At the base of the cliffs lived a mountain lion named . This evening my husband and I were driving up our country lane in western Amherst county when a large, dark brown (black?) 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.) Despite repeated claims on Facebook and other social media outlets, it's highly unlikely wild mountain lions live in Virginia. I think the eating is good around here for a mountain lion. When rounding the corner in the driveway, my headlights illuminated a light reddish brown cat in a sitting position looking toward my house. Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. 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. People always had a story to tell about seeing one or hearing one whenever they were in the woods, and claimed the government was turning a blind eye to their reports. The deer seemed to jump into some brush to the side of the path and the paw print seemed to be following. Yes, it is a cougar, but could the picture have been taken somewhere else??? Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. 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. Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. Period. Not much evidence but plenty of stories. I too hope to see mountain lions return to Virginia, but I really dont think there are many here yet, if any all. The species epithet "concolor" is Latin for "of one color," because adults are a solid version of some sort of tan. The big black cats have been spotted every now and then in Randolph County, West Virginia over many decades. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I doubt it. FYI: I have reasearched wild animal sounds to the point now that I could be an expert. Were not taking any action to move them or kill them. I couldnt see their relative sizes, as they were not close together until right before I entered the woods, and one was very low in the grass, could only see its eyes reflected. . It was as big or bigger than a german sheppard, but most definitely a cat. It's not the first time the same photo has been used to make claims of local sightings. There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! About a week later I seen a documentary on black mountian lions, and that is exactly what I had seen, same size and coloring. Whatever it was was big and right under my window. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. They deny mt lions are here still. "To date, none of these reports have been substantiated by a photo, carcass or track. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. It is the timeline that is in dispute. I think there have been reintroduction programs in some areas. Comments have now closed permanently, however. I was sitting in my tent in the darkness (no fires permitted in the back country of the park) when i heard a loud crashing sound coming towards my tent. The folks living in those areas, at least in WV, mostly keep to themselves and most of those folks do not have computers. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. Several times theyd reported seeing strange animals crossing their path in the woods. Today, a new hybrid known as the coywolf is slowly returning to the state. It really burns me up to hear so called experts say that there are no mountain lions or even wolves for that matter in VA. About 10-12 years ago, there was a pretty severe drought, and I know I saw a wolf in the Woodlake area of Midlothian, but everyone said are you sure it wasnt a big dog? If you see a wolf, you know its not a dog. The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. For a solid four seconds, Marchibroda watched as a large, sleek cat standing about three feet tall with a long, curled tail crossed Skyline Drive near Gavel Springs Gap less than 100 feet in front of them . I just saw one a couple of hourse ago. Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. About 2 months ago, I seen a very large black cat with yellow eyes, on the side of the road eating what looked like a deer, here in the catawba Va area. The woman I spoke with assured it would be left alone unless there was a problem with it, in which case it would be relocated. . A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. They had their minds set and there was nothing that was going to change their minds. Period. 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. I expect they will confirm puma presence. Where are they coming from? i live close to the cement plant in botetourt co and know 4 people personally ( 2 are my sons) who have seen mountain lion near the cement plant. Today is Sept. 29, 2008. I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? I havent seen them, but I have worked with folks there at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in Front Royal including Bill McShea. If an animal approaches, prepare to fight and protect your head and neck from the attack. This was a favorite subject of theirs. That is if it is still around. And shes not alone in that belief. So these sightings have been confirmed, and there is in fact at least one mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee. A couple of sightings involved captive . We searched for bones, but we had waited too long and could not find anything. He was concerned that the animal was, not only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running off. Its ribs were showing like it hadnt been well nourished in a while. But according to University of Minnesota research associate and wildlife expert Dr. Michelle LaRue, its a little more nuanced than that. Of course, he has never seen a documented one inthe wild, so I only trust his take so far. and the does mated again? Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. For an interview on these animals, that dont exist, please call me (John Ballard) at (434) 946-0486. They can stand up to 35 in. While hiking in the winter after a good snowfall I came across huge cat tracks that were fresh. 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. Saturday 27 Sept 08 I found a large paw print in the mud from the recent rains. By Rick Steelhammer. Pretty much the same thing as we read here. Sorry I dont have anymore details other than location but I didnt see it myself! This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. (we have more of both in these parts of Virginia, lots more sheep and lots more coyotes.) No, its one persons opinion of the world around them as they exist in it. Its part of mother nature I guess. 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 saw my movement, froze and growled. In October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking. Thank you! Surviving pony has teeth marks at neck. If it hadnt been the last day of our trip, I would have gone back to look for tracks to possibly photograph! You can also count Randolph, Upshur, and Webster countys in W.VA. My dad, his dad, and myself can vouch for those three. Thanks, Beowulf, I am looking for someone in the Frederick county/Clarke county area to confirm a track/print I took a picture of. Thankfully we were vindicated by a clear trail cam sighting a couple years later. And while common throughout the state . We have seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond. How many people in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock? Pretty exciting. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. They like rugged terrain with forest cover. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. THanks CArole. Lystrosaurus was one of the few terrestial species that survived the permian extinction. Near the paw print I found tracks of a small deer moving very fast (tracks far apart and just the point of the hoof.) Seems in these parts every snake they see is a copperhead (even the black with white belly ones). I would assume that a large black cat would be that type. "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. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Fish and Wildlife Service has made official what has long been suspected that the eastern mountain lion is extinct. My dog is small but the one my neighboor has is a german shepard and I think thats the one I heard yelp. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. He would have doubled back to get a closer look but they were in a hurry to get to their destination and his brother nixed the idea. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. Today I found large cat hair ball with grass and guts and hair in the area of the cat scratchins. Admission is $6 for ages 16 and over, $2 for kids 6 to 15 years old, and free for . We didnt know what it was, but later walking in the field we found lots of turkey feathers but no specific sign of coyote or lion. It was standing in front of my car. My husband and I got a real good look at it though and there was no doubt a mountain lion in Page County Virginia! We were too busy looking at each other asking, Did you see that? We should have ben focusing on details. If anyone is interested, you may write me at thatwhitekid247@aol.com. 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. i just moved to roanoke just wondering are there really mountain lions or any wild animals of size and chances of them attacking people not scrared just try not to invade respect their space and hope they respect mine. Lots of fawns this year. I, a CPA, saw one 15 years ago. I have since seen a picture of a lion spotted in Buckingham co. and realize that was the animal I saw. I also found a recording online of a cougar cry and it was EXACTLY the sound I heard. "I never say never about these things, it's certainly possible," Fies said. It was in the early evening but well before dark. I can definetely say that there are mountain lions in Shenandoah National Park. 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. Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. 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. My husband and I just saw a cougar (mountain lion) while having coffee on our back deck. The West Virginia Wildlife Center . any sightings in Roanoke Co.? At which point we all said a cougar and he said how did you know. As we came to a stop, it calmly walked away crossing a short grass field, into the woods. Unfortunately, we lost our big barn cat to these predators and continue to see and hear them on a regular basis. However, once you start talking about black cats the credibility of the reports goes down signigiciantly. 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. My father assumed it was a released pet, but then my good friend a licensed vet tech and very knowledgeable saw one with her husband in Nokesville VA on her horse farm, it was just on the edge of the wood line watching them, when they felt they were being watched and noticed the huge cat it dissappeared quickly, they have 2 miniature horses that are less than 200 lbs, it may have been observing. We have spotted a mother black bear and cub over by the damn while hiking, scary sight but very awsome. 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! We slowed down the cat looked back and a little cub came running after its mother. She was never spotted, but that sound is something that you never can forget or confuse for anything else. We have heard them up near the edge of the mountains but never this close. It was probably a year later that those people sold their house to another couple with horses. There are no mountain lions in Virginia. hunterb8s@yahoo.com. The web site has emails for officers and members to communicate with along with membership applications and links to a whole world of information on cougars. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. 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. Theres just too few of them. Flash to present day. I got a couple of pictures of paw prints. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. What about the fact no roadkill is ever claimed to be found of a cougar? When a female kitten gets big enough, she doesnt have to go very far, because nobodys kicking her in the butt to get far away.. Ive seen a few cougars in the wild, I dont believe the black phase has ever been confirmed in any mountain lion/cougar/catamount/puma. It was the first time I could see it clearly. Oh maybe some of the lazy hacks have finally retired., Another commenter speculated that the agency may have intentionally downplayed past sightings as they result in new study and staffing expenses.. They prefer deer.. Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. If theyre still around here, during deer season, Im assuming well get more pictures from trail cameras, he said. 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