I too hope to see mountain lions return to Virginia, but I really dont think there are many here yet, if any all. This normal school was founded by veterans of both the Union and the Confederacy, Concord is named for the ideal of "harmony and sweet . 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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. In grad school I worked with a lot of the wildlife and natural resources folks at VT. They might even been reproducing. It would disappear and then reappear on the other side of us it did that 3 times. While Virginia Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland. When i shined my mag light acrossed it we noticed eyes and it was like nothing else we have seen before. He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News. An elderly man there once told me a story about a black Mountain Lion living in the area back in his younger days. D. Racey I dont think you have to worry about your horse at all. Good Cat food. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? And yet, there have been more than a few bizarre sightings over the past few decades that have us scratching our heads. Because I was at a B-day party, I had my camera, and took the picture off his phone. Several years later one of our neighbors was awakened by a commotion in the barn. After passing the long horn pasture over the summit I thought I was clear, hadnt seen eyes at any distance in a while. Suitable habitat is available now, but for decades it was not. Did hear some weird crying up in the hills yesterday though, kind of a cross between a calf and a human baby. It was big enough to clear the two lane road in two leaps. 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. Although this is great, there are a few things to consider. 12. We would also be very interested in recovering any remains. Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. Our last trip we had a mountain lion stalk us outside our tent. They were all shiny black with long tails. It was such a chilling sound at 1:30 in the morning. At the beginning of September there was an article in the Caroline Progress about a large cat in Caroline county with a picture from a game camera. Lystrosaurus was one of the few terrestial species that survived the permian extinction. Calling All Skiers and Snowboarders Home to Massanutten, An Insiders Guide to Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the Highest Peaks in Virginia. At a second glance, we knew that it couldnt be deer. 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. 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? He said it was from the Mattaponi Trial in Caroline County. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern subspecies extinct. This is not the same picture withe the cat dragging the buck. Most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties. Our sleep was disturbed any more that night. 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. Comments have now closed permanently, however. I havent seen them, but I have worked with folks there at the Smithsonians Conservation Research Center in Front Royal including Bill McShea. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I truly look forward to a repeat performance, but highly doubt I will happen upon such a circumstance of chance with the enigmatic creature. Virginia is home to a bounty of beautiful wildlife, including some magical animals that any of us would be lucky to spot. These are believable people, she said. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I got a couple of pictures of paw prints. While 4 wheeling in our Bronco on Buffalo Creek in Logan County, WV. By Rick Steelhammer. 29 and crossed the highway. 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. 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." Forestry rangers say they have spotted several mountain lions in the area. Mountain lions have many names, including the puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn. But the thing about mountain lions is that females dont travel as far or as often, and when they disperse they dont go very far or very well.. I aimed my light in the direction and it was a huge cat halfway up the tree staring at me. There have been sightings here, & in Nottaway county. About 6 years ago my husband and I saw a mountain lion cross directly in front of us on Bobbletts Gap Rd, in Bedford County. Rockingham Co., va Myself and many others in the state have trail cams all over the place. What big cats are in Virginia? I think I have now seen a mountain lion! His tail looked a couple of feet long! 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. 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? Then, off it went! Its a gradual process, and especially in the early years of a repopulation, any sightings are most likely of males. I have helped skin and mount wild cats before and definitely know the difference. In 1996-98 I lived in Catharpin, VA near Manassas Battlefield. This animal was a good thirty inches at the shoulder and must have weighted 150 pounds. Loudoun County Off of Woods road almost every single night we hear a mountain lion , no doubt at all this is what it is. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing, the Appalachian Trail, biking, travel, and more in the Blue Ridge and beyond. By 2011, U.S. 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? I should have said that I think I may have seen one myself. Does it make a circle on a set time period or does it travel randomly? The DNR maintains mountain lion sightings using a system to receive, record and review mountain lion reports. The tail was furry but with short hair like the rest of the body that I saw and was round kind of curving down and out like my house cats tail when he hunts birds. I know another person in Albemarle Co. who sees them sunning regularly there and has for years. But, there is always a chance that one day the sighting will be real. Mountain lions have many names, including the puma, mountain lion,panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn. He envisions calls from parents, too afraid to send their kids out to the bus stop knowing theres a mountain lion within miles of the area. Remember Ligertown? Surviving pony has teeth marks at neck. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. The last mountain lion in Virginia was killed In 1882! It was shocking to see something so unexpected! They still occur in parts of Central and South America. The Midwest can offer two of the three, but the males dont have much luck repopulating the area on their own. A little more certain, I took a kodak camera along and started taking pictures. 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. 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. And add to that the fact that someone may have actually been wrong. Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially . I hope the person who struck it hears its cries in his or her nightmares / dreams for a very long time to come. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). When rounding the corner in the driveway, my headlights illuminated a light reddish brown cat in a sitting position looking toward my house. I've seen them quite often. I have seen fully grown Bobcats up close, and those animals are way bigger than I had previously expected. "On average, DGIF has received approximately three to foursightings of large cats a month in recent years," the blog post stated. 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. Mr. Lutz do you have internet picture of the Virginia cougar that you show arround? 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. 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. He was concerned that the animal was, not only not affraid of him, but watched him for some time before running off. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. Last year I saw a very large cat print left in the snow. I am sorry, but some of the comments are incredible, and border on the hilarious. So many, in fact, that they've been listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the mammal with the most names. Long enough I was wishing he would be quiet so that I could hear if any deer were coming. Hello This evening (15May 07) I think I chased up a cougar. Wild Cats in Virginia. But we are talking about an actual animal which has a possibility of existing in localized population in some areas of the east. These felines are quite large. 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. I tried taking a picture of it with my phone but it jolted away. In a small town called Coeburn. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. Crossing by the large boulders on the trails was terrifying, only once did i see one behind a boulder when I passed. B. McQuary. 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. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. 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. Without as many wolves around, coyote populations began to thrive and expand eastward. i recently moved to Martinsville from Ct. My folks have lived in Stuart for the past 11 years. There are a lot of instances of someone trying to mess with us, or theyre messing with a buddy, and the buddy sends it to us thinking its real, he said. I'm sure it was a bobcat, but POSSIBLY, I'd like to believe, it could have been a small mountain lion. The ones I saw sure would have no problem taking down a deer, or person for that matter! Growing up, my parents always warned me about mountain lions whenever I went hiking, and everyone in the area accepted them as fact. Press J to jump to the feed. One large paw print about 3.5 to 4 inches wide, three distinct inch+ pads (no claw marks). There is no reported melanistic phase of cougars or pumas in the literature. 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. For years everybody in every state wildlife agency has gotten reports of sightings, but we had never had anything in Tennessee that we could really verify as a cougar, Peterson said. "Usually youngish males.". The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and . Here's What, Mountain Lion Size Comparison: How Do They, This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much Larger the Brown Bear Is and Goes for It, Watch This Family Discover a Mountain Lion Curled Up On Their Porch. Does it follow a path through the woods like a deer sometimes does?? I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. I live past the end of the road in the Blue Ridge. I really took offense to that.. The game warden cut open the animal and it had 2 walker hounds in its stomach. Thanks for any help, as plenty claim they are here also. My farm helper saw one at approximately the same location yesterday. Never have seen the cat again. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. The population of cougars west of the Mississippi River was large enough that it was not listed. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . It is being held at the Discovery Center at SML State Park from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on March 31st. "At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, thus far and no further. If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour. My wife, dog, and I were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour this morning (11/8/07). they may have migrated there by way of fractured habitat that has forced them into the area due to encroachment. Even with all these numerous sightings they still dug their heels in, and that was pretty frustrating, she said of the officials at agencies like the U.S. But before all this happened I heard them calling its almost like they were planning the hunt to come. Was on a guided hunt in Bath county Virginia in November of 06. . We had a secluded cabin off of cedar key road, private property (no hunting/trespassing) that ran for acres and acres, as well as a private and protected cove, as bass spawn there, no wake, no loud noises, no people. I used to just worry about snakes while berry picking. Also the Coyotes up there are getting out of hand in my eyes. 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. Im guessing it was about 1987 but cant be sure. Our youngest daughter was hysterical thinking that her mule would be attacked. I have neighbors that say they have seen them. It was about 100 pounds with a tail about 3 feet long. Definitely not a dog, too big for a cat. Hello Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. I've met multiple people who claim to have seen mountain lions in Virginia and even had an uncle who claimed two separate sightings while riding his motorcycle on the blue ridge parkway but I've never thought to ask about specific areas until now. The likelihood of seeing one is incredibly rare, let alone interacting with them, she said. I keep a compost heap in the edge of the woods which attracts possums and other small critters. I must have terrified them. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. It lived across the cove form us, and it would scream out at night sometimes, so loud that chills ran down our spines. 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. But then again, no one would come forward if they killed one because its illegal to kill an endangered species. Mountain lions weigh between 90-160 pounds while bobcats weigh between 20-30 pounds according to an article by the Iowa DNR. 21 years ago Nancy Hugo published an article in Virginia Wildlife Feb 1987. Experience Shenandoah: Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime. We almost hit it with the car. Mountain lions and yes black cats. as for coyotes they are everywhere. I went to Chestoa, which is an awesome overlook pretty much between Altapass and Linville. 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. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. So, wanting to get them closer, I called them. My mother lives in Orange, and has seen a mountain lion in the past couple of weeks, as well as several years ago. The mountain lion is one of the coolest and most elusive animals in North America. 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