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MOUNTAIN LIONS IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

Help ensure a future for mountain lions in Tennessee

Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of Tennessee, persecution at the hands of humans has driven them locally extinct in the state. Fear and misinformation were the main forces driving this extirpation. But attitudes have changed since the early 1900s and there's hope for the future.

If we support mountain lion-friendly legislation, open space conservation, and preserve corridors connecting potential habitat, we could reverse this situation and bring mountain lions back home to Tennessee.

Return to the portal page for Tennessee.
The status of Puma concolor in Tennessee.
State law and regulations affecting cougars.
The history of cougars in Tennessee.
Ecosystems and habitat in Tennessee.
Cougar science and research in Tennessee.
Our library of media, research and reports.
How you can take action to help!

SUMMARY: Cougars in the State of Tennessee

For more detail you can explore using the links below.

The status of Puma concolor.

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Mountain lion law in Tennessee.

In the box below you will find all the governing state statutes, mountain lion legal status, state laws, information about the state legislature, initiative and referendum processes, and the state wildlife agency, mountain lion management plans, mountain lion hunting laws, depredation laws, and other regulations as appropriate.

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The history of lions in the state.

Before European settlement, mountain lions once occurred throughout Tennessee, and moved between Tennessee and neighboring states. Ideal habitat would have occurred in the forests, hills, and along the timbered streams, but mountain lions could have persisted anywhere there was ample prey.

Direct persecution, conversion of wildlands to agriculture and human development, roads and highways, and other forms of habitat loss all contributed to the decline and ultimate extirpation of mountain lions in Tennessee.

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Lion habitat in Tennessee.

Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of Tennessee, persecution at the hands of humans drove them locally extinct. If we support open space conservation and preserve corridors connecting potential habitat, we could reverse this situation and bring mountain lions back home to Tennessee.

Although mountain lions may be physically capable of living in an area, human activities and attitudes could keep them from reestablishing a population there. Fragmentation, sport hunting practices, and intolerant communities can wipe out mountain lions from any area. For more data on habitat use, check out our various Science tabs.

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The science of lions in the state.

Though mountain lions once roamed the great state of Tennessee, human persecution has eliminated them from its hills and forests. With no mountain lion population to study, there isn't any current research to report in Tennessee.

Click on other states' Science Tabs to see the myriad of research projects being conducted by researchers from universities, state and federal agencies, non-profits, and other groups across the country.

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Take action for lions.

Overhunting and loss of habitat extirpated mountain lions from Tennessee in the early 1900's. That makes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) confirmed presence of a mountain lion within the state in late 2015 extremely exciting. However, to prevent the overreaction of concerned residents and a possible repeat of history, it is important state and local authorities have conservation measures in place and that the public is well educated on the importance of mountain lions in the local ecosystem. Below are some actions you can take as a local volunteer to help ensure Tennessee lions receive the respect and protection they deserve.

Click here to learn more about action