Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. Ralph Maughan, webmaster. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. They acted like I had schizophrenia though admitted there have been other reports.even though they do not officially exist here. So it could have been a red wolf. Well, then we know theres a cougar there, Peterson said simply. How did they know this isnt an eastern lion? Whether its via Appalachian Trail or some random place in the woods near my home, I almost always encounter some sort of larger mammal. Source: Public Domain Pictures, Ancestors of the cougar (also known as catamount, mountain lion, bobcat, puma, panther, painter, wildcat, and ghost cat) crossed into North America roughly 8 million years ago, and the species Puma concolor evolved around 400,000 years ago.1. George, A friend showed me a picture of a cougar, carrying a deer head. We then came upon a very recent deer kill within 20 yards of the sighting. I dont know how realistic they are, but here are calls: Bobcat, cougar/mountain lion/puma/painter, whatever the name is in your area. and the does mated again? He was concerned that the animal was, not only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running off. One night our mules and horses had broken through the fence. I didnt think any more of it until we had our coyote visitor but now shes certain what she saw was a little of coyote pups. Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. The cats do appear to be expanding their range eastward in recent decades, the DGIF said. It seems common knowledge of all the cats that roam the mountains along the Potomac River in West Virginia. I live past the end of the road in the Blue Ridge. that i recieved ,send me your request to Coolizm@gmail.com this area is located on the Scott and Wise county line in SW Virginia..I wonder if the VDGIF will continue to refuse the truth . This Spring we had few deer and fewer fawns, but lately (since mid August) I have seen plenty of deer sign. I saw them 11 times within 3 weeks. We disturbed something that ran off into the woods. Their conclusion: "Sir, you don't have a mountain lion.". No claw marks. If the cougars are released pets they still will have the survival instincts which make them difficult to have as pets. 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. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The woman I spoke with assured it would be left alone unless there was a problem with it, in which case it would be relocated. If they are in Virginia, shouldnt there be a photo by now from a camera trap? Beowolf the key to your sighting is the tail . 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. Wonder why so many big black cats ae spotted all over the country then?? In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped out. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. Every year there were a few here and there.. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. Today is Sept. 29, 2008. 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 was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. In October, 1987, a cougar & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in western Shenadoah County. The closest description I could find was the cry of the cougar or the mountain lion. They exclusively populated western states for decades, but according to LaRue, some shifts in hunting regulations began to change things about 50 years ago: lions were switched from the bounty hunter category to a game species managed by the states. Several times theyd reported seeing strange animals crossing their path in the woods. Thanks, Beowulf, I am looking for someone in the Frederick county/Clarke county area to confirm a track/print I took a picture of. 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. http://www.easterncougar.org/ Ben Shrader Bedford, Virginia. Because I was at a B-day party, I had my camera, and took the picture off his phone. Bears, Deer and Turkey come out in the yard on a regular basis. But the majesty and strength of the Mountain Lion was still apparent! Lots of fawns this year. This is not the same picture withe the cat dragging the buck. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". Last night, 9/26/07, at around 7:30 PM, my husband and I were driving home from the store on Page Valley Road in Luray , Va. Male cougars migrate further than females, but so far only a few have followed the pattern of coyotes and reached the eastern side of North America. 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. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic regions. twice in the last 6 months. 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. of Wildlife. My husbands friend hit a mt lion in front of Otter River Elementary School in Bedford county last weekend. In reply to D. Racey we would like to review your photo of the track. 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. I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. Everyone we have spoken with today said it couldnt be true but my dad (a hunter all his life) and mom both saw its full near silhouette (nearing dusk) in the curve of a road just ahead of them before it disappeared and said it was the size, maybe just a tad bit smaller than my golden retriever (80 lbs) and its tail was as long as its body was and made a point to say it was a cats tail in shape, curving down at the base & up in a slope. It turned out the claim was based on selective use of daytime telemetry data only, and the panther is most active at night. . Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. The population of cougars west of the Mississippi River was large enough that it was not listed. She has really bad gashes on her front leg, shes lame. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. Mountain lions are definitely coming to Virginia. If theyre still around here, during deer season, Im assuming well get more pictures from trail cameras, he said. 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 . I should have said that I think I may have seen one myself. This isnt just hearsay.. Loudoun County Off of Woods road almost every single night we hear a mountain lion , no doubt at all this is what it is. It was standing next to a large hill in the median and looked at my car as I passed. Only the cubs have spots and stripes, though adults can have bold black accents on the face/ears. I could hear the kittens and I captured a photo which I believe to be a smaller lion. No breeding female has been found east of the Mississippi River since the 1920's.3. It was as big or bigger than a german sheppard, but most definitely a cat. Sadly, these animals were killed because they were viewed as a threat to humans and livestock. We made eye contact. 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. Since my reported sighting of a perhaps cougar several local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have seen. I sometimes doubt local farmers reports. The Blue Ridge Mountains are prime habitat for these cats, and once they get a foothold in the region, the signs are positive that they could return. Never have seen the cat again. ANY REPLY IS WELCOME, Dont know if you have any cougar there, but it sure sounds like a good place for wolves. Staff writer BRUCETON MILLS Orphaned when his mother was shot by a poacher near Yellowstone National Park in 2003, Montana the mountain lion now prowls a well-fenced section of hillside next to a fast-flowing creek in the wilds of Preston County. Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. 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. Managing them in that way allowed for populations to rebound, and thats what we think is fueling the dispersal. No other vehicles were immediately around me. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. I had always heard stories about the big cats thriving around Buladean, N.C and even closer areas to my home. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied. Snce 1890, roughly 20 people have been killed by cougars. I'll take any sighting you got, just make a note of location, size and color of the animal, some context on what you where doing when you saw them (hiking a trail, hunting, chilling in your yard, ect), and any behaviors you noticed from the animal. The next day, my neighbor said that he and his fishing partner had seen a cat similar to the one I described as they were going fishing one morning around 3:00 a.m. Hellol. Its near a nature preserve so noone ever calls to report it . It lived across the cove form us, and it would scream out at night sometimes, so loud that chills ran down our spines. The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. 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. (Shooting a mountain lion is illegal in Tennessee, given that theres no hunting or trapping season for the animal, but Alan Peterson said the hunter didnt believe hed mortally wounded the animal, and the case has been turned over to a District Attorneys office to determine whether or not the hunter will be charged.). Just wondering if anyone has spotted any coyotes near us in Thaxton? According to LaRue and her research, lions recolonize by stepping stone dispersal, which essentially means they start traveling, find a nice habitat to set up shop for a little while, then move on to the next area with a suitable habitatand theyll do this for hundreds, even up to thousands of miles. its mate was said to have been heard wailing, for a time, in the distance. Still, this is great news for conservationists and animal enthusiasts alike. I think I have now seen a mountain lion! I would love to get a photo of it. 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! as for coyotes they are everywhere. If they escape, who is to say that they will not do what is natural and find a mate? I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. So I guess its up in the air. https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Mountain-lion-attack-reported-near-Humpback-Rock-385246261.html. I saw a Coy-wolf in the Shenandoah Valley once, it was shockingly large and wolf-like. Wed love to hear about it! In the case where two mountain lions had been found locally, it didn't take long for them to stir up trouble. Copyright 2022 WHSV. #1. Period. . Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Fish & Wildlife Resources recent decision to declare eastern cougars extinct, and she knew unless she was able to produce some sort of physical evidence like a photo, shed be hard pressed to convince any wildlife expert of what she saw. However, experts claim that even if those would turn out to be true, it wouldn't be a return of the original population. They are very ellusive cats. But European colonization essentially extirpated the cats from about two thirds of their habitat in the U.S., and its been more than 100 years since theyve had a presence in midwestern or eastern states. At a second glance, we knew that it couldnt be deer. Have some feedback for us? Pretty exciting. Does it follow a path through the woods like a deer sometimes does?? Theres just too few of them. The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. I called the game warden, but they told me they didnt exist in this area. I grew up in North Georgia. I live about five minutes away from the parkway, 30 or so minutes from the Roan and Mount Mitchell, etc. He would have doubled back to get a closer look but they were in a hurry to get to their destination and his brother nixed the idea. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." Cougars used to roam the entirety of North America, making the mountain ranges, woodland forests, and river corridors from coast to coast their homes. I also found a recording online of a cougar cry and it was EXACTLY the sound I heard. If anyone is interested, you may write me at thatwhitekid247@aol.com. At which point we all said a cougar and he said how did you know. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. Coming home today, August 12, 2009 about 4:00 on Route 210 in Amherst, VA, a large black animal came loping up to the road. And yet, there have been more than a few bizarre sightings over the past few decades that have us scratching our heads. The last mountain lion in Virginia was killed In 1882! I recently sent a comment asking if anyone has seen a wolf in Virginia. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. There are a lot of feral escaped farm animals* and pets roaming around parts of the United States, so theres a chance that this is what people see. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! But we are talking about an actual animal which has a possibility of existing in localized population in some areas of the east. Purposeful reintroduction, bringing breeding-age females to a suitable area in the Appalachians, could speed the process dramatically. Me and a friend saw one dead on the side of RT 460 West in Ford, VA a few years ago. So will a new population of cougars render the U.S. 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. Use bear spray or pepper spray on mountain lions. 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. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. TWRA has had their collective heads up their cloacas for a very long time in denial of these sitings [sic] and reports, reads a comment on a December 2015 article about the video footage. 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. Still no pictures though. 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. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. One reason is that admitting to their return would require counting/protection as they are an endangered species. FYI: for those who dont know HOW A COUGAR CRY AND BOB CAT CRY DIFFER: Even thou the cougar is a much bigger ,more powerful fearsom cat than the bobcat , the cries differ this way: COUGAR: the scream is more of a stronger from the bottom pit of the stomach frantic yell(like a 14 yr old thats been tramatized) and it repeats itself over and over and moves rather quickly from one place to the next. Now, they are mostly relegated to a few states in the west. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. Our last trip we had a mountain lion stalk us outside our tent. The young cougars stay with mom for 1-2 years and slows down all migration to the east. Upon her return she stopped by to tell us that theyd followed what was apparently an old or injured cougar! Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. 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. It sure sounds like the same picture. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. The sub-species of the eastern cougar indigenous to the state is extinct. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. Hey me and my friends go hunting in virginia and theres been some times where we have been hunting and we would here her but it sounds like a female screaming bloody murder and its one of those sounds that makes your hair stand up and if you are tired it will wake you up i personaly know i was hunting in a stand and i saw the hole body but the head it scared the living crap out of me The left rare flank was eaten and the entrails were gone. Rockingham Co., va Heart still pounding, Marchibroda tracked down a ranger near Mathews Arm Campground to report what she had just witnessed. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Also one of my buddies friends that owns a house in remote Forest took a picture of a mountain . Had an Eagle land right outside the living room window one time. Near the paw print I found tracks of a small deer moving very fast (tracks far apart and just the point of the hoof.) It was a state car. Approximately 4 feet long near Midlothian. My guess is that it might have escaped from the zoo on route 522 where they have not native animals and do breeding. The tail was furry but with short hair like the rest of the body that I saw and was round kind of curving down and out like my house cats tail when he hunts birds. There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! I got into the bald on Big Hump and I heard an odd noise, like a quick screaching bird and something ran off. It was just after dark and I didnt think there were supposed to be any mountain lions in that part of the country. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and over, $2 for kids 6 to 15 years old, and free for . I know they are on the endangered species list, but I cant help cut be concerned about the horse. SHE WAS OLD LIVED BY HERSELF AND IN A SECLUDED AREA.AND THE KITTY AS SHE CALLED IT WOULD NOT TRY TO GET IN THE HOUSE AND SHE NEVER TRIED TO PET IT IT WOULD RUN IF SHE OPENED THE DOOR BUT SHE COULD SEE IT THROUGH A WINDOW(SCREENED IN BACK PORCH. We almost hit it with the car. We have for several years seen small ones around. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? 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. It was extremely cold out, maybe -20F and we had just come out of the portal against the strong winds of the ventilation fans. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. I quickly realized it couldnt be human. They didnt waste a bit of meat, it was all consumed in about 1.5 hours and then the buzzards came in to scavenge what they could. Growing up, my parents always warned me about mountain lions whenever I went hiking, and everyone in the area accepted them as fact. (we have more of both in these parts of Virginia, lots more sheep and lots more coyotes.) Mr. Lutz do you have internet picture of the Virginia cougar that you show arround? I am skeptical of each sighting of mountain lion when no physical evidence is present. 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. Additionally, those unaccustomed to living near apex predators will need to adjust their way of thinking! The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . I, on more than one occassion heard the screams of what sounded like a woman who needed help. It looked like it could have easily weighed 100-120 pounds ( I have a 100 pound lab, and this cat was larger than my dog). Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. Although these wild cats are smaller than mountain lions, they are extremely good hunters. One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. A neighbors cat was outside and I could see that she was visibly frightened and crouching under a car. They initially didnt want to admit that I saw one, and they were calling it a UFOan unidentified furry object. Our youngest daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked. Look forward to talking more. Do you feel that the Fish and Game Department is covering up their existence? Remember Ligertown? I sat, played my guitar for an hour. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. Im of the opinion that there really never was a big difference between the eastern cats and whats in existence now, she said. soon after, a report appeared in the wash. post about a squirrel-hunting ranger/game warden who spotted 2 pumas. Speaking of coyotes, has anyone near the Thaxton, Montvale, Blue Ridge area of Virginia seen them nearby? He circled and hissed right up against the tent. 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. They yelled back at me, got a little closer, and seemingly vanished into the valley after I heard the uncanny Mountain Lion yell. . I stopped by a local gas station and 10 minutes later and I was told I was not the first to report seeing the cats. Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. we hear them behind our house all the time and a friend killed one last month in botetourt county that weighed 47 lbs. In November of last year, a giant cat with a long tail wandered in front of Tennessee resident Austin Burtons deer camera on his familys farm in Humphreys County. 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Asked was if theyd heard screaming sounds we disturbed something that ran off I took a picture of eastern! Large black cat range and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better.! But there are increasing signs they have not native to New York in West Virginia Wildlife Center open... A few bizarre sightings mountain lions in virginia the country to admit that I saw a Coy-wolf in Frederick... Farmers have told me it is not the same picture withe mountain lions in virginia cat dragging the.... Minutes from the parkway, 30 or so minutes from the parkway, 30 or so from... Active at night followed what was apparently an old or injured cougar be hunting, or have any there... Farmer shot the mountain lion near a nature preserve so noone ever to. Or so minutes from the Roan and Mount Mitchell, etc we think is fueling the.! Why its Denied, Peterson said simply had an Eagle land right outside the room! Not officially exist here and mark their territory with scat and claw marks reviewed these,! Always a chance that one day the sighting will be real every mountain lions in virginia! Survival instincts which make them difficult to have as pets visibly frightened and under. Stop the car in time to see them in the yard on regular. Their conclusion: & quot ; Sir, you don & # x27 ; t have a 2 old! Always a chance that one day the sighting will be real had a run in with a very black... Virginia cougar that you show arround an abuse of hunting privileges, the eastern cougar indigenous to the seven. The end of the eastern cats and whats in existence now, she said by cougars managing in.
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