Like a number of other people in her communitya hunter who caught the tail end of a cat on his deer cam and a Presbyterian minister in Batesville whose neighbor saw one drinking out of a pond, to name a coupleMarchibroda knows that she saw a mountain lion, and she wants state and national wildlife agencies to take these sightings seriously. It was less than a year before that my daughter said she came across a litter of cute puppies while riding her mule in the park. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan, morphological differences identified from museum specimens was used to classify over 30 subspecies of the Eastern Cougar, before DNA analysis was available I was glad i was in a car, as Im sure it would have been terrified had we been on foot. I was looking for a litle solitude so i ventured about a 1/4 mile off the trail and set up camp by a little stream. (usualy a rabbit) as it tapers off not to be heard again until the next night. Tried to track it with the game warden but never found it. Then I heard Coyotes doing their eerie little howls. This is because they are very territorial and mark their territory with scat and claw marks. The last cougar in Virginia was killed in Washington County in 1882. Blood samples from the arrow revealed that the cat had originated in South Dakotaand that it was a female. Is it a change in the regime their [sic]? While he was sitting his tail came to his front side and swept the ground floor back and forth. We do have pictures of that! I, on more than one occassion heard the screams of what sounded like a woman who needed help. First, the nature of the mountain lion is to be elusive. One of the first things we asked was if theyd heard screaming sounds. Want to see the pics? The Shenandoah Mountains are an excellent habitat for these big cats, and the potential for return is an actual possibility, as we will discover below. So these sightings have been confirmed, and there is in fact at least one mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee. Then what? It was about 8:00 am on Saturday 8/8/09 and I noticed a black animal in a fenced pasture just ahead of me. It was light brown and was definitely a cat, and it had a long tail. the cougar. I believe that area was once habitat for the red wolf. 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 a female kitten gets big enough, she doesnt have to go very far, because nobodys kicking her in the butt to get far away.. He saw the cougar on March 10, 2015 while working in the field near Vida, Oregon.". soon after, a report appeared in the wash. post about a squirrel-hunting ranger/game warden who spotted 2 pumas. Mountain Lion. With numerous supposed sightings since the 1970s to present, it doesn't sound too far fetched. I stopped the truck and did the did I see what I think I saw routine. Any info would be greatly appreciated, What big cats are in Virginia? Im not suggesting this a farm animal. You could check with the Dept. It had a tail just about as large as the body. And thats being done without, from what I understand, any real proof. I was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. The sound finally drifted off and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard. 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. 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. The ones I saw sure would have no problem taking down a deer, or person for that matter! Where are they coming from? Wild Cats in Virginia. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. Kocka, who predicts that hell be retired long before cougars establish a population in Virginia, said it will change things., There will be dynamics that people have no concept of, he said. Figure 1 - Mountain lion range and confirmed sightings from 1990-2008. . I hope that maybe I can find a place I can place a trail camera nearby to search for it. Mountain Lion. Even thou it is a much smaller cat , its scream is much scarier ! This isnt just hearsay.. This had Caroline County, on the bottom of the screen. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. 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. It has to be a good, clear photo, and we get all kinds of fuzzy stuff that could be a bobcat, could be a yellow lab, but its so far away or so fuzzy we cant tell.. It was as big or bigger than a german sheppard, but most definitely a cat. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". or the puma to make official statements confirming its presence in the Eastern US and in fact might prove harmful to the cougar spur public fear if such a confirmation were made. He circled and hissed right up against the tent. So that is all the details I can think of except I didnt mention that the cat was tan with dark fur higlighting its face, looked like pictures Ive seen of them really and I figured due to its size and the fact that it had no spots left that we could see it was almost grown. I was also told of a large cat sighting just north of Eden, NC. 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. they may have migrated there by way of fractured habitat that has forced them into the area due to encroachment. All the territories are basically taken up so they have to go somewhere else, and somewhere else happens to be the Midwest.. I live in Montgomery Co, and was wondering if you could tell me where exactly you saw the cougar in 2002 in Floyd county. Certainly there is a chance that cougars can be in VA. How could we possibley know there are none, and be certain. "The original photo was taken by an Oregon State University forestry student named Hayden England. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied. Are Mountain Lions Back in the Blue Ridge? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Virginia Taylor Painting on Porcelain Mountain Lion Puma at the best online prices at eBay! 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. As my friends wife was leaving, she looked out the window and said that saw what she thought to be dear. Staunton entrepreneurs tackle urban farming. oct, 20-07 amherst va near big mount pleasent. They can stand up to 35 in. My e-mail address is gardrserv@yahoo.com & would be more than willing to give anyone any info as to what & where I saw. Secondly, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. It was standing next to a large hill in the median and looked at my car as I passed. But even when a new population does begin to grow, LaRue said the likelihood of crossing paths with them will still be miniscule. My father assumed it was a released pet, but then my good friend a licensed vet tech and very knowledgeable saw one with her husband in Nokesville VA on her horse farm, it was just on the edge of the wood line watching them, when they felt they were being watched and noticed the huge cat it dissappeared quickly, they have 2 miniature horses that are less than 200 lbs, it may have been observing. On Monday, the state agency . This was kind of cool to me so I was on the lookout for any other animals, also keeping in mind that they might run onto the road. It finally took off on the other side of the road into the woods, and I made a U-turn to the nearest farmhouse! Thanks for any help, as plenty claim they are here also. She was certain of the species but said it moved very slowly and appeared to be thin and weak. 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. 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. They plan on going back to that area with their camera in hopes of spotting it again and taking pics. Since my reported sighting of a perhaps cougar several local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have seen. Like I said we never saw the mother just the young cat but I would guess it was somewhere between midway and three quarters fully grown. We finally got her settled down, put Andy back in the pasture and went back to bed. Its been about ten years since then and Smith Mountain Lake has become a vacation spot for every northern virginian there is so the mountain lion probably found a more secluded area, there is a ton of it out there, to hunt and live. I wouldnt be surprised by any scenario pointing to encroachment and/or incidental release. 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. There used to be cougar there, and with that large a prey base, its possible. It was about 100 pounds with a tail about 3 feet long. We got a phone call last night that one of our neighbors (in Midlothian, VA) saw a lion in the back yard. Lets explore what that looks like some more. I was relating a story about a multiple sighting of a black phase mountain lion just a few miles from town to a friend that had arrived from middle TN. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. Sometimes you may hear it end in an agonizing high pitche scream. Cougars prowled nearly all of the United States below Canada, and all of Virginia from mountain . Why do they believe it now? The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. His tail looked a couple of feet long! This lion was hit between Cherry Reservoir Road and High Knob area See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? Someone is trying to instill fear about mountain lions on the loose in Virginia, though the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries says it's fake news. I have a 2 year old grandson and a small dog and cat. It jumpped across the dirt road and into the woods headed north. Wow, those sure are sneaky and stealthy cats out there..maybe they received covert training from the CIA. 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. We then came upon a very recent deer kill within 20 yards of the sighting. The Blue Ridge Mountains are prime habitat for these cats, and once they get a foothold in the region, the signs are positive that they could return. Good Cat food. There is an abundent population of squirl, deer and turkey. I was dragging some stuff behind my ATV down a old farm road in Appomattox Virginia, when this fellow bounced out in front of me about 50 yards ahead. Fish and Wildlife Service has made official what has long been suspected that the eastern mountain lion is extinct. You can also count Randolph, Upshur, and Webster countys in W.VA. My dad, his dad, and myself can vouch for those three. A mountain lion is a wild cat ranging from two to three feet tall, with females weighing up to 120lbs and males up to 200lbs, making it the fourth largest cat in the world. I would think by the time you get your phone/camera on, & ready, the cougars gone. Red wolves have been reintroduced into the state. Male cougars migrate further than females, but so far only a few have followed the pattern of coyotes and reached the eastern side of North America. We have heard them up near the edge of the mountains but never this close. The cat was black with a tail nearly as long as its body. Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. When it went in the woods all the birds starting chipping and flying all over. 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. Saturday 27 Sept 08 I found a large paw print in the mud from the recent rains. I have a call into the animal control (only to find out if there were others who reported it) and hope to hear back from them tomorrow. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. I live in Spotsylvania va in a development but we all live on 5 to 10 acres. And I am not sure it was a cougar. I found one which I took a picture of. It stopped and looked at me for a minute, I didnt move, and then it went on into the woods where I know a rabbit lives. It stood about 3 feet tall, and had a rounded face with low-set ears. Period. Ideas? We disturbed something that ran off into the woods. It was a juvenile mountain lion. There are a lot of feral escaped farm animals* and pets roaming around parts of the United States, so theres a chance that this is what people see. Guess we will never know the truth unless there is a fantastic picture with know location shown also. The agency noted that the initial listing was an error, and the species had been extinct long before the 1973 listing:4. . However it was way too fast, too quiet, and did not move like a deer. The U.S. But these cats are on experts radars, and the TWRA has even established a Cougar Response Committee to answer questions and sift through reported sightingsof which Peterson said he expects to see an influx later in the year. I really took offense to that.. But the majesty and strength of the Mountain Lion was still apparent! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When they said they had we advised them of the origin and told them about the cougar incident on their property. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it! I keep a compost heap in the edge of the woods which attracts possums and other small critters. In October & November of 2007, my dogs got to barking. i would love their return to our wilds. I was camping up there with some friends and we could have sworn we heard howling! 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 numerous Panther Knobs and Panther Runs found across the state provide evidence of this animal's wide presence and its influence on the minds of early Mountaineers. zdf. The Afternoon Tea At This British-Themed Tearoom In Virginia Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Virginia Hotel For Decades, This Rustic Barn Restaurant In Virginia Serves Up Heaping Helpings Of Delicious Cooking, The Incredible Place In Virginia That Was Once Part Of The Underground Railroad, Shop Til You Drop At The Factory Antique Mall, One Of The Largest Flea Markets In Virginia, Open For An Entire Century, The Virginian Is Always A Timeless Dining Experience, This Covered Wagon Campground In Virginia Is A Wonderfully Unique Overnight Adventure, Thousands Of Singing Spring Peepers Are A Welcome Sound Of A New Season Here In Virginia, How The Worlds Most Notorious Mythical Creature Is Said To Dwell In This Small Virginia Town. The fourth-largest cat in the world, it thrived from the frigid Yukon to the tip of South America. The sighting feet long the initial listing was an error, and had! 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