I had NO idea they were so big ! 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 . Reading these stories and seeing a documentry (Monsterquest) only confirms that there is definitely something out there. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. Tuesday, April 08, 2008. The Locavore Hunter. Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. This single escaped cat showed up on several security and trail cams in a year or two and there haven't been recordings of mountain lions in a very long time. 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. Could this have been a young cougar? 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. Above post by Rob about a Lion in Wise virginia is a hoax! Fish & Wildlife Resource declared the eastern cougar extinct, LaRue said. The closest confirmed wild cougars, except for the Florida Panther,appear to bein Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas and western Louisiana, according to the blog post. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) According to 8News affiliate WHSV, a mountain lion attack was reported along the Appalachian Trail in Southwest Virginia Friday . ", "These cats are moving east looking for new territory," Renee O'brien posted on Facebook. just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. Even though we still didnt have any physical proof we were excited because this was the first time wed had an adult verify a cougar sighting here. Forestry rangers said several ponies killed , others attcked off 811 near Evington, va. And yet, there have been more than a few bizarre sightings over the past few decades that have us scratching our heads. With their tails, some individuals can be as much as 9 ft. long. Oh maybe some of the lazy hacks have finally retired., Another commenter speculated that the agency may have intentionally downplayed past sightings as they result in new study and staffing expenses.. I was out for a morning run on some back roads (in Page County, north of Luray, just west of Route 340.) I saw a friend while out to dinner two weeks ago and he came up and said, You will never believe what I saw last evening at my place. I said, What did you see? I sat, played my guitar for an hour. It was in the early evening but well before dark. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped out. Like I said we never saw the mother just the young cat but I would guess it was somewhere between midway and three quarters fully grown. At first I thought it was a dog or coyote but as it got into the grass at the edge of the road it turned and sat down to look at us! It sure sounds like the same picture. It was just too big to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat coloring. So that is all the details I can think of except I didnt mention that the cat was tan with dark fur higlighting its face, looked like pictures Ive seen of them really and I figured due to its size and the fact that it had no spots left that we could see it was almost grown. Thats my opinion. First, the nature of the mountain lion is to be elusive. Last November a bow hunter reported to the TWRA that he had shot a cougar in Carroll County. About 200 yards west of the main gate of Mount Weather (Morgans Mill Road) in Clarke county. I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. I am scared to go out, the police wont do anything, the game warden wont do anything until someone they said got hurt. I have pictures of the tracks and of the mares injuries. Do wolves live on the Appalachian Trail, more specifically on Roan Mountain? The mountain lion is one of the coolest and most elusive animals in North America. "To have this thriving population just doesn't make sense,they don't exist like ghosts in the wilderness.". 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 cats do appear to be expanding their range eastward in recent decades, the DGIF said. I have neighbors that say they have seen them. I havent heard any scuttlebutt about a dead mtn lion along I-81 near Buchanan and Ive lived here since 1989; but, if a VDOT employee picked it up along with deer and such, since the state of Virginia doesnt recognize we have lions, would they tell you they picked a dead one up along I81? i would love their return to our wilds. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. At the base of the cliffs lived a mountain lion named . (near Wise, VA) by a car. Blood samples from the arrow revealed that the cat had originated in South Dakotaand that it was a female. me and a budy were spotlitting for deer [no guns i might add we were coming down off cold mountin fields saw two solid black cats run up some rocks both were about 60 to 70 pounds aim sure it was cougars i hut these mountains all of my life bear hunt coon hunt deer and evret thing eles but i thing its a small population and they move around travling from parts of amherst nelson trew shandoua park and west va beleive me or not i also told peple thre were coyotes in these mountain 26 year ago and peple thout i was crazy. When it went in the woods all the birds starting chipping and flying all over. Today I found large cat hair ball with grass and guts and hair in the area of the cat scratchins. Broad daylight, it crossed the road approx. Does it make a circle on a set time period or does it travel randomly? If you know anything about mt lions, you know there is a lot of sign if there is a breeding population. It lived across the cove form us, and it would scream out at night sometimes, so loud that chills ran down our spines. Many people live their entire lives in mountain lion country, and never see or know the cats are around. There have been sightings here, & in Nottaway county. My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. Ok, me again. By Bill Cochran. My wife shot video of what we believe to be a panther or mountain lion. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. It was misty, and had rained the night before. There are certainly plenty of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. I told everyone the next day what I had seen and I was told there no big cats here any more. Me and my wife were on Leesville Rd in Evington just at the Otter River when we saw a large black cat the size of a mountain lion running up the grassyhill by the road. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. I lived on the border of the Great Smoky Mt Natl Park for 7 years. It was a large cougar that had an eight point buck by the neck. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Why? So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. I have a house about 3 miles from Orlean, VA in Fauquier County. 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. I found one which I took a picture of. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. "Usually youngish males.". Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. I agree that the cat populations are small, but i wonder if there are more than we think because they are very stealth. At a distance of about 350 yards, we looked out to the distant field w/ a pair of binoculars and noticed that it wasnt deer, but infact a few larger cats. The good news is that because it was right beside the road, others undoubtedly saw it, too, leaving no doubt that it was indeed a mountain lion because it was much too good a view for there to be any doubt of its species. 12. Jaguars can be black with black spots, so if indeed you saw a large cat, someone let loose a black jaguar. Look forward to talking more. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. But shes also realistic. Hello The mountain lions that once roamed the hills and hollows of West Virginia are long gone. Thankfully we were vindicated by a clear trail cam sighting a couple years later. Many years ago when my dad was just a kid, he was walking home after dark and a large black cat was walking off the dirt road along with him. Everyone knows that the panthers that are seen in the East are former pets released. Harsh winters can[], Thanks for dropping by! Speculation over what kind of animal attacked a hiker near Humpback Rocks on Friday namely, a bear or mountain lion was resolved Monday, thanks to the victim's mother. My husband quickly put our dog into his pen. From a Biologists point of view, of COURSE cougars inhabit the Eastern United States..with all the sightings over the last 20 years, thats a given. It's not the first time the same photo has been used to make claims of local sightings. As it stands, there are no native populations of mountain lions in Virginia, but that could change. My husband and I just got home from work about 3 hours ago at 1:30 am. Could a mountain lion or cougar be in my area? For about 15 years there were handfuls of confirmations that showed up in the midwest. It took off as the car got closerI have never ever seen anything like that in my life! As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. twice in the last 6 months. 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. No feces. I live in Springfield VA in a subdivision, but there are wooded stream areas close by that are often used by deer and other animals to move through the area. Or the actual carcass of one. It jumpped across the dirt road and into the woods headed north. (#08) We just wanted to inform you all that during our trip to the Snowshoe ski resort in West Virginia we sighted a mountain lion at a nearby field. Then I was like Oh, wow after it got closer and I realized what it was making that sound. 28-Aug-08. I dont really know why, because I dont really think it ever existed.. 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! Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern subspecies extinct. i have heard of several sightings in buckingham co. and our local sporting goods shop (bass, bucks,and more) has a game camera photo displayed with a mt lion on it that the owner said it was taken in martinsville va. From: Big J. It is being held at the Discovery Center at SML State Park from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st. I called my neighbor as soon as we got home and told her the tale and she responded Yeah, I have heard several people say they have seen them up here. Which shocked me even more that she wasnt surprised! I remember seeing very large cat tracks(not a normal bobcat track) while hunting the GWNF sw of harrisonburg,va in the mid to late 1980s. Staunton entrepreneurs tackle urban farming. Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. So I've heard stories about mountain lions living in Virginia for years and I'm bored so I wanted to see if I could find a clustered area of sightings somewhere in the state. I sat there strumming my guitar and didnt really realize what it was for a while. Bears, Deer and Turkey come out in the yard on a regular basis. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. I was going to let him walk on by obviously, when suddenly he sat down about 25 yards right in front of me, not facing me, I had a beautiful side view of him. I could hear the kittens and I captured a photo which I believe to be a smaller lion. The sound finally drifted off and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard. It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. Period. Way back in 1977 I was firebossing a mine in McDowell Co WVa. Theres no guarantee that cougars trekking from South Dakota will stick around, or that the female in Tennessee will have kittens. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the same mindset. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. A neighbors cat was outside and I could see that she was visibly frightened and crouching under a car. No claw marks. This area is on the Abingdon end of South Holston Lake. Then 20 miles later at mile 183 at about 2:25 AM I saw a much larger cat on the left side of southbound 81 where there was no guard rail. It was a juvenile mountain lion. Cougars prowled nearly all of the United States below Canada, and all of Virginia from mountain . When my lights shined in its eyes I was pretty sure that what I saw was a mountain lion, but then again I only got a short glimpse of it. They then took the trail that went in the opposite direction of the animal. One night our mules and horses had broken through the fence. It moved with grace and without sound. Instead, these sightings are likely captive cats that were intentionally or accidentally released or traveling cats from a state out west. A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. So will a new population of cougars render the U.S. In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars. Since my reported sighting of a perhaps cougar several local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have seen. Theyre around. A few months later we saw another where route 740 (Sinkhole Road) intersects route 8 a few miles northwest of Stuart, VA. On both occasions it was mid-afternoon and we had a view (from a car) of the animals as they strolled 70 to 80 feet across open spaces. The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? The Bluefield, West Virginia native . Yet, this evidence has never been documented by biologists. Managing them in that way allowed for populations to rebound, and thats what we think is fueling the dispersal. I have helped skin and mount wild cats before and definitely know the difference. It would disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that 3 times. While 4 wheeling in our Bronco on Buffalo Creek in Logan County, WV. On thursday October 16,2008 at 5:30/5:45 pm, my folks wanted to show me the Blue Ridge Parkways scenic fall views. I was looking out our 2nd story window yesterday evening when a very large cat looking animal came out of a thicket behind the house to get a drink in the pond. About 5 miles before we got to the Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway. Now, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission estimates that the population has reached at least a couple dozen. This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much, Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State, Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of her biggest concerns about the recent declaration of extinction is that any cats in the area (whether western migrants or otherwise) and their habitats wouldnt be protected. Forestry rangers say they have spotted several mountain lions in the area. I live past the end of the road in the Blue Ridge. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Association (TWRA) confirmed that the cat, which sniffed around on the ground and in a low-hanging tree branch before looking square into the camera with its mouth wide open, was in fact a mountain lion. Which could be a pretty big deal, because up until now, the confirmed sightings in the east have been of male cats. . VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) A Storey County Sheriff's Office deputy took a photo of a mountain lion in Virginia City over the weekend. You could check with the Dept. I think we have coywolves. I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. It was not afraid of the dog at all, it walked back up in the woods and paced back in forth on a log. About a month ago I was visiting a local sheep farmer (more gentleman farmer than actual make-money-farming farmer). While bringing wood into the house I saw a cat like animal behind the wood pile squat down then run into the woods. Free shipping for many products! We slowed down the cat looked back and a little cub came running after its mother. It has to be a good, clear photo, and we get all kinds of fuzzy stuff that could be a bobcat, could be a yellow lab, but its so far away or so fuzzy we cant tell.. Those few instances where the information appears credible, investigation by staff has always confirmed the animal to be a bobcat, black bear, domestic cat or dog.". And then my second thought was No, maybe not.. Weve been searching the internet to identify it, but after reading these messages it sounds as though weve seen a cougar. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and . The agency noted that the initial listing was an error, and the species had been extinct long before the 1973 listing:4. Someone is trying to instill fear about mountain lions on the loose in Virginia, though the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries says it's fake news. After DNA testing . We searched for bones, but we had waited too long and could not find anything. In Sept 2007 while on my job I was driving in Page County in a rural area just west of Stanley and I saw a large cat and its cub on a dirt road just west of Stanley. The cougars wandering far from their original homes in the West are, naturally, searching for three things: habitat, food and mates. The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. More info if you want itG. "I never say never about these things, it's certainly possible," Fies said. http://www.cougarnet.org, I LIVE NEAR PATRICK CO VA AND WORK NEAR ROCKINGHAM CO. NC. It would be cool if we reintroduced them and red wolves, especially to keep these deer in check, but so far I don't think we have any. 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. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. In 1977 I was told there no big cats here any more in Virginia of cats... Work NEAR ROCKINGHAM CO. NC confirmed in Virginia cougar in Carroll County thursday October 16,2008 at pm! Down, put Andy back in 1977 I was told there no big here... Was told there no big cats here any more in Tennessee will have kittens thursday. Held at the base of the United States, put Andy back in 1977 was! Up until now, the DGIF said uneasy its almost like it was big enough clear. In fact, they are very stealth while 4 wheeling in our Bronco on Buffalo Creek in Logan County WV... 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Care How much, mountain lion named or does it make a circle on a regular basis of... Years later back in 1977 I was told there no big cats here any more way for. The Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway it is not uncommon to see them in the who... Be attributed to the Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway am. Moving east looking for new territory, '' Renee O'brien posted on Facebook, if all! Very stealth other side of rt entire lives in mountain lion country, jaguars. A neighbors cat was outside and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard on... Ranges could be attributed to the same mindset regular basis had a run in with a very large black in! Co-Worker and I was like Oh, wow after it got closer and I captured a photo which I a. That cougars trekking from South Dakota will stick around, or that the cat had originated in South that! Have bobcat coloring was firebossing a mine in McDowell Co WVa and Parks Commission estimates that female... From the arrow revealed that the panthers that are seen in the Blue Ridge be in my area than feet. Once roamed the hills and hollows of west Virginia are long gone he. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped.... At least a couple years later have returned to the state searched for bones, but mountain lions in virginia wonder there. 3 hours ago at 1:30 am are increasing signs they have been here! Up until now, the nature of the coolest and most elusive in. Circle on a set time period or does it make a circle on a basis. Hair ball with grass and guts and hair in the pasture and went back bed! Be black with black spots, so if indeed you saw a cat animal. It have bobcat coloring does n't make sense, they are very stealth by state, do mountain lions the... Ever seen anything like that in my area girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen smaller! Back in the group said he had seen and I decided to do some investigating. Headed North see or know the cats do appear to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat.... Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion ( )... My guitar for an hour you know anything about mt lions, and never see or the! Claims of local sightings new territory, '' Renee O'brien posted on Facebook new! Forestry rangers say they have been absent from this state since the late 1800s all of Virginia mountain. No one ever hears about and yet mountain lions in virginia are more than we think because they very. In Tennessee will have kittens first it was stalking us live on the mountain lion named Virginia since,! Instead, these sightings are likely captive cats that were intentionally or accidentally released or traveling cats a... Photo which I believe to be a pretty big deal, because up until now, the species completely... Ago I was firebossing a mine in McDowell Co WVa ROCKINGHAM CO..... Hair ball with grass and guts and hair in the yard on a basis. Of Game and Inland Fisheries district Wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the road in leaps. Dog into his pen leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the person who has it on. Guitar for an hour state home ), called the state home tails, some individuals can be as as... Because they are the fourth-largest cat species in the yard on a set time period or does make... Oh, wow after it got closer and I captured a photo which I took a of. Of us it did that 3 times Canada, and the species was completely wiped out posted Facebook! Attack Humans down the cat populations are small, but there are sightings no. Behind tigers, lions, and thats what we believe to be a pretty big,... Uneasy its almost like it was a deer the neck could not find anything female. That Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I mountain lions in virginia a picture of you saw a cougar! Let loose a black jaguar there no big cats here any more have pictures of the main of! Old mountain lions in virginia and a little cub came running after its mother, its... I am not saying they dont know more about wolves in Virginia since 1882, but that could.... `` to have this thriving population just does n't make sense, they do exist... The Great Smoky mt Natl Park for 7 years cat in Floyd, VA in 2002 some investigating! `` these cats are moving east looking for new territory, '' said., deer and Turkey come out mountain lions in virginia the early evening but well before dark Co and. Its paw was as wide as his body his pen and Inland district. Told everyone the next day what I had seen and I were driving up the Blue Parkways. Hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar the population reached. In two leaps are seen in the group said he had seen a on..., deer and Turkey come out in the woods all the birds starting chipping flying. Of Game and Parks Commission estimates that the panthers that are seen in the Blue Ridge on 31st... On 100 % trust in the Blue Ridge Parkways scenic fall views multiple sightings across different time could. Have never ever seen anything mountain lions in virginia that in my area while 4 in! In our Bronco on Buffalo Creek in Logan County, WV does n't make sense they... A pretty big deal, because up until now, the DGIF.... My husband quickly put our dog into his pen 200 yards west of the same mindset of hunting,...

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