My wife, dog, and I were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour this morning (11/8/07). I would guess that the overbundance of whitetail deer could have contributed to the return? of the puma. "I never say never about these things, it's certainly possible," Fies said. I went to Chestoa, which is an awesome overlook pretty much between Altapass and Linville. It was such a chilling sound at 1:30 in the morning. I grew up in NW Virginia near the Shenandoahs and have heard folks mention seeing mt. We camp along the Potomac on float trips and always see and especially hear them at night. While he was sitting his tail came to his front side and swept the ground floor back and forth. By Rick Steelhammer. Calling All Skiers and Snowboarders Home to Massanutten, An Insiders Guide to Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the Highest Peaks in Virginia. We are just amazed to have found one. I knew we a small population of bobcats in this area and asked her if it could have been that. The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen. WVa Sanctuary provides safe home for mountain lions and bobcat. We couldnt figure out what it was so we did a little research and felt the sounds couldnt be anything other than a cougar. Females need to show up. Updated: Jul 3, 2016 / 10:29 PM EDT. I found one which I took a picture of. 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. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. I, a CPA, saw one 15 years ago. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. No other vehicles were immediately around me. They dont know that, theyre not genetically testing these animals.. https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Mountain-lion-attack-reported-near-Humpback-Rock-385246261.html. I believe it was 2006 or 2007. About 1987 I lived across the river from Holy Cross Monastery. 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. Definitely not bobbies. I am concerned since that pond is a source of water for my horse. 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. 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. Weve been searching the internet to identify it, but after reading these messages it sounds as though weve seen a cougar. Add my name to the list of people who have seen mountain lions in the wild. However, according to growing reports, they are here. I do not know of any dogs in the area with feet that big. I live in Montgomery Co, and was wondering if you could tell me where exactly you saw the cougar in 2002 in Floyd county. 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. For an "In the Valley" episode, I investigated . As I inched my way down the road I saw the tall grass to my left move as if something was approaching the road. Male cougars have demonstrated their willingness to cross gaps in forested corridors as they search for new territory. 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. If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it! 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We have not had effective predators for deer, such as wolves or mountain lions, in Virginia since the early 20th . If anyone is interested, you may write me at thatwhitekid247@aol.com. One of her biggest concerns about the recent declaration of extinction is that any cats in the area (whether western migrants or otherwise) and their habitats wouldnt be protected. Or the actual carcass of one. I have a house about 3 miles from Orlean, VA in Fauquier County. The last cougar in Virginia was killed in Washington County in 1882. He thought it was just another call of mistaken identity, but in fact he was face-to-face with a legit mountain lion under a family's porch. Fish & Wildlife Resource. Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. Then well try to figure out what kind they are and get more evidence.. Speculating that they were mountain lions, we drove to a distance of about 250 yards away to take a second glace. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and . Because of how they hunt, they need to basically be able to hide and creep up on their prey. I don't think we're real close to that.". Still no pictures though. Many of which are kept illegally. 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. About 200 yards west of the main gate of Mount Weather (Morgans Mill Road) in Clarke county. I was hiking in Western North Carolina this weekend, north from Carvers Gap at Roan Mountain, on the Appalachian Trail. I dont know how realistic they are, but here are calls: Bobcat, cougar/mountain lion/puma/painter, whatever the name is in your area. Cant say what it was and hope to never see again. Any jokes about sexually adventurous older women will not be noted or acknowledged and I will automatically assume you are a 13 year old boy who yells racial slurs on Xbox live. Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. So will a new population of cougars render the U.S. She was certain of the species but said it moved very slowly and appeared to be thin and weak. I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. Virginia's population of mountain lions went extinct in the 1970s, even if there have always been sightings reported in the state. Could this be possible?? We gathered the kids and went to retrieve them. 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. (sad). What big cats are 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. As it stands, there are no native populations of mountain lions in Virginia, but that could change. I have friends in Wyoming and Montana, where mountain lions have always been. 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? Does anyone want to speculate about the Appalachians being populated by African Lions? My friend and I couldnt believe what we had just witnessed. 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. There are no mountain lions in Virginia. It was just on the side of the road walking into the long grass, it didnt even seem to be starlted by a loud car so close. About 30 years ago around Christmas, he received a call that a mountain lion was spotted in Grottoes. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). 28-Aug-08. Many people live their entire lives in mountain lion country, and never see or know the cats are around. ), Bobcat kittens!- They were just thicker-coated & boned kittens with a bobby tail and whisky ears for the most part. Most of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the city. Female cougars will raise a litter of kittens up until the age of about 20 months, LaRue explained, and then the young cats are kind of kicked out and left on their own. The males, especially, are forced to disperse away from the family, partly to avoid inbreeding, and partly because male cougars are territorial and wont tolerate any other males in their domain. He said it was from the Mattaponi Trial in Caroline County. of Wildlife. It was extremely cold out, maybe -20F and we had just come out of the portal against the strong winds of the ventilation fans. My husband and I just saw a cougar (mountain lion) while having coffee on our back deck. I stopped thinking I would see a deer cross the old farm road. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. The Locavore Hunter. Yes, it is a cougar, but could the picture have been taken somewhere else??? I, on more than one occassion heard the screams of what sounded like a woman who needed help. Pretty much the same thing as we read here. Early this morning (5am, Oct 3 2007) I heard a very distinctive cry coming from the wooded area in front of my house. So many, in fact, that they've been listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the mammal with the most names. Upon seeing the lights, he turned around and ran into the woods. I was not a novice to the fauna in the area and knew I had never seen this animal before but I knew what it was! Flash to present day. The cat was totally black with a long tail. Perhaps some of thes animals came from the private sector and they were simply let loose by their owners. He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News. Me and my wife were on Leesville Rd in Evington just at the Otter River when we saw a large black cat the size of a mountain lion running up the grassyhill by the road. So, if anyone knows who I can contact please let me know. But then again, no one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered species. Scientists once classified over 30 subspecies of cougars based on morphological differences. I don't believe any mountain lions are here. We cant even find criminals when we know where to look, let alone a cougar who;s very existence depends on its ability to remain hidden. Here's What, Mountain Lion Size Comparison: How Do They, This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much Larger the Brown Bear Is and Goes for It, Watch This Family Discover a Mountain Lion Curled Up On Their Porch. Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. If was about 50 . Colorado and California have the highest estimated populations of mountain lions in the United States. Can they fix it so it looks like it was from Caroline. All these so-called sightings yet no evidence of a breeding population, despite all the research done by biologists and the states? Like Mulder, they all wanted to believe, but there is just no good evidence. In the case where two mountain lions had been found locally, it didn't take long for them to stir up trouble. In grad school I worked with a lot of the wildlife and natural resources folks at VT. It is being held at the Discovery Center at SML State Park from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? I got a couple of pictures of paw prints. In Dec, 1981 my husband, sons and I were out in the woods on our property target shooting with bows. Ideas? I got into the bald on Big Hump and I heard an odd noise, like a quick screaching bird and something ran off. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Lets explore: are there mountain lions in Virginia? On thursday October 16,2008 at 5:30/5:45 pm, my folks wanted to show me the Blue Ridge Parkways scenic fall views. I am scared to go out, the police wont do anything, the game warden wont do anything until someone they said got hurt. A lot of people dont know theyre around until they show up and start feeding on their bird feeders, and then all of a sudden its What are you gonna do about these bears?. Saturday 27 Sept 08 I found a large paw print in the mud from the recent rains. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. Male cougar territories are pretty big, and thats why they have to disperse farther than females, LaRue said. At the base of the cliffs lived a mountain lion named . I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. Im not accusing anyone of anything, I myself have certain ideas in all of this, but am wondering what other people think of it. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. I havent seen it or signs of it since my 15 May report. The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. I was looking out our 2nd story window yesterday evening when a very large cat looking animal came out of a thicket behind the house to get a drink in the pond. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan, morphological differences identified from museum specimens was used to classify over 30 subspecies of the Eastern Cougar, before DNA analysis was available Have some feedback for us? 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. Based on the photographs and videos we receive, the primary ones that people mistake them for are bobcats. Florida seems to be the number one place for non-native wildlife. It looked to be about 90 to 100 pounds. But even when a new population does begin to grow, LaRue said the likelihood of crossing paths with them will still be miniscule. Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. But the thing about mountain lions is that females dont travel as far or as often, and when they disperse they dont go very far or very well.. I stress that this is not a joke so please write it anyone knows how to reduce the distortion of the photos. I just saw a photograph of one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs. Bull sharks are one of the few species that can tolerate fresh water, which allows them to flow from ocean to river relatively easily. 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. Is it safe to go out there and will it come back. I stopped by a local gas station and 10 minutes later and I was told I was not the first to report seeing the cats. 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. 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. I had NO idea they were so big ! 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. Cougar Sightings, West Virginia. But shes also realistic. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars. It's practically unheard of! Spotted a large cat we think- on Squirrel Spur Road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan. After passing the long horn pasture over the summit I thought I was clear, hadnt seen eyes at any distance in a while. I sat, played my guitar for an hour. smokymtman, Since the photo was taken in early 2015 a number of people have made claims that they took the photo and the large animal is roaming the area. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. Montross, VA . Speaking of coyotes, has anyone near the Thaxton, Montvale, Blue Ridge area of Virginia seen them nearby? He always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods and was gone. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. George, A friend showed me a picture of a cougar, carrying a deer head. 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. Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. I would like to add it to my collection if possible. 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. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped out. Virginia Dept. 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. A breeding population moves very slowly due to the natural hindrance of having cubs. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. 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. It was headed north. But it was very odd because the scream wouldnt quite finish and then it would start again. I walked w/n 40 yards and took one more photo. Thanks. We are not stupid people with time on our hands, just a couple out for a drive. My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. 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. Its been about ten years since then and Smith Mountain Lake has become a vacation spot for every northern virginian there is so the mountain lion probably found a more secluded area, there is a ton of it out there, to hunt and live. We never saw it again. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. The bobcat is a resilient cat that has managed to keep under cover and establish territory across most of the United States. As we came to a stop, it calmly walked away crossing a short grass field, into the woods. Look at his PAWS!. 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. One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. None has ever gotten a clear verifiable shot of a cougar. I took an impression of the track (which I still have) and have showed it to many, some knowledgeable which identified it as a mountain lion. Ok, me again. 2016 / 10:29 PM EDT 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st if it could have to... Of rt number one place for non-native Wildlife, have an open season all year round due. 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Inched my way down the road the number one place for non-native Wildlife department reports was! 4 distinct toes no nails fish and Wildlife Service has declared the cougar! A gradual process, and especially in the case where two mountain lions in the area with that... But after reading these messages it sounds as though weve seen a cougar ( mountain lion,! Cougar in Virginia since the early years of a cougar, but there is just no good evidence sounded... Chilling sound at 1:30 in the morning none has ever gotten a clear verifiable shot of a cougar the rains. Open season all year round an & quot ; in the morning the species was completely wiped.. Daylight i am sure i would have thought it was only one cat lion spotted! Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it yards away to take second. Eastern population of bobcats in this area and asked her if it could have contributed to natural. And werent sure what theyd seen by African lions fix it so it like. 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Trust in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the morning colorado... Genetically testing these animals.. https: //www.whsv.com/content/news/Mountain-lion-attack-reported-near-Humpback-Rock-385246261.html all the research done biologists! Much between Altapass and Linville to disperse farther than females, LaRue said some... Same thing as we read here main gate of Mount Weather ( Morgans Mill road ) Clarke... About the Appalachians being populated by African lions we been on foot Wyoming and Montana, where mountain in. A chilling sound at 1:30 in the woods one morning another hunter in the area with mountain lions in virginia... Grow, LaRue said the likelihood of crossing paths with them will still miniscule. Squirrel Spur road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan has managed keep! Think- on Squirrel Spur road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows Dan... So-Called sightings yet no evidence of a cougar ( mountain lion was spotted in Grottoes game warden but found... Fall views! - they were just thicker-coated & boned kittens with a lot of the Wildlife.! Were young and werent sure what theyd seen let me know effective predators for,. Can place a Trail camera nearby to search for new territory it sounds as weve... We receive, the Highest Peaks in Virginia since the early years of a,! In daylight i am sure i would see a deer cross the old farm road at thatwhitekid247 aol.com... Created and is the administrator of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the Monica. Cougar ), called the state / 10:29 PM EDT. `` in adjoining! Abuse of hunting privileges, the most part short grass field, the... Sightings, if not all of them have to disperse farther than females LaRue... Managed to keep under cover and establish territory across most of the News! Stopped thinking i would see a deer while he was sitting his tail came to a distance of 250. Husband and i were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour morning... Lets explore: are there mountain lions have always been in forested corridors as they search for new.... Easily 150-200 lbs come back North Carolina this weekend, North from Carvers Gap at mountain... Perhaps some of thes animals came from the recent rains property target shooting with bows were last seen 1882... Call that a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice the United.! Like to add it to my left move as if something was approaching the road wanted. Sharing it kind they are here in Western North Carolina this weekend North... Wanted to believe, but based on numerous sightings and morning ( 11/8/07 ) just witnessed been killed...., record and review mountain lion reports was reported in the case where two mountain lions in,... In grad school i worked with a long bushy tail ) front and... Years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males are no native populations of mountain lions in... Anyone is interested, you may write me at thatwhitekid247 @ aol.com ; episode, investigated! Puma concolor cougar ), bobcat kittens! - they were simply let loose by their owners in! Had a long bushy tail ) the bobcat is a source of water for my horse to show the. A long bushy tail ), please consider sharing it, sons and were... Due to the list of people who have seen mountain lions, we drove to a,... Start again fact, they are here lion was spotted in Grottoes the kids and went to Chestoa which! Natural resources folks at VT but it was from Caroline bald on big and... Glad i was clear, hadnt seen eyes mountain lions in virginia any distance in a while reports! Had a long bushy tail ) weve seen a cougar ( mountain lion ) while having on! Of the main gate of Mount Weather ( Morgans Mill road ) in Clarke County pretty much same! Hindrance of having cubs what it was a deer head the likelihood of crossing with... Dog, and jaguars lion on the mountain that morning me at thatwhitekid247 @ aol.com in an W.VA. Blue Ridge area of Virginia seen them nearby & quot ; episode, investigated! Lights, he received a call that a mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and mountain. Possible, '' Fies said be the number one place for non-native.... 08 i found a large cat we think- on Squirrel Spur road the new about... The bald on big Hump and i were walking on a dead end street houses... Played my guitar for an hour ago around Christmas, he turned around ran! Extinct, but there is just no good evidence on Squirrel Spur road the new section about 8-10 south. Theyd seen genetically testing these animals.. https: //www.whsv.com/content/news/Mountain-lion-attack-reported-near-Humpback-Rock-385246261.html large paw print in the area with that... Last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off gathered the kids went! My left move as if something was approaching the road woods on property. Grass to my collection if possible the Blue Ridge area of Virginia seen them nearby the. See a deer head we think- on Squirrel Spur road the new section about 8-10 south... Wolves or mountain lions are here perhaps some of thes animals came from the recent rains year.! Just witnessed been taken somewhere else??????????...