The West Virginia Wildlife Center . 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. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. It was about 11:30 PM and I was driving an Austin Healy Bugeyed Sprite. He charged at the Fish and Game guy in the process. Dont know what it was, but I have always wondered if it was a big cat or not. Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. This is between Fairfax and Reston. By 2011, U.S. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . I would suggest people look that up also. In recent years, sighting reports are becoming more and more common. In 1979, The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cited the mountain lion, or puma or cougar, to be an endangered or threatened animal in Virginia. This had Caroline County, on the bottom of the screen. Probably 10s of thousands across the Appalachian regions of the state. His tail looked a couple of feet long! Its near a nature preserve so noone ever calls to report it . They initially didnt want to admit that I saw one, and they were calling it a UFOan unidentified furry object. The Midwest can offer two of the three, but the males dont have much luck repopulating the area on their own. I know tons of people who have claimed to see them, but despite these supposed sightings, we never get any good photo or video evidence to back it up. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? 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 . 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? Mountain lions and yes black cats. We couldnt figure out what it was so we did a little research and felt the sounds couldnt be anything other than a cougar. Mr. Lutz do you have internet picture of the Virginia cougar that you show arround? According to the Cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2. Ok, me again. . This could cause an issue because they could go after livestock and cause problems for humans. I felt bad because I told them what had happened before I could see them and didnt knwo they were so young. The boys and dogs went back to the old beaver pond. Looked like a red wolf though and we got a good look as it crossed the road in front of us on our way down the mountain (driving) in full daylight. I dont know what you saw, but cougars are never black. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. A few weeks later, I saw it dart across the dirt road for a split second. They yelled back at me, got a little closer, and seemingly vanished into the valley after I heard the uncanny Mountain Lion yell. I was also told of a large cat sighting just north of Eden, NC. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. Only saw it for a split second, but it was definitely a cat and had a long tail. Could it have been one of those? I live out in Rappahannock (A good portion of the county is in Shenandoah National Park) and Ive seen cougars twice once in 1998 and again in 2006. Misidentification is typically caused by poor lighting conditions at the time of the sighting. Given the great broad-side view, I couldnt help but notice its shear size the cat stood approximately 2.5-3 feet in height, and was approximately 4-5 feet in length. 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. So it could have been a red wolf. 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. And while common throughout the state . One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. So, I had the opportunity to help raise beautiful, and playful ( they acted just like any kitten would! There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! 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. Thank you for reading! So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. I got into the bald on Big Hump and I heard an odd noise, like a quick screaching bird and something ran off. So I guess its up in the air. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. 1001 Virginia St. East Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: 304-348-5140 In the case where two mountain lions had been found locally, it didn't take long for them to stir up trouble. Good luck, I think and hope theyre here, its interesting to consider. I would love to get a photo of it. I walked to my car and turned my lights on. However it was way too fast, too quiet, and did not move like a deer. 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. He circled and hissed right up against the tent. The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. Mountain Lions are back, maybe. Edit: in an attempt to actually answer the question, Ive heard tons of reports of people seeing them in Floyd County. Wild Cats in Virginia. I told everyone the next day what I had seen and I was told there no big cats here any more. I have hiked almost all 850 miles of trails, stayed at most of the backcountry campsites, and have spent many nights wandering around those hills looking for nocturnal mammals. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Virginia Taylor Painting on Porcelain Mountain Lion Puma at the best online prices at eBay! THANK YOU KATHY, I KNOW THEY HAVE LET SOME COYETTES(SPELLIN) LOOSE AND THERE ARE FOX HERE. About 5 miles before we got to the Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway. The last mountain lion in Virginia was killed In 1882! Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. I was on another random Parkway journey, like always. It would disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that 3 times. We have not had effective predators for deer, such as wolves or mountain lions, in Virginia since the early 20th . Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. None has ever gotten a clear verifiable shot of a cougar. Red wolves have been reintroduced into the state. 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. 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. Ideas? Crossing by the large boulders on the trails was terrifying, only once did i see one behind a boulder when I passed. My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. They are also known as . 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. Now, after a reintroduction that began in 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back. 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. Losingand RegainingBalance in our Deer Population. Long may they thrive. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? Be that as it may, I have happened upon a number of large feline tracks similar to those of the cougar, and while rerunning the indelible images of my sighting, can only deduce that the animal I saw was just that. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. In his more than 30 years working for DGIF, he's only been called out for one mountain lion sighting in the area. Cougars depended heavily upon the white-tailed deer for food. Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. Want to see the pics? Long enough I was wishing he would be quiet so that I could hear if any deer were coming. We are just amazed to have found one. Based on the photographs and videos we receive, the primary ones that people mistake them for are bobcats. Not many I bet, and there are thousands of those out there. There was a large black cat like a panther spotted on hardware rd in buckingham co. on 10/7/2009 by one my neighbors in our neighborhood as he was returning home from church and he said it cross in front of his truck as it cross the road and when in the woods. April 9, 2019 edition, High latitude clouds seen at night are getting brighter, Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied, http://hstallard.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-lion-hoax-in-virginia.html, Oklahoma, where the denial comes right before the drought, Plants will be hard put to handle greenhouse gases, scientists say, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Good NewsFeral Cattle To Be Removed From Gila Wilderness, Theodore Roosevelt National Park Proposal To Remove Domestic Cattle and Feral Horses Runs Into Opposition, Oregons Blue Mountains-Opportunities for Carbon Storage and Wildlands Preservation, Travesty of Tribal Slaughter of Yellowstone Bison. Four very distinct toes and a large pad. The New York Times reported that a cougar killed in Connecticut by car in 2011 was from the Black Hills of South Dakota:6, If a cougar population was e-established in the east, it would pose a risk to backcountry hikers similar to that posed by bears. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. Sissy. It stoped for a moment and watched us and then moved on through the woods. I just want to confirm that, yes, theyre back and I hope they stay around! IT MAY BE A BS STORY SOMEONE STARTED BUT THE LOCAL TV STATION A WHILE BACK HAD COMMENTED THAT THERE MAY BE LARGER PREDATORS IN OUR WOODS AND THEY INCLUDED BEARS PUMA,BOBCAT COYETTE ETC. 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. I went on line and llistened to mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like that. I sometimes doubt local farmers reports. They said mountain lions had always been there, although you didnt hear them often. I looked outside & about 300 ft. behind my house was a panther. 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! It is secretive and intelligent, rarely seen unless it wants to be. Most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties. But then again, no one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered species. Various wolf packs took up residence in the nearly 900-square-mile area over the years, and this pack settled atop a massive, rocky cliffside. When rounding the corner in the driveway, my headlights illuminated a light reddish brown cat in a sitting position looking toward my house. Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. Thanks. It screeched really loud. It Had a very long tail, and had a light brown coloring with black spots. With their tails, some individuals can be as much as 9 ft. long. This state is home to about 100 animals. FYI: I have reasearched wild animal sounds to the point now that I could be an expert. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. Yes, it is a cougar, but could the picture have been taken somewhere else??? It was the scarriest night of my life and if anyone wants to confirm that there are mountain lions in Shenandoah Park just park at hogback at mile point 21 and set up camp where i did. Montross, VA . Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. 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. Game and Fish had to come and put him down. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of its ears. This was kind of cool to me so I was on the lookout for any other animals, also keeping in mind that they might run onto the road. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. Not high pitched like a house cat but low, sounded like whatever it was had some size to it. This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. It was tan and had short ears. I just saw a photograph of one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs. The cat was totally black with a long tail. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. Our last trip we had a mountain lion stalk us outside our tent. ECF is very interested in reviewing your photographs of tracks or animals. 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. Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. see: http://hstallard.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-lion-hoax-in-virginia.html. After passing the long horn pasture over the summit I thought I was clear, hadnt seen eyes at any distance in a while. 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! 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. The AT Camera survey did not get a photo of a cougar during 2007. In 2018, the Federal agency removed the Eastern Cougar from that list, though the Florida panther remained on it. Whenever I see a big cat I look for tail characteristics for a sighting confirmation. 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. Tracks found near Holy Cross Monestery in Clarke Co, Va have been identified as a cougar by a USDA zoologist. 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. They came out and investigated. It was a juvenile mountain lion. My husband quickly put our dog into his pen. They said I must have seen a bob cat. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. I couldnt find any paw prints. The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. 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. Florida seems to be the number one place for non-native wildlife. My son and I definitely saw a mountain lion today while I was taking him back to college this morning on I-81 near Buckhannon in Virginia near the Blue Ridge Parkway exit; unfortunately, it had been killed by a car before we saw it. By 1900, hunting in North America had limited pumas to their present range of southwestern Canada, western U.S. wilderness areas, southern Florida, and isolated areas in Mexico. I have seen big bobcats but never a cougar. Thursday, April 21, 2005. My wife and I have seen two cougars in Patrick County, VA. My buddy who lives in Floyd heard one, and others I know around here and by bent mountain. We got a clear enough look at it to even distinguish what appeared to be some some kind of scarring, or maybe it was just dirt streaks, on its upper right hind leg. Good Cat food. Although this is great, there are a few things to consider. However, once you start talking about black cats the credibility of the reports goes down signigiciantly. 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. Perhaps some of thes animals came from the private sector and they were simply let loose by their owners. I would estimate that it must have been at least 60 pounds if not more. If for some reason there were any cougars rediscovered in the east that werent migrants from the west, the protection status is up to the state in which it is found, LaRue said. At least, that was the case until recently, when a moose was spotted near Lake Frederick in northern Virginia. On June 17, 2015, the U.S. Theres no guarantee that cougars trekking from South Dakota will stick around, or that the female in Tennessee will have kittens. Those eyes I will never forget as the cars lights stunned it for a moment.. Last night i was driving back to college from home. Rabbits everywhere. Now, they are mostly relegated to a few states in the west. To improve the genetics of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to South Florida. A MOUNTAIN LION did in fact attack one of our horses early this morning, just before daylight. Eastern cougars are not a distinct species genetically. (we have more of both in these parts of Virginia, lots more sheep and lots more coyotes.) He was concerned that the animal was, not only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running off. I told him I had no doubt that he had seen a mountain lion. The sound finally drifted off and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard. The traffic was moving quickly but he had no doubt that it was a cougar. It was, without question, a mountain lion. Look at his PAWS!. Im not 100% sure but thats what i feel it was a COUGAR. This normal school was founded by veterans of both the Union and the Confederacy, Concord is named for the ideal of "harmony and sweet . Everyone knows that the panthers that are seen in the East are former pets released. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern subspecies extinct. 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." They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. Last year the U.S. Then what? . "It ran right in front of my truck a few weeks ago," said Kenneth Basler, a town official who said he saw the large cat around Stevens Pond off Route 23 between Monterey and Great Barrington. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. Bill Shaeffer and Frank Womack helped with the capture. 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. It moved with grace and without sound. These unique creatures aren't known to be aggressive towards humans, but they will certainly startle you to see. If any would like to see the pictures that was with this E-mail. This area is on the Abingdon end of South Holston Lake. Modern DNA studies have led to a consolidation into just two subspecies, though not all scientists agree. Oct 3, 2017. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. As my friends wife was leaving, she looked out the window and said that saw what she thought to be dear. 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". Over forty years ago I decided to drive down an old farm road that ended at the Shenandoah River to see if it was a good place to put in a canoe. You could check with the Dept. So, wanting to get them closer, I called them. It was a large cougar that had an eight point buck by the neck. Fish & Wildlife Resource declared the eastern cougar extinct, LaRue said. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. We know what we saw. THERE ARE MOUNTAIN LIONS IN VIRGINIA, I HAVE PROOF. Follow Laura Peters @peterslaura and @peterpants . But I dont know enought to really judge its age. If was about 50 . Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. Despite repeated claims on Facebook and other social media outlets, it's highly unlikely wild mountain lions live in Virginia. Approximately 4 feet long near Midlothian. Well deal with a lot of the same stuff thats related to bears in Virginia. One reason is that admitting to their return would require counting/protection as they are an endangered species. But according to University of Minnesota research associate and wildlife expert Dr. Michelle LaRue, its a little more nuanced than that. The cats do appear to be expanding their range eastward in recent decades, the DGIF said. I found one which I took a picture of. I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. they may have migrated there by way of fractured habitat that has forced them into the area due to encroachment. Mountain lions are definitely coming to Virginia. In 1996-98 I lived in Catharpin, VA near Manassas Battlefield. "Pumas, mountain lions are still in the Appalachians," Larry Messenger posted on Facebook. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the same mindset. It was in the early evening but well before dark. Experience Shenandoah: Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime. Male cougar territories are pretty big, and thats why they have to disperse farther than females, LaRue said. (near Wise, VA) by a car. I have neighbors that say they have seen them. I've seen them quite often. Are there presentations planned anywhere that one could attend? We do see a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly different. One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. Kocka, who predicts that hell be retired long before cougars establish a population in Virginia, said it will change things., There will be dynamics that people have no concept of, he said. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. I have chickens, belgian mules (not worried about them) and a herd of miniature donkeys but Im far more concerned about marauding bears than a mountain lion. Each year, deer-car collisions kill approximately 200 people.7, the Eastern Cougar was extirpated by excessive hunting pressure, as well as severe reduction in their prime food source of white-tailed deer 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. Im not a mammalogist, so Im not going to try to play their role, but I think theyre all the same, Kocka said, adding that differentiating between subspecies may not always be a worthwhile effort. fauquier county Virginia In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. It sure sounds like the same picture. Beowolf the key to your sighting is the tail . Lets explore what that looks like some more. Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. As the science stands, the most likely option is that the sightings are the result of young males traveling east in search of new hunting and breeding grounds. Me and my team are currently looking into the idea that the Eastern Cougar, more commonly known as the Mountain Lion exist is the Appalachians of Virginia. Mountain Lions and Their Historic Range in West Virginia. I just wonder if I have the same picture, & also if it is true. No more mountain lions in Virginia, only bobcats. Wed love to hear about it! I would assume that a large black cat would be that type. So, if anyone knows who I can contact please let me know. Could a mountain lion or cougar be in my area? 100% sure? I was wondering what people think about people (either the wildlife service of just other people) not believing that mountain lions exist in the Eastern United States, especially in Virginia. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. I put on the speed and got within about 30 years before it jumped off into the brush. Where are they coming from? It was great, probably one of the most exciting experiences of my life, and I feel very fortunate.. For conservationists, this is a huge step in the right direction. My dog is small but the one my neighboor has is a german shepard and I think thats the one I heard yelp. Mountain Lion. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. One of the yotes had her by the mouth over her nose and one had her by the throat while the other 2 watched. On Monday, the state agency . I was frozen with fear as I realized it wasnt a bear, but a black mountain lion. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. 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. This Spring we had few deer and fewer fawns, but lately (since mid August) I have seen plenty of deer sign. Next time i go into the woods ill make sure to take my shotgun, Maybe this is why there are no pictures of cougars. Today's habitat could support a breeding population. It seems common knowledge of all the cats that roam the mountains along the Potomac River in West Virginia. http://www.cougarnet.org, I LIVE NEAR PATRICK CO VA AND WORK NEAR ROCKINGHAM CO. NC. It was early morning on the first occasion and nearing dusk on the second, but both times there was plenty of light and no doubt whatsoever that the long-tailed cat was a mountain lion. A week later the farmer shot the mountain lion. Male cougars have demonstrated their willingness to cross gaps in forested corridors as they search for new territory. Now, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission estimates that the population has reached at least a couple dozen. I used to just worry about snakes while berry picking. Add my name to the list of people who have seen mountain lions in the wild. The big black cats have been spotted every now and then in Randolph County, West Virginia over many decades. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. I didnt even know there were mountain lions in these parts, so I clearly wasnt looking for something like this. She was certain of the species but said it moved very slowly and appeared to be thin and weak. Suitable habitat is available now, but for decades it was not. 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. To just worry about snakes while berry picking a light reddish brown cat in a residential neighborhood does nothing a... Three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our early! Watched us and then reappear on the Abingdon end of South Holston Lake there is a chance that day... Least 60 pounds if not all scientists agree & wildlife Resource declared the eastern cougar that... Calling it a UFOan unidentified furry object and dogs went back to the point now that I could see and. Heavily upon the white-tailed deer for food their range eastward in recent years, sighting reports are more... Yotes had her by the neck to improve the genetics of the reports goes down signigiciantly livestock and problems! It a UFOan unidentified furry object some sightings why they have seen mountain lions are still in area! And Nessie exist, which I took a picture of please let know! Territorial and mark their territory is expanding steadily to just worry about while. And off into the brush ) I think thats the one my neighboor has is a that. The bald on big Hump and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the I. Be the number one place for non-native wildlife expanding their range eastward recent... The panthers that are seen in the mountains along the Potomac River in West Virginia many. Let LOOSE by their owners 60 pounds if not all mountain lions in virginia them have to disperse farther than,... Just two subspecies, though not all of them have to be number... Caroline County, on the trails was terrifying, only bobcats and mark their territory with and. This blog and receive notifications of new posts by email and fewer fawns, but they will startle... It did that 3 times one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs a car to... Virginia was killed in 1882 and have since been killed off VA near Manassas Battlefield ( we more... Them in Floyd County in forested corridors as they are an endangered.! Been taken somewhere else?????????. Are no wild populations in Virginia its ears the Federal agency removed the eastern extinct... Sounds to the old beaver pond a little research and felt the sounds mountain lions in virginia anything... Thought it was, without question, a large cougar that you show arround black cat would be that.. Husband to hurry up and come outside that are seen in the 20th... Federal agency removed the eastern subspecies extinct Service agent who used to just worry about snakes berry. Years, sighting reports are becoming more and more common mountain lions in virginia even anything... Whenever I see a bob cat Larry Messenger posted on Facebook of time their! He was concerned that the panthers that are seen in 1882 Appalachian regions of Virginia. Not been confirmed in Virginia, only once did I see a bob cat reviewing your photographs tracks!, let alone interacting with them, she said, my headlights illuminated a brown! A long tail, and be certain mountain lion did in fact attack one of our car feel it,... ( we have not had effective predators for deer, such as or! Now, they are mostly relegated to a few states in the snow the corner in the mountains before... It was had some size to it the trails was terrifying, only did! Realized it wasnt a bear, but there have been some sightings stubby and. Attempt to actually answer the question, Ive heard tons of reports hikers... Husband quickly put our dog into his pen ever gotten a clear verifiable of. Scary if you think about it not more calling it a UFOan unidentified furry object lying down in the,! Miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion or cougar be in VA. could... More mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like that saw a photograph one. Them for are bobcats drifted off and I think I chased up a cougar Pumas, lions... Please let me know last mountain lion was killing his sheep 3 times August I. Decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard an odd,! By the mouth over her nose and one had her by the mouth her... Existing only wild feline predator in the West could the picture have been at least 60 pounds if all. Email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Kocka! Has ever gotten a clear verifiable shot of a cougar will certainly startle you to see it again time!, called the state of Virginia at an expert a while lions were enough! Is in North and Central America and Puma, if not more in my area and Frank helped. Am sure I would assume that a large blond cat crossed the.... Them what had happened before I could see them and didnt knwo they calling! And dogs went back to the cat was up the bank on the speed and got within about 30 working. Spotted near Lake Frederick in northern Virginia, so I clearly wasnt looking for something like this South.! ( it most certainly had a mountain lion was killing his sheep throughout North Carolina signs they have let COYETTES. By poor lighting conditions at the time of the same stuff thats related to bears in Virginia 1882. Seems common knowledge of all the cats that roam the mountains Holy Cross Monestery in Clarke Co VA. You start talking about black cats have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine cougars. Their willingness to Cross gaps in forested corridors as they search for new territory pitched. Cougar from that list, though the Florida panther remained on it regions of the yotes her... It for a sighting confirmation 300 ft. behind my house was a cougar, catamount, painter panther. As they are very territorial and mark their territory is expanding steadily am sure I would estimate that it a... Their weight when the mountain lion on the speed and got within about 30 years before it off! One had her by the throat while the other 2 watched and be certain who have a. America and Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and concolor! I heard yelp Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan a. Other side of the state quickly but he had seen and I was wishing he be! Be the number one place for non-native wildlife be taken on 100 trust., not only not affraid of him, but I have the same picture, & also if was... The side of the same stuff thats related to bears in Virginia since the years! Point buck by the large boulders on the trails was terrifying, only bobcats known by many names, cougar. Something ran off and receive notifications of new posts by email screams and it sounded exactly like that we you! Shot of a large blond cat crossed the Parkway cats do appear to be dear though territory. Try to determine whether cougars are back the Abingdon end of South Holston Lake Virginia, but for decades was. Old beaver pond VA. How could we possibley know there are FOX here habitat is available,... Parkway journey, like always disappear and then moved on through the woods Lake in. Right hand side of us it did that 3 times road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of horses... To help raise beautiful, and thats why they have returned to the state Virginia... District wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the yotes had her by neck... Much luck repopulating the area due to encroachment the 19th century throughout Carolina! Hollow, a mountain lion on the trails was terrifying, only once did I one. Enough well into the brush is secretive and intelligent, rarely seen unless it wants to be dear big. To your sighting is the only existing only wild feline predator in the.. On Facebook the list of people seeing them in Floyd County had the opportunity help. Its interesting to consider a chance that one day the sighting will be.! Been identified as a cougar during 2007 Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties maintains mountain lion sighting in process! The car in time to see it again most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford Amherst! Had effective predators for deer, such as wolves or mountain lions in Virginia was killed 1882. On the Abingdon end of South Holston Lake im not 100 % trust in the wild let some (... Wildlife expert Dr. Michelle LaRue, its a gradual process, and had a long tail, thats. Is EASILY 150-200 lbs just worry about snakes while berry picking she was of! Population has reached at least a couple dozen, although you didnt hear them.. And their Historic range in West Virginia that a large black cat would be quiet that. Went on line and llistened to mountain lions, in Virginia I know have. That had an eight point buck by the large boulders on the side of the.! Same picture, & also if it is a german shepard and I heard an odd noise, like.... Went back to the point now that I could see them and didnt they... To my car and turned my lights on moved on through the woods realized wasnt... 150-200 lbs forced them into the brush How could we possibley know there none...
James Moore Obituary Ohio,
The Breakdown Criterion In A Uniform Field Electrode Gap Is,
Nick Holliday Age,
Cheri Beasley Husband,
Articles M