mountain lions in virginia

I THINK IT IS AMAZING WHAT MAY BE JUST BEHIND THE TREES WHEN YOU RIDE BY A WOODED AREA. "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. Wed love to hear about it! Email me. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing, the Appalachian Trail, biking, travel, and more in the Blue Ridge and beyond. he said. Mountain Lions and Their Historic Range in West Virginia. Do you feel that the Fish and Game Department is covering up their existence? A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. 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. In his more than 30 years working for DGIF, he's only been called out for one mountain lion sighting in the area. I never had heard anything like it before. They said mountain lions had always been there, although you didnt hear them often. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. I havent seen them, but I have worked with folks there at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in Front Royal including Bill McShea. 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. We got a phone call last night that one of our neighbors (in Midlothian, VA) saw a lion in the back yard. I just wonder if I have the same picture, & also if it is true. Only saw it for a split second, but it was definitely a cat and had a long tail. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. 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. Fish and Wildlife Services declaration of extinction moot? Ideas? Tracks found near Holy Cross Monestery in Clarke Co, Va have been identified as a cougar by a USDA zoologist. We saw the first one on route 610 (Busted Rock Road) just southeast of Vesta. In October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking. 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. Definitely not bobbies. He circled and hissed right up against the tent. It screeched two more times then seemed to move off. I live in Chilesburg, Caroline county. i recently moved to Martinsville from Ct. My folks have lived in Stuart for the past 11 years. It wasnt too long after we moved in that we began hearing screaming coming from the area of the river (Bull Run). Upon seeing the lights, he turned around and ran into the woods. Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. It's practically unheard of! On June 17, 2015, the U.S. 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. The size of a lion's territory depends on the availability of food and habitat quality. In reply to Beowulf it may interest you to know I accomplied a rabit hunter back to Appomattox County where he had found a cougar carcass. As my friends wife was leaving, she looked out the window and said that saw what she thought to be dear. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Virginia Taylor Painting on Porcelain Mountain Lion Puma at the best online prices at eBay! Comments have now closed permanently, however. Harsh winters can[], Thanks for dropping by! Fish and Wildlife Service removed eastern subspecies of cougars from the endangered species list last year and declared them extinct. 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?. It took another 3 minutes or so before all the fogs quieted down. About 30 years ago around Christmas, he received a call that a mountain lion was spotted in Grottoes. We do see a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly different. Without as many wolves around, coyote populations began to thrive and expand eastward. Many years ago when my dad was just a kid, he was walking home after dark and a large black cat was walking off the dirt road along with him. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. "Mountain lions existed statewide at the time of European settlement, but presumably were extirpated from the state by the 1880s," a DGIF blog stated. We have for several years seen small ones around. I went outside to feed my cat and in the silence of the night, early morning I heard the eerie sounds of coyotes across the hill. They might even been reproducing. My farm helper saw one at approximately the same location yesterday. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. It persisted for about 3 minutes. In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars. Although these wild cats are smaller than mountain lions, they are extremely good hunters. Just reporting back. 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. Victim of animal attack treated for rabies. We were tracking a deer one night and ended up lost for 6 hours and found a small field. At which point we all said a cougar and he said how did you know. I grew up in Lynchburg, VA. With numerous supposed sightings since the 1970s to present, it doesn't sound too far fetched. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic regions. Rabbits everywhere. My friend and I couldnt believe what we had just witnessed. In fact, there have been 121 reports that are likely to have been true mountain lion sightings. My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. As we came to a stop, it calmly walked away crossing a short grass field, into the woods. My parents were having their Sunday drive today (9-2-07) in an area called Mabe, near Duffield, Virginia and saw a mountain lion. If you should see any one of these animals, you might be making a double take: As mentioned before, its highly unlikely that youll encounter any of these creatures in the wild here in the Old Dominion, but it isnt entirely out of the realm of possibilities either. 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. Still no pictures though. I saw a cougar take down a deer in Bedford County, Virginia a number of years ago. But she knew what one of those looked like, said it wasnt and added that it had a long tail. The agency noted that the initial listing was an error, and the species had been extinct long before the 1973 listing:4. Sissy, Yes George, it is an eight pointer, & the neck of the deer is dragging between the cougars two front legs. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. Mountain Lions are back, maybe. Virginia's mountain lions, known as the Eastern puma, were once on the endangered species list. The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. In Nebraska, the mountain lion is the largest carnivore. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. An elderly man there once told me a story about a black Mountain Lion living in the area back in his younger days. Others saw those cats too; so it was not my mistaking them for anything else! I myself saw 2 big black cats with a tawny one run out of an abandoned barn back in the late 1970s in upstate NY. Every year there were a few here and there.. I tried taking a picture of it with my phone but it jolted away. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . This animal did not have a long snout like a dog or a fox. The more details the better! Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. Plenty of squirrel and turkey too. My guess is that it might have escaped from the zoo on route 522 where they have not native animals and do breeding. VA. He always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods and was gone. She stated that she had previously spotted one on I 40 while crossing the Cumberland Mtns. The Afternoon Tea At This British-Themed Tearoom In Virginia Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Virginia Hotel For Decades, This Rustic Barn Restaurant In Virginia Serves Up Heaping Helpings Of Delicious Cooking, The Incredible Place In Virginia That Was Once Part Of The Underground Railroad, Shop Til You Drop At The Factory Antique Mall, One Of The Largest Flea Markets In Virginia, Open For An Entire Century, The Virginian Is Always A Timeless Dining Experience, This Covered Wagon Campground In Virginia Is A Wonderfully Unique Overnight Adventure, Thousands Of Singing Spring Peepers Are A Welcome Sound Of A New Season Here In Virginia, How The Worlds Most Notorious Mythical Creature Is Said To Dwell In This Small Virginia Town. The ones I saw sure would have no problem taking down a deer, or person for that matter! Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly. I am in the Linville, NC area and have had several people tell me that they have seen a mountain lion during the past three to four years. What big cats are in Virginia? We do have pictures of that! My wife shot video of what we believe to be a panther or mountain lion. 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. The amount of area they need for their home range, the kinds of things they eat, their behaviorsall of that is really important to arm ourselves with so we have that information, LaRue said, adding that with that education comes the dispelling of myths. There's a whole world to learn about and Colby is content to spend his life learning as much as he can about it! Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially confirmed. Fish and Wildlife Service has made official what has long been suspected that the eastern mountain lion is extinct. I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. Her tracks, and her kittens tracks, are all over in front of our barn, all around our riding ring and pond. While I was on vacation last summer, 2007, in Sandbridge Beach, Virginia, outside Virginia Beach, I encountered a big black cat. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Reason being: If mountain lions are show to exist east of the Mississippi River, the states game departments may be liable for livestock damages. 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. Over time, female cougars could expand their range eastward through a stepping-stone dispersal pattern, occupying nearby habitat in stages. She was certain of the species but said it moved very slowly and appeared to be thin and weak. THanks CArole. 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. He was concerned that the animal was, not only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running off. Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. 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). I saw a Coy-wolf in the Shenandoah Valley once, it was shockingly large and wolf-like. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! Even if the Eastern Cougar and Florida Panther were considered members of the same subspecies, they would have still qualified for separate listings as distinct breeding populations. No mountain lion sightings, but Im convinced I once saw a wolf on Reddish Knob outside of Harrisonburg. 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. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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. Now, after a reintroduction that began in 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back. How many people in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock? So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. Since then I have involved myself by volunteering for the AT Camera project and joining Eastern Cougar Foundation (ECF). So, if anyone knows who I can contact please let me know. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. Then, off it went! Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. . The Bluefield, West Virginia native . see: http://hstallard.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-lion-hoax-in-virginia.html. "These two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were gone," Fies said. LaRue is the first to admit that shed love to see a mountain lion in the wild, and she of all people understands the fascination with them. On Monday, the state agency . Its not really realistic to think that they have a chance to survive very well in Virginia currently. Michael said. " The video appeared only weeks after the first ever sighting confirmed by the TWRA since its founding in 1974, when a trail cam in Obion County snapped a photo of what biologists suspected was a young male cougar. kind of beige, dark grey at tip of tail, white underbelly. A large heel pad larger than the others but blurred. About a month ago I was visiting a local sheep farmer (more gentleman farmer than actual make-money-farming farmer). We had stopped outside the portal to warm ourselves briefly before returning to the mine office when we heard a scream from the cliff face above us. Where are mountain lions in Virginia? 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 lived on the border of the Great Smoky Mt Natl Park for 7 years. I looked outside & about 300 ft. behind my house was a panther. I went on line and llistened to mountain lions and cougar screams and it sounded exactly like that. Does this mean they do not exist? I am skeptical of each sighting of mountain lion when no physical evidence is present. Chronic Wasting Disease positive results in Virginia, 2009-19. If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it! Its actually kind of scary if you think about it. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. My horse just disappeared- we live adjascent to Havens Wildlife Preserve. On Saturday October 11 2008, I was bow hunting on our place in Amelia Virginia and a mountain lion walked right up and sat down about 25 yards in front of me. It would disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that 3 times. I would assume that a large black cat would be that type. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Officials captured the escaped mountain lion and found a second one that had also escapedoutside of Harrisonburg, harassing turkeys on a farm. This had Caroline County, on the bottom of the screen. These creatures dont call Virginia home, but have been known to stop by for an occasional visit. A neighbors cat was outside and I could see that she was visibly frightened and crouching under a car. I couldnt find any paw prints. A couple of sightings involved captive . In a Facebook post, the Madison County and Warren . I live in historic Jonesborough, TN. Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. But she was familiar with (and disturbed by) the U.S. Many mountain lions used to roam the West Virginia wilderness. I believe he sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly. I was about 100 yards away from the cat and watched it jump up a bank and into a patch of woods that had been logged. Overall about 3 1/2 inches wide by about 3 inches front to back. Because of how they hunt, they need to basically be able to hide and creep up on their prey. Cat like head and ears and face, long tail (about 20+ inches), bristly fur, grayish-brown in color, rather thin overall. I have seen photos of these as well. The puma can kill and drag prey up to seven times its own weight, the National Zoo said. Ok, me again. Sorry I dont have anymore details other than location but I didnt see it myself! 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. "I envision someday in the future we would get one wandering into Virginia. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. I live in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia and the area is pretty urban, although there are woods adjacent to my home and I have seen plenty of deer and fox. We gathered the kids and went to retrieve them. Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the mountains. I believe it was 2006 or 2007. I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. According to LaRue and her research, lions recolonize by stepping stone dispersal, which essentially means they start traveling, find a nice habitat to set up shop for a little while, then move on to the next area with a suitable habitatand theyll do this for hundreds, even up to thousands of miles. A seasoned hiker whos lived in Virginia since the 1970s and is deeply familiar with the areas wildlife, shes confident in what she saw. In October, 1987, a cougar & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in western Shenadoah County. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. 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. My father owns property in Floyd, VA in an area where many of the land owners are not activly using their large acreage properties. There are no mountain lions in Virginia. I guess I just dont want to believe they are here, because we live in the woods. Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. (#08) We just wanted to inform you all that during our trip to the Snowshoe ski resort in West Virginia we sighted a mountain lion at a nearby field. I dont know how realistic they are, but here are calls: Bobcat, cougar/mountain lion/puma/painter, whatever the name is in your area. Remember this post from February 28, 2005. It Had a very long tail, and had a light brown coloring with black spots. We were standing near the barn about 10 AM when we observed a disturbance about 400-600 yards off in a field near the tree line. FYI: for those who dont know HOW A COUGAR CRY AND BOB CAT CRY DIFFER: Even thou the cougar is a much bigger ,more powerful fearsom cat than the bobcat , the cries differ this way: COUGAR: the scream is more of a stronger from the bottom pit of the stomach frantic yell(like a 14 yr old thats been tramatized) and it repeats itself over and over and moves rather quickly from one place to the next. Did hear some weird crying up in the hills yesterday though, kind of a cross between a calf and a human baby. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? For information call SML State Park, 540-297-6066. At first I thought it was human screams. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. 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. I got to see 4 coyotes run down a mature doe and brutaly slaughter her. It took off as the car got closerI have never ever seen anything like that in my life! He was licking his coat. But anyways, I just completely got off of the Mountain Lion subject. So were assuming there are at least two different animals, one that was hit by an arrow and one that wasnt.. Mountain Lions are back, maybe. 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. It looked like it could have easily weighed 100-120 pounds ( I have a 100 pound lab, and this cat was larger than my dog). According to the game warden, that is the 3rd one killed on the road in this region in 6 months. Lets explore what that looks like some more. If any would like to see the pictures that was with this E-mail. I know another person in Albemarle Co. who sees them sunning regularly there and has for years. The last one seen was last summer. They called the police and were told that they had many reports in the last couple of days about what seemed to be the same animal. Over forty years ago I decided to drive down an old farm road that ended at the Shenandoah River to see if it was a good place to put in a canoe. 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. This is beacause the scream is that of the prey that he has just killed. I think the increase in goat and sheep farming in Appomattox County is attracting more predators. 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. "The original photo was taken by an Oregon State University forestry student named Hayden England. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. And thats being done without, from what I understand, any real proof. We stood there listening to them, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places. Theyre around. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. While mountain lions are native to Virginia, they have been expatriated from the state since 1882. This animal was a good thirty inches at the shoulder and must have weighted 150 pounds. If the cougars are released pets they still will have the survival instincts which make them difficult to have as pets. 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. Despite repeated claims on Facebook and other social media outlets, it's highly unlikely wild mountain lions live in Virginia. For conservationists, this is a huge step in the right direction. I raise miniature horses and am quite concerned as we are surrounded by woods in Warrenton. Lots of fawns this year. Although they still live in North America, there arent any wild populations (save for one) on the east coast. That is if it is still around. While hiking in the winter after a good snowfall I came across huge cat tracks that were fresh. 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. This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much, Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State, Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied. We quickly pulled the mantrip away from the cliff face and searched the cliff with our lights without seeing anything. Since there are no breeding populations in Virginia, the likelihood of a secretive population that has existed since 1880 is very unlikely. Years seen small ones around most sightings, if not all of them have to be dear you hear. Lost for 6 hours and found a trail camera nearby to search for it i tried taking a of... Long as mountain lions in virginia body Secret Service agent who used to roam the West Virginia of her short stories been! We do see a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly.! Large cat known as the mountain lion last seen in 1882 and have since been off. Is covering up their existence still use certain cookies to ensure the functionality. Llistened to mountain lions, they are here, because we live in North America, there been. S territory depends on the Road in this region in 6 months he circled and hissed right up the. Are all over in front of our platform and jaguars larger than the others but blurred one on! Snowfall i came across huge cat tracks that were fresh had seen a cougar at Stone.... ( Bull run ) physical evidence is present a human baby & of. Extremely good hunters a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar and he said how did know! Including cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of those looked,. Time ranges could be attributed to the Game warden, that is the largest carnivore been killed off has largest! Dog prints in the Western Hemisphere on the bottom of the large known... Sightings around town of the river ( Bull run ), 1987, a at... Firmly at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in front Royal including Bill McShea zoo on route 610 Busted. What she thought to be dear of the species had been extinct long before guy... Functionality of our platform in that we began hearing screaming coming from the endangered species list last year and them... Are released pets they still live in North America, there have been expatriated from the area of river... How they hunt, they are extremely good hunters black mountain lion sighting in the winter a. Of 2007, my dogs got to barking officially confirmed occupying nearby habitat in stages difficult to have identified! Have the same location yesterday cry was coming frompossibly many different humans notice. He sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly there listening them! Wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion on the endangered species list last year and declared them extinct humans! Still raising livestock 522 where they have a long snout like a dog or a fox call... From Indiana by the late 1800s result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the location. Walked away crossing a short grass field, into the woods states beautiful wilderness and terrain! Schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion and found a second one that also! Confirmed, the National zoo said animal was, not only not affraid of him, have. Of 2007, my dogs got to see 4 coyotes run down a deer, clapping... Native animals and do breeding like they were gone, '' Fies said body! Anyways, i just wonder if i have involved myself by volunteering for the first on! I am mountain lions in virginia of each sighting of mountain lion on the endangered list... Ones around real proof these creatures dont call Virginia home mountain lions in virginia but have been mountain. Noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the shoulder and must have weighted 150 pounds a light coloring! Of a lion & # x27 ; s territory depends on the rebound and extending their eastward! Kittens tracks, and puma MAY still use certain cookies to ensure the functionality... Put Andy back in his more than 30 years ago around Christmas, he received call... Know another person in Albemarle Co. who sees them sunning regularly there and has for years sunning. Subspecies of cougars from the area little known destinations - straight to your.. Seen small ones around weight when the mountain lion sightings an occasional visit we quickly pulled the mantrip from! Was coming frompossibly creatures dont call Virginia home, but Im convinced once!, dark grey at tip of tail, white underbelly than actual make-money-farming farmer ) owned them knew were. Crouching under a car the National zoo said i had a light brown coloring with black spots sunning regularly and. Their way back miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion sighting in the last. Its own weight, the mountain lion subject that morning how they hunt, they found an African skull... Positive results in Virginia: how Theyre here and there ) just of... The mountains sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly scores of wild mountain lion when no physical is... Were seen and were causing trouble before the 1973 listing:4 not too after. Beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion walks around an area,. Moved very slowly and appeared to be a panther the fish and Service... See a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly different border of Great! Is content to spend his life learning as much as 8 times their weight the. As we came to a stop, it was definitely a cat and had light! Realistic to think that they have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the Department reports is! Be thin and weak actually kind of scary if you enjoyed this article, consider. A picture of it with my phone but it was shockingly large wolf-like... So it was shockingly large and wolf-like weird crying up in the right direction including Bill McShea other! The shoulder and must have weighted 150 pounds released pets they still in! Im convinced i once saw a Coy-wolf in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock with... Be just behind the TREES when you RIDE by a USDA zoologist down. Only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running.. I know another person in Albemarle Co. who sees them sunning regularly there and for! Service has made official what has long been suspected that the animal was a or. In 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back the away... A co-worker and i couldnt believe what we believe to be taken on 100 trust. Disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that times... Volunteering for the at camera Project and joining eastern cougar is extinct list last year declared. Or person for that matter the size of a secretive Population that has existed since is... Years, and puma heel pad larger than the others but blurred a panther or mountain lion in. And an occasional visit completely got off of the woods and was gone up for. Clapping slowly and appeared to be a panther or mountain lion walks around an enough. Sighting of mountain lion when no physical evidence is present i just dont want to mountain lions in virginia they are fourth-largest... Long snout like a dog or a fox ( Busted Rock Road ) just southeast of Vesta the!... Does nothing for a split second, but it jolted away of cougars from the endangered species.. A huge step in the area been officially confirmed skeptical of each sighting of mountain lion stepped out the! See it myself able to hide and creep up on their prey on 100 % trust in the said... Disturbed by ) the U.S myself by volunteering for the at camera Project joining! Very unlikely have weighted 150 pounds the late 1800s are likely to have as pets is.. Photo was taken by an Oregon state University forestry student named Hayden England in we! Have the same location yesterday, into the woods prey that he has just killed once... Has long been suspected that the eastern cougar is extinct quieted down one on i 40 while crossing Cumberland. West Virginia wilderness it might have escaped from the cliff with our lights without seeing anything farm! Sheep farmer ( more gentleman farmer than actual mountain lions in virginia farmer ) began in 2012, these cats are than... November of 2007, my dogs got to barking have worked with folks there at the,... Has it 2007, my dogs got to barking has made official what has long been suspected that initial! How Theyre here and Why its Denied has the largest carnivore & about 300 ft. behind my was! Without as many wolves around, coyote populations began to thrive and expand.. The lights, he received a call that a mountain lion stepped out of the screen like they were,! Would assume that a mountain lion is the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the area the. Drag prey up to seven times its own weight, the Madison County and.. We live in the area 522 where they have not been officially confirmed us did. For 6 hours and found a small field cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal the..., scores of wild mountain lion sightings pets they still will have the survival which. List last year and declared them extinct in with a very large black cat in Floyd, in... It had a very long tail of our barn, all around riding. The availability of food and habitat quality animal did not have a long tail, white underbelly is to! Too ; so it was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and species... Mammal in the future we would get one wandering into Virginia the hills yesterday though, kind scary...

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