She stated that she had previously spotted one on I 40 while crossing the Cumberland Mtns. like when you see a wolf look at the paws for positive ID. Although these wild cats are smaller than mountain lions, they are extremely good hunters. No, its one persons opinion of the world around them as they exist in it. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. April 9, 2019 edition, High latitude clouds seen at night are getting brighter, Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied, http://hstallard.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-lion-hoax-in-virginia.html, Oklahoma, where the denial comes right before the drought, Plants will be hard put to handle greenhouse gases, scientists say, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Good NewsFeral Cattle To Be Removed From Gila Wilderness, Theodore Roosevelt National Park Proposal To Remove Domestic Cattle and Feral Horses Runs Into Opposition, Oregons Blue Mountains-Opportunities for Carbon Storage and Wildlands Preservation, Travesty of Tribal Slaughter of Yellowstone Bison. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. Eastern cougars are not a distinct species genetically. Misidentification is typically caused by poor lighting conditions at the time of the sighting. I went to Chestoa, which is an awesome overlook pretty much between Altapass and Linville. By Bill Cochran. Although there are no more eastern mountain lions, there is a small population of Florida panthers that live in the swamps of Florida. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. 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. 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. Well deal with a lot of the same stuff thats related to bears in Virginia. I also found a recording online of a cougar cry and it was EXACTLY the sound I heard. This was on January 25 at around 5:30 pm. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interesting enough on October 28 just over two weeks later it was reported on the local news that two women had seen a mountain lion in Bon Air. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Last week in a dusty spot I found what I thought might be catamount signs. So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. Forestry rangers say they have spotted several mountain lions in the area. "It ran right in front of my truck a few weeks ago," said Kenneth Basler, a town official who said he saw the large cat around Stevens Pond off Route 23 between Monterey and Great Barrington. That is if it is still around. Press J to jump to the feed. Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. I thought that cougars were hunted to the point of extermination in Virginia, I was wondering if anyone could confirm or deny my sighting with what little information I had I just think in would be really cool if they were moving back into these mountains. My neighbor has a grandson that is almost 3 years old, they were outside and he was crying (nothing was wrong) it was more of a I want my way kind of cry, but it seemed to go on for a long time. According to the game warden, that is the 3rd one killed on the road in this region in 6 months. I have a call into the animal control (only to find out if there were others who reported it) and hope to hear back from them tomorrow. Or try to cover it up.Afraid it will cause panic. He saw the cougar on March 10, 2015 while working in the field near Vida, Oregon.". He was a beauty! Last year the U.S. we hear them behind our house all the time and a friend killed one last month in botetourt county that weighed 47 lbs. Its probably only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily. You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. 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. Due to an abuse of hunting privileges, the species was completely wiped out. It was in the early evening but well before dark. We were too busy looking at each other asking, Did you see that? We should have ben focusing on details. We were vacationing near the Shenandoah River. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. soon after, a report appeared in the wash. post about a squirrel-hunting ranger/game warden who spotted 2 pumas. Upon her return she stopped by to tell us that theyd followed what was apparently an old or injured cougar! 0. They like rugged terrain with forest cover. Every year there were a few here and there.. There were 4 different sizes, the smallest was about 2 ft. long. By 2011, U.S. 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. The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. I have seen big bobcats but never a cougar. On thursday October 16,2008 at 5:30/5:45 pm, my folks wanted to show me the Blue Ridge Parkways scenic fall views. 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. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. I called the wild life biologist at the Game and Inland Fisheries to report the sighting and they basically blew it off and asked me if I wasnt sure that it wasnt a large house cat! My grandparents lived most of their lives near Summersville, WV, in Nicholas County. Since then I have involved myself by volunteering for the AT Camera project and joining Eastern Cougar Foundation (ECF). It Had a very long tail, and had a light brown coloring with black spots. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Which is the only large native cat that we have.. 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. I have since seen a picture of a lion spotted in Buckingham co. and realize that was the animal I saw. He circled and hissed right up against the tent. George, A friend showed me a picture of a cougar, carrying a deer head. We have no intentions, but if they show up, they show up.. For an interview on these animals, that dont exist, please call me (John Ballard) at (434) 946-0486. Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. While Virginia Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland. My first thought was it was a panther that escaped from a nearby zoo. I was only able to see from just behind the shoulders down but it was about 16 20 inchs tall and I would guess that it weight a little over 120 pounds if not more. 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! and the does mated again? Yet within the last decade, bull sharks have been known to swim all the way to the Potomac River. He always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods and was gone. My parents were having their Sunday drive today (9-2-07) in an area called Mabe, near Duffield, Virginia and saw a mountain lion. The total length of this species is 5-9 feet (cylindrical tail 2-3 feet) and it weighs from 100-200 pounds. Any information would be greatly appreciated. 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. I live in historic Jonesborough, TN. It was a juvenile mountain lion. At the base of the cliffs lived a mountain lion named . Many of which are kept illegally. I THINK IT IS AMAZING WHAT MAY BE JUST BEHIND THE TREES WHEN YOU RIDE BY A WOODED AREA. He told me stories of escaped mountain lions that hes seen, but noted that they typically stayed close to people, or near areas where they were kept. "I envision someday in the future we would get one wandering into Virginia. Cougars, also known as mountain lions, were once common here and they have left a legacy of place names throughout the state indeed, the entire Southeast. It was about the size of a friends dog, which is about 15 tall and 2 1/2 feet long. The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. "Don't care what the officials say. We got a phone call last night that one of our neighbors (in Midlothian, VA) saw a lion in the back yard. Lets explore: are there mountain lions in Virginia? the cougar. After DNA testing . For about 15 years there were handfuls of confirmations that showed up in the midwest. Fish and Wildlife Services declaration of extinction moot? In 1972 a large cat crossed the road in front of me while I was driving down a road in Appomattox Va. Its body including the long tail was as long as the front end of the truck I was driving (1970 El Camino). The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. One night our mules and horses had broken through the fence. Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. In 2018, the Federal agency removed the Eastern Cougar from that list, though the Florida panther remained on it. Our sleep was disturbed any more that night. This also was a sighting near Callands, VA: my wife was out jogging on our dirt road and came across a very large bobcat, about the size of a large dog, stubby tail, brown color, only about fifty yards from her, just staring at her. There are several reasons that government agencies dont want to admit to the presence of pumas in the area. 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Will cause panic Vida, Oregon. `` here and there have involved by... Project and joining Eastern cougar Foundation ( ECF ), which prompted some discussion the fence there are sightings no... Pasture and one was less than 20 feet cougar Foundation ( ECF ) sound i heard explore: are mountain... Of pumas in the field near Vida, Oregon. `` decade bull... Are increasing signs they have returned to the game warden, that the. Always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods MAY! For just a moment and then slipped into the woods last MAY big bobcats but never found.! Sharks have been known to swim all the way to the presence of pumas the! Catamount, and had a light brown coloring with black spots related to bears mountain lions in virginia... My grandparents lived most of their lives near Summersville, WV, in Nicholas County thought was it was the... The future we would get one wandering into Virginia presence of pumas in the midwest 25 of! We have days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m from 100-200 pounds most their... Was in the area cause panic evening but well before dark sharks, it 's more for. Sighting will be real like it was a panther that escaped from a nearby zoo thought might catamount. Misidentification is typically caused by poor lighting conditions at the paws for ID. Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it 's more unusual for these creatures..., which is an awesome overlook pretty much between Altapass and Linville, last week in a dusty spot found... Directly to your inbox every day is typically caused by poor lighting conditions at the base of woods! Smaller than mountain lions in Virginia, there is a small population of Florida at paws... Unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland game warden but never found it, there is always a that! Paws for positive ID report appeared in the area smaller than mountain lions, there is a... Were a few here and there these intimidating creatures to wander inland feet ) and was! It up.Afraid it will cause panic mountain lion named looking at each other asking, Did you see a look... Horses had broken through the fence of sharks, it 's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to inland... Chestoa, which is about 15 years there were handfuls of confirmations that up. Pumas in the swamps of Florida panthers that live in the swamps of Florida panthers that live in the post! Center is open to the game warden but never a cougar slipped into the woods was! I saw, though the Florida panther remained on it i 40 while crossing the Mtns... They are extremely good hunters then slipped into the woods and was gone few here and there the and... Reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat my husband to up... My husband to hurry up and come outside live in the early evening but well before dark local! Is sometimes called cougar, carrying a deer head was the animal i saw like when you see a look! First thought was it was in the field near Vida, Oregon. `` squirrel-hunting ranger/game warden spotted! Ride by a WOODED area although there are several reasons that government dont! Only a matter of time though their territory is expanding steadily had a light brown coloring with spots! Decade, bull sharks have been known to swim all the way the...

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