Abba's Art

‘Lions’ and Lying

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by

Fred D
in

The game cam recently captured this large local bobcat strolling along the path by our stream-side ‘Quiet Bench’.

A persistent rumor exists that mountain lions still roam the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mischievously curious (one of my ‘Needs Improvement’ character traits), I envisioned an opportunity for prime rumor enhancement. Stretching the truth just a tad (another ‘N I’ character flaw I’ve been guilty of), I labeled the bobcat pic Local ‘Lion’ and launched it into cyberspace. It didn’t take long to realize it was Mission Accomplished! 😊

While most were aware the pic was a bobcat, numerous “WOW!”… “I told people they were here!” … “Be careful!” … “Proof! Thank you!” responses brought a grin to my devious mug. But then, pondering the value of what my prank actually accomplished, my grin faded.

It was fun. However, the reality is my ‘stretching’ the truth a tad had also stretched the division over the mountain lion rumor, and division is something that need not be encouraged in our chaotic world.

Bottom line . . . lying is never beneficial. Be it a little ‘white’ lie; a colossal ‘big’ lie’; or even a slightly ambiguous ‘lion’ lie. Sorry everyone. I’m a continual ‘Needs Improvement’ work-in-progress . . . and that’s no lie 😊

“What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth.”

Ephesians 4:25 – The Message

I’ll conclude with a humorous, but ‘official’ GSMNP Park Ranger assessment of the presence of mountain lions in the Park:

Wandering through Cades Cove in the Smokies a while back, I asked three different Park Rangers, “Where are the mountain lions?”

The first Ranger answered, “Officially, they’re not here, but I saw one cross the road in front of me once.”

Encountering another Ranger a bit further along, I posed the same question.

“Officially …” I politely interrupted … “The last Ranger told me that officially they’re not in the Park, but he actually saw one.”

“OK then”, he replied. “I too have seen them here on two different occasions.”

The best response came as I was leaving Cades Cove. Asking a congenial, older female Ranger, “Where are the cougars?”, she flashed a big smile and said,

“Honey”, if you want to see cougars you’ll need to hit the bars in Gatlinburg.” 

I assuming this was not a personal statement, and she was referring to feral mountain lions 😊

Soooooo . . . Do mountain lions still travel the Smokies?

I’d be lying by saying I’ve actually seen them here. You’ll just have to enjoy exploring the GSMNP for ‘lions’ yourself  . . . but avoid the bars in Gatlinburg 😊

Keep Looking Up ^ . . . His Best is Yet to Come!

Comments

13 responses to “‘Lions’ and Lying”

  1. Ahzio

    Bobcats, coyote, cougars, and bears, pretty much common place here in the Cascades. No more Grizzlies, though I’ve heard a rumor that “they” want to “reintroduce” them. I always try to tell people that the area their house or apartment sits (only a few hundred years ago) “was” the wilderness.

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  2. Nancy Ruegg

    I wouldn’t want to encounter a bobcat much less a mountain lion. I’m rather thankful they’re scarce in the Smokies–at least in the locales where people hike and camp. Perhaps they stay in the more remote areas (?).

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  3. Fred D

    Oops . . . Screaming, not streaming woman . . . see how much you’ve scared me 😨

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  4. Fred D

    I’ve heard screaming women, but a “feral steaming woman”, now that’s scary

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  5. Fred D

    Exactly the same reason one Park Ranger explained to me why they don’t officially recognize the existence of mountain lions in the GSMNP Gary . . . Darn paperwork, but I guess it saves a cutting down few trees and turning them into pulp 😄

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Anonymous

    mountain lions, cougars, Bob cats, whatever the case may be….
    everything needs to call somewhere a home!!!!
    I continue to enjoy your pics & stories. 😊👍

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  7. Wynne Leon

    Well, I’m giggling a little bit over your prank and the park rangers responses but you’re right, our world doesn’t need any more divisions. Whatever it is, it’s always fun, and illuminating to see a post from you, dear Fred!

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  8. Gary Fultz

    You can have some of our mountain lions. The reason Minnesota does not own up to their presence is because the Natural resource Department would have to declare them on the endangered species list and it sets off a whole bunch of paperwork and another department of management (psst…I didn’t hear it from the Game Warden I asked). One family nearby keeps getting their pictures on the door bell camera at night.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Anonymous

    We are in Northern Alberta and have both bobcats and mountain lions. If you’ve ever heard the scream of a mountain lion at night, you’d never forget it. It sounds like a feral woman under attack and is the eeriest thing I’ve ever heard.

    i enjoyed your whole story! My mom always told me “believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see!” Her wisdom would serve most of us very well!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. C.A. Post

    Wow! Now I KNOW!
    Bobcats average 2’9” in length and ~25 pounds.
    Mountain lions average 7’10” in length 😱 and ~175 pounds😱😱‼️
    Just a little bit different I’d say.

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  11. C.A. Post

    Now I’ve got to look up the difference between bobcats and mountain lions! I thought they were different names for the same animal! Thanxalot.🥴
    😂😂

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  12. Fred D

    What about cougars Bro?

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  13. mdeussing

    I believe that there are mountains lions in some remote places in PA as well!

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