The AT Camera survey did not get a photo of a cougar during 2007. 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. Then, off it went! It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. Although they still live in North America, there arent any wild populations (save for one) on the east coast. Four of us in Gladstone, VA (central Virginia between Lynchburg and Charlottesville) have seen black mountain lions (cougar, panther, whatever) on 4 seperate occasions. Our sleep was disturbed any more that night. Loudoun County Off of Woods road almost every single night we hear a mountain lion , no doubt at all this is what it is. just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. I just wonder if I have the same picture, & also if it is true. Hello Seems in these parts every snake they see is a copperhead (even the black with white belly ones). So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. He was licking his coat. 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. It is interesting how many sitings there in the area. 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. Also 16-20 at the shoulder seems short for 120lbs. So many, in fact, that they've been listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the mammal with the most names. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. I grew up in North Georgia. Then what? Approximately 4 feet long near Midlothian. Could this have been a young cougar? me and a budy were spotlitting for deer [no guns i might add we were coming down off cold mountin fields saw two solid black cats run up some rocks both were about 60 to 70 pounds aim sure it was cougars i hut these mountains all of my life bear hunt coon hunt deer and evret thing eles but i thing its a small population and they move around travling from parts of amherst nelson trew shandoua park and west va beleive me or not i also told peple thre were coyotes in these mountain 26 year ago and peple thout i was crazy. The last one seen was last summer. Moose are notoriously shy creatures, so spotting them anywhere is an exciting experience. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. Part of their success is due to their adaptability when it comes to hunting and habitat needs. We had tons of deer, albino too! into the places they were often in but not noticed until recently. If any would like to see the pictures that was with this E-mail. I saw a cougar take down a deer in Bedford County, Virginia a number of years ago. 111 1. I was leaning against a tree w/my parka hood blocking the wind, when I saw a grown cougar walking straight toward me. Suitable habitat is available now, but for decades it was not. Scientists once classified over 30 subspecies of cougars based on morphological differences. Perhaps some of thes animals came from the private sector and they were simply let loose by their owners. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! . She got quite close to them while on Jake but as soon as she began to dismount they scattered. ), Bobcat kittens!- They were just thicker-coated & boned kittens with a bobby tail and whisky ears for the most part. Every year there were a few here and there.. . We were vacationing near the Shenandoah River. Last night, 9/26/07, at around 7:30 PM, my husband and I were driving home from the store on Page Valley Road in Luray , Va. Everyone we have spoken with today said it couldnt be true but my dad (a hunter all his life) and mom both saw its full near silhouette (nearing dusk) in the curve of a road just ahead of them before it disappeared and said it was the size, maybe just a tad bit smaller than my golden retriever (80 lbs) and its tail was as long as its body was and made a point to say it was a cats tail in shape, curving down at the base & up in a slope. July 25, 2019 edition, Do you have some interesting wildlife news? This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of its ears. Places that will never see any kind of development. If you know anything about mt lions, you know there is a lot of sign if there is a breeding population. One glanced at us. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This Spring we had few deer and fewer fawns, but lately (since mid August) I have seen plenty of deer sign. It was misty, and had rained the night before. Tickets are $8.00 and parking fee is included. The next day, my neighbor said that he and his fishing partner had seen a cat similar to the one I described as they were going fishing one morning around 3:00 a.m. 12. The more details the better! Ive heard stories of forest rangers at Apple Orchard Falls BRPkway and Potts Mountain, Craig Co being relocated for taking pics of mountain lions is there anyway to confirm such? In reply to D. Racey we would like to review your photo of the track. I was going to let him walk on by obviously, when suddenly he sat down about 25 yards right in front of me, not facing me, I had a beautiful side view of him. Im not 100% sure but thats what i feel it was a COUGAR. In August 2007 on my way to work from the Meadowview Virginia area , between Meadowview and Abingdon there was a Mountain Lion crossed the road in frount of me, So people can say what they want , there are big cats in the area. Have some feedback for us? Despite their extinct status, there have been persistent mountain lion sightings . 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. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. Thursday, April 21, 2005. 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. Is this thread for real? Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. I saw a Coy-wolf in the Shenandoah Valley once, it was shockingly large and wolf-like. The good news is that because it was right beside the road, others undoubtedly saw it, too, leaving no doubt that it was indeed a mountain lion because it was much too good a view for there to be any doubt of its species. The boys and dogs went back to the old beaver pond. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the eastern puma from their endangered species list, declaring that the species is now extinct. 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. Wed love to hear about it! Native to most counties in Virginia, the bobcat is a . Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. We do have pictures of that! ", Yellowstone bison are a globally unique animal. Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly. What could be mistaken for a mountain lion? They are dark reddish-or yellowish-brown dorsally, lighter ventrally, the tail tip is dark, and the fur is short, soft and unspotted. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. Police say man who pointed gun at officers in area of Route 250 Bypass is dead, ACSO looking for suspicious man in the Weyers Cave area, Wreck cleared after crash shut down Woodrow Wilson Pkwy near Staunton, Waynesboro man arrested after eluding police, WPD says, Autopsy shows man in Jefferson Co., Ala was attacked by pack of dogs, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction resigns, Bond denied for owner of dogs accused of dogs deaths, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. If for some reason there were any cougars rediscovered in the east that werent migrants from the west, the protection status is up to the state in which it is found, LaRue said. Her views represent another twist in the ecological controversy. 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. He told me that there are areas in the Valley that could sustain mountain lions, but that the deer numbers there were too low, and theyd eventually make their way towards humans. One large paw print about 3.5 to 4 inches wide, three distinct inch+ pads (no claw marks). Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. Lystrosaurus was one of the few terrestial species that survived the permian extinction. I doubt it. They were extirpated from Indiana by the late 1800s. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. Speaking of coyotes, has anyone near the Thaxton, Montvale, Blue Ridge area of Virginia seen them nearby? Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. I am not 100% certain but I would like it if someone could identify the cats for me. hunterb8s@yahoo.com. Calling All Skiers and Snowboarders Home to Massanutten, An Insiders Guide to Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the Highest Peaks in Virginia. Reason being: If mountain lions are show to exist east of the Mississippi River, the states game departments may be liable for livestock damages. Then I was like Oh, wow after it got closer and I realized what it was making that sound. They have been absent from this state since the late 1800s; however, there have been a few isolated sightings. I've seen them quite often. As a result, multiple sightings across different time ranges could be attributed to the same cat. I work with someone who says that on his familys farm in Virginia (not sure exactly where, but can find out) he said there are wolves. They could be making a similiar mistake about the cougar sightings. It was a large cougar that had an eight point buck by the neck. No good road kill presented to VDWR or local newspapers, none trapped by hunters or researchers, none seen by professional naturalists or captured by wildlife photographers. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In that area the roads have never been paved. The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. As for what a new population of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial. 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. 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. People always had a story to tell about seeing one or hearing one whenever they were in the woods, and claimed the government was turning a blind eye to their reports. 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. Just wondering if anyone has spotted any coyotes near us in Thaxton? We were going about 40 mph, crystal clear day, about 30 yards away. We have spotted a mother black bear and cub over by the damn while hiking, scary sight but very awsome. If they escape, who is to say that they will not do what is natural and find a mate? Love Virginia? The population of cougars west of the Mississippi River was large enough that it was not listed. We would also be very interested in recovering any remains. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. Source: Public Domain Pictures, 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.1. "According to Handley and Pattons 'Wild Mammals of Virginia'published in 1947, the last Virginia mountain lion was killed in Washington County in 1882. 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. While bringing wood into the house I saw a cat like animal behind the wood pile squat down then run into the woods. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. zdf. 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. The wind chill was absolutely tremendous in the portal and the -20 outside felt balmy in comparison. Interestingly, the does seem to have very new fawns (twins generally). Well we finally made it out of there. It was about 11:30 PM and I was driving an Austin Healy Bugeyed Sprite. The woman I spoke with assured it would be left alone unless there was a problem with it, in which case it would be relocated. This. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. 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? And my car lights revealed a 3-year-old or so male Mountain Lion. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! The first time I heard the screams I went in the direction with a flashlight, fully expecting to find a victim. A large heel pad larger than the others but blurred. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan (page 2), http://mountainlion.org/us/NC/-NC-history.asp, https://blog.wildlife.virginia.gov/outdoor-report/2016/03/the-myth-of-mountain-lions-in-virginia/, https://www.fws.gov/northeast/ecougar/pdf/Cougar_News_Bulletin_Final_1_18.pdf, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/23/2018-01127/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removing-the-eastern-puma-cougar-from-the-federal-list, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/wah/panther.html, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/opinion/the-cougar-behind-your-trash-can.html, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030333, https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2015/sep-oct/cougars-in-minnesota.html, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The young cougars stay with mom for 1-2 years and slows down all migration to the east. the cougar. I just saw one a couple of hourse ago. I know another person in Albemarle Co. who sees them sunning regularly there and has for years. I dont know what you saw, but cougars are never black. I grew up in Lynchburg, VA. Start throwing rocks or anything else at the animal to make it turn away. It is being held at the Discovery Center at SML State Park from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st. It was the first time I could see it clearly. Mountain Lions are back, maybe. After DNA testing . Im not a mammalogist, so Im not going to try to play their role, but I think theyre all the same, Kocka said, adding that differentiating between subspecies may not always be a worthwhile effort. Their conclusion: "Sir, you don't have a mountain lion.". any sightings in Roanoke Co.? Florida seems to be the number one place for non-native wildlife. The Cougar Network is monitoring all reports of the expansion of cougars to the East. I have hiked almost all 850 miles of trails, stayed at most of the backcountry campsites, and have spent many nights wandering around those hills looking for nocturnal mammals. It was on Rt. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. Fish and Wildlife Services declaration of extinction moot? Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. 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). Whether its via Appalachian Trail or some random place in the woods near my home, I almost always encounter some sort of larger mammal. Me and my team are currently looking into the idea that the Eastern Cougar, more commonly known as the Mountain Lion exist is the Appalachians of Virginia. We got a phone call last night that one of our neighbors (in Midlothian, VA) saw a lion in the back yard. 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