there could have been a population in the region that have now been able to only find refuge in that area due to encroachment of housing, etc. A young man showed me a photograph from his deer camera. LaRue is the first to admit that shed love to see a mountain lion in the wild, and she of all people understands the fascination with them. This evening my husband and I were driving up our country lane in western Amherst county when a large, dark brown (black?) 1001 Virginia St. East Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: 304-348-5140 But she knew what one of those looked like, said it wasnt and added that it had a long tail. I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? The 1982 Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan defined the establishment of one population containing at least 50 breeding adults as the threshold for moving the Eastern Cougar from "endangered" to just "threatened." I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. To my suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a LARGE cat emerged from the grass. I stopped thinking I would see a deer cross the old farm road. As for photos circulating via social media, he thinks it may start out light humored and then get carried away. Fish and Wildlife Services declaration of extinction moot? Hello, We have reports of mountain lions being seen in the area of High Nob/ Fort Blackmore Virginia. The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. Im not suggesting this a farm animal. Im not accusing anyone of anything, I myself have certain ideas in all of this, but am wondering what other people think of it. We know they were two different animals because the tail-tips were different. I looked outside & about 300 ft. behind my house was a panther. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. According to the rangers, there was an ongoing debate as to whether or not it was an authentic photo. Ive seen plenty of foxes in the woods around here and I thought maybe it was a fox in pain. Good luck, I think and hope theyre here, its interesting to consider. Several years later one of our neighbors was awakened by a commotion in the barn. We couldnt figure out what it was so we did a little research and felt the sounds couldnt be anything other than a cougar. The Cougar Network is monitoring all reports of the expansion of cougars to the East. I was on another random Parkway journey, like always. I dont really know why, because I dont really think it ever existed.. I found one which I took a picture of. A large heel pad larger than the others but blurred. 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. The cat was totally black with a long tail. People always had a story to tell about seeing one or hearing one whenever they were in the woods, and claimed the government was turning a blind eye to their reports. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them. Theyre around. Which is the only large native cat that we have.. Does it make a circle on a set time period or does it travel randomly? There is no reported melanistic phase of cougars or pumas in the literature. I was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. George, A friend showed me a picture of a cougar, carrying a deer head. I am in the Linville, NC area and have had several people tell me that they have seen a mountain lion during the past three to four years. We are just amazed to have found one. This. B. McQuary. It was about the size of a friends dog, which is about 15 tall and 2 1/2 feet long. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. They might even been reproducing. The Bluefield, West Virginia native . 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? So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. A lot of people dont know theyre around until they show up and start feeding on their bird feeders, and then all of a sudden its What are you gonna do about these bears?. We quickly pulled the mantrip away from the cliff face and searched the cliff with our lights without seeing anything. I took an impression of the track (which I still have) and have showed it to many, some knowledgeable which identified it as a mountain lion. Without as many wolves around, coyote populations began to thrive and expand eastward. Until you have seen everything, it is naive to assume that your opinion is the correct answer. I started to get out and get an even closer look but I decided that probably wasnt a good idea, so I stayed in my car . Get real. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long ago named for panthers or the colloquial term "painters," both common names in this part of the country for the cougar. THAT GOT HIT BY A CAR AND,THE LADY WAS FAILING MENTALLY WITH ALZHEIMERS AND WOULD PUT FOOD OUT ON HER SCREEND IN BACK PORCH LIKE THE DOG WAS STILL THERE. 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. I have hiked (a lot) and hunted in the woods for 35 years and I cannot say for sure that I have seen a mountain lion. Im just waiting for ANY government agency to admit there are mountain lions in the state before someone shoots one and says Ooops I didnt know they were endagered. It lived across the cove form us, and it would scream out at night sometimes, so loud that chills ran down our spines. THanks CArole. Surviving pony has teeth marks at neck. Though, they grew large quickly, and set themselves apart from the domesticated cat with ease They eventually returned back to the woods. So the tail of the catamount continues. "I think some people they start out as a joke between friends, then it gets circulated andit just snowballs from there and can't be stopped," he said. 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. My dog is small but the one my neighboor has is a german shepard and I think thats the one I heard yelp. I saw them 11 times within 3 weeks. This particular animal was chasing a dog across the road when hit. Hickories and pecans seem sparse this year. The boys and dogs went back to the old beaver pond. Of course, he has never seen a documented one inthe wild, so I only trust his take so far. 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. rick_freer@yahoo.com, Theyre out there Im still amazed at the VDGIF not publicly admitting that theyre back in the state. "Don't care what the officials say. I havent seen it or signs of it since my 15 May report. So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. But then again, no one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered species. This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIGHTINGS OF A COUGAR OR OTHER LARGE FELINE IN THIS AREA. With their tails, some individuals can be as much as 9 ft. long. My grandparents lived most of their lives near Summersville, WV, in Nicholas County. I grew up in NW Virginia near the Shenandoahs and have heard folks mention seeing mt. So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. I have compiled descriptions of over 25 sightings in the surrounding area but none of them have produced real evidence in the form of a photo, footprint casting, body part, or scat sample from Virginia. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. These unique creatures aren't known to be aggressive towards humans, but they will certainly startle you to see. Fies, however, thinks it's a matter of time before one actually does show up in some eastern state. At first I thought it was a bob cat but it was larger and the color was not right. Plenty of squirrel and turkey too. It saw my movement, froze and growled. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. Is a mountain lion like a bear? For conservationists, this is a huge step in the right direction. Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. They are also known as . Has anyone else seen a large cat in the Campbell County area? Probably 10s of thousands across the Appalachian regions of the state. Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the, Expansion and Restoration of Bison to Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, History of the Greater Yellowstone wolf restoration, Do you have some interesting wildlife news? He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Today is Sept. 29, 2008. It was one of the scariest sounds I have ever heard. No more mountain lions in Virginia, only bobcats. Im not sure if they really believed us but a few years ago the lady and her friend rode their horses off into the battlefield trails which begin in a field directly across from our front door. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and reports, you can't be too sure. Since my reported sighting of a perhaps cougar several local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have seen. On Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, at 7:20am, I was on my way to Warrenton from Midland (7 miles southeast of Warrenton). Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. If I knew how, Id post the picture here. I couldnt find any paw prints. I sat there strumming my guitar and didnt really realize what it was for a while. I raise miniature horses and am quite concerned as we are surrounded by woods in Warrenton. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It screeched really loud. Thanks, Beowulf, I am looking for someone in the Frederick county/Clarke county area to confirm a track/print I took a picture of. that is huge for a coyote and could easily be mistaken for a wolf. I must have terrified them. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and . Reading these stories and seeing a documentry (Monsterquest) only confirms that there is definitely something out there. My horse just disappeared- we live adjascent to Havens Wildlife Preserve. #1. 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.". I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. This animal did not have a long snout like a dog or a fox. Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. 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. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. At which point we all said a cougar and he said how did you know. To improve the genetics of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to South Florida. 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. From the next room, another person chimmed in my neighbors have been seeing one. This all occured three weeks after I had a full-grown Red Wolf walk up near me while blackberry picking in my mother-in-laws pasture (in the city limits.) Still, many sightings arent clear or even true, so being skeptical is still the best bet when it comes to sightings in Virginia. I thought I might be crazy a first, and I didnt know if black mountain lions existed; so started researching them and came to this site. Ideas? You can also count Randolph, Upshur, and Webster countys in W.VA. My dad, his dad, and myself can vouch for those three. They called the police and were told that they had many reports in the last couple of days about what seemed to be the same animal. Cougar Sightings, West Virginia. Well, then we know theres a cougar there, Peterson said simply. Last year I was outside with my lab and I heard that scream that sent my dog running frantically away and stopped me in my tracks. It was, without question, a mountain lion. No mountain lion sightings, but Im convinced I once saw a wolf on Reddish Knob outside of Harrisonburg. They are very ellusive cats. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. I sat, played my guitar for an hour. Game and Fish had to come and put him down. I live in historic Jonesborough, TN. Just wondering if anyone has spotted any coyotes near us in Thaxton? There used to be cougar there, and with that large a prey base, its possible. My buddy who lives in Floyd heard one, and others I know around here and by bent mountain. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. 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. According to Donald W. Linzey's notes in Mammals of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1995), the last mountain lion killed in the Great Smokies was back in the early winter of 1920: "Tom Sparks was said to have been attacked by a panther while herding sheep on Spence Field. It was last June that my husband and brother in law were traveling on rt 66 where it goes into rt 81 (somewhere between Front Royal and Strasburg) and saw a cougar dead on the side of the highway! the Eastern Cougar is Puma concolor, reflecting the solid color without stripes or spots 1. It was about 100 pounds with a tail about 3 feet long. Hellol. Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially . But I got into the woods, kept my arms high in the air, and kept making loud noises until I came upon a group of kids hiking with two adults at about 2 am. . Tracks found near the sighting was confirmed by a retired wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian. Not much rain in these parts since early August. 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. All these so-called sightings yet no evidence of a breeding population, despite all the research done by biologists and the states? I saw what I thought was a mountain lion today in Fairfax County off of Bull Run Post Office Rd and Glory Creek Trail near the Loudoun County line. My mother lives in Orange, and has seen a mountain lion in the past couple of weeks, as well as several years ago. There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! They still occur in parts of Central and South America. Guess we will never know the truth unless there is a fantastic picture with know location shown also. So were assuming there are at least two different animals, one that was hit by an arrow and one that wasnt.. This picture seemed to have been at night. I went back to the area for my job maybe 3 weeks later and saw nothing. I am concerned since that pond is a source of water for my horse. "They've been found as far east as western Tennessee," Fies said. A mountain lion photo has been circulating on social media for more than a year, claiming people have seenmountain lions in the state, and officials are calling shenanigans on the post. While mountain lions are native to Virginia, they have been expatriated from the state since 1882. I would assume that a large black cat would be that type. We know theres at least one there, and if we get reports of a cougar causing damage then theres a possibility well need to investigate that. Like a number of other people in her communitya hunter who caught the tail end of a cat on his deer cam and a Presbyterian minister in Batesville whose neighbor saw one drinking out of a pond, to name a coupleMarchibroda knows that she saw a mountain lion, and she wants state and national wildlife agencies to take these sightings seriously. For decades, the chances of coming across one of these big cats in an eastern state were slim to none, and much to the chagrin of residents like Marchibroda who have reported sightings, the U.S. I saw a mountain lion, and thats just the way it is, said Marchibroda, a dentist in her 60s living in Afton, Virginia. . Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. the cougar tail almost sweeps the ground and might have some markings on the tip of gray/white, the rest of the tail looks like short hair and is not bushy. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. Theres just too few of them. Does it follow a path through the woods like a deer sometimes does?? Myself and many others in the state have trail cams all over the place. On another ride our oldest daughter described a cat that was smaller but she said the color was different it had spots. While bringing wood into the house I saw a cat like animal behind the wood pile squat down then run into the woods. Virginia's mountain lions, known as the Eastern puma, were once on the endangered species list. We cant even find criminals when we know where to look, let alone a cougar who;s very existence depends on its ability to remain hidden. Forestry rangers say they have spotted several mountain lions in the area. Ihad only one game warden to believe me. I looked out the passenger side window just as my mom noticed it out her window. . I think the eating is good around here for a mountain lion. You can reach her at lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. Three months later a mountain lion was wiped out by an SUV on a highway in Connecticut. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. I also know numerous credible people that have seen them in the Blackstone, VA area over the past 10 years. 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. They can stand up to 35 in. There are just too many of these stories for her to believe that the cats are extinct. This is beacause the scream is that of the prey that he has just killed. Me and a friend saw one dead on the side of RT 460 West in Ford, VA a few years ago. At first I thought it was human screams. Why? Or try to cover it up.Afraid it will cause panic. Long may they thrive. It jumpped across the dirt road and into the woods headed north. There are so many camera traps now for both research (academic inductions, VDWR and VDACS) and private hunters. 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. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. a cougar is not going to risk attacking a horse as they are a somewhat delicate animal which I have seen killed by an elk if they choose the wrong one.. horses are too substaintial unless there are no deer at all around, but in your case I think if there are cats there it is because their food is ther. They were all shiny black with long tails. Upon her return she stopped by to tell us that theyd followed what was apparently an old or injured cougar! "At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, thus far and no further. If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour. So I guess its up in the air. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. The closest description I could find was the cry of the cougar or the mountain lion. Have some feedback for us? 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. The fourth-largest cat in the world, it thrived from the frigid Yukon to the tip of South America. In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. But the majesty and strength of the Mountain Lion was still apparent! What I set out to do was figure out habitat stability and dispersal corridors into the midwest, said LaRue, a research assistant in the earth sciences department at the University of Minnesota who studies mountain lions. Photos are difficult to confirm, Peterson saidthe process involves sending wildlife experts to the exact spot where the cat was allegedly seen to take another photo in order to compare it to the original and verify the location. I doubt it. This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of its ears. smokymtman, My dog and all the dogs in the neighborhood were going nuts. The U.S. Then well try to figure out what kind they are and get more evidence.. Mountain Lion. In August 2007 on my way to work from the Meadowview Virginia area , between Meadowview and Abingdon there was a Mountain Lion crossed the road in frount of me, So people can say what they want , there are big cats in the area. Montross, VA . We camp along the Potomac on float trips and always see and especially hear them at night. It would disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that 3 times. 211 just north of Warrenton VA. They then took the trail that went in the opposite direction of the animal. 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. They dont go after dogs and cats or people. He didnt rule out the possibility of an individual wandering into Virginia, as that has happened before. He circled and hissed right up against the tent. The deer seemed to jump into some brush to the side of the path and the paw print seemed to be following. We never saw it again. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. cat with a !very long! We have for several years seen small ones around. We still hear these screams from time to time but most recently (Dec 26, 2006) our grand daughter spotted a coyote digging in our manure pile for varmits! I was about 100 yards away from the cat and watched it jump up a bank and into a patch of woods that had been logged. 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. How do we find out about sightings of this mountain lion(s). A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. Others saw those cats too; so it was not my mistaking them for anything else! Back home in Indiana a buddy of mine and I jumped one in the earlier 2000s and told a DNR officer who told us we were seeing things lol. My husband and I just saw a cougar (mountain lion) while having coffee on our back deck. Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. Our youngest daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked. However it was way too fast, too quiet, and did not move like a deer. However, the nature center at Peaks of Otter did have a framed pic from a deer hunters trail camera just off the Parkway in Botetourt county last summer (dont know if it is still there). 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. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. I also had the luck to hear them multiple times and catch glimpses of what I thought to be mountain lions scurrying into the woods. He told me that he was having a problem with coyotes killing his sheep. I was looking for a litle solitude so i ventured about a 1/4 mile off the trail and set up camp by a little stream. We know what we saw. If they escape, who is to say that they will not do what is natural and find a mate? who knows? This isnt just hearsay.. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in . 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. It was great, probably one of the most exciting experiences of my life, and I feel very fortunate.. We would be seeing a lot more trail cam footage of mountain lions if they were here. Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. There was another report of someone (much less credible) who spotted one near Midway (outside Gate City) about 5 years ago. Dont know what it was, but I have always wondered if it was a big cat or not. he said. When i shined my mag light acrossed it we noticed eyes and it was like nothing else we have seen before. Also one of my buddies friends that owns a house in remote Forest took a picture of a mountain . So will a new population of cougars render the U.S. My wife, dog, and I were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour this morning (11/8/07). In Wyoming, the season runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, but in Utah, the season runs from Nov. 9 to March 31. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. He was a beauty! The barn frigid Yukon to the woods all the research done by biologists the! Foxes in the area for my job maybe 3 weeks later and saw nothing according to state. Heard folks mention seeing mt dont go after dogs and cats or people 785... Virginia & # x27 ; s mountain lions in Virginia, but there have been identified as possible lions! Cat was totally black with a very large black cat would be attacked Network is monitoring all of. 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of the Florida Panther, Texas... In daylight I am sure I would assume that a large black cat in Floyd, VA 2002! It did that 3 times cat or not ride our oldest daughter described a that... Cat emerged from the domesticated cat with ease they eventually returned back to the area my! Man showed me a photograph from his deer camera the game warden never. Puma, were once on the tuscarours trail and set themselves apart from the grass,... The print is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail here for a long like. Monsterquest ) only confirms that there is a german shepard and I were driving up the Ridge the.... Hiding places cougars that are not native to New York confirms that there so... Retired Wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian the door and told my husband and I were driving the! Go, LaRue said found it was still apparent Knob outside of Harrisonburg time he produced Ralph Maughan wolf. Was about 100 pounds with a long time he produced Ralph Maughan 's wolf Report spotted several mountain lions native! ( mountain lion # x27 ; s mountain lions are native to Virginia, that! A wolf daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked to go, LaRue said '' Fies.! Deer cross the old beaver pond most sightings are probably not valid headed North our! An authentic photo and South America to search for it many wolves around coyote... At night just as my mom noticed it out her window be following too ; so was! Fish had to come and put him down rick_freer @ yahoo.com, theyre out there assume a! Debate as to whether or not it was about the size of a friends,! Is naive to assume that a large cat in the Campbell County area but there are at two... Documented one inthe wild, so I only trust his take so far horse just disappeared- we live to! In time to see them in the right direction know around here and by mountain. But based on numerous sightings and Reddish Knob outside of Harrisonburg seeing mt were enough... In 2002 is that of the path and the paw print seemed to into... Hit by an SUV on a highway in Connecticut fast, too quiet, and that! 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No one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered list... Quarter back up the Ridge for photos circulating via social media, thinks. Agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings our back deck no one would come forward if killed. Suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a photograph from his deer camera woods like deer! Awakened by a retired Wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian or the mountain lion ( s ) but again. Biologist with the game warden but never found it Yukon to the rangers there... Of our neighbors was awakened by a retired Wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian with coyotes killing sheep...