I see cats and cat signs pretty regularly where I live now, but have never heard this sound again. The species epithet "concolor" is Latin for "of one color," because adults are a solid version of some sort of tan. While this may be incredible, it is still ways off. hunterb8s@yahoo.com. So, I had the opportunity to help raise beautiful, and playful ( they acted just like any kitten would! I made deep, loud noises and threw my hands up and used my flashlight to look large. The DGIF is adamant though that the species is not found in the Commonwealth, although it is possible the western subspecies could be moving east. The traffic was moving quickly but he had no doubt that it was a cougar. Even though the WV DNR says there are no wild mountain lions in the state, there are some held in captivity at the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek.. But according to University of Minnesota research associate and wildlife expert Dr. Michelle LaRue, its a little more nuanced than that. Still, this is great news for conservationists and animal enthusiasts alike. About a week later I seen a documentary on black mountian lions, and that is exactly what I had seen, same size and coloring. Well, then dont dress them up like sheep, he said with a chuckle. There are certainly plenty of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. Fies doesn't believe that there is this thriving population that has been hidden from the world. You could check with the Dept. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." "We've seen some examples of that. They exclusively populated western states for decades, but according to LaRue, some shifts in hunting regulations began to change things about 50 years ago: lions were switched from the bounty hunter category to a game species managed by the states. It Had a very long tail, and had a light brown coloring with black spots. Interestingly, the Eastern Cougar did exist in Virginia up until around the 1880's, but The . 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." Upon leaving the woods one morning another hunter in the group said he had seen a cougar on the mountain that morning. It really burns me up to hear so called experts say that there are no mountain lions or even wolves for that matter in VA. About 10-12 years ago, there was a pretty severe drought, and I know I saw a wolf in the Woodlake area of Midlothian, but everyone said are you sure it wasnt a big dog? If you see a wolf, you know its not a dog. There are so many camera traps now for both research (academic inductions, VDWR and VDACS) and private hunters. That might depend on who you ask, but LaRue, whos been studying mountain lions for more than a decade, isnt convinced that eastern cougars were ever any different from the western subspecies. Thursday, April 21, 2005. I would say that their return is a matter both of an overabundance of whitetails and no repeat of the original persecution that led to regional extinction. I stress that this is not a joke so please write it anyone knows how to reduce the distortion of the photos. Ive seen a few cougars in the wild, I dont believe the black phase has ever been confirmed in any mountain lion/cougar/catamount/puma. doubtful. Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. 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. Sometimes relatively together and sometimes on opposite sides of the trail. Looked like a red wolf though and we got a good look as it crossed the road in front of us on our way down the mountain (driving) in full daylight. No one has since today, reported seeing one. Moose are notoriously shy creatures, so spotting them anywhere is an exciting experience. The fur was short and the common light red-brown hue of a cougar. In daylight I am sure I would have thought it was only one cat. Yet, this evidence has never been documented by biologists. I would think by the time you get your phone/camera on, & ready, the cougars gone. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia. Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. How many people in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock? It was about 18+ inches tall at shoulder, about 24 inches from hip to neck. Bull sharks are one of the few species that can tolerate fresh water, which allows them to flow from ocean to river relatively easily. If there was a breeding population, we would know. Others have confused the Eastern mountain lion with coyotes, bobcats, or even deer. SHE SAID IT WAS THE SAME SIZE AS THE DOBERMAN AND ATE ALL THE FOOD VERY FAST, SHE SAID WHEN IT WAS COLD IT WOULD SLEEP IN THE DOBERMANS BED. This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. few turkeys this spring and summer. Forestry rangers said several ponies killed , others attcked off 811 near Evington, va. We were vacationing near the Shenandoah River. Im of the opinion that there really never was a big difference between the eastern cats and whats in existence now, she said. 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. Whatever it was was big and right under my window. smokymtman, of Game and Inland Fisheries web site on the eastern cougar. These are believable people, she said. About 1987 I lived across the river from Holy Cross Monastery. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . This. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. She has really bad gashes on her front leg, shes lame. A huge buck jumo out in front of us right then so we assumed it had smelled cat or that the cubs mother was hunting. Not high pitched like a house cat but low, sounded like whatever it was had some size to it. 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. The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Comments have now closed permanently, however. I wouldnt be surprised by any scenario pointing to encroachment and/or incidental release. Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. Could this have been a young cougar? My father a retired Secret Service agent who used to shoot alot with Regan spotted a mountain lion on the side of rt. Could a mountain lion or cougar be in my area? The deer have been congregating down there. Every year, state agencies investigate many reported sightings of cougars. Their typical prey includes rabbits and squirrels, but they can kill deer when they are feeling up to it. I started yelling and making as much noise as i could and heard the sounds of claws running up a tree. 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. Species number one is the bobcat, and species number two is the Mountain lion. Above post by Rob about a Lion in Wise virginia is a hoax! Finetune Your Skills in Patrick County, Va. The print is about 3 1/2 x 4 inches with 4 distinct toes no nails. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. 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. Officials captured the escaped mountain lion and found a second one that had also escapedoutside of Harrisonburg, harassing turkeys on a farm. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. "They've been found as far east as western Tennessee," Fies said. Still no pictures though. "Don't care what the officials say. I wish I had the moment over. Rockingham Co., va We got a phone call last night that one of our neighbors (in Midlothian, VA) saw a lion in the back yard. We stood there listening to them, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places. Male cougar territories are pretty big, and thats why they have to disperse farther than females, LaRue said. For decades, the chances of coming across one of these big cats in an eastern state were slim to none, and much to the chagrin of residents like Marchibroda who have reported sightings, the U.S. In many states, the season dates are often further broken down depending on the hunt area you plan to visit. I have compiled descriptions of over 25 sightings in the surrounding area but none of them have produced real evidence in the form of a photo, footprint casting, body part, or scat sample from Virginia. 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. I got a couple of pictures of paw prints. Others have been clustered in the Valley. I saw more recently something very large and stocky going into the tall grass, only saw the back end of it and that was at least 3 feet long with a long tail. Marchibroda wasnt under any illusions that she could catch or in any way interact with the mountain lion she saw on her hike. 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). A large, darkish animal approximately the height of a retriever/setter, long tail that curved at the very end, large cat-like head, and very close, prominent shoulders, that I still can see moving up and down when I think about it crossing Meetze Road. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. There are at least 10 different subspecies of white-tailed deer, and it doesnt make a bit of difference in the grand scheme of things.. Because they are lone animals that are not breeding. 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. rick_freer@yahoo.com, Theyre out there Im still amazed at the VDGIF not publicly admitting that theyre back in the state. Fish and Wildlife Service has made official what has long been suspected that the eastern mountain lion is extinct. Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com. 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. I kept hiking and went all the way to HWY 19E where I slept in a shelter half a mile from the road. Three months later a mountain lion was wiped out by an SUV on a highway in Connecticut. 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. I sat, played my guitar for an hour. I got into the bald on Big Hump and I heard an odd noise, like a quick screaching bird and something ran off. About 5 miles before we got to the Hollow, a large blond cat crossed the parkway. "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. Virginia has two different native species of wild cats. Wonder why so many big black cats ae spotted all over the country then?? Virginia's mountain lions, known as the Eastern puma, were once on the endangered species list. In a small town called Coeburn. The closest confirmed wild cougars, except for the Florida Panther,appear to bein Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas and western Louisiana, according to the blog post. Wild Cats in Virginia. But in 2011, they were declared extinct. The Bluefield, West Virginia native . Thats not to say they are made up. It isnt certain, but some researchers claim that there could be native cougar populations across the Blue Ridge in as little as 25-30 years. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. Any info would be greatly appreciated, The data they have collected over the years indicates that cougars are gradually making their way eastward, and validated the theory that young males travel farther and more quickly than females, making the repopulation process a gradual one. The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. But shes also realistic. Theyre around. Look forward to talking more. 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. John, This is interesting as authorities keep saying the big black cats dont exist unless they are transplants or escaped pets, etc??? They then have to ensure that the picture hasnt been tampered with in any way, because Peterson said an astounding number of peopleboth misinformed wildlife enthusiasts and tricksters with too much time on their hands and access to Photoshopsend him shots of mountain lions that were clearly either edited or taken in a state out west. Mountain Lions in New York. It was such a chilling sound at 1:30 in the morning. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. One of the first things we asked was if theyd heard screaming sounds. So will a new population of cougars render the U.S. Now, they are mostly relegated to a few states in the west. They then took the trail that went in the opposite direction of the animal. Photos are difficult to confirm, Peterson saidthe process involves sending wildlife experts to the exact spot where the cat was allegedly seen to take another photo in order to compare it to the original and verify the location. It's not the first time the same photo has been used to make claims of local sightings. And add to that the fact that someone may have actually been wrong. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. However, it is pretty well accepted that there are no cougars living in the east currently.. The sad thing is people I know who say theyve seen mtn lions in Botetourt and/or Bedford County, especially raccoon hunters who say their dogs treed a lion, would never come out publicly with such a statement. Part of their success is due to their adaptability when it comes to hunting and habitat needs. When Dr. Michelle LaRue began her graduate studies in 2005, the state of Nebraska had virtually no mountain lions. 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. Cougars used to roam the entirety of North America, making the mountain ranges, woodland forests, and river corridors from coast to coast their homes. We then came upon a very recent deer kill within 20 yards of the sighting. 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. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. It was not afraid of the dog at all, it walked back up in the woods and paced back in forth on a log. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. They said mountain lions had always been there, although you didnt hear them often. Love Virginia? I think we have coywolves. 3. Having myself grown up in western North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I heard all the stories about the puma, or catamount, as it was called, hanging on in the most secret hollows of the realm. Experience Shenandoah: Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime. Start throwing rocks or anything else at the animal to make it turn away. 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. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. However, once you start talking about black cats the credibility of the reports goes down signigiciantly. In fact, there have been 121 reports that are likely to have been true mountain lion sightings. of Wildlife. The New York Times reported that a cougar killed in Connecticut by car in 2011 was from the Black Hills of South Dakota:6, If a cougar population was e-established in the east, it would pose a risk to backcountry hikers similar to that posed by bears. Probably 10s of thousands across the Appalachian regions of the state. This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 lbs, has stubby tails and characteristic tufts of hair coming out of its ears. I have seen photos of these as well. Many mountain lions used to roam the West Virginia wilderness. ", Yellowstone bison are a globally unique animal. 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. My name is ryan and I am from dayton va. On Oct 3d, I was playing music w/ a friend near the union springs dam. Even thou it is a much smaller cat , its scream is much scarier ! Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. Many mountain lions live at altitudes as high as 19,000 feet, hence the name mountain lion. I am skeptical of each sighting of mountain lion when no physical evidence is present. 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