mountain lions in virginia

While driving down a winding mountain road in Madison County (Northwest, VA), I witnessed a large cat trotting up the road toward me. So yes, there are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge. Its not really realistic to think that they have a chance to survive very well in Virginia currently. Michael said. " But it was very odd because the scream wouldnt quite finish and then it would start again. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. In Wyoming, the season runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, but in Utah, the season runs from Nov. 9 to March 31. I believe he sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly. As for what a new population of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial. 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. While Virginia Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland. More info if you want itG. Even thou it is a much smaller cat , its scream is much scarier ! Sadly, these animals were killed because they were viewed as a threat to humans and livestock. any sightings in Roanoke Co.? Saturday 27 Sept 08 I found a large paw print in the mud from the recent rains. Fies doesn't believe that there is this thriving population that has been hidden from the world. I live in Montgomery Co, and was wondering if you could tell me where exactly you saw the cougar in 2002 in Floyd county. Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. Not many I bet, and there are thousands of those out there. As the summer progressed she got a couple glances at the animal but still no proof. 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. He said it was from the Mattaponi Trial in Caroline County. The cat was totally black with a long tail. They might even been reproducing. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much, Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State, Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? I was backpacking on the tuscarours trail and set up camp right after the overall run connector. To improve the genetics of the Florida Panther, eight Texas females were brought to South Florida. #1. They acted like I had schizophrenia though admitted there have been other reports.even though they do not officially exist here. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and extending their range further into their historic regions. Virginia is home to a bounty of beautiful wildlife, including some magical animals that any of us would be lucky to spot. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the eastern population of cougars extinct, but based on numerous sightings and reports, you can't be too sure. I live in Springfield VA in a subdivision, but there are wooded stream areas close by that are often used by deer and other animals to move through the area. THE BOBCAT: on the other hand actualy has a more shrill high pitched terrified scream that sounds like a woman being murdered much like on a horror film or somethng like the screams at that halloween fright night you may have been to. About a month ago I was visiting a local sheep farmer (more gentleman farmer than actual make-money-farming farmer). Copyright 2022 WHSV. 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.. In another leap, the cat was up the bank on the right hand side of the road and off into the woods. A breeding population moves very slowly due to the natural hindrance of having cubs. As we came to a stop, it calmly walked away crossing a short grass field, into the woods. Hey me and my friends go hunting in virginia and theres been some times where we have been hunting and we would here her but it sounds like a female screaming bloody murder and its one of those sounds that makes your hair stand up and if you are tired it will wake you up i personaly know i was hunting in a stand and i saw the hole body but the head it scared the living crap out of me Only saw it for a split second, but it was definitely a cat and had a long tail. Definitely not bobbies. 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. Once they described an animal that was nearly the same color as a deer but knew it couldnt be because it had a long tail. It persisted for about 3 minutes. 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. Can they fix it so it looks like it was from Caroline. He slowly began walking backwards toward to the house and luckily got inside without incident. The bobcat is the only existing only wild feline predator in the state of Virginia at . Ancestors of the cougar (also known as catamount, mountain lion, bobcat, puma, panther, painter, wildcat, and ghost cat) crossed into North America roughly 8 million years ago, and the species Puma concolor evolved around 400,000 years ago. Whether its via Appalachian Trail or some random place in the woods near my home, I almost always encounter some sort of larger mammal. Mountain lions and yes black cats. Whats exciting is the fact that it came up from the deep in the valley, and obviously followed my scent and sounds. So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. The closest description I could find was the cry of the cougar or the mountain lion. Thanks. NEW VIRGINIA, Iowa (KCRG) - Law enforcement have confirmed mountain lion sightings in central Iowa. 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. HAS ANYONE ELSE HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. 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. The U.S. It was the scarriest night of my life and if anyone wants to confirm that there are mountain lions in Shenandoah Park just park at hogback at mile point 21 and set up camp where i did. They say the last mountain lion in Virginia was killed in 1882. I, on more than one occassion heard the screams of what sounded like a woman who needed help. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. But anyways, I just completely got off of the Mountain Lion subject. So it could have been a red wolf. ), Bobcat kittens!- They were just thicker-coated & boned kittens with a bobby tail and whisky ears for the most part. Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the mountains. The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. Today I looked outside and in the middle of the yard was a large looking black cat with a long tail, much larger then any cat. So, wanting to get them closer, I called them. They produced over 20 kittens, expanding the gene pool successfully.5, the Eastern Cougar is prefers a habitat with trees In his more than 30 years working for DGIF, he's only been called out for one mountain lion sighting in the area. Most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties. But recent expert-confirmed sightingswhich have involved photographs, videos, and DNAin Tennessee support a theory that mountain lions, whose populations out west have continued to expand, are slowly making their way back to this side of the country. All the territories are basically taken up so they have to go somewhere else, and somewhere else happens to be the Midwest.. 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. I live in Chilesburg, Caroline county. With numerous supposed sightings since the 1970s to present, it doesn't sound too far fetched. How do we find out about sightings of this mountain lion(s). The Florida Panther was also listed as a separate subspecies, Puma concolor coryi. I am scared to go out, the police wont do anything, the game warden wont do anything until someone they said got hurt. Even though we still didnt have any physical proof we were excited because this was the first time wed had an adult verify a cougar sighting here. Description of the Mountain Lion. Coming home today, August 12, 2009 about 4:00 on Route 210 in Amherst, VA, a large black animal came loping up to the road. There used to be cougar there, and with that large a prey base, its possible. Above post by Rob about a Lion in Wise virginia is a hoax! No, its one persons opinion of the world around them as they exist in it. Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). One glanced at us. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. A mountain lion photo has been circulating on social media for more than a year, claiming people have seenmountain lions in the state, and officials are calling shenanigans on the post. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. That would be earth shattering for the depts. If the cougars are released pets they still will have the survival instincts which make them difficult to have as pets. The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, puma, and catamount, is the largest feline animal in North America.. "These two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were gone," Fies said. Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. Last week in a dusty spot I found what I thought might be catamount signs. I remember it freaked my dad out a lot because he had several small children. There are certainly plenty of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. Mountain Lions and Their Historic Range in West Virginia. It's practically unheard of! Its part of mother nature I guess. I would estimate that it must have been at least 60 pounds if not more. Near the paw print I found tracks of a small deer moving very fast (tracks far apart and just the point of the hoof.) It was just too big to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat coloring. I have been compiling reported cougar sightings around the Bedford, Virginia area and will be manning a booth for them on March 8, 2008 Outdoors Show at the Bedford Armory. When we reviewed these reports, as many as 25 percentare of a large black cat. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. cat with a !very long! When Dr. Michelle LaRue began her graduate studies in 2005, the state of Nebraska had virtually no mountain lions. It was standing in front of my car. But to spot one in Virginia? I was only about 50 feet away. Despite their extinct status, there have been persistent mountain lion sightings . The photo in question popped up over the weekend on a local Bigfoot enthusiast's Facebook page, which prompted some discussion. of Game and Inland Fisheries web site on the eastern cougar. They like rugged terrain with forest cover. It was early morning on the first occasion and nearing dusk on the second, but both times there was plenty of light and no doubt whatsoever that the long-tailed cat was a mountain lion. We were walking back into the yard leading our pony mule, Andy, when all of a sudden there was a cougar scream which sounded like it was coming from the pond at the back of our pasture! just wanted to know more about wolves in Virginia. It didnt appear to be hunting, or have any kind of agenda, just comfortable in its surroundings. Thank you! I work with someone who says that on his familys farm in Virginia (not sure exactly where, but can find out) he said there are wolves. What big cats are in Virginia? However, experts claim that even if those would turn out to be true, it wouldn't be a return of the original population. My house was in a very wooded area and driveway led off into those woods about 1/2 mile from the main road (which was a dirt/gravel road about 1 mile from a paved road). Of remote areas for them in VA and W.VA. mountain lions these cats are on the eastern cougar extinct. Did it have bobcat coloring of the road and off into the woods feline predator in mountains! 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