or western cougars join it over the decades.

After the football team came into being, people bought panthers- black jaguars as pets (illegally). They got large, expensive, & dangerous. So folks “set them free” in the Western NC mountains. Many starved to death (proven), but enough survived to establish a breeding population.
This is the origin of the “black cat” mystery of North Carolina.

The 2 populations MAY have merged, IF cougars & jaguars can breed together.

Both are smaller than your typical mountain lion or jaguar, which is a “mark” of the supposed Eastern Cougar (sub)species. Also, both have zero numbers known as collecting them is pretty much impossible with the remoteness of the “dens” & the reclusivity of any populations.

In both cases, lack of group connections & the resulting lack of genetic diversity MAY be leading to a “dying off” of the populations. The coyote population may have expedited the process somehow. That is IF they are declining in numbers (which we have no evidence for either-no numbers known)

Again, a working hypothesis based on evidence/stories I’ve collected in my head over the last 25-odd years. It may be completely wrong, which is fine by me.

 

Old people driving 10 under the speed limit!

 

Whos cooking what today? Happy Fourth.

Just threw a butt on. Food Lion had them for $0.99 / lb. got a couple extra in the freezer now,

https://youtu.be/FShE0VifCYs

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lovers-spc-ucas-and-ecgs-bushing-seal.617686/

A few things I have for sale that never got installed.

 

Haha nice try...

 

Happy Fourth tacoholics!

 

Happy 4th of July!

‘Merica

 

Happy Fourth of July!'Merica!

 

Been thinking about taking the truck out for a nature drive in Francis Marion NF. Any fun roads that’s safe for 2wd? No lift but on AT tires. May just go and drive around.

 

Got these on this am. @SOS CONCEPTS ditch brackets and Rigid pods.

 

Happy Birthday Murica!!

 

Glad it worked out, looks good

 

Happy Independence Day everyone!

I visited the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Pooler GA this past week. That place is awesome, if you’ve never been it’s worth stopping by. They just recently got in a perfect WWII Jeep. I figured what could be more appropriate than a WWII Jeep on the 4th of July.

https://youtu.be/i8sZI_fM-FQ

 

Thank you sir.

I will still try them out behind the grill when I get my mount done and decide which way I want to go.