It was about 100 pounds with a tail about 3 feet long. Everyone in the car was amazed at what we saw, and have since gone back hoping to see it again. I knew we a small population of bobcats in this area and asked her if it could have been that. The sub-species of the eastern cougar indigenous to the state is extinct. I am concerned since that pond is a source of water for my horse. Thats my opinion. Most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties. Long may they thrive. just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. We do have pictures of that! But their population definitely isnt established here. I tried taking a picture of it with my phone but it jolted away. That would be earth shattering for the depts. On another ride our oldest daughter described a cat that was smaller but she said the color was different it had spots. #1. I should have said that I think I may have seen one myself. 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. We have spotted a mother black bear and cub over by the damn while hiking, scary sight but very awsome. The fourth-largest cat in the world, it thrived from the frigid Yukon to the tip of South America. The DWR is open to reviewing evidence of mountain lions in our area, and Michael told me to always keep an open mind. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. I think there have been reintroduction programs in some areas. It was about 11:30 PM and I was driving an Austin Healy Bugeyed Sprite. Speculating that they were mountain lions, we drove to a distance of about 250 yards away to take a second glace. Until recently, Los Angeles' most famous lion, P-022, lived in Griffith Park, just north of Hollywood. About a month ago I was visiting a local sheep farmer (more gentleman farmer than actual make-money-farming farmer). He charged at the Fish and Game guy in the process. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. Now when I go back towards where that was to hunt I get shivers. OUR DEER POPULATION IS SO RIDICULOUS THAT A COUGARE WOULD HAVE PLENTY TO FEED ON-JUST WONDERING WITH THE LAKE AND HIGH POPULATION OF DEER, IS THIS POSSIBLE. So I've heard stories about mountain lions living in Virginia for years and I'm bored so I wanted to see if I could find a clustered area of sightings somewhere in the state. We have reports of mountain lions being seen in the area of High Nob/ Fort Blackmore Virginia. I would estimate that it must have been at least 60 pounds if not more. Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. 12. Long enough I was wishing he would be quiet so that I could hear if any deer were coming. It was a state car. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! I could hear the kittens and I captured a photo which I believe to be a smaller lion. Well, I knew the difference. I am not 100% certain but I would like it if someone could identify the cats for me. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park. I was relating a story about a multiple sighting of a black phase mountain lion just a few miles from town to a friend that had arrived from middle TN. If anyone is interested, you may write me at thatwhitekid247@aol.com. 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. Is it safe to go out there and will it come back. Part of their success is due to their adaptability when it comes to hunting and habitat needs. We live in Oak Hill, Virginia, in a neighborhood. But even when a new population does begin to grow, LaRue said the likelihood of crossing paths with them will still be miniscule. Are there mountain lions in the Shenandoah Valley? (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.). It was tan and had short ears. It certainly is rare to get more than just a glimpse of them. A few minutes later another hunter came down from his stand on the same mountain and said, hey youll never guess what I saw this morning. It was not afraid of the dog at all, it walked back up in the woods and paced back in forth on a log. The U.S. Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. 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 was in the early evening but well before dark. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". I think we have coywolves. Dont know what it was, but I have always wondered if it was a big cat or not. If you have any similiar stories let me know please. For information call SML State Park, 540-297-6066. My dogs heard it and came running. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Where are mountain lions in Virginia? http://www.easterncougar.org/ Ben Shrader Bedford, Virginia. Mountain Lion. 111 1. Hmmm, but then we have pictures of bear in the local paper sometimes. Lets explore: are there mountain lions in Virginia? Full grown, the bulls can weigh up to 700 pounds, so be sure to keep a respectful distance should you see one of these beautiful creatures! Our last trip we had a mountain lion stalk us outside our tent. I also found a recording online of a cougar cry and it was EXACTLY the sound I heard. This is not the same picture withe the cat dragging the buck. It wasnt a very old cat, and Im pretty sure it wasnt fully grown. He got up and armed with only a flashlight he ventured outside to see why the horses were so restless and upset. 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. What big cats are in Virginia? What could be mistaken for a mountain lion? I was out for a morning run on some back roads (in Page County, north of Luray, just west of Route 340.) I walked w/n 40 yards and took one more photo. Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. 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! Interestingly, the Eastern Cougar did exist in Virginia up until around the 1880's, but The . I got into the bald on Big Hump and I heard an odd noise, like a quick screaching bird and something ran off. Well deal with a lot of the same stuff thats related to bears in Virginia. I suppose it could have been a super-sized coyote or an interbred coyote. Needless to say, our guns were ready and we were as still as we could be. hunterb8s@yahoo.com. But we are talking about an actual animal which has a possibility of existing in localized population in some areas of the east. "These two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were gone," Fies said. So I guess its up in the air. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. About 6 years ago my husband and I saw a mountain lion cross directly in front of us on Bobbletts Gap Rd, in Bedford County. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. "Usually youngish males.". The DGIF is adamant though that the species is not found in the Commonwealth, although it is possible the western subspecies could be moving east. I HAVE HEARD OF AN OLD WOMAN THAT HAD A DOBERMAN THAT STAYED ON HER BACK PORCH NEAR ROCKINGHAM CO NC. 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. Good Cat food. But then again, no one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered species. Im not doubting that people see black cat like animals, although true size is often hard to tell. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. Get real. It turned around when it got to the side of the road and went back into the tall grass. Staunton entrepreneurs tackle urban farming. Biologists and wildlife specialists speculate that cougars will reestablish themselves in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia within the next 25 to 50 years. Our daughters were in a 4H group across the park on Bull Run Post Office Road and each week theyd ride their horses across the battlefield to a farn where they practiced Vaulting (circus riding) with their 4H group. But recent expert-confirmed sightingswhich have involved photographs, videos, and DNAin Tennessee support a theory that mountain lions, whose populations out west have continued to expand, are slowly making their way back to this side of the country. In grad school I worked with a lot of the wildlife and natural resources folks at VT. 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. Sissy. doubtful. Because they are lone animals that are not breeding. 26 Sep 16. Definitely not a dog, too big for a cat. I do not know of any dogs in the area with feet that big. It was one of the scariest sounds I have ever heard. I initially thought it was a bear, until it ran, jumped a 5 foot pasture fence with ease, and landed about 4 feet from the fence. The Bluefield, West Virginia native . Well we finally made it out of there. or the puma to make official statements confirming its presence in the Eastern US and in fact might prove harmful to the cougar spur public fear if such a confirmation were made. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. 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. Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. Probably 10s of thousands across the Appalachian regions of the state. 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. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. Anyone know where to find a recording of cat sounds? There have been 121 mountain lion sightings in Virginia since 1970. 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. Officials captured the escaped mountain lion and found a second one that had also escapedoutside of Harrisonburg, harassing turkeys on a farm. Mountain Lion. I would love to get a photo of it. 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. And my car lights revealed a 3-year-old or so male Mountain Lion. Speculation over what kind of animal attacked a hiker near Humpback Rocks on Friday namely, a bear or mountain lion was resolved Monday, thanks to the victim's mother. We almost hit it with the car. The deer have been congregating down there. In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. They then took the trail that went in the opposite direction of the animal. I havent seen anything like one since back in May. But it was very odd because the scream wouldnt quite finish and then it would start again. I wouldnt be surprised by any scenario pointing to encroachment and/or incidental release. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. And I am not sure it was a cougar. 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 stopped the truck and did the did I see what I think I saw routine. For an "In the Valley" episode, I investigated . Unfortunately, we lost our big barn cat to these predators and continue to see and hear them on a regular basis. . They had their minds set and there was nothing that was going to change their minds. All the territories are basically taken up so they have to go somewhere else, and somewhere else happens to be the Midwest.. Mountain lions have many names, including the puma, mountain lion,panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn. 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. We had a secluded cabin off of cedar key road, private property (no hunting/trespassing) that ran for acres and acres, as well as a private and protected cove, as bass spawn there, no wake, no loud noises, no people. I nearly mastered replicating their calls. i have heard of several sightings in buckingham co. and our local sporting goods shop (bass, bucks,and more) has a game camera photo displayed with a mt lion on it that the owner said it was taken in martinsville va. From: Big J. He said he had called the county animal control and they told him he must have seen a bob cat as no mountain lions were still in our area. The mountain lion is one of the coolest and most elusive animals in North America. Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. We were going about 40 mph, crystal clear day, about 30 yards away. Mr. Lutz do you have internet picture of the Virginia cougar that you show arround? We are just amazed to have found one. 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.". Someone is trying to instill fear about mountain lions on the loose in Virginia, though the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries says it's fake news. It is being held at the Discovery Center at SML State Park from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st. 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. They dont know that, theyre not genetically testing these animals.. 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.. We went out there today to look for tracks. It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. Hello Authorities say there have been reports of . The creek still has running water. I was almost back to sleep when it happened again and this time it was no house cat! 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. If was about 50 . 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. fauquier county Virginia "To have this thriving population just doesn't make sense,they don't exist like ghosts in the wilderness.". Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. Love Virginia? Bobcats, yellow labs, and feral house cats are all common culprits for mountain lion mis . The animal looks to be a mountain lion I havent contacted the Animal control people yet unless it takes up residence here. We would sit on our back porch and listen awe struck. (usualy a rabbit) as it tapers off not to be heard again until the next night. Cant say what it was and hope to never see again. Period. 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. He told me stories of escaped mountain lions that hes seen, but noted that they typically stayed close to people, or near areas where they were kept. 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. he said. Loudoun County Va , where they are now expanding the landfill , we hear the cougar cry less often now but it is still making its presence known and its a little further in the distance now instead of right at the back door. So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. 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". Mine me, Im not calling him a lier, but it does happen. There are so many camera traps now for both research (academic inductions, VDWR and VDACS) and private hunters. In reply to Sharon if you can give more details on date of kill and on the location of the road kill at Buchannan, Virginia I would look for remains or inquire if VDOT made any report of it as they may have picked it up off the road. We would also be very interested in recovering any remains. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. But I never saw one, or tracks, and I spent a lot of time in the woods. Spotted a large cat we think- on Squirrel Spur Road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan. Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. I sat, played my guitar for an hour. According to the Cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2. I called my neighbor as soon as we got home and told her the tale and she responded Yeah, I have heard several people say they have seen them up here. Which shocked me even more that she wasnt surprised! However, according to growing reports, they are here. I was on another random Parkway journey, like always. At a second glance, we knew that it couldnt be deer. So it could have been a red wolf. Chronic Wasting Disease positive results in Virginia, 2009-19. I just saw one a couple of hourse ago. The Florida panther is a subspecies of the eastern mountain lion that lives in the Everglades and pine forests of central Florida. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? So the tail of the catamount continues. 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. My 70lb lab is 24 at the shoulder for comparison. We were tracking a deer one night and ended up lost for 6 hours and found a small field. I have helped skin and mount wild cats before and definitely know the difference. NEW VIRGINIA, Iowa (KCRG) - Law enforcement have confirmed mountain lion sightings in central Iowa. I have seen big bobcats but never a cougar. It then stopped in the road and turned to look at me. 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. In October, 1987, a cougar & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in western Shenadoah County. Bears, Deer and Turkey come out in the yard on a regular basis. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Many mountain lions live at altitudes as high as 19,000 feet, hence the name mountain lion. This also was a sighting near Callands, VA: my wife was out jogging on our dirt road and came across a very large bobcat, about the size of a large dog, stubby tail, brown color, only about fifty yards from her, just staring at her. Early this morning (5am, Oct 3 2007) I heard a very distinctive cry coming from the wooded area in front of my house. I think the increase in goat and sheep farming in Appomattox County is attracting more predators. Guess we will never know the truth unless there is a fantastic picture with know location shown also. They could be making a similiar mistake about the cougar sightings. Also the Coyotes up there are getting out of hand in my eyes. Last time I heard it it sounded like it was 30 50 yards away and then I heard a dog bark then yelp and one last scream from the animal and then quiet. We are not stupid people with time on our hands, just a couple out for a drive. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. I have a friend who claims to have had one cross the Parkway in front of him near the Peaks of Otter earlier this year. His body was very long and had a beautiful face. Most of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the city. Could it be because the lion got the spring fawns? In Nebraska, the mountain lion is the largest carnivore. By Bill Cochran. and the does mated again? This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much, Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State, Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. They are very ellusive cats. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. 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. Published: Oct. 12, 2022 at 9:17 AM PDT. The agency noted that the initial listing was an error, and the species had been extinct long before the 1973 listing:4. At first I thought it was human screams. 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. at the shoulder, that's nearly 3 ft. tall! Mountain lions and yes black cats. of Game and Inland Fisheries web site on the eastern cougar. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. I was camping up there with some friends and we could have sworn we heard howling! Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and over, $2 for kids 6 to 15 years old, and free for . Way back in 1977 I was firebossing a mine in McDowell Co WVa. 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. 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. He didnt rule out the possibility of an individual wandering into Virginia, as that has happened before. Its part of mother nature I guess. Does anyone realy know??? Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. Could it have been one of those? Lets explore what that looks like some more. The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Not many I bet, and there are thousands of those out there. Im not accusing anyone of anything, I myself have certain ideas in all of this, but am wondering what other people think of it. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . Until you have seen everything, it is naive to assume that your opinion is the correct answer. I dont know what you saw, but cougars are never black. I would suggest people look that up also. It was the first time I could see it clearly. When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned.

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