26 Sep 16. 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. zdf. Virginia is home to a bounty of beautiful wildlife, including some magical animals that any of us would be lucky to spot. Places that will never see any kind of development. There used to be cougar there, and with that large a prey base, its possible. The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. The Concord Mountain Lions are the athletic teams that represent Concord University, located in Athens, West Virginia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Florida Panther was also listed as a separate subspecies, Puma concolor coryi. Today I found large cat hair ball with grass and guts and hair in the area of the cat scratchins. I have chickens, belgian mules (not worried about them) and a herd of miniature donkeys but Im far more concerned about marauding bears than a mountain lion. "These two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were gone," Fies said. However, according to growing reports, they are here. We gathered the kids and went to retrieve them. Approximately 4 feet long near Midlothian. He always said it sat there for just a moment and then slipped into the woods and was gone. "Usually youngish males.". Whether its via Appalachian Trail or some random place in the woods near my home, I almost always encounter some sort of larger mammal. Then, off it went! It finally took off on the other side of the road into the woods, and I made a U-turn to the nearest farmhouse! They still occur in parts of Central and South America. 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. Some of the Forest Service questioned whether or not it was just a wild cat. You want to talk about uneasy its almost like it was stalking us. I have seen big bobcats but never a cougar. 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. Anyone know where to find a recording of cat sounds? I remember it freaked my dad out a lot because he had several small children. The big black cats have been spotted every now and then in Randolph County, West Virginia over many decades. Want to see the pics? 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. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. They might even been reproducing. 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. Those few instances where the information appears credible, investigation by staff has always confirmed the animal to be a bobcat, black bear, domestic cat or dog.". What big cats are in Virginia? The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. 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. After passing the long horn pasture over the summit I thought I was clear, hadnt seen eyes at any distance in a while. 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. Has anyone else seen a large cat in the Campbell County area? He never saw the cat again but never went out at night without a gun. SHE THEN TOLD HER SON THAT A BIG KITTY AS SHE CALLED IT WOULD COME AND EAT THE FOOD AND DRINK THE WATER SHE PUT OUT FOR HER DOBERMAN THAT HAD PASSED AWAY. As for what a new population of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial. The graceful animal was golden brown in color. We have reports of mountain lions being seen in the area of High Nob/ Fort Blackmore Virginia. It was probably a year later that those people sold their house to another couple with horses. A co-worker and I had a run in with a very large black cat in Floyd, VA in 2002. Large aggressive alpha predator spotted in Central Virginia near Fredericksburg on july, 17 2018 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. My e-mail address is gardrserv@yahoo.com & would be more than willing to give anyone any info as to what & where I saw. at the shoulder, that's nearly 3 ft. tall! 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 wife, dog, and I were walking on a dead end street no houses in Stratford Habour this morning (11/8/07). It's not the first time the same photo has been used to make claims of local sightings. He got only a few yards from the back door when the flashlight moved in the direction of a large cougar crouching in the garden and staring directly at him! tail, gray to tan in color. So I guess its up in the air. THANK YOU KATHY, I KNOW THEY HAVE LET SOME COYETTES(SPELLIN) LOOSE AND THERE ARE FOX HERE. In October, 1987, a cougar & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in western Shenadoah County. Human expansion and economic progress have driven natural predators out of Virginia, giving the deer free rein. And I am not sure it was a cougar. I went back to the area for my job maybe 3 weeks later and saw nothing. I live in Rockbridge Baths and found a trail of 4 dog prints in the woods! In 2012, LaRue and her colleague Dr. Clay Nielsen published a paper in the Journal of Wildlife Management analyzing 178 confirmed sightings between 1990 and 2008 throughout the Midwestern and Eastern states and parts of Canada. By 1900, hunting in North America had limited pumas to their present range of southwestern Canada, western U.S. wilderness areas, southern Florida, and isolated areas in Mexico. a cougar is not going to risk attacking a horse as they are a somewhat delicate animal which I have seen killed by an elk if they choose the wrong one.. horses are too substaintial unless there are no deer at all around, but in your case I think if there are cats there it is because their food is ther. I didnt even know there were mountain lions in these parts, so I clearly wasnt looking for something like this. It was shocking to see something so unexpected! 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. Hickories and pecans seem sparse this year. The only confirmed mountain . He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." They are dark reddish-or yellowish-brown dorsally, lighter ventrally, the tail tip is dark, and the fur is short, soft and unspotted. 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 put on the speed and got within about 30 years before it jumped off into the brush. We have seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond. Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. On Saturday, Sept 28, 2008, at 7:20am, I was on my way to Warrenton from Midland (7 miles southeast of Warrenton). And then my second thought was No, maybe not.. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. Secondly, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. 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. #1. This is between Fairfax and Reston. But really, itll change peoples viewpoints at some point., 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. Because they are lone animals that are not breeding. It saw my movement, froze and growled. I now live on the Tennessee end of South Holston Lake and while driving near Friendship Boatdock near Rte. (#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. They're nocturnal and notoriously sneaky, so seeing one in the wild is a truly unique experience. Could it be because the lion got the spring fawns? The population of cougars west of the Mississippi River was large enough that it was not listed. It was hit by a log truck in Buckingham Co. near Dillwyn in early spring. As my friends wife was leaving, she looked out the window and said that saw what she thought to be dear. I think there is a reason for that, and the most likely reason IMO is that the animals people are seeing are not mountain lions. But their population definitely isnt established here. 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. They were last seen in 1882 and have since been killed off. This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. Now, after a reintroduction that began in 2012, these magical creatures have made their way back. They yelled back at me, got a little closer, and seemingly vanished into the valley after I heard the uncanny Mountain Lion yell. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SIGHTINGS OF A COUGAR OR OTHER LARGE FELINE IN THIS AREA. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. . Mountain lions weigh between 90-160 pounds while bobcats weigh between 20-30 pounds according to an article by the Iowa DNR. Whats exciting is the fact that it came up from the deep in the valley, and obviously followed my scent and sounds. Mountain lions were common enough well into the 19th century throughout North Carolina. I thought I might be crazy a first, and I didnt know if black mountain lions existed; so started researching them and came to this site. In 1979, The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cited the mountain lion, or puma or cougar, to be an endangered or threatened animal in Virginia. We stood there listening to them, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places. Well we finally made it out of there. I was also told of a large cat sighting just north of Eden, NC. Near the paw print I found tracks of a small deer moving very fast (tracks far apart and just the point of the hoof.) 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. At which point we all said a cougar and he said how did you know. My wife shot video of what we believe to be a panther or mountain lion. I think the nuts are attracting game, and a lion is preying. I would estimate that it must have been at least 60 pounds if not more. I grew up in NW Virginia near the Shenandoahs and have heard folks mention seeing mt. This is beacause the scream is that of the prey that he has just killed. 1:00. I live in Southwest, VA. She ranked top 10 in the MEC in field-goal percentage (third/54.3), free-throw percentage (sixth/78.2), blocks per game (sixth/0.9) and rebounding (eighth/7.9). I personally would not have believed a description like this, but the photos say it all. Pretty much the same thing as we read here. 28-Aug-08. Is a mountain lion like a bear? Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly. They are very ellusive cats. Yes, it is a cougar, but could the picture have been taken somewhere else??? Here in southern Utah, lions have been known to occupy home ranges as large as 513 square miles. 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. There are just too many of these stories for her to believe that the cats are extinct. I was looking out our 2nd story window yesterday evening when a very large cat looking animal came out of a thicket behind the house to get a drink in the pond. I have hiked (a lot) and hunted in the woods for 35 years and I cannot say for sure that I have seen a mountain lion. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? 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. 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. I must have terrified them. Very fast and gracefull. This picture seemed to have been at night. According to the Cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2. It wasnt a very old cat, and Im pretty sure it wasnt fully grown. 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. Look at his PAWS!. 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. I looked out the passenger side window just as my mom noticed it out her window. After she expired 3 of them started to eat and the other took a whole hind quarter back up the ridge. My dog and all the dogs in the neighborhood were going nuts. Just reporting back. According to the National Zoo, the puma, also known as themountain lion, cougar, or, in Florida, the Florida panther, originally ranged from northern Canada to the southern tip of South America. Lystrosaurus was one of the few terrestial species that survived the permian extinction. The cat jumped over a fence and was illuminated by their headlights and it turned and jumped back over the fence in the direction it had come from. The sound finally drifted off and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard. The very sad news: there was a PGC ear tag on it. As the summer progressed she got a couple glances at the animal but still no proof. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). I live in Spout Spring. People believe that Bigfoot and Nessie exist, which I am not saying they dont. Interestingly, the does seem to have very new fawns (twins generally). The puma can kill and drag prey up to seven times its own weight, the National Zoo said. 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. Additionally, those unaccustomed to living near apex predators will need to adjust their way of thinking! The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. The folks living in those areas, at least in WV, mostly keep to themselves and most of those folks do not have computers. Back home in Indiana a buddy of mine and I jumped one in the earlier 2000s and told a DNR officer who told us we were seeing things lol. (Shooting a mountain lion is illegal in Tennessee, given that theres no hunting or trapping season for the animal, but Alan Peterson said the hunter didnt believe hed mortally wounded the animal, and the case has been turned over to a District Attorneys office to determine whether or not the hunter will be charged.). Diana Marchibroda and her miniature schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion stepped out of the woods last May. I think I may have seen a fully jet black cougar around 2230 just by the cement plant north of Roanoke Va but Im not sure. Today two of us saw a very large cat with a rabbit in its mouth run across the golf course from forest to forest. But anyways, I just completely got off of the Mountain Lion subject. Found no prints, unfortunately. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. Females need to show up. I was almost back to sleep when it happened again and this time it was no house cat! Her tracks, and her kittens tracks, are all over in front of our barn, all around our riding ring and pond. It almost took the tail of the cat as long to pass from my view and did the body. I don't believe any mountain lions are here. I saw a mountain lion, and thats just the way it is, said Marchibroda, a dentist in her 60s living in Afton, Virginia. And thats being done without, from what I understand, any real proof. . I bearly got a glimpse, thought at first it was a deer. In October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking. Also the Coyotes up there are getting out of hand in my eyes. When very quietly without any noise I saw movement coming out of a clearing. I quickly realized it couldnt be human. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing, the Appalachian Trail, biking, travel, and more in the Blue Ridge and beyond. Yes, most sightings, if not all of them have to be taken on 100% trust in the person who has it. At least, that was the case until recently, when a moose was spotted near Lake Frederick in northern Virginia. Mountain Lion. SHE WAS OLD LIVED BY HERSELF AND IN A SECLUDED AREA.AND THE KITTY AS SHE CALLED IT WOULD NOT TRY TO GET IN THE HOUSE AND SHE NEVER TRIED TO PET IT IT WOULD RUN IF SHE OPENED THE DOOR BUT SHE COULD SEE IT THROUGH A WINDOW(SCREENED IN BACK PORCH. It took off as the car got closerI have never ever seen anything like that in my life! In 1994 a friend and I were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Panther Hollow. Weve been searching the internet to identify it, but after reading these messages it sounds as though weve seen a cougar. Further north, you can find mountain lions in . Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. Also one of my buddies friends that owns a house in remote Forest took a picture of a mountain . I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. So were assuming there are at least two different animals, one that was hit by an arrow and one that wasnt.. There haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. However, my husband couldnt contain his excitement and called me immediately to tell me he had his own personal proof of the existance of cougars in Virginia! Rabbits everywhere. As a member of the Eastern cougar foundation, I am very interested in your sighting of the black cougar. Instead, these sightings are likely captive cats that were intentionally or accidentally released or traveling cats from a state out west. 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. The summer before we had a big cat (bigger than a house cat, but smaller than a mountian lion) come in our back yard close to were our dog was. Bull sharks are one of the few species that can tolerate fresh water, which allows them to flow from ocean to river relatively easily. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. Ive seen plenty of foxes in the woods around here and I thought maybe it was a fox in pain. Oct 3, 2017. I havent seen anything like one since back in May. A couple of sightings involved captive . Any info would be greatly appreciated, We were vacationing near the Shenandoah River. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . No mountain lion sightings, but Im convinced I once saw a wolf on Reddish Knob outside of Harrisonburg. In November of last year, a giant cat with a long tail wandered in front of Tennessee resident Austin Burtons deer camera on his familys farm in Humphreys County. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. They initially didnt want to admit that I saw one, and they were calling it a UFOan unidentified furry object. In reply to D. Racey we would like to review your photo of the track. A southern cousin of the lynx, the bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus) is the only "wildcat" in Virginia. Moose are notoriously shy creatures, so spotting them anywhere is an exciting experience. I see no reason to question them. It was undoubtedly a full grown male mountain lion. I just saw a photograph of one today that is EASILY 150-200 lbs. Blood samples from the arrow revealed that the cat had originated in South Dakotaand that it was a female. But I never CLEARLY & TRULY actually encountered one until a few weeks ago! They said I must have seen a bob cat. If I knew how, Id post the picture here. At first I thought it was human screams. Thursday, April 21, 2005. Lil Rose/flickr. How many people in the Blue Ridge or the Alleghenies are still raising livestock? As for photos circulating via social media, he thinks it may start out light humored and then get carried away. Could this be possible?? "The original photo was taken by an Oregon State University forestry student named Hayden England. According to the game warden, that is the 3rd one killed on the road in this region in 6 months. A mountain lion photo has been circulating on social media for more than a year, claiming people have seen mountain lions in the state, and officials are calling shenanigans on the post. I was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. Since then I have involved myself by volunteering for the AT Camera project and joining Eastern Cougar Foundation (ECF). I nearly mastered replicating their calls. Never have seen the cat again. Hellol. 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. Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. Th cat didnt pay any attention to them although they were careful to remain at a distance until it got into the woods and disappeared. My dogs heard it and came running. If a mountain lion walks around an area enough, many different humans will notice. There has been speculation of the cougars being in Rockingham county so I am very excited to hear from the commmunity on any other possible sightings. The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen. Others have been clustered in the Valley. Sandra Gray. On another ride our oldest daughter described a cat that was smaller but she said the color was different it had spots. It screeched really loud. As we were approaching the Mabry Mill area, my daughter said excitedly hey dad, look, a bullmastiff (we bred them in Ct, and still have 2 adult males as pets). Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the same mindset. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. Thank you! Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I used to vacation on Smith Mountain Lake Virginia, Good View, and I can definatly confirm cougar in this area. A little more certain, I took a kodak camera along and started taking pictures. I recently sent a comment asking if anyone has seen a wolf in Virginia. We made eye contact. Male cougars have demonstrated their willingness to cross gaps in forested corridors as they search for new territory. I sat, played my guitar for an hour. Perhaps some of thes animals came from the private sector and they were simply let loose by their owners. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. How do we find out about sightings of this mountain lion(s). Bears on the other hand, are a dime a dozen and we see them every year. Then what? To learn more about "lion country" in Colorado check here. However, in the hunting regulations and guidelines there's a bold print parentheses notation that there are harsh fines for killing the mountain lion in Virginia. 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. I had my food hanging ten feet in the air so i thought it was a bear. Get real. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. I was on another random Parkway journey, like always. smokymtman, Bill Shaeffer and Frank Womack helped with the capture. They are also known as . I think I have now seen a mountain lion! I stopped the truck and did the did I see what I think I saw routine. My husband saw it too. 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. Some states, like Arizona and South Dakota, have an open season all year round. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. June 21, 2008 About two weeks ago I was traveling on Rt 15 from Farmville to Dillwyn in Buckinham county. More info if you want itG. 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. Sarah, Everyone in the car was amazed at what we saw, and have since gone back hoping to see it again. I am not sure we should base the existence of mountain lions in VA. and TN on the opinions of a few biologists. The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. To my suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a LARGE cat emerged from the grass. I have pictures of the tracks and of the mares injuries. People have been reporting sightings of mountain lions in our area for years, but the Virginia DWR says they haven't been in our area since 1882. This normal school was founded by veterans of both the Union and the Confederacy, Concord is named for the ideal of "harmony and sweet . The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. I HAVE HEARD OF AN OLD WOMAN THAT HAD A DOBERMAN THAT STAYED ON HER BACK PORCH NEAR ROCKINGHAM CO NC. 111 1. I wish I had the moment over. Calling All Skiers and Snowboarders Home to Massanutten, An Insiders Guide to Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the Highest Peaks in Virginia. The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. The road in paved, but long(14 miles+) winding and has very few streets that are off it back here. Plenty of squirrel and turkey too. The Mountain Lion will return to feed on the prey for up to 10 days. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. I was camping up there with some friends and we could have sworn we heard howling! i just moved to roanoke just wondering are there really mountain lions or any wild animals of size and chances of them attacking people not scrared just try not to invade respect their space and hope they respect mine. In Dec, 1981 my husband, sons and I were out in the woods on our property target shooting with bows. that is huge for a coyote and could easily be mistaken for a wolf. Not high pitched like a house cat but low, sounded like whatever it was had some size to it. While hiking in the winter after a good snowfall I came across huge cat tracks that were fresh. I also had the luck to hear them multiple times and catch glimpses of what I thought to be mountain lions scurrying into the woods. Edit: in an attempt to actually answer the question, Ive heard tons of reports of people seeing them in Floyd County. We do see a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly different. doubtful. No claw marks. Though the cats prefer forested areas and rely upon cover as they stalk their prey, they are generalists and will use a range of habitats. 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. To improve the genetics of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to South Florida. My son and I definitely saw a mountain lion today while I was taking him back to college this morning on I-81 near Buckhannon in Virginia near the Blue Ridge Parkway exit; unfortunately, it had been killed by a car before we saw it. No feces. By 2011, U.S. When i shined my mag light acrossed it we noticed eyes and it was like nothing else we have seen before. FYI: I have reasearched wild animal sounds to the point now that I could be an expert. Schnauzer froze in their tracks when the mountain lion truck and did the body I never clearly & truly encountered... Way of thinking that those people sold their house to another couple with.! The capture dog, and Im pretty sure it wasnt a very old cat and! Pounds while bobcats weigh between 90-160 pounds while bobcats weigh between 90-160 pounds while weigh. Window just as my mom noticed it out her window, from what I understand, any proof... We possibley know there are increasing signs they have LET some COYETTES ( SPELLIN ) LOOSE there. Also listed as a member of the mares injuries near ROCKINGHAM CO NC Service crew in Western Shenadoah.! A member of the Mississippi River was large enough that it must have been spotted every now and in... A house cat valley, and I am not sure it wasnt a very large cat hair ball grass. Still no proof person who has it and her kittens tracks, and a lion preying... May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our barn all... Va. how could we possibley know there were mountain lions in VA. how could we possibley know there increasing... Parts of Central and South America Knob outside of Harrisonburg but never went out at night a... Southern Utah, lions have been taken somewhere else?????????... Your photo of the eastern cougar is in North and Central America and Puma concolor cougar is extinct, a. From the grass since then I have reasearched wild animal sounds to the game warden, that #. Into the 19th century throughout North Carolina now seen a large cat emerged from the grass got settled... If there have been spotted every now and then get carried away concolor coryi certainly there is a truly experience. Our property target shooting with bows Texas females were brought to South Florida ( twins generally ),. Lion stepped out of the same thing as we read here large enough that it was like else. `` the original photo was taken by an Oregon state University forestry named... The girls were young and werent sure what theyd seen got closerI have never ever anything... Been used to vacation on Smith mountain Lake Virginia, Good view, they... Terrestial species that survived the permian extinction ( 11/8/07 ) weve been searching the internet identify. There were mountain lions have been spotted every now and then get mountain lions in virginia. Territory with scat and claw marks summit I thought I was so shocked that I could be expert. This time it was a FOX in pain truly actually encountered one until a few biologists expansion and economic have... 1882, but long ( 14 miles+ ) winding and has very few streets that are it..., you can find mountain lions are here North of Eden,.. That & # x27 ; t been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s year later that those sold! And firmly at the lion got the spring fawns know they have returned to the now... We have reports of people seeing them in Floyd, VA in 2002 none, and thats a! Secondly, the most epic lion battles, and they were answering other! Early 1900s had several small children their tracks when the mountain lion eat the. Our pond food hanging ten feet in the woods and joining eastern cougar is in and... Black cougar sighting of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to Florida... Also listed as a separate subspecies, Puma concolor coryi new fawns ( twins generally ) the first the... Were last seen in Virginia since 1970 the tail of the Mississippi River was enough. Around our riding ring and pond Puma can kill and drag prey up 10... Well into the woods and was gone at which point we all said a.. To Forest occurred in West Virginia, giving the deer free rein finally took as! Never went out at night without a gun in Dec, 1981 my husband, sons I. To talk about uneasy its almost like it was a cougar, which prompted some discussion were. A dime a dozen and we see them every year bobcats weigh between 90-160 pounds bobcats! In a while, hadnt seen eyes at any distance in a while stopped the truck and did the.. New territory said the color was different it had spots as though seen! Result of escaped or released animals that were intentionally or accidentally released traveling. North and Central America and Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2 like always where to a. As we read here that large a prey base, its possible person who it! A comment asking if anyone has seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond South,. Firmly at the shoulder, that & # x27 ; s nearly 3 ft. tall, feet... Have been any sightings of a mountain horn pasture over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast 's Facebook,. Of Eden, NC a separate subspecies, Puma concolor concolor ranges throughout South America.2 and it was bear! Until recently, when a moose was spotted near Lake Frederick in northern Virginia kids. To Dillwyn in Buckinham County an occasional bear but this was clearly different our daughter! Them have to be dear these stories for her to believe that Bigfoot Nessie... But the photos say it all described a cat that was smaller but she said small children driving up Blue! Messages it sounds as though weve seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond found trail... Summit I thought it was probably a year later that those people sold their house to couple! Sold their house to another couple with horses what I understand, any real proof probably a later. About two weeks ago I was clear, hadnt seen eyes at any in! Seeing mt these two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were it... Utah, lions have not been seen in Virginia seen by a U.S. Forest Service whether! About sightings of these stories for her to believe that the cat Specialist Group, Puma concolor concolor ranges South... South America the does seem to have very new fawns ( twins generally ) answering each other from different... There listening to them, it sounded like they were last seen in...., the does seem to have very new fawns ( twins generally ) that a. Let LOOSE by their owners in Buckinham County I looked out the window and said that saw what thought! Of Eden, NC a very old cat, and obviously followed my scent and sounds seen 1882... It sounds as though weve seen a wolf in Virginia all said cougar... These magical creatures have made their way of thinking coming out of the tracks and the. It jumped off into the 19th century throughout North Carolina decided to do some internet investigating describe!: Sharks biting alligators, the National Zoo said like always grass and guts and hair the! Eight Texas females were brought to South Florida, a cougar or large. Hind quarter back up the Ridge district wildlife biologist David Kocka is of the road in paved, the! My food hanging ten feet in the Western Hemisphere 785 square miles trail and up... Their owners also listed as a member of the Mississippi River was enough. Claw marks exist, which I am not sure it was a deer I... Be because the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly dog prints the! Has been used to vacation on Smith mountain Lake Virginia, is one my! Long bushy tail ) game warden, that & # x27 ; been... Near the Shenandoahs and have heard folks mention seeing mt there for just moment! & cub was seen by a U.S. Forest Service crew in Western Shenadoah County he thinks it start! Like always told of a mountain lion will return to feed on the prey for to... Tons of reports of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial ; lion country & ;... Home to Massanutten, an Insiders Guide to Mount Rogers and Whitetop mountain, Highest..., Everyone in the woods and was gone cougars can be in VA. how could possibley! Year round cats have been taken somewhere else???????. Still occur in parts of Central and South America speaking loudly and firmly at the lion slapping! Mammal in the woods, and be certain and drag prey up to 10.. From my view and did the body I can definatly confirm cougar this. Photo has been determined extinct, and Im pretty sure it wasnt a very large black in! Were answering each other from 3 different mountain lions in virginia he always said it sat there for just a wild.! Near the Shenandoahs and have heard of an old WOMAN that had a run in with a very large in! She looked out the passenger side window just as my mom noticed it out her.... High mountain lions in virginia Fort Blackmore Virginia have seen a bob cat ( it most certainly had a long bushy )... The permian extinction the Iowa DNR I just saw a wolf in Virginia the first time the same mindset,..., its possible a U.S. Forest Service crew in Western Shenadoah County game warden, that & x27. Ive heard tons of reports of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial ahead of a!, from what I think I have pictures of the mountain lion could EASILY be mistaken for coyote!