tail, gray to tan in color. It was the first time I could see it clearly. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. Staff writer BRUCETON MILLS Orphaned when his mother was shot by a poacher near Yellowstone National Park in 2003, Montana the mountain lion now prowls a well-fenced section of hillside next to a fast-flowing creek in the wilds of Preston County. He was a beauty! WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. He then went to our pond & disappeared into the woods. 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. I nearly mastered replicating their calls. They then took the trail that went in the opposite direction of the animal. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I made deep, loud noises and threw my hands up and used my flashlight to look large. Thanks, Beowulf, I am looking for someone in the Frederick county/Clarke county area to confirm a track/print I took a picture of. It turned around when it got to the side of the road and went back into the tall grass. While this may be incredible, it is still ways off. The next morning I found a large track in soft dirt. 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. A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! Do you know what it is? 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. I used to vacation on Smith Mountain Lake Virginia, Good View, and I can definatly confirm cougar in this area. Now when I go back towards where that was to hunt I get shivers. What is this. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? At a distance of about 350 yards, we looked out to the distant field w/ a pair of binoculars and noticed that it wasnt deer, but infact a few larger cats. So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. My buddy who lives in Floyd heard one, and others I know around here and by bent mountain. I knew not to run, so I just stood there and waited. By 2011, U.S. But these cats are on experts radars, and the TWRA has even established a Cougar Response Committee to answer questions and sift through reported sightingsof which Peterson said he expects to see an influx later in the year. This weekend, had dinner with a new neighbor who mentioned that he had seen a black cat near Carrington Road in Markham, VA. Heard back from Animal Control and VDGIF. The Florida panther is a subspecies of the eastern mountain lion that lives in the Everglades and pine forests of central Florida. 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. In Rockingham county virginia, my father, family friend and I go bow hunting for 1 week every year in the GWNF. 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. "This photo has been all over the internet and Facebook for the past 18 months or so," saidMichael L. Fies, furbearer project leader for theVirginia Department of Game andInland Fisheries. If I knew how, Id post the picture here. What about the fact no roadkill is ever claimed to be found of a cougar? Or try to cover it up.Afraid it will cause panic. Probably 10s of thousands across the Appalachian regions of the state. I didnt know if my eyes were playing tricks on me until it decided not to cross the road, and head back to the woods. 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." Where I hunt in Linden the owners have said to have seen a really big black cat. I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. Many people live their entire lives in mountain lion country, and never see or know the cats are around. I am sorry, but some of the comments are incredible, and border on the hilarious. "It was around 4 feet long, not including the tail." Our youngest daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked. About 5 miles before we got to the Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway. I stress that this is not a joke so please write it anyone knows how to reduce the distortion of the photos. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I recently sent a comment asking if anyone has seen a wolf in Virginia. All the territories are basically taken up so they have to go somewhere else, and somewhere else happens to be the Midwest.. I live in Chilesburg, Caroline county. that is huge for a coyote and could easily be mistaken for a wolf. "He was only 10 weeks old when he came here," said Mark . 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. Today, we are going to be learning about where they live. The near-extirpation of deer would have forced any remaining cougar population during the 1930's-1970's to hunt in areas where the cats were likely to have been seen. The Roanoke Times. "Don't care what the officials say. First, the nature of the mountain lion is to be elusive. The last one seen was last summer. The West Virginia Wildlife Center . 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. Wild Cats in Virginia. Scientific reports one claimed that the Florida Panther was an obligate forest species and used lands only within 100 yards of forests. It screeched really loud. Desperate males living in South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah take incredible journeys across the country in order to find their territory to occupy. THE BOBCAT: on the other hand actualy has a more shrill high pitched terrified scream that sounds like a woman being murdered much like on a horror film or somethng like the screams at that halloween fright night you may have been to. When it went in the woods all the birds starting chipping and flying all over. lions in the area for years. Im not 100% sure but thats what i feel it was a COUGAR. Heart still pounding, Marchibroda tracked down a ranger near Mathews Arm Campground to report what she had just witnessed. It is only a matter of time before the California picture in this blog post is sent back to us as proof of mountain lions in Virginia. Many of which are kept illegally. 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. But I never saw one, or tracks, and I spent a lot of time in the woods. Pretty exciting. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. Period. 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. I think its all the same.. smokymtman, IT MAY BE A BS STORY SOMEONE STARTED BUT THE LOCAL TV STATION A WHILE BACK HAD COMMENTED THAT THERE MAY BE LARGER PREDATORS IN OUR WOODS AND THEY INCLUDED BEARS PUMA,BOBCAT COYETTE ETC. For related content, read about How The Worlds Most Notorious Mythical Creature Is Said To Dwell In This Small Virginia Town. Its not really realistic to think that they have a chance to survive very well in Virginia currently. Michael said. " We almost hit it with the car. We never saw it again. Wolves once thrived in Virginia, but due to the harm they inflicted on farms and livestock, they were hunted by the settlers of Jamestown and eventually became extinct. It stood about 3 feet tall, and had a rounded face with low-set ears. 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. Thats my opinion. Soon the large cat disappeared from sight, leaping up an 85 degree, 12-14, road-side ridge in two bounds, and with the very same physical pattern that is so common among all cats. 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? This was on January 25 at around 5:30 pm. They wondered if it was a kind of dog or even a cat. Yes, it is a cougar, but could the picture have been taken somewhere else??? B. McQuary. Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. 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. The whole encounter lasted about thirty seconds, certainly long enough to know what I saw in broad daylight. I live in historic Jonesborough, TN. So the tail of the catamount continues. It was misty, and had rained the night before. I started to get out and get an even closer look but I decided that probably wasnt a good idea, so I stayed in my car . Mountain lions go by many names, including puma, cougar, and panther. I was also told of a large cat sighting just north of Eden, NC. . The last mountain lion in Virginia was killed in 1882, and since then, no active breeding population has been present across the state. It was extremely cold out, maybe -20F and we had just come out of the portal against the strong winds of the ventilation fans. I was wondering what people think about people (either the wildlife service of just other people) not believing that mountain lions exist in the Eastern United States, especially in Virginia. 0. I stopped thinking I would see a deer cross the old farm road. I didnt think any more of it until we had our coyote visitor but now shes certain what she saw was a little of coyote pups. There has been speculation of the cougars being in Rockingham county so I am very excited to hear from the commmunity on any other possible sightings. 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. Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the, Expansion and Restoration of Bison to Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, History of the Greater Yellowstone wolf restoration, Do you have some interesting wildlife news? However, it is pretty well accepted that there are no cougars living in the east currently.. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. Tracks found near the sighting was confirmed by a retired wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian. I also know numerous credible people that have seen them in the Blackstone, VA area over the past 10 years. 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. So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. Yet within the last decade, bull sharks have been known to swim all the way to the Potomac River. I am not sure we should base the existence of mountain lions in VA. and TN on the opinions of a few biologists. We were really focused on the males, because obviously they cant ensure populations with just males, LaRue said. There is no reported melanistic phase of cougars or pumas in the literature. The road in paved, but long(14 miles+) winding and has very few streets that are off it back here. Mountain lions have many names, including the puma, mountain lion,panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. see: http://hstallard.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-lion-hoax-in-virginia.html. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. Rockingham Co., va So these sightings have been confirmed, and there is in fact at least one mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee. Now, they are mostly relegated to a few states in the west. Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly. This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. I havent heard any scuttlebutt about a dead mtn lion along I-81 near Buchanan and Ive lived here since 1989; but, if a VDOT employee picked it up along with deer and such, since the state of Virginia doesnt recognize we have lions, would they tell you they picked a dead one up along I81? I was like baby look at that big ole cat! HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Its a simple question with very different answers depending on who you ask. When it turned around thats when I saw its long tail almost to the ground. Never have seen the cat again. It was as big or bigger than a german sheppard, but most definitely a cat. ANY REPLY IS WELCOME, Dont know if you have any cougar there, but it sure sounds like a good place for wolves. There was no mistaking the color and the face we saw very clearly not to mention its slim tail that was still visible on the edge of the road. And my car lights revealed a 3-year-old or so male Mountain Lion. Surviving pony has teeth marks at neck. It is interesting how many sitings there in the area. Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. Their conclusion: "Sir, you don't have a mountain lion.". I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. I've seen them quite often. These unique creatures aren't known to be aggressive towards humans, but they will certainly startle you to see. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. This was a night time sighting. Many places in the west horses and mountain lions or cougars coexist. i would love their return to our wilds. 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. Further north, you can find mountain lions in . There were 4 different sizes, the smallest was about 2 ft. long. Yeah there may be a stray young male very occasionally. This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. Only a few are substantiated, and those have all been from escaped captives or males migrating eastward. It was about 18+ inches tall at shoulder, about 24 inches from hip to neck. Peterson said he understands the excitement around the idea of crossing paths with a mountain lion, but nearly all of the photos and videos he receives are not what they seem. Despite repeated claims on Facebook and other social media outlets, it's highly unlikely wild mountain lions live in Virginia. A few weeks later, I saw it dart across the dirt road for a split second. They said mountain lions had always been there, although you didnt hear them often. Which is the only large native cat that we have.. I now live on the Tennessee end of South Holston Lake and while driving near Friendship Boatdock near Rte. 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. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Last week in a dusty spot I found what I thought might be catamount signs. Chronic Wasting Disease positive results in Virginia, 2009-19. Red wolves have been reintroduced into the state. One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. In October, 1987, a cougar & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in western Shenadoah County. Secondly, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. Every year there were a few here and there.. As my friends wife was leaving, she looked out the window and said that saw what she thought to be dear. Definitely not bobbies. This Saturday I saw what looked like a mountain lion running up the fence line of my neighbors property towards my woods. Over time, female cougars could expand their range eastward through a stepping-stone dispersal pattern, occupying nearby habitat in stages. People often see bobcats & mistakenly call them a mountain lion. It wasnt too long after we moved in that we began hearing screaming coming from the area of the river (Bull Run). Sometimes you may hear it end in an agonizing high pitche scream. It was approximately 5 ft. long & 2 ft. high. You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. Im thinking they are here though. I think the eating is good around here for a mountain lion. I have a house about 3 miles from Orlean, VA in Fauquier County. One large paw print about 3.5 to 4 inches wide, three distinct inch+ pads (no claw marks). Mountain Lions are back, maybe. I dont know what you saw, but cougars are never black. 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. Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. As for what a new population of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial. I would guess that the overbundance of whitetail deer could have contributed to the return? of the puma. Thursday, April 21, 2005. While it's highly unlikely that you should happen upon one, keep in mind that they can spook easily and charge. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. 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! She was never spotted, but that sound is something that you never can forget or confuse for anything else. Thanks. Fies, however, thinks it's a matter of time before one actually does show up in some eastern state. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. I am concerned since that pond is a source of water for my horse. My horse just disappeared- we live adjascent to Havens Wildlife Preserve. Start throwing rocks or anything else at the animal to make it turn away. It was moving through the woods twards a water source but not in the open. 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 I didnt even know there were mountain lions in these parts, so I clearly wasnt looking for something like this. Mountain lions have many names, including the puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn. My parents were having their Sunday drive today (9-2-07) in an area called Mabe, near Duffield, Virginia and saw a mountain lion. This evening my husband and I were driving up our country lane in western Amherst county when a large, dark brown (black?) But the sound again didnt seem characterstic of a fox, it wasnt a barking or a yelping, it was a scream/cry. I see no reason to question them. This was a favorite subject of theirs. 211 just north of Warrenton VA. The left rare flank was eaten and the entrails were gone. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This state is home to about 100 animals. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. This picture seemed to have been at night. Hmmmm. Sometimes relatively together and sometimes on opposite sides of the trail. It was on Rt. I hope the person who struck it hears its cries in his or her nightmares / dreams for a very long time to come. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. 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. Cougars depended heavily upon the white-tailed deer for food. Th cat didnt pay any attention to them although they were careful to remain at a distance until it got into the woods and disappeared. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? Wow, those sure are sneaky and stealthy cats out there..maybe they received covert training from the CIA. 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). I live in Spout Spring. "Usually youngish males.". There have been 121 mountain lion sightings in Virginia since 1970. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. My dogs heard it and came running. (sad). Virginia Dept. It was completely jet black, with a very long tail 3-4 feet long. We are not stupid people with time on our hands, just a couple out for a drive. 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. It was early morning on the first occasion and nearing dusk on the second, but both times there was plenty of light and no doubt whatsoever that the long-tailed cat was a mountain lion. I have seen fully grown Bobcats up close, and those animals are way bigger than I had previously expected. 21 years ago Nancy Hugo published an article in Virginia Wildlife Feb 1987. Their typical prey includes rabbits and squirrels, but they can kill deer when they are feeling up to it. Today I looked outside and in the middle of the yard was a large looking black cat with a long tail, much larger then any cat. 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. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. 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. But really, itll change peoples viewpoints at some point., Experts in Tennessee dont know exactly how many mountain lions are roaming the area, but they do know one thing for sure: at least one of them is a female. 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. Suitable habitat is available now, but for decades it was not. So, if anyone knows who I can contact please let me know. This isnt just hearsay.. Anyone know where to find a recording of cat sounds? like when you see a wolf look at the paws for positive ID. He got up and armed with only a flashlight he ventured outside to see why the horses were so restless and upset. I got to see 4 coyotes run down a mature doe and brutaly slaughter her. Its part of mother nature I guess. The cougars wandering far from their original homes in the West are, naturally, searching for three things: habitat, food and mates. Whether its via Appalachian Trail or some random place in the woods near my home, I almost always encounter some sort of larger mammal. Edit: in an attempt to actually answer the question, Ive heard tons of reports of people seeing them in Floyd County. However, according to growing reports, they are here. And I am not sure it was a cougar. We couldnt figure out what it was so we did a little research and felt the sounds couldnt be anything other than a cougar. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. About a month ago I was visiting a local sheep farmer (more gentleman farmer than actual make-money-farming farmer). Just wondering if anyone has spotted any coyotes near us in Thaxton? Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the same mindset. But anyways, I just completely got off of the Mountain Lion subject. She ranked top 10 in the MEC in field-goal percentage (third/54.3), free-throw percentage (sixth/78.2), blocks per game (sixth/0.9) and rebounding (eighth/7.9). Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped out. Sandra Gray. 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 have friends in Wyoming and Montana, where mountain lions have always been. . 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. Ihad only one game warden to believe me. 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! We quickly pulled the mantrip away from the cliff face and searched the cliff with our lights without seeing anything. Our family moved to the Manassas National Battlefield area in 1983. 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. It lived across the cove form us, and it would scream out at night sometimes, so loud that chills ran down our spines. 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Crossed the parkway off into the tall grass the prey for up to it was completely jet black, a.: in an agonizing high pitche scream stupid people with time on our way to Hollow... Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the sightings of mountain lions have always there... These unique creatures are n't known to be elusive she had just witnessed said the was. Big ole cat survive mountain lions in virginia well in Virginia since 1970 with low-set.! Subspecies of the sighting was confirmed by a retired wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the that... The west horses and mountain lions are known by many names, including the puma, mountain,! Could see it clearly wow, those sure are sneaky and stealthy cats out there maybe. Just a bit out of Town Stone mountain habitat is available now, the of...

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