mountain lions in virginiamountain lions in virginia

We disturbed something that ran off into the woods. Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. A few months later we saw another where route 740 (Sinkhole Road) intersects route 8 a few miles northwest of Stuart, VA. On both occasions it was mid-afternoon and we had a view (from a car) of the animals as they strolled 70 to 80 feet across open spaces. 21 years ago Nancy Hugo published an article in Virginia Wildlife Feb 1987. My neighbor has a grandson that is almost 3 years old, they were outside and he was crying (nothing was wrong) it was more of a I want my way kind of cry, but it seemed to go on for a long time. It looked to be about 90 to 100 pounds. While this may be incredible, it is still ways off. Male cougar territories are pretty big, and thats why they have to disperse farther than females, LaRue said. Everyone knows that the panthers that are seen in the East are former pets released. Spotted a lion last night around 7:30 pm. 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. Purposeful reintroduction, bringing breeding-age females to a suitable area in the Appalachians, could speed the process dramatically. They dont go after dogs and cats or people. 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. They are moving Eastward, theyre now found in Western Tennessee. Michael told me. The sound finally drifted off and I decided to do some internet investigating to describe the sound I heard. Where are mountain lions in Virginia? Eastern cougars (mountain lions) do not have a native, self sustaining population in New York State. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I kept hiking and went all the way to HWY 19E where I slept in a shelter half a mile from the road. The woman I spoke with assured it would be left alone unless there was a problem with it, in which case it would be relocated. I believe he sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly. It took off as the car got closerI have never ever seen anything like that in my life! It jumpped across the dirt road and into the woods headed north. George, A friend showed me a picture of a cougar, carrying a deer head. I saw one near my home in Floyd County. i live close to the cement plant in botetourt co and know 4 people personally ( 2 are my sons) who have seen mountain lion near the cement plant. Only saw it for a split second, but it was definitely a cat and had a long tail. Despite repeated claims on Facebook and other social media outlets, it's highly unlikely wild mountain lions live in Virginia. This Saturday I saw what looked like a mountain lion running up the fence line of my neighbors property towards my woods. I came out of the pasture and one was less than 20 feet. Cougars depended heavily upon the white-tailed deer for food. I couldnt find any paw prints. There are an estimated 3,000 - 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. Chris Desborough/Shutterstock.com. 111 1. So, wanting to get them closer, I called them. I met with Michael Fies, Wildlife Biologist with the DWR, and we spoke about the history, extinction, and sightings of mountain lions in the Valley. I sometimes doubt local farmers reports. So, i think that there are sightings that no one ever hears about. I had my food hanging ten feet in the air so i thought it was a bear. Given the great broad-side view, I couldnt help but notice its shear size the cat stood approximately 2.5-3 feet in height, and was approximately 4-5 feet in length. As for what a new population of mountain lions would mean for nearby residents, education is crucial. All of this happened just out of bow range and its heart wrenching knowing there is nothing you can do. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. You could check with the Dept. In a small town called Coeburn. Because I was at a B-day party, I had my camera, and took the picture off his phone. Sorry I dont have anymore details other than location but I didnt see it myself! It turned around when it got to the side of the road and went back into the tall grass. Follow Laura Peters @peterslaura and @peterpants . I live in Spout Spring. 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. Anyone who wants to put this mystery to rest should just spend a few days in those mountainscase would be closed for sure on big black cats. After that two sets of very large eyes started following me. I failed to mention the eyes looking at us! A MOUNTAIN LION did in fact attack one of our horses early this morning, just before daylight. I keep a compost heap in the edge of the woods which attracts possums and other small critters. Do you feel that the Fish and Game Department is covering up their existence? I am from western North Carolina. But the majesty and strength of the Mountain Lion was still apparent! 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. Since there are no breeding populations in Virginia, the likelihood of a secretive population that has existed since 1880 is very unlikely. 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. Most of the cougars around Los Angeles live in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the city. Yet, this evidence has never been documented by biologists. Its paw was as big as a mans face, & its head with the ears was as wide as his body. This isnt just hearsay.. of Game and Inland Fisheries web site on the eastern cougar. I was so shocked that I could even stop the car in time to see it again. The subspecies would no longer be considered "threatened" once three populations were found or established, with each containing more than 50 breeding adults. ANY REPLY IS WELCOME, Dont know if you have any cougar there, but it sure sounds like a good place for wolves. The Locavore Hunter. 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. "It was around 4 feet long, not including the tail." "Don't care what the officials say. few turkeys this spring and summer. 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. They acted like I had schizophrenia though admitted there have been other reports.even though they do not officially exist here. One glanced at us. Then, off it went! Has anyone else seen a large cat in the Campbell County area? We searched for bones, but we had waited too long and could not find anything. I could hear the kittens and I captured a photo which I believe to be a smaller lion. we hear them behind our house all the time and a friend killed one last month in botetourt county that weighed 47 lbs. This animal was a good thirty inches at the shoulder and must have weighted 150 pounds. This had Caroline County, on the bottom of the screen. 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. At first I wondered if it was a bob cat, however, the feline was far too large, and lacked the bushier tail commonly associated with a bob (especially given that it was still early February). Im of the opinion that there really never was a big difference between the eastern cats and whats in existence now, she said. I nearly mastered replicating their calls. Red wolves have been reintroduced into the state. 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. My farm helper saw one at approximately the same location yesterday. Mountain lions once lived in much of the eastern United States. Moose are notoriously shy creatures, so spotting them anywhere is an exciting experience. Were not taking any action to move them or kill them. I got to see 4 coyotes run down a mature doe and brutaly slaughter her. Fies doesn't believe that there is this thriving population that has been hidden from the world. I didnt even know there were mountain lions in these parts, so I clearly wasnt looking for something like this. The Florida panther is a subspecies of the eastern mountain lion that lives in the Everglades and pine forests of central Florida. Everyone in the car was amazed at what we saw, and have since gone back hoping to see it again. Most of the time we can find the original photo on the internet where it was taken out west or wherever. While mountain lions are native to Virginia, they have been expatriated from the state since 1882. The animal has been determined extinct, and thats just a shame, she said. In fact, they found an African Lion skull in the Blue Ridge mts not too long back. They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". Sarah, You can reach her at [email protected] or 213-9125. And shes not alone in that belief. 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. And while common throughout the state . I saw a large bobcat at around mile 205-203 heading south on I-81. Now, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission estimates that the population has reached at least a couple dozen. There arent any mountain lions in Virginia, but there is hope that they may return to their original habitat! I used to just worry about snakes while berry picking. Motion-sensitive infrared cameras have been deployed near Appalachian Trail to try to determine whether cougars are back. 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. There are only quick sightings around town of the large cat known as the mountain lion. How did they know this isnt an eastern lion? Well we finally made it out of there. The first time I heard the screams I went in the direction with a flashlight, fully expecting to find a victim. Officials explained the deceased animal must have wandered from the Black Hills of South Dakota. While Virginia Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland. Could this have been a young cougar? When the game wardens in this area are called they often do not investigate b/c the sightings have become so frequent. Many mountain lions used to roam the West Virginia wilderness. Bears, Deer and Turkey come out in the yard on a regular basis. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. 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! If there was a breeding population, we would know. Still, many sightings arent clear or even true, so being skeptical is still the best bet when it comes to sightings in Virginia. Thankfully we were vindicated by a clear trail cam sighting a couple years later. He told me that there are areas in the Valley that could sustain mountain lions, but that the deer numbers there were too low, and theyd eventually make their way towards humans. I walked to my car and turned my lights on. The U.S. My mother lives in Orange, and has seen a mountain lion in the past couple of weeks, as well as several years ago. I still wasnt positive though. Our family moved to the Manassas National Battlefield area in 1983. I grew up in North Georgia. An Amish farmer along 944 in Cumberland County complained to the PGC a mountain lion was killing his sheep. 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. As I slowed the cat took notice and turned. The last one seen was last summer. 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! Being in a residential neighborhood does nothing for a cougar.. Unless of course you already know this and are relieved to know that it is not that of the great puma . Mountain lions are definitely coming to Virginia. It was a large cougar that had an eight point buck by the neck. Definitely not bobbies. I will have to go back, & look to see if it was an eight point deer, but I did see the rack. I live in Chilesburg, Caroline county. I was about 100 yards away from the cat and watched it jump up a bank and into a patch of woods that had been logged. Officially, mountain lions have not been seen in Virginia since 1970. I wish I had the moment over. They prefer deer.. The wind chill was absolutely tremendous in the portal and the -20 outside felt balmy in comparison. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies . The next day, my neighbor said that he and his fishing partner had seen a cat similar to the one I described as they were going fishing one morning around 3:00 a.m. I see no reason to question them. It finally took off on the other side of the road into the woods, and I made a U-turn to the nearest farmhouse! Still no pictures though. Neither Marchibroda nor her canine hiking companion made a peep, and as soon as the cat caught sight of its awe-struck onlookers, it scampered back into the woods, swift and silent. Many people live their entire lives in mountain lion country, and never see or know the cats are around. Many ridges, creeks, swamps and mountains were long ago named for panthers or the colloquial term "painters," both common names in this part of the country for the cougar.

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