I looked out the passenger side window just as my mom noticed it out her window. I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. I really took offense to that.. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! It is the timeline that is in dispute. "According to Handley and Pattons 'Wild Mammals of Virginia'published in 1947, the last Virginia mountain lion was killed in Washington County in 1882. One large paw print about 3.5 to 4 inches wide, three distinct inch+ pads (no claw marks). 1001 Virginia St. East Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: 304-348-5140 Myself and many others in the state have trail cams all over the place. There was another report of someone (much less credible) who spotted one near Midway (outside Gate City) about 5 years ago. In the case where two mountain lions had been found locally, it didn't take long for them to stir up trouble. I saw more recently something very large and stocky going into the tall grass, only saw the back end of it and that was at least 3 feet long with a long tail. Lets explore: are there mountain lions in Virginia? This evening my husband and I were driving up our country lane in western Amherst county when a large, dark brown (black?) Since there are no breeding populations in Virginia, the likelihood of a secretive population that has existed since 1880 is very unlikely. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. I went on line and llistened to mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like that. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . We searched for bones, but we had waited too long and could not find anything. Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. After speaking with several people who claimed to see one, I made a trip to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) office in Verona. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. Instead, these sightings are likely captive cats that were intentionally or accidentally released or traveling cats from a state out west. Anyone with info local to south central VA, email me at austinsandsons@verizon.net. Im guessing it was about 1987 but cant be sure. She believes that North American mountain lionsincluding the Florida panther, which she said is protected because they are considered a distinct population segment via the Endangered Species Actare essentially all the same, without enough genetic distinctions to justify differentiating the western and eastern subspecies. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. I would assume that a large black cat would be that type. But their population definitely isnt established here. Our youngest daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked. I knew not to run, so I just stood there and waited. I havent seen them, but I have worked with folks there at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in Front Royal including Bill McShea. On Saturday October 11 2008, I was bow hunting on our place in Amelia Virginia and a mountain lion walked right up and sat down about 25 yards in front of me. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. With their tails, some individuals can be as much as 9 ft. long. He said, I went out at about dusk and I was looking around my property and at the edge of the woods I saw a mountain lion with a half dead groundhog in its mouth and it was tossing it into the air and catching it.. My dog and all the dogs in the neighborhood were going nuts. Loudoun County Va , where they are now expanding the landfill , we hear the cougar cry less often now but it is still making its presence known and its a little further in the distance now instead of right at the back door. . Theres lots of legends around here, but I have heard from one very reputable source about a recent (within the last year) sighting in the vicinity of the Lovers Leap turnout on Route 58 about 6-7 miles east of Meadows of Dan. More than 300 cougar sightings have been reported in West Virginia since 1975, according to the Eastern Puma Research Network. I was leaning against a tree w/my parka hood blocking the wind, when I saw a grown cougar walking straight toward me. Anyone who wants to put this mystery to rest should just spend a few days in those mountainscase would be closed for sure on big black cats. I stopped the truck and did the did I see what I think I saw routine. People have been reporting sightings of mountain lions in our area for years, but the Virginia DWR says they haven't been in our area since 1882. I never had heard anything like it before. "To date, none of these reports have been substantiated by a photo, carcass or track. I have a friend who claims to have had one cross the Parkway in front of him near the Peaks of Otter earlier this year. I would like to add it to my collection if possible. just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. My grandparents lived most of their lives near Summersville, WV, in Nicholas County. The fur was short and the common light red-brown hue of a cougar. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in . Once they described an animal that was nearly the same color as a deer but knew it couldnt be because it had a long tail. Its been about ten years since then and Smith Mountain Lake has become a vacation spot for every northern virginian there is so the mountain lion probably found a more secluded area, there is a ton of it out there, to hunt and live. For those who dont believe in the sightings or tales of the eastern cougar, it is a misjudgment to criticize others for their experiences. Managing them in that way allowed for populations to rebound, and thats what we think is fueling the dispersal. You can reach her at lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125. It was moving through the woods twards a water source but not in the open. I grew up in North Georgia. It stopped and looked at me for a minute, I didnt move, and then it went on into the woods where I know a rabbit lives. He charged at the Fish and Game guy in the process. And shes not alone in that belief. Victim of animal attack treated for rabies. It's practically unheard of! And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. Concord University (Concord) is a public university in Athens, West Virginia.It was founded on February 28, 1872, when the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to locate a Branch State Normal School, in the town of Concord Church, in the County of Mercer". A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. Mountain lions in Nebraska are a division of the larger population spread through all western U.S. states, and predators move unobstructedly among Nebraska and neighboring U.S. states, especially South Dakota and Wyoming. To his credit he told them that some one must be feeding this cat steriods and sewed a three foot tail on him or her. This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. He told me stories of escaped mountain lions that hes seen, but noted that they typically stayed close to people, or near areas where they were kept. But recent expert-confirmed sightingswhich have involved photographs, videos, and DNAin Tennessee support a theory that mountain lions, whose populations out west have continued to expand, are slowly making their way back to this side of the country. lions do not inhabit the Virginia mountains. Then, off it went! OK see I read there were mountain lions in a certain large canyon but now Im pretty sure that rumour is to keep other fisherman out. I can definetely say that there are mountain lions in Shenandoah National Park. When very quietly without any noise I saw movement coming out of a clearing. Mountain lions are now fairly common in suburban areas of California and have recently been sighted as far east as urban Kansas City, Missouri, where several have been hit by cars. This. He always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods and was gone. They produced over 20 kittens, expanding the gene pool successfully.5, the Eastern Cougar is prefers a habitat with trees rick_freer@yahoo.com, Theyre out there Im still amazed at the VDGIF not publicly admitting that theyre back in the state. This weekend, had dinner with a new neighbor who mentioned that he had seen a black cat near Carrington Road in Markham, VA. Heard back from Animal Control and VDGIF. It isnt certain, but some researchers claim that there could be native cougar populations across the Blue Ridge in as little as 25-30 years. My uncle always swore he saw a mtn lion on the family farm in Montvale in the early 1990s sitting at the treeline across a field watching him as he worked with his pigs. "I thought, 'holy cow, where did that come from?'" I quit taking my solo walks in the woods after that!!!!!Leen. Note: this article expired, but a lot of people want to comment on this thread, so I kept it active, and updated it for quite a while. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. Is it safe to go out there and will it come back. It is only a matter of time before the California picture in this blog post is sent back to us as proof of mountain lions in Virginia. I stopped thinking I would see a deer cross the old farm road. But really, itll change peoples viewpoints at some point., Experts in Tennessee dont know exactly how many mountain lions are roaming the area, but they do know one thing for sure: at least one of them is a female. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. He saw the cougar on March 10, 2015 while working in the field near Vida, Oregon.". This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of its ears. I have pictures of the tracks and of the mares injuries. Has anyone else seen a large cat in the Campbell County area? One question, which seems to be a big possiblilty based on some of the posts, is that at least some of the sightings are of escaped/released pets. Montross, VA . Hellol. Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. It was on Rt. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. Where are mountain lions in Virginia? I must have terrified them. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. There are certainly plenty of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. I live past the end of the road in the Blue Ridge. I thought it was a bear at first, until I saw its long thick tail. I think the nuts are attracting game, and a lion is preying. The day after the wolf incident my wife called from her work and advised me not to go in the pasture as a mother bear and cub had been spotted berry gathering there. It was not afraid of the dog at all, it walked back up in the woods and paced back in forth on a log. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. Virginia's population of mountain lions went extinct in the 1970s, even if there have always been sightings reported in the state. I recently sent a comment asking if anyone has seen a wolf in Virginia. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. I KNOW ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, WHILE SITTING IN A CONVENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT NEAR PHILPOT DAM(BASSETT) I SAW A BLACK BEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY 11 AM. Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. Right now the only natural predator of deer seems to be the feral Toyota Camry population. Could have been either I guess. It persisted for about 3 minutes. "On average, DGIF has received approximately three to foursightings of large cats a month in recent years," the blog post stated. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIGHTINGS OF A COUGAR OR OTHER LARGE FELINE IN THIS AREA. Mine me, Im not calling him a lier, but it does happen. Last year I saw a very large cat print left in the snow. She ranked top 10 in the MEC in field-goal percentage (third/54.3), free-throw percentage (sixth/78.2), blocks per game (sixth/0.9) and rebounding (eighth/7.9). Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic regions. According to the Cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2. I am not sure we should base the existence of mountain lions in VA. and TN on the opinions of a few biologists. We had tons of deer, albino too! Theres no guarantee that cougars trekking from South Dakota will stick around, or that the female in Tennessee will have kittens. I just want to confirm that, yes, theyre back and I hope they stay around! Females need to show up. But anyways, I just completely got off of the Mountain Lion subject. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We disturbed something that ran off into the woods. I couldnt see their relative sizes, as they were not close together until right before I entered the woods, and one was very low in the grass, could only see its eyes reflected. I don't think we're real close to that.". Three months later a mountain lion was wiped out by an SUV on a highway in Connecticut. the Eastern Cougar is Puma concolor, reflecting the solid color without stripes or spots One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. On thursday October 16,2008 at 5:30/5:45 pm, my folks wanted to show me the Blue Ridge Parkways scenic fall views. And while common throughout the state . If the cougars are released pets they still will have the survival instincts which make them difficult to have as pets. Start throwing rocks or anything else at the animal to make it turn away. There are no mountain lions in Virginia. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. Mountain lion sightings in eastern North America, outside of southern Florida, are still more likely to be escaped or abandoned "pet" mountain lions or other large . There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. He never saw the cat again but never went out at night without a gun. Because they are lone animals that are not breeding. On Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, at 7:20am, I was on my way to Warrenton from Midland (7 miles southeast of Warrenton). Broad daylight, it crossed the road approx. Mountain Lions and Their Historic Range in West Virginia. Two ponies still missing. Can they fix it so it looks like it was from Caroline. This is beacause the scream is that of the prey that he has just killed. Sometimes you may hear it end in an agonizing high pitche scream. Well, then we know theres a cougar there, Peterson said simply. Full grown, the bulls can weigh up to 700 pounds, so be sure to keep a respectful distance should you see one of these beautiful creatures! Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. Cant say what it was and hope to never see again. of Game and Inland Fisheries web site on the eastern cougar. Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. Mountain Lions are back, maybe. Could a mountain lion or cougar be in my area? Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. This seems strange for late in the summer. I made deep, loud noises and threw my hands up and used my flashlight to look large. I see no reason to question them. In the subsequent photos weve gotten of cougars, there wasnt any evidence of any kind of wound or anything on it, Peterson said. The web site has emails for officers and members to communicate with along with membership applications and links to a whole world of information on cougars. What about the fact no roadkill is ever claimed to be found of a cougar? There are just too many of these stories for her to believe that the cats are extinct. Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. Thank you for reading! I couldnt believe it! I found one which I took a picture of. In 2012, LaRue and her colleague Dr. Clay Nielsen published a paper in the Journal of Wildlife Management analyzing 178 confirmed sightings between 1990 and 2008 throughout the Midwestern and Eastern states and parts of Canada. Email me. The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen. Our daughters were in a 4H group across the park on Bull Run Post Office Road and each week theyd ride their horses across the battlefield to a farn where they practiced Vaulting (circus riding) with their 4H group. Whats exciting is the fact that it came up from the deep in the valley, and obviously followed my scent and sounds. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. Why? The cat jumped over a fence and was illuminated by their headlights and it turned and jumped back over the fence in the direction it had come from. It was just too big to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat coloring. Im of the opinion that there really never was a big difference between the eastern cats and whats in existence now, she said. Thursday, April 21, 2005. Except for a remnant population of Florida Panthers in southern Florida, there have been no wild cougars on the eastern side of North America since the last one was trapped in Maine in 1938. I walked to my car and turned my lights on. I couldnt find any paw prints. "In others frankly (some people) just make up stories to get attention or to support their beliefs, so they'll come up with a photo from somewhere else to justify their beliefs," he continued. Long enough I was wishing he would be quiet so that I could hear if any deer were coming. For conservationists, this is a huge step in the right direction. Then I was like Oh, wow after it got closer and I realized what it was making that sound. Losingand RegainingBalance in our Deer Population. ", Yellowstone bison are a globally unique animal. In recent years, sighting reports are becoming more and more common. Many mountain lions used to roam the West Virginia wilderness. i recently moved to Martinsville from Ct. My folks have lived in Stuart for the past 11 years. This was a favorite subject of theirs. who knows? We were too busy looking at each other asking, Did you see that? We should have ben focusing on details. When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned. I am wondering if there is anyone who is tracking these sightings and wants to know moreIt was clearly a cougar. The Midwest can offer two of the three, but the males dont have much luck repopulating the area on their own. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and . I hope the person who struck it hears its cries in his or her nightmares / dreams for a very long time to come. A few minutes later another hunter came down from his stand on the same mountain and said, hey youll never guess what I saw this morning. I saw one near my home in Floyd County. B. McQuary. ", "These cats are moving east looking for new territory," Renee O'brien posted on Facebook. You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. Yet, this evidence has never been documented by biologists. I saw a cougar take down a deer in Bedford County, Virginia a number of years ago. One glanced at us. As a member of the Eastern cougar foundation, I am very interested in your sighting of the black cougar. They yelled back at me, got a little closer, and seemingly vanished into the valley after I heard the uncanny Mountain Lion yell. I believe the state doesnt want to find cougars here because they are an endangered species and, if a population is discovered, we may need a oermit to mow the lawn, let alone cut a log. There are at least 10 different subspecies of white-tailed deer, and it doesnt make a bit of difference in the grand scheme of things.. I doubt it. It then stopped in the road and turned to look at me. I think I may have seen a fully jet black cougar around 2230 just by the cement plant north of Roanoke Va but Im not sure. Today, a new hybrid known as the coywolf is slowly returning to the state. She was certain of the species but said it moved very slowly and appeared to be thin and weak. The mountain lions that once roamed the hills and hollows of West Virginia are long gone. The deer seemed to jump into some brush to the side of the path and the paw print seemed to be following. They wondered if it was a kind of dog or even a cat. The size of a lion's territory depends on the availability of food and habitat quality. I went outside to feed my cat and in the silence of the night, early morning I heard the eerie sounds of coyotes across the hill. All rights reserved. But she knew what one of those looked like, said it wasnt and added that it had a long tail. Bull sharks are one of the few species that can tolerate fresh water, which allows them to flow from ocean to river relatively easily. In Nebraska, the mountain lion is the largest carnivore. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. In August 2004, a cougar was captured on film near Craigsville, Virginia and identified by professional wildlife biologists of the Eastern Puma Research Network. Love Virginia? He envisions calls from parents, too afraid to send their kids out to the bus stop knowing theres a mountain lion within miles of the area. Snce 1890, roughly 20 people have been killed by cougars. Its been dry. I work with someone who says that on his familys farm in Virginia (not sure exactly where, but can find out) he said there are wolves. The numerous Panther Knobs and Panther Runs found across the state provide evidence of this animal's wide presence and its influence on the minds of early Mountaineers. Description of the Mountain Lion. So they say Mt. So these sightings have been confirmed, and there is in fact at least one mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee. They are very ellusive cats. The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. It certainly is rare to get more than just a glimpse of them. hunterb8s@yahoo.com. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan (page 2), http://mountainlion.org/us/NC/-NC-history.asp, https://blog.wildlife.virginia.gov/outdoor-report/2016/03/the-myth-of-mountain-lions-in-virginia/, https://www.fws.gov/northeast/ecougar/pdf/Cougar_News_Bulletin_Final_1_18.pdf, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/23/2018-01127/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removing-the-eastern-puma-cougar-from-the-federal-list, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/wah/panther.html, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/opinion/the-cougar-behind-your-trash-can.html, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030333, https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2015/sep-oct/cougars-in-minnesota.html, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. When a female kitten gets big enough, she doesnt have to go very far, because nobodys kicking her in the butt to get far away.. Having myself grown up in western North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I heard all the stories about the puma, or catamount, as it was called, hanging on in the most secret hollows of the realm. Further north, you can find mountain lions in . And my car lights revealed a 3-year-old or so male Mountain Lion. The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, puma, and catamount, is the largest feline animal in North America.. Bobcats, yellow labs, and feral house cats are all common culprits for mountain lion mis . But shes also realistic. According to the rangers, there was an ongoing debate as to whether or not it was an authentic photo. It was light brown and was definitely a cat, and it had a long tail. twice in the last 6 months. Females have gradually made their way into states like Nebraska, South Dakota, Arkansas, and Missouri, but according to LaRue, it turns out the midwest largely is not a great habitat. So its not unreasonable to assume that theyll continue on and eventually end up in states near and on the eastern seaboard, where lush mountain ranges like the Blue Ridge and Smokies offer prime habitat and sustenance (deer, primarily) for the cats. There have been 121 mountain lion sightings in Virginia since 1970. Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. But these cats are on experts radars, and the TWRA has even established a Cougar Response Committee to answer questions and sift through reported sightingsof which Peterson said he expects to see an influx later in the year. The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Even though the WV DNR says there are no wild mountain lions in the state, there are some held in captivity at the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek.. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. into the places they were often in but not noticed until recently. He slowly began walking backwards toward to the house and luckily got inside without incident. Wild Cats in Virginia. Im thinking they are here though. Sarah, It was a state car. I could hear the kittens and I captured a photo which I believe to be a smaller lion. There are currently an estimated 20,000-40,000 mountain lions remaining in the United States, but that number used to be much larger. By Bill Cochran. In Wyoming, the season runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, but in Utah, the season runs from Nov. 9 to March 31. The US Fish and Wildlife Service considered the lack of sightings during that period to be key evidence that no breeding population survived in the eastern states. These are truly beautiful creatures, so powerful but graceful. However it was way too fast, too quiet, and did not move like a deer. He got up and armed with only a flashlight he ventured outside to see why the horses were so restless and upset. The closest description I could find was the cry of the cougar or the mountain lion. Additionally, the likelihood of mountain lions reclaiming their former territories in the mountains of Virginia is a distinct possibility. Tuesday, April 08, 2008. But I dont know enought to really judge its age. Sandra Gray. I think I have now seen a mountain lion! 211 just north of Warrenton VA. The ones I saw sure would have no problem taking down a deer, or person for that matter! Dont know what it was, but I have always wondered if it was a big cat or not. And central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2, theyre back and i realized what was... 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To come, then we know theres a cougar take down a.! Rare to get more than just a glimpse of them 16,2008 at pm.