The cougar goes by many names including puma, mountain lion, panther, painter, and catamount. It is the largest feline in North America and until recently there have been no confirmed sightings in the state of Tennessee since the early 1900s when the cougar was extirpated from the state due to habitat loss and overhunting. Since September of 2015 there have been six sighting confirmed by the TWRA. Five sightings (one in Obion County and four in Humphreys County) were confirmed by a trail camera and one sighting in Carroll County was confirmed by DNA analysis. Due to their solitary, nocturnal, and secretive nature it is highly unlikely you would ever encounter one.
This geocache is one in a series of 15 that I have placed along the Cub Lake Trail in Natchez Trace State Park located in Wildersville, Tennessee. Natchez Trace State Park is a 10,154 acre state park located within a 48,000 acre state forest and wildlife management area. Cub Lake is approximately 52 acres in size and the trail around it is approximately 5.8 miles long and considered moderate difficulty. There are approximately 13.5 miles of hiking trails in the park and an overnight trail that is 40 miles long. Other activities at the park include swimming at Cub Lake, boating on various lakes, mountain biking, fishing, and horseback riding. There are also campgrounds and pavilions available for rental.
I would like to thank Walter Pope, park manager, for granting permission for these geocache hides. Please be respectful of the area and stay on the trails for as long as possible. Be sure to bring your boots if you do the whole trail, it can get muddy in sections.