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. 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 cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. 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. The animal looks to be a mountain lion I havent contacted the Animal control people yet unless it takes up residence here. Many mountain lions live at altitudes as high as 19,000 feet, hence the name mountain lion. I think the nuts are attracting game, and a lion is preying. Thanks. Theres lots of legends around here, but I have heard from one very reputable source about a recent (within the last year) sighting in the vicinity of the Lovers Leap turnout on Route 58 about 6-7 miles east of Meadows of Dan. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. We almost hit it with the car. Want to see the pics? Lets explore what that looks like some more. 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. What I set out to do was figure out habitat stability and dispersal corridors into the midwest, said LaRue, a research assistant in the earth sciences department at the University of Minnesota who studies mountain lions. He was a beauty! . I went on line and llistened to mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like that. They are moving Eastward, theyre now found in Western Tennessee. Michael told me. The Florida Panther was also listed as a separate subspecies, Puma concolor coryi. Hmmmm. . I went to Chestoa, which is an awesome overlook pretty much between Altapass and Linville. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". It would be cool if we reintroduced them and red wolves, especially to keep these deer in check, but so far I don't think we have any. By Bill Cochran. Get real. We gathered the kids and went to retrieve them. Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially confirmed. Today, a new hybrid known as the coywolf is slowly returning to the state. This normal school was founded by veterans of both the Union and the Confederacy, Concord is named for the ideal of "harmony and sweet . Something ran across the road in front of my car at a high rate of speed. Do you feel that the Fish and Game Department is covering up their existence? There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. Despite their extinct status, there have been persistent mountain lion sightings . I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? Also 16-20 at the shoulder seems short for 120lbs. Updated: Jul 3, 2016 / 10:29 PM EDT. I never had heard anything like it before. Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. I couldnt find any paw prints. At first I thought it was human screams. What is this. Im not accusing anyone of anything, I myself have certain ideas in all of this, but am wondering what other people think of it. I was also told of a large cat sighting just north of Eden, NC. I remember seeing very large cat tracks(not a normal bobcat track) while hunting the GWNF sw of harrisonburg,va in the mid to late 1980s. It saw my movement, froze and growled. The Cougar Network is monitoring all reports of the expansion of cougars to the East. 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. Seems in these parts every snake they see is a copperhead (even the black with white belly ones). If they are in Virginia, shouldnt there be a photo by now from a camera trap? I saw them 11 times within 3 weeks. For anyone that has seen a cougar in the East or would like to support or be involved in their return then jointing ECF is only logical. ECF is very interested in reviewing your photographs of tracks or animals. I havent seen it or signs of it since my 15 May report. They exclusively populated western states for decades, but according to LaRue, some shifts in hunting regulations began to change things about 50 years ago: lions were switched from the bounty hunter category to a game species managed by the states. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. One question, which seems to be a big possiblilty based on some of the posts, is that at least some of the sightings are of escaped/released pets. To improve the genetics of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to South Florida. 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. This time is was near 4 A.M. Free shipping for many products! 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.. But before all this happened I heard them calling its almost like they were planning the hunt to come. Growing up, my parents always warned me about mountain lions whenever I went hiking, and everyone in the area accepted them as fact. Do wolves live on the Appalachian Trail, more specifically on Roan Mountain? I quit taking my solo walks in the woods after that!!!!!Leen. Interestingly, the does seem to have very new fawns (twins generally). I have neighbors that say they have seen them. The U.S. I live in Chilesburg, Caroline county. Found no prints, unfortunately. People have been reporting sightings of mountain lions in our area for years, but the Virginia DWR says they haven't been in our area since 1882. What could be mistaken for a mountain lion? Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." Well, then we know theres a cougar there, Peterson said simply. 111 1. Beowolf the key to your sighting is the tail . July 25, 2019 edition, Do you have some interesting wildlife news? You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Imagine what a difficult time the authorities would have had explaining that accident! 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. According to the Cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2. Do you think what I heard may have been a cougar or a mountain lion? While mountain lions are native to Virginia, they have been expatriated from the state since 1882. Cougar Sightings, West Virginia. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. and the does mated again? However, it is pretty well accepted that there are no cougars living in the east currently.. Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. Not much rain in these parts since early August. They yelled back at me, got a little closer, and seemingly vanished into the valley after I heard the uncanny Mountain Lion yell. (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.). And I am not sure it was a cougar. We coundnt believe what we saw. We had tons of deer, albino too! There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! Although these wild cats are smaller than mountain lions, they are extremely good hunters. Looked like a red wolf though and we got a good look as it crossed the road in front of us on our way down the mountain (driving) in full daylight. 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. At first I wondered if it was a bob cat, however, the feline was far too large, and lacked the bushier tail commonly associated with a bob (especially given that it was still early February). With their tails, some individuals can be as much as 9 ft. long. If you have any similiar stories let me know please. 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. I have photos of the kill. I, on more than one occassion heard the screams of what sounded like a woman who needed help. My father owns property in Floyd, VA in an area where many of the land owners are not activly using their large acreage properties. The population of cougars west of the Mississippi River was large enough that it was not listed. 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. When the game wardens in this area are called they often do not investigate b/c the sightings have become so frequent. We were too busy looking at each other asking, Did you see that? We should have ben focusing on details. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. 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 was out for a morning run on some back roads (in Page County, north of Luray, just west of Route 340.) I recently sent a comment asking if anyone has seen a wolf in Virginia. Anyone know where to find a recording of cat sounds? I used to vacation on Smith Mountain Lake Virginia, Good View, and I can definatly confirm cougar in this area. As I slowed the cat took notice and turned. Is it safe to go out there and will it come back. News outlets picked up the story and the video went viral, and its easy to understand whyaccording to TWRA regional manager Alan Peterson, that video marked only the second confirmed cougar sighting in Tennessee in more than 100 years. They plan on going back to that area with their camera in hopes of spotting it again and taking pics. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. Press J to jump to the feed. Mountain Lions in New York. Then what? The first time I heard the screams I went in the direction with a flashlight, fully expecting to find a victim. 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Upon seeing the lights, he turned around and ran into the woods. Definitely not bobbies. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. 21 years ago Nancy Hugo published an article in Virginia Wildlife Feb 1987. SHE THEN TOLD HER SON THAT A BIG KITTY AS SHE CALLED IT WOULD COME AND EAT THE FOOD AND DRINK THE WATER SHE PUT OUT FOR HER DOBERMAN THAT HAD PASSED AWAY. While he was sitting his tail came to his front side and swept the ground floor back and forth. 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. few turkeys this spring and summer. "Pumas, mountain lions are still in the Appalachians," Larry Messenger posted on Facebook. It was just after dark and I didnt think there were supposed to be any mountain lions in that part of the country. My first thought was it was a panther that escaped from a nearby zoo. It was undoubtedly a full grown male mountain lion. 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. Then 20 miles later at mile 183 at about 2:25 AM I saw a much larger cat on the left side of southbound 81 where there was no guard rail. To my suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a LARGE cat emerged from the grass. ", Yellowstone bison are a globally unique animal. Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . Good luck, I think and hope theyre here, its interesting to consider. However, the nature center at Peaks of Otter did have a framed pic from a deer hunters trail camera just off the Parkway in Botetourt county last summer (dont know if it is still there). Others have been clustered in the Valley. I saw a large bobcat at around mile 205-203 heading south on I-81. I see cats and cat signs pretty regularly where I live now, but have never heard this sound again. We know what we saw. Fish & Wildlife Resource. the cougar. My husband and I got a real good look at it though and there was no doubt a mountain lion in Page County Virginia! He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. It sure sounds like the same picture. These felines are quite large. We stood there listening to them, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places. "We've seen some examples of that. 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