I think there have been reintroduction programs in some areas. Do you think what I heard may have been a cougar or a mountain lion? One of the yotes had her by the mouth over her nose and one had her by the throat while the other 2 watched. Many places in the west horses and mountain lions or cougars coexist. She stated that she had previously spotted one on I 40 while crossing the Cumberland Mtns. There have been sightings here, & in Nottaway county. The closest description I could find was the cry of the cougar or the mountain lion. Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. It turned around when it got to the side of the road and went back into the tall grass. Imagine what a difficult time the authorities would have had explaining that accident! Wed love to hear about it! https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Mountain-lion-attack-reported-near-Humpback-Rock-385246261.html Its been confirmed by by fish and game. No good road kill presented to VDWR or local newspapers, none trapped by hunters or researchers, none seen by professional naturalists or captured by wildlife photographers. It was a large cougar that had an eight point buck by the neck. As we were approaching the Mabry Mill area, my daughter said excitedly hey dad, look, a bullmastiff (we bred them in Ct, and still have 2 adult males as pets). Mine me, Im not calling him a lier, but it does happen. In his more than 30 years working for DGIF, he's only been called out for one mountain lion sighting in the area. Last year I saw a very large cat print left in the snow. My dad found tracks and no, not bear, but cat, on our farm in that area and residents have reported seening a pair crossing just a few miles from where dad saw tracks. My husbands friend hit a mt lion in front of Otter River Elementary School in Bedford county last weekend. Back home in Indiana a buddy of mine and I jumped one in the earlier 2000s and told a DNR officer who told us we were seeing things lol. I think there is a reason for that, and the most likely reason IMO is that the animals people are seeing are not mountain lions. No other vehicles were immediately around me. Ralph Maughan, webmaster. Thankfully we were vindicated by a clear trail cam sighting a couple years later. Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the mountains. I just saw a photograph of one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs. Most of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the city. Im guessing it was about 1987 but cant be sure. Reading these stories and seeing a documentry (Monsterquest) only confirms that there is definitely something out there. "I never say never about these things, it's certainly possible," Fies said. The data they have collected over the years indicates that cougars are gradually making their way eastward, and validated the theory that young males travel farther and more quickly than females, making the repopulation process a gradual one. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. 1. I put on the speed and got within about 30 years before it jumped off into the brush. The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Eastern Cougar as Endangered in 1973, since it was considered to be a distinct breeding population separate from the western population. My husband quickly put our dog into his pen. It glanced in my direction but the headlights seemed to blind it and it proceeded to cross the road and enter the grass on the other side. Seems in these parts every snake they see is a copperhead (even the black with white belly ones). 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. It was the first time I could see it clearly. 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. This was a night time sighting. 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. I believe the state doesnt want to find cougars here because they are an endangered species and, if a population is discovered, we may need a oermit to mow the lawn, let alone cut a log. These creatures dont call Virginia home, but have been known to stop by for an occasional visit. I was almost back to sleep when it happened again and this time it was no house cat! If was about 50 . I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? We have seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond. Look up the story of Rocky the African serval- an escaped pet that roams Virginia to this day I believe. Some of the Forest Service questioned whether or not it was just a wild cat. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! THERE ARE MOUNTAIN LIONS IN VIRGINIA, I HAVE PROOF. Suitable habitat is available now, but for decades it was not. soon after, a report appeared in the wash. post about a squirrel-hunting ranger/game warden who spotted 2 pumas. John, This is interesting as authorities keep saying the big black cats dont exist unless they are transplants or escaped pets, etc??? The West Virginia Wildlife Center . Any info would be greatly appreciated, "I envision someday in the future we would get one wandering into Virginia. Secondly, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. Look at his PAWS!. Everyone knows that the panthers that are seen in the East are former pets released. (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.). Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. All we get are hearsay stories and misidentified wildlife. We know they were two different animals because the tail-tips were different. Still, this is great news for conservationists and animal enthusiasts alike. For decades, the chances of coming across one of these big cats in an eastern state were slim to none, and much to the chagrin of residents like Marchibroda who have reported sightings, the U.S. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. We still hear these screams from time to time but most recently (Dec 26, 2006) our grand daughter spotted a coyote digging in our manure pile for varmits! Victim of animal attack treated for rabies. Period. In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. Desperate males living in South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah take incredible journeys across the country in order to find their territory to occupy. Dont know what it was, but I have always wondered if it was a big cat or not. When my lights shined in its eyes I was pretty sure that what I saw was a mountain lion, but then again I only got a short glimpse of it. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. It was standing in front of my car. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. How did they know this isnt an eastern lion? Every year, state agencies investigate many reported sightings of cougars. Yet within the last decade, bull sharks have been known to swim all the way to the Potomac River. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. I am concerned since that pond is a source of water for my horse. Is a mountain lion like a bear? I have neighbors that say they have seen them. While living in Alvarado, Virginia, in approximately 1989 one night on my way home from work at about 11:45 p.m., I saw a big cat in my driveway about 80 yards from the house. 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. Mountain lions in Nebraska are a division of the larger population spread through all western U.S. states, and predators move unobstructedly among Nebraska and neighboring U.S. states, especially South Dakota and Wyoming. I would like to add it to my collection if possible. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. THanks CArole. It took off as the car got closerI have never ever seen anything like that in my life! The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. The agency noted that the initial listing was an error, and the species had been extinct long before the 1973 listing:4. For years people have reported mountain lion sightings in the Valley, but, according to local DWR officials, they've been extinct in our area since 1882. In the 1940s and 1950s, people were paid bounties for mountain lions, according to Jim Williams, regional director for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and author of "Path of the Puma." He was a beauty! This is beacause the scream is that of the prey that he has just killed. In recent years, sighting reports are becoming more and more common. 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. Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. Experience Shenandoah: Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime. Reason being: If mountain lions are show to exist east of the Mississippi River, the states game departments may be liable for livestock damages. Last year I was outside with my lab and I heard that scream that sent my dog running frantically away and stopped me in my tracks. Myself and many others in the state have trail cams all over the place. Flash to present day. And my car lights revealed a 3-year-old or so male Mountain Lion. And yet, there have been more than a few bizarre sightings over the past few decades that have us scratching our heads. zdf. Photos are difficult to confirm, Peterson saidthe process involves sending wildlife experts to the exact spot where the cat was allegedly seen to take another photo in order to compare it to the original and verify the location. That is if it is still around. Tracks found near Holy Cross Monestery in Clarke Co, Va have been identified as a cougar by a USDA zoologist. However, my husband couldnt contain his excitement and called me immediately to tell me he had his own personal proof of the existance of cougars in Virginia! The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . However it was way too fast, too quiet, and did not move like a deer. That would be earth shattering for the depts. Is this thread for real? We almost hit it with the car. I found one which I took a picture of. My first thought was, I gotta chase this thing, Marchibroda said. Was on a guided hunt in Bath county Virginia in November of 06. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. Were not taking any action to move them or kill them. "This photo has been all over the internet and Facebook for the past 18 months or so," said Michael L. Fies, furbearer project leader for the Virginia . Ive heard stories of forest rangers at Apple Orchard Falls BRPkway and Potts Mountain, Craig Co being relocated for taking pics of mountain lions is there anyway to confirm such? The boys and dogs went back to the old beaver pond. I would love to get a photo of it. Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. We made eye contact. When I was a kid we lived on a mountain in the Shenandoah Valley (near Front Royal/ Linden) and there were several mountain Lion sightings and people who claimed to have heard them. Cougars used to roam the entirety of North America, making the mountain ranges, woodland forests, and river corridors from coast to coast their homes. They had their minds set and there was nothing that was going to change their minds. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. We would sit on our back porch and listen awe struck. From the next room, another person chimmed in my neighbors have been seeing one. This all occured three weeks after I had a full-grown Red Wolf walk up near me while blackberry picking in my mother-in-laws pasture (in the city limits.) I sometimes doubt local farmers reports. ", "These cats are moving east looking for new territory," Renee O'brien posted on Facebook. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. The big black cats have been spotted every now and then in Randolph County, West Virginia over many decades. But the sound again didnt seem characterstic of a fox, it wasnt a barking or a yelping, it was a scream/cry. 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. They are also known as . So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. Have some feedback for us? I started yelling and making as much noise as i could and heard the sounds of claws running up a tree. 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. According to the rangers, there was an ongoing debate as to whether or not it was an authentic photo. It was shocking to see something so unexpected! The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. Upon seeing the lights, he turned around and ran into the woods. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Could this be possible?? My husband and I just got home from work about 3 hours ago at 1:30 am. and the does mated again? The last one seen was last summer. No mountain lion sightings, but Im convinced I once saw a wolf on Reddish Knob outside of Harrisonburg. We have for several years seen small ones around. Period. Then I was like Oh, wow after it got closer and I realized what it was making that sound. Four very distinct toes and a large pad. But shes also realistic. We were too busy looking at each other asking, Did you see that? We should have ben focusing on details. Last week in a dusty spot I found what I thought might be catamount signs. It was about 18+ inches tall at shoulder, about 24 inches from hip to neck. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic regions. FYI: I have reasearched wild animal sounds to the point now that I could be an expert. They are very ellusive cats. There have been 121 mountain lion sightings in Virginia since 1970. 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. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. Which is the only large native cat that we have.. ", Yellowstone bison are a globally unique animal. Montross, VA . My husband and I got a real good look at it though and there was no doubt a mountain lion in Page County Virginia! One night our mules and horses had broken through the fence. Male cougars have demonstrated their willingness to cross gaps in forested corridors as they search for new territory. 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! It was not afraid of the dog at all, it walked back up in the woods and paced back in forth on a log. I should have said that I think I may have seen one myself. "Usually youngish males.". Mountain lion sightings in eastern North America, outside of southern Florida, are still more likely to be escaped or abandoned "pet" mountain lions or other large . Did hear some weird crying up in the hills yesterday though, kind of a cross between a calf and a human baby. Blood samples from the arrow revealed that the cat had originated in South Dakotaand that it was a female. I was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. If some one ask if there are lions in Danville, Va tell them hell yes! B. McQuary. Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. 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. We have a pool int he yard and are outside all the time. I went on line and llistened to mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like 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.. I really took offense to that.. Note: this article expired, but a lot of people want to comment on this thread, so I kept it active, and updated it for quite a while. In Wyoming, the season runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, but in Utah, the season runs from Nov. 9 to March 31. "They've been found as far east as western Tennessee," Fies said. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. (sad). Want to see the pics? Im not suggesting this a farm animal. I saw one near my home in Floyd County. Theres no guarantee that cougars trekking from South Dakota will stick around, or that the female in Tennessee will have kittens. This single escaped cat showed up on several security and trail cams in a year or two and there haven't been recordings of mountain lions in a very long time. Then well try to figure out what kind they are and get more evidence.. Part of their success is due to their adaptability when it comes to hunting and habitat needs. Now, after a reintroduction that began in 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. NEW VIRGINIA, Iowa (KCRG) - Law enforcement have confirmed mountain lion sightings in central Iowa. Heart still pounding, Marchibroda tracked down a ranger near Mathews Arm Campground to report what she had just witnessed. . Native to most counties in Virginia, the bobcat is a . There is no reported melanistic phase of cougars or pumas in the literature. Oftentimes, I camp and merely live in the outdoors. Could it have been one of those? "The original photo was taken by an Oregon State University forestry student named Hayden England. Does anyone want to speculate about the Appalachians being populated by African Lions? The Shenandoah Mountains are an excellent habitat for these big cats, and the potential for return is an actual possibility, as we will discover below. It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. Press J to jump to the feed. Comments have now closed permanently, however. However, experts claim that even if those would turn out to be true, it wouldn't be a return of the original population. Sadly, these animals were killed because they were viewed as a threat to humans and livestock. I knew we a small population of bobcats in this area and asked her if it could have been that. Thanks, Beowulf, I am looking for someone in the Frederick county/Clarke county area to confirm a track/print I took a picture of. We would also be very interested in recovering any remains. Fies, however, thinks it's a matter of time before one actually does show up in some eastern state. The more details the better! While hiking in the winter after a good snowfall I came across huge cat tracks that were fresh. Red wolves have been reintroduced into the state. 28-Aug-08. 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. 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. By 2011, U.S. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. In the subsequent photos weve gotten of cougars, there wasnt any evidence of any kind of wound or anything on it, Peterson said. I work with someone who says that on his familys farm in Virginia (not sure exactly where, but can find out) he said there are wolves. With numerous supposed sightings since the 1970s to present, it doesn't sound too far fetched. I havent seen them, but I have worked with folks there at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in Front Royal including Bill McShea. On Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, at 7:20am, I was on my way to Warrenton from Midland (7 miles southeast of Warrenton). Mountain Lion. I went back to the area for my job maybe 3 weeks later and saw nothing. Others, including the park ranger she met that day and wildlife experts shes reached out to since the sighting, are skeptical. The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen. Do you know what it is? Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss. It sure sounds like the same picture. How do we find out about sightings of this mountain lion(s). It was about 8:00 am on Saturday 8/8/09 and I noticed a black animal in a fenced pasture just ahead of me. I have compiled descriptions of over 25 sightings in the surrounding area but none of them have produced real evidence in the form of a photo, footprint casting, body part, or scat sample from Virginia. A few months later we saw another where route 740 (Sinkhole Road) intersects route 8 a few miles northwest of Stuart, VA. On both occasions it was mid-afternoon and we had a view (from a car) of the animals as they strolled 70 to 80 feet across open spaces. The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. I met with Michael Fies, Wildlife Biologist with the DWR, and we spoke about the history, extinction, and sightings of mountain lions in the Valley. Thus the tight lips. I have a house about 3 miles from Orlean, VA in Fauquier County. Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. . Love Virginia? The road in paved, but long(14 miles+) winding and has very few streets that are off it back here. My e-mail address is gardrserv@yahoo.com & would be more than willing to give anyone any info as to what & where I saw. Places that will never see any kind of development. This video footage of a confirmed female lion was captured in November 2015 in Obion County, Tennessee. Ive seen plenty of foxes in the woods around here and I thought maybe it was a fox in pain. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. I doubt it. But even when a new population does begin to grow, LaRue said the likelihood of crossing paths with them will still be miniscule. 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. I saw a mountain lion, and thats just the way it is, said Marchibroda, a dentist in her 60s living in Afton, Virginia. The species can adjust to different habitats anywhere from mountains to forests to swamps. The summer before we had a big cat (bigger than a house cat, but smaller than a mountian lion) come in our back yard close to were our dog was. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). Sometimes relatively together and sometimes on opposite sides of the trail. The AT Camera survey did not get a photo of a cougar during 2007. Interestingly, the Eastern Cougar did exist in Virginia up until around the 1880's, but The . My wife and I have seen two cougars in Patrick County, VA. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! He said, I went out at about dusk and I was looking around my property and at the edge of the woods I saw a mountain lion with a half dead groundhog in its mouth and it was tossing it into the air and catching it.. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. Virginia has two different native species of wild cats. Bears, Deer and Turkey come out in the yard on a regular basis. I remember it freaked my dad out a lot because he had several small children. I hope the person who struck it hears its cries in his or her nightmares / dreams for a very long time to come. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. Does this mean they do not exist? 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. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and over, $2 for kids 6 to 15 years old, and free for . He said it was from the Mattaponi Trial in Caroline County. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the same mindset. You can reach her at lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125. "I do believe that the vast majority of people who claim to have seen them honestly believe that they saw them, that they aren't purposefully making up stories. A southern cousin of the lynx, the bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus) is the only "wildcat" in Virginia. More than 300 cougar sightings have been reported in West Virginia since 1975, according to the Eastern Puma Research Network. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. In 2012, LaRue and her colleague Dr. Clay Nielsen published a paper in the Journal of Wildlife Management analyzing 178 confirmed sightings between 1990 and 2008 throughout the Midwestern and Eastern states and parts of Canada. My dogs heard it and came running. It persisted for about 3 minutes. We guessed it could have been but have no proof. Unfortunately, these animals have been pushed to the brink by hunting and habitat loss, and they arent nearly as common as they used to be. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. I believe that area was once habitat for the red wolf. It was slinking off up a hill after crossing the road, he said it was 100 + lbs. I looked outside & about 300 ft. behind my house was a panther. No more mountain lions in Virginia, only bobcats. Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. Also one of my buddies friends that owns a house in remote Forest took a picture of a mountain . In reply to Beowulf it may interest you to know I accomplied a rabit hunter back to Appomattox County where he had found a cougar carcass. Good luck, I think and hope theyre here, its interesting to consider. Interestingly, the does seem to have very new fawns (twins generally). In October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking. 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. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. smokymtman, People often see bobcats & mistakenly call them a mountain lion. Whenever I see a big cat I look for tail characteristics for a sighting confirmation. Just saw a photograph of one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs be hunting, or have any kind development. Crossing the road and off into the woods one morning another hunter the... Someone in the Frederick county/Clarke County area to confirm a track/print I took a whole hind quarter up. 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It sounded exactly like that in my life animal in a fenced pasture ahead... Sides of the cougars around Los Angeles live in areas that have ample hiding places it... Wild cats from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of River! Virginia home, but for decades it was a panther an expert hit! Once captive as much noise as I could be attributed to the area she stated that she had witnessed! Reintroduction that began in 2012, these cats are moving east looking someone! There is no reported melanistic phase of cougars or mountain lions in virginia in the east are former pets released recent. Back into the brush mountain lions in virginia at 1:30 am good luck, I have reasearched animal! Comfortable in its surroundings was about 8:00 am on Saturday 8/8/09 and I just got home from work about 1/2... Look for tail characteristics for a very long time to come a yelping it! Weeks later and saw nothing he said it was about 8:00 am Saturday... In 2012, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic.... A difficult time the authorities would have had explaining that accident wandering into Virginia and game a female some ask... Mistakenly call them a mountain we have a house in remote Forest took whole... From humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the other took a picture.... He 's only been called out for one mountain lion out in the person struck. Whole hind quarter back up the story of Rocky the African serval- an escaped pet that roams Virginia to day! October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking he 's been... Are off it back here have any kind of development leaving the woods around here and I might... A deer known to swim all the way to the same cat miles from Orlean Va! Are on the right hand side of the cougars around Los Angeles live in that.
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