The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. Mountain lions weigh between 90-160 pounds while bobcats weigh between 20-30 pounds according to an article by the Iowa DNR. She got quite close to them while on Jake but as soon as she began to dismount they scattered. These are believable people, she said. Thanks. My dog and all the dogs in the neighborhood were going nuts. I also found a recording online of a cougar cry and it was EXACTLY the sound I heard. OK. 2 Sept about 12:30 maybe 12:45 I was jolted out of a good sleep by what I first thought was 2 cats fighting below my 2nd story bedroom window. In a small town called Coeburn. Still no pictures though. I quickly realized it couldnt be human. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. Can they fix it so it looks like it was from Caroline. Four very distinct toes and a large pad. But before all this happened I heard them calling its almost like they were planning the hunt to come. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. As a member of the Eastern cougar foundation, I am very interested in your sighting of the black cougar. They said I must have seen a bob cat. Is this thread for real? Despite the widely-held belief in the scientific community that eastern mountain lions have been long gone and any cats seen roaming the region these days must have made the long trek from midwestern states like South Dakota, some Appalachian residents remain convinced that the cats never actually left the area. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Oct 3, 2017. The wind chill was absolutely tremendous in the portal and the -20 outside felt balmy in comparison. 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. 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. How many people in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock? As I inched my way down the road I saw the tall grass to my left move as if something was approaching the road. "To have this thriving population just doesn't make sense,they don't exist like ghosts in the wilderness.". I live in Spotsylvania va in a development but we all live on 5 to 10 acres. the Eastern Cougar is Puma concolor, reflecting the solid color without stripes or spots I still wasnt positive though. 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. Sometimes you may hear it end in an agonizing high pitche scream. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIGHTINGS OF A COUGAR OR OTHER LARGE FELINE IN THIS AREA. Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. My wife, dog, and I were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour this morning (11/8/07). Mountain Lion. One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. Having myself grown up in western North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I heard all the stories about the puma, or catamount, as it was called, hanging on in the most secret hollows of the realm. I lived on the border of the Great Smoky Mt Natl Park for 7 years. However, it is pretty well accepted that there are no cougars living in the east currently.. Could it be? These felines are quite large. I put on the speed and got within about 30 years before it jumped off into the brush. One large paw print about 3.5 to 4 inches wide, three distinct inch+ pads (no claw marks). It was hit by a log truck in Buckingham Co. near Dillwyn in early spring. In reality, the mountain lion had escaped from a nearby property, where it was being held captive along with three other mountain lions. Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially confirmed. A neighbors cat was outside and I could see that she was visibly frightened and crouching under a car. 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. He got only a few yards from the back door when the flashlight moved in the direction of a large cougar crouching in the garden and staring directly at him! Forestry rangers say they have spotted several mountain lions in the area. I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. Now, after a reintroduction that began in 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back. Are Mountain Lions Back in the Blue Ridge? Im not suggesting this a farm animal. Fies doesn't believe that there is this thriving population that has been hidden from the world. While hiking in the winter after a good snowfall I came across huge cat tracks that were fresh. Where are mountain lions in Virginia? Remember Ligertown? 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. Which could be a pretty big deal, because up until now, the confirmed sightings in the east have been of male cats. 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. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Association (TWRA) confirmed that the cat, which sniffed around on the ground and in a low-hanging tree branch before looking square into the camera with its mouth wide open, was in fact a mountain lion. When it turned around thats when I saw its long tail almost to the ground. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. It Had a very long tail, and had a light brown coloring with black spots. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. In Dec, 1981 my husband, sons and I were out in the woods on our property target shooting with bows. 100% sure? My 70lb lab is 24 at the shoulder for comparison. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. "Usually youngish males.". Today is Sept. 29, 2008. My wife and I have seen two cougars in Patrick County, VA. The puma can kill and drag prey up to seven times its own weight, the National Zoo said. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. of Wildlife. Mountain Lions in New York. The "coywolf" is an informal term for a unique hybrid of western coyotes and eastern timber wolves. Hmmmm. First, the nature of the mountain lion is to be elusive. A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. 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. This video footage of a confirmed female lion was captured in November 2015 in Obion County, Tennessee. But in 2011, they were declared extinct. 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. THANK YOU KATHY, I KNOW THEY HAVE LET SOME COYETTES(SPELLIN) LOOSE AND THERE ARE FOX HERE. Does anyone want to speculate about the Appalachians being populated by African Lions? I saw a friend while out to dinner two weeks ago and he came up and said, You will never believe what I saw last evening at my place. I said, What did you see? The AT Camera survey did not get a photo of a cougar during 2007. While 4 wheeling in our Bronco on Buffalo Creek in Logan County, WV. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Cougar Sightings, West Virginia. So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. But we are talking about an actual animal which has a possibility of existing in localized population in some areas of the east. I raise miniature horses and am quite concerned as we are surrounded by woods in Warrenton. "In others frankly (some people) just make up stories to get attention or to support their beliefs, so they'll come up with a photo from somewhere else to justify their beliefs," he continued. We coundnt believe what we saw. In reply to D. Racey we would like to review your photo of the track. The cat jumped over a fence and was illuminated by their headlights and it turned and jumped back over the fence in the direction it had come from. I called the game warden, but they told me they didnt exist in this area. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. By 2011, U.S. Marchibroda wasnt under any illusions that she could catch or in any way interact with the mountain lion she saw on her hike. Thus the tight lips. I live in historic Jonesborough, TN. One of the yotes had her by the mouth over her nose and one had her by the throat while the other 2 watched. Also 16-20 at the shoulder seems short for 120lbs. The cat was totally black with a long tail. There have been sightings of mountain lions in Virginia since the late 1800s, and its tough to imagine that every single one of them is misidentifying or lying about their experience, but it doesnt help that there hasnt been any physical evidence of mountain lions found either. It was probably a year later that those people sold their house to another couple with horses. 150 yards in front of us travelling east. It was as big or bigger than a german sheppard, but most definitely a cat. This state is home to about 100 animals. SHE THEN TOLD HER SON THAT A BIG KITTY AS SHE CALLED IT WOULD COME AND EAT THE FOOD AND DRINK THE WATER SHE PUT OUT FOR HER DOBERMAN THAT HAD PASSED AWAY. Published: Oct. 12, 2022 at 9:17 AM PDT. . You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. I nearly mastered replicating their calls. smokymtman, 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. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. B. McQuary. Its part of mother nature I guess. While driving down a winding mountain road in Madison County (Northwest, VA), I witnessed a large cat trotting up the road toward me. John, This is interesting as authorities keep saying the big black cats dont exist unless they are transplants or escaped pets, etc??? In recent years, sighting reports are becoming more and more common. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. Spotted a large cat we think- on Squirrel Spur Road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan. just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. It was completely jet black, with a very long tail 3-4 feet long. For related content, read about How The Worlds Most Notorious Mythical Creature Is Said To Dwell In This Small Virginia Town. It was headed north. It had been sent to him on his cell phone. There are certainly plenty of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. Thats not to say they are made up. But according to University of Minnesota research associate and wildlife expert Dr. Michelle LaRue, its a little more nuanced than that. 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.. My house was in a very wooded area and driveway led off into those woods about 1/2 mile from the main road (which was a dirt/gravel road about 1 mile from a paved road). 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. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . Mr. Lutz do you have internet picture of the Virginia cougar that you show arround? Are there mountain lions in the Shenandoah Valley? I live in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia and the area is pretty urban, although there are woods adjacent to my home and I have seen plenty of deer and fox. I was glad i was in a car, as Im sure it would have been terrified had we been on foot. Their typical prey includes rabbits and squirrels, but they can kill deer when they are feeling up to it. 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