While the term “big cat” often refers to the mountain lion or cougar, the only wild feline species with an established, reproducing population in Georgia is the bobcat. The bobcat is the solitary native wild cat residents are likely to encounter in the state’s diverse habitats. The status of any larger felines in Georgia is a matter of transient individuals, not resident populations.
Georgia’s Common Wild Cat: The Bobcat
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a resilient and adaptable predator found across the entirety of Georgia. These felines are roughly twice the size of a large domestic house cat, with adult males typically averaging between 18 and 28 pounds. Their name is derived from their most distinctive feature: a stubby, or “bobbed,” tail that is short and often tipped with black on the underside.
Their coat is generally a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, often marked with streaks and spots of darker brown or black that provide excellent camouflage in dense undergrowth. Though they possess small, inconspicuous ear tufts, they thrive in a wide variety of environments, from the state’s humid coastal swamps and bottomland hardwood forests to its mixed pine and hardwood forests and agricultural areas.
As opportunistic carnivores, bobcats rely on a broad diet, making them highly successful across different landscapes. Their primary prey consists of small mammals, such as eastern cottontails, mice, and rats, but they are capable of taking down animals as large as small white-tailed deer. They are solitary creatures that are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, which is why they are seldom observed by humans. Males maintain expansive home ranges, while female ranges are significantly smaller.
The Status of Cougars (Mountain Lions) in Georgia
The cougar, or mountain lion (Puma concolor), is often the focus of public reports and confusion. Historically, the eastern cougar subspecies was native to the region, but centuries of habitat destruction, unregulated hunting, and eradication efforts by early settlers led to its disappearance. The eastern cougar is now considered extinct in the wild by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, having vanished from the state by the early 20th century.
Despite frequent reports of sightings, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains that cougars do not have an established or breeding population within the state’s borders. The closest known breeding population is the federally endangered Florida panther, located hundreds of miles away in the southwestern part of Florida. The few credible, confirmed sightings in Georgia have been genetically traced to these transient Florida panthers.
These confirmed cases typically involve young male cougars dispersing from their home territories in search of new, unoccupied ranges, a journey that can cover hundreds of miles. The DNR requires physical evidence, such as carcasses, verified trail camera footage, or confirmed tracks, to substantiate the existence of a population. None of this evidence has been found to indicate a breeding residency.
The vast majority of unconfirmed sightings are often misidentifications of other large animals, such as bobcats, coyotes, or even large domestic dogs, especially in low-light conditions. While it is not impossible for a transient cougar to enter Georgia, these individuals are solitary, non-resident wanderers. The lack of credible evidence of females or kittens further supports the conclusion that the species has not re-established itself in the state.
Identifying Georgia’s Wild Felines
Distinguishing between Georgia’s wild felines and other animals requires observing specific physical and track characteristics. The bobcat is distinguished from a domestic cat by its size, short tail, and noticeably longer hind legs. Its coat is usually spotted, and it has distinctive white spots on the back of its dark-colored ears.
Examining tracks offers a more reliable method for identifying a passing feline. Unlike canines, such as dogs or coyotes, feline tracks rarely show claw marks because their claws are retractable during normal walking. Bobcat tracks are relatively circular, measuring about two inches in diameter, and the central heel pad typically shows two lobes on the front edge and three lobes on the rear edge.
In contrast, a coyote or dog track is often more oval in shape, usually displays visible claw marks, and the heel pad has a single lobe on the front edge. If a much larger track were found, it would suggest a transient cougar, as its tracks would be substantially bigger than a bobcat’s. When observing any wild cat, maintaining a respectful distance is advisable, and any physical evidence of a cougar should be reported to the state’s Department of Natural Resources for official verification.