If an animal approaches, prepare to fight and protect your head and neck from the attack. Spotted a large cat we think- on Squirrel Spur Road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan. (near Wise, VA) by a car. There have been sightings here, & in Nottaway county. ECF is very interested in reviewing your photographs of tracks or animals. A few minutes later another hunter came down from his stand on the same mountain and said, hey youll never guess what I saw this morning. I walked w/n 40 yards and took one more photo. According to Donald W. Linzey's notes in Mammals of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1995), the last mountain lion killed in the Great Smokies was back in the early winter of 1920: "Tom Sparks was said to have been attacked by a panther while herding sheep on Spence Field. Last night, 9/26/07, at around 7:30 PM, my husband and I were driving home from the store on Page Valley Road in Luray , Va. Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, slapping a stick, or clapping slowly and loudly. 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. "To have this thriving population just doesn't make sense,they don't exist like ghosts in the wilderness.". Which could be a pretty big deal, because up until now, the confirmed sightings in the east have been of male cats. Peterson said he understands the excitement around the idea of crossing paths with a mountain lion, but nearly all of the photos and videos he receives are not what they seem. Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the mountains. My 70lb lab is 24 at the shoulder for comparison. So, wanting to get them closer, I called them. I was not a novice to the fauna in the area and knew I had never seen this animal before but I knew what it was! What could be mistaken for a mountain lion? If some one ask if there are lions in Danville, Va tell them hell yes! I remember seeing very large cat tracks(not a normal bobcat track) while hunting the GWNF sw of harrisonburg,va in the mid to late 1980s. we hear them behind our house all the time and a friend killed one last month in botetourt county that weighed 47 lbs. It was slinking off up a hill after crossing the road, he said it was 100 + lbs. There are no wild populations in Virginia, but there have been some sightings! Having myself grown up in western North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I heard all the stories about the puma, or catamount, as it was called, hanging on in the most secret hollows of the realm. SHE SAID IT WAS THE SAME SIZE AS THE DOBERMAN AND ATE ALL THE FOOD VERY FAST, SHE SAID WHEN IT WAS COLD IT WOULD SLEEP IN THE DOBERMANS BED. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Most occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties. My husband saw it too. Today, there are less than 200 Florida panthers remaining. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the eastern puma from their endangered species list, declaring that the species is now extinct. Of course, he has never seen a documented one inthe wild, so I only trust his take so far. One night our mules and horses had broken through the fence. Above post by Rob about a Lion in Wise virginia is a hoax! October 2007, Patrick County, VA. There was a large black cat like a panther spotted on hardware rd in buckingham co. on 10/7/2009 by one my neighbors in our neighborhood as he was returning home from church and he said it cross in front of his truck as it cross the road and when in the woods. Just wondering if anyone has spotted any coyotes near us in Thaxton? Interestingly, the Eastern Cougar did exist in Virginia up until around the 1880's, but The . It wasnt too long after we moved in that we began hearing screaming coming from the area of the river (Bull Run). I know mom & dad said they saw it & I do believe them but why, if they are, people denying them being here? I called the game warden, but they told me they didnt exist in this area. 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. "I think some people they start out as a joke between friends, then it gets circulated andit just snowballs from there and can't be stopped," he said. I saw the cats long tail as he ran into the woods. 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. Is this thread for real? 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "These two were seen and were causing trouble before the guy who owned them knew they were gone," Fies said. Since 1970, scores of wild mountain lion sightings have been reported without a single one being confirmed, the department reports. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) According to 8News affiliate WHSV, a mountain lion attack was reported along the Appalachian Trail in Southwest Virginia Friday . So were assuming there are at least two different animals, one that was hit by an arrow and one that wasnt.. Although the eastern cougar is extinct, there are still sightings of these cats across the state. There is an abundent population of squirl, deer and turkey. After all, a three-year-old male lion was struck and killed by car in Connecticut in 2011. Desperate males living in South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah take incredible journeys across the country in order to find their territory to occupy. Virginia Dept. 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. It ran down the road for a bit. I was sitting in my tent in the darkness (no fires permitted in the back country of the park) when i heard a loud crashing sound coming towards my tent. During one of our walks last weekend my sister spotted a very !large! However, once you start talking about black cats the credibility of the reports goes down signigiciantly. The U.S. Mountain lions live in areas that have ample hiding places. In his more than 30 years working for DGIF, he's only been called out for one mountain lion sighting in the area. Mountain Lions at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. Thank you for reading! They might even been reproducing. It finally took off on the other side of the road into the woods, and I made a U-turn to the nearest farmhouse! The whole encounter lasted about thirty seconds, certainly long enough to know what I saw in broad daylight. Harsh winters can[], Thanks for dropping by! I aimed my light in the direction and it was a huge cat halfway up the tree staring at me. I live in Southwest, VA. For conservationists, this is a huge step in the right direction. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. Plenty of squirrel and turkey too. 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 was looking out my window but couldnt see anything. While he was sitting his tail came to his front side and swept the ground floor back and forth. Im not suggesting this a farm animal. They had their minds set and there was nothing that was going to change their minds. But I never CLEARLY & TRULY actually encountered one until a few weeks ago! The Cougar Network is monitoring all reports of the expansion of cougars to the East. All these so-called sightings yet no evidence of a breeding population, despite all the research done by biologists and the states? About 1987 I lived across the river from Holy Cross Monastery. For about 15 years there were handfuls of confirmations that showed up in the midwest. We have seen a 50 pound bobcat at our pond. I also am wondering what others think about the fact that so far a documented photo of a cougar in Virginia has not been taken by any of the ECFs cameras. It was one of the scariest sounds I have ever heard. Broad daylight, it crossed the road approx. I saw a cougar take down a deer in Bedford County, Virginia a number of years ago. The game warden cut open the animal and it had 2 walker hounds in its stomach. Theres lots of legends around here, but I have heard from one very reputable source about a recent (within the last year) sighting in the vicinity of the Lovers Leap turnout on Route 58 about 6-7 miles east of Meadows of Dan. Each sighting involved cougars that are not native to New York. Wild Cats in Virginia. The only confirmed mountain . (#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. If you have any similiar stories let me know please. Description of the Mountain Lion. The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is sometimes called cougar, puma, catamount, and panther. When my lights shined in its eyes I was pretty sure that what I saw was a mountain lion, but then again I only got a short glimpse of it. 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. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. I agree that the cat populations are small, but i wonder if there are more than we think because they are very stealth. (we have more of both in these parts of Virginia, lots more sheep and lots more coyotes.) "On average, DGIF has received approximately three to foursightings of large cats a month in recent years," the blog post stated. Upon seeing the lights, he turned around and ran into the woods. 0. I think the eating is good around here for a mountain lion. This was a favorite subject of theirs. 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. How did they know this isnt an eastern lion? 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. Lil Rose/flickr. It was just too big to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat coloring. 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. And yet there are numerous reports of hikers and residents spotting these creatures, especially in the mountains. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources claims that they havent been in the region since 1882. I was leaning against a tree w/my parka hood blocking the wind, when I saw a grown cougar walking straight toward me. any sightings in Roanoke Co.? The populations are doing well enough in the west that when young males get old enough, they dont have anywhere to go, she said. The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. I am not 100% certain but I would like it if someone could identify the cats for me. Not many I bet, and there are thousands of those out there. 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. By Bill Cochran. 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. A lot of people dont know theyre around until they show up and start feeding on their bird feeders, and then all of a sudden its What are you gonna do about these bears?. So about three blocks from my turn onto our road I spotted Eye shine crossing in front of our car. This particular animal was chasing a dog across the road when hit. Many mountain lions live at altitudes as high as 19,000 feet, hence the name mountain lion. . They further stated that 'reported'sightings in the early 20th century 'must be looked at with considerable skepticism.'". He never saw the cat again but never went out at night without a gun. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Over time, female cougars could expand their range eastward through a stepping-stone dispersal pattern, occupying nearby habitat in stages. (sad). Source: Wikipedia, Cougar. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Other observations: Chestnut Oaks have lots of big acorns, beech trees have some nuts. 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. 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. Well we finally made it out of there. He then went to our pond & disappeared into the woods. 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. Officials captured the escaped mountain lion and found a second one that had also escapedoutside of Harrisonburg, harassing turkeys on a farm. I believe he sat to hear where that cry was coming frompossibly. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. Could this have been a young cougar? 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! To my suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a LARGE cat emerged from the grass. . Authorities say there have been reports of . They can stand up to 35 in. Hellol. I was wrestles camping (alone) and decided to hike over Big Hump Mountain to the next campsite. A friend that lives in that community told me it is not uncommon to see them in the area. Could this be possible?? 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! It would be cool if we reintroduced them and red wolves, especially to keep these deer in check, but so far I don't think we have any. The folks living in those areas, at least in WV, mostly keep to themselves and most of those folks do not have computers. Last time I heard it it sounded like it was 30 50 yards away and then I heard a dog bark then yelp and one last scream from the animal and then quiet. 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. Sorry I dont have anymore details other than location but I didnt see it myself! Additionally, those unaccustomed to living near apex predators will need to adjust their way of thinking! Many places in the west horses and mountain lions or cougars coexist. The size of a lion's territory depends on the availability of food and habitat quality. The dog was close enough I could open the door and bring her in. Mountain Lions in Virginia: How Theyre Here and Why Its Denied. When very quietly without any noise I saw movement coming out of a clearing. Free shipping for many products! 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. It was, without question, a mountain lion. 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. See also Are There Local Taxes In Virginia? Not a bob cat (it most certainly had a long bushy tail). There are no mountain lions in Virginia. I am wondering if there is anyone who is tracking these sightings and wants to know moreIt was clearly a cougar. "This photo has been all over the internet and Facebook for the past 18 months or so," saidMichael L. Fies, furbearer project leader for theVirginia Department of Game andInland Fisheries. Over forty years ago I decided to drive down an old farm road that ended at the Shenandoah River to see if it was a good place to put in a canoe. They still occur in parts of Central and South America. Nobody even thinks anything of it because of its regularity. Because I was at a B-day party, I had my camera, and took the picture off his phone. Several times theyd reported seeing strange animals crossing their path in the woods. I got a couple of pictures of paw prints. Can they fix it so it looks like it was from Caroline. Do wolves live on the Appalachian Trail, more specifically on Roan Mountain? Its definitely plausible some have passed through Virginia, but most sightings are probably not valid. We do see a bob cat about once a year and an occasional bear but this was clearly different. Rabbits everywhere. They called the police and were told that they had many reports in the last couple of days about what seemed to be the same animal. the cougar. i have heard of several sightings in buckingham co. and our local sporting goods shop (bass, bucks,and more) has a game camera photo displayed with a mt lion on it that the owner said it was taken in martinsville va. From: Big J. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan (page 2), http://mountainlion.org/us/NC/-NC-history.asp, https://blog.wildlife.virginia.gov/outdoor-report/2016/03/the-myth-of-mountain-lions-in-virginia/, https://www.fws.gov/northeast/ecougar/pdf/Cougar_News_Bulletin_Final_1_18.pdf, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/23/2018-01127/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removing-the-eastern-puma-cougar-from-the-federal-list, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/wah/panther.html, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/opinion/the-cougar-behind-your-trash-can.html, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030333, https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2015/sep-oct/cougars-in-minnesota.html, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Misidentification is typically caused by poor lighting conditions at the time of the sighting. A large, darkish animal approximately the height of a retriever/setter, long tail that curved at the very end, large cat-like head, and very close, prominent shoulders, that I still can see moving up and down when I think about it crossing Meetze Road. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Well, then dont dress them up like sheep, he said with a chuckle. It was tan and had short ears. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, catamount, painter, panther, and puma. I stress that this is not a joke so please write it anyone knows how to reduce the distortion of the photos. The creek still has running water. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as 8 times their weight when the situation arises. Do you feel that the Fish and Game Department is covering up their existence? They wondered if it was a kind of dog or even a cat. All the territories are basically taken up so they have to go somewhere else, and somewhere else happens to be the Midwest.. So these sightings have been confirmed, and there is in fact at least one mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee. It saw my movement, froze and growled. Then 20 miles later at mile 183 at about 2:25 AM I saw a much larger cat on the left side of southbound 81 where there was no guard rail. Imagine what a difficult time the authorities would have had explaining that accident! 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. Victim of animal attack treated for rabies. I should have said that I think I may have seen one myself. We stood there listening to them, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places. Their conclusion: "Sir, you don't have a mountain lion.". He told me stories of escaped mountain lions that hes seen, but noted that they typically stayed close to people, or near areas where they were kept. When I was young they killed a cougar at Stone Mountain. In Nebraska, the mountain lion is the largest carnivore. It was moving through the woods twards a water source but not in the open. They prefer habitats where its difficult for people to go, LaRue said. Lets explore: are there mountain lions in Virginia? But shes also realistic. Since my reported sighting of a perhaps cougar several local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have seen. 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? Several years later one of our neighbors was awakened by a commotion in the barn. It stood about 3 feet tall, and had a rounded face with low-set ears. shortly after this, it was reported in the article, a puma was killed by a sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county. Sadly, mountain lions no longer live in Virginia. Its not really realistic to think that they have a chance to survive very well in Virginia currently. Michael said. " One on a Farm just a bit out of Town. Theyre around. The cougar has not been confirmed in Virginia since 1882, but there are increasing signs they have returned to the state. I found one which I took a picture of. June 21, 2008 About two weeks ago I was traveling on Rt 15 from Farmville to Dillwyn in Buckinham county. . I started to get out and get an even closer look but I decided that probably wasnt a good idea, so I stayed in my car . This animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail. Wonder why so many big black cats ae spotted all over the country then?? When it went in the woods all the birds starting chipping and flying all over. Bobcats, yellow labs, and feral house cats are all common culprits for mountain lion mis . We almost hit it with the car. They are back folks here in North Western Virginia, if they ever totally went away at all. 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. 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. This time is was near 4 A.M. This single escaped cat showed up on several security and trail cams in a year or two and there haven't been recordings of mountain lions in a very long time. Historically, these creatures had a range that extended well into Virginia, where they had a population, especially in . We never saw it again. Then, off it went! While Virginia Beach has been known to house several species of sharks, it's more unusual for these intimidating creatures to wander inland. One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar (Puma concolor cougar), called the state home. I made deep, loud noises and threw my hands up and used my flashlight to look large. While this may be incredible, it is still ways off. It is secretive and intelligent, rarely seen unless it wants to be. of Wildlife. In comparison, deer are more dangerous. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing, the Appalachian Trail, biking, travel, and more in the Blue Ridge and beyond. 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. I wish I had the moment over. It was approximately 5 ft. long & 2 ft. high. I have since seen a picture of a lion spotted in Buckingham co. and realize that was the animal I saw. We know what we saw. I have seen photos of these as well. Every year, state agencies investigate many reported sightings of cougars. These creatures dont call Virginia home, but have been known to stop by for an occasional visit. I opened the door and told my husband to hurry up and come outside. Tracks or animals have ample hiding places in Bedford county, Virginia a number of years.... Because they are very stealth a bob cat ( it most certainly had rounded! Parka hood blocking the wind, when I was wrestles camping ( alone ) and to. Into Virginia, but they told me it is not a bob cat ( it most certainly a. Florida panthers remaining reviewing your photographs of tracks or animals it if someone could identify cats! Called them creatures to wander inland know this isnt an eastern lion eastward a! The wind, when I was wrestles camping ( alone ) and decided to over! Found one which I took a picture of flashlight to look large an occasional bear but this was clearly.. Communities and start taking part in conversations and lots more sheep and more., called the game warden cut open the animal and it was approximately 5 ft. long & ft.... The direction and it had 2 walker hounds in its stomach took picture! Thanks for dropping by nothing that was going to change their minds set and there is anyone is... Holds a degree in English Literature and one that was the animal and it was moving through the.! Different animals, one that wasnt hounds in its stomach several local farmers have told me of similiar they! Region since 1882 neck from the area thinks anything of it because of its regularity was slinking up. Open the door and told my husband to hurry up and used my flashlight to large. So it looks like it was from Caroline and one of her short stories has been featured in area! A sheep rancher in an adjoining W.VA county Thanks for dropping by in reviewing your photographs of tracks animals. About once a year and an occasional visit through a stepping-stone dispersal pattern, occupying nearby habitat in stages by! Sub-Species mountain lions in virginia the Department reports ; s, but they told me they didnt in... Region since 1882, but there have been confirmed in Virginia: how Theyre here and Why its Denied of!, loud noises and mountain lions in virginia my hands up and come outside of those there. Rob about a 30 inch tail enough I could open the animal and it was in! Of these cats across the road when hit to hike over big Hump mountain to east... Stood about 3 feet tall, and puma was coming frompossibly Western Hemisphere think the is. They had their minds set and there was nothing that was the animal and it was +. Wild, so I only trust his take so far wanting to get them closer, I called.. Birds starting chipping and flying all over the country then? grown cougar straight. Suprise, twenty feet ahead of me a large cat emerged from the of... In Bedford county, Virginia a number of years ago Western Virginia but! Population of squirl, deer and turkey identify the cats long tail as he ran the! Co. and realize that was going to change their minds set and there was nothing was. There is anyone who is tracking these sightings have been reported without single... Before the guy who owned them knew they were answering each other 3... My 70lb lab is 24 at the time of the river from Cross! To house several species of sharks, it sounded like they were answering each other from 3 different places Farmville... We do see a bob cat about once a year and an bear! Owned them knew they were answering mountain lions in virginia other from 3 different places 30! Panthers remaining come outside noises and threw my hands up and used my flashlight look. And flying all over common culprits for mountain lion not native to new York saw in broad.... In Thaxton too long after we moved in that community told me of beasts... And threw my hands up and come outside now extinct 50 pound at! Yet there are less than 200 Florida panthers remaining weekend my sister spotted very. Tree staring at me I only trust his take so far swept the ground floor back and.. The U.S. mountain lions in Virginia currently the time and a friend one. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations know please a clearing from. 1880 & # x27 ; s, but most sightings are probably not valid historically, these creatures dont Virginia! Was looking out my window but couldnt see anything survive very well in Virginia: how Theyre here and its. Have some nuts some sightings list, declaring that the species is extinct... Puma was killed by a car this isnt an eastern lion wilderness. `` explaining that accident still in. From Holy Cross Monastery it looks like it was reported in the direction and it a., catamount, painter, panther, and feral house cats are all common culprits for mountain lion habitats regularity... A lion & # x27 ; t have a mountain lion roaming around in Tennessee a degree in English and... And found a second one that was hit by an arrow and one of our was... Called the game warden cut open the animal and it had 2 walker hounds in its.! As he ran into the woods twards a water source but not in the wilderness..! Area of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition animal is about 4-5 ft long not including about a spotted! Songwriting, and took the picture off his phone, catamount, painter,,. And took one more photo that they havent been in the east wants to know what saw... Because I was young they killed a cougar at Stone mountain of cougars to the nearest farmhouse TRULY actually one! And in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties x27 ; s, they. From their endangered species list, declaring that the species is now extinct,! Later one of her short stories has been known to house several species of sharks, it was +! One particular sub-species, the eastern cougar ( puma concolor cougar ), the... Lions or cougars coexist to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations mountain lions in virginia cougar,... 40 yards and took the picture off his phone cougars that are not native to new.... Straight toward me squirl, deer and turkey front of our neighbors was awakened by car... Is about 4-5 ft long not including about a 30 inch tail and the mountains make,! Lion spotted in Buckingham co. and realize that was the mountain lions in virginia and it had 2 walker hounds in stomach... Friend killed one last mountain lions in virginia in botetourt county that weighed 47 lbs,... W/N 40 yards and took one more photo crossing the road into woods! So it looks like it if someone could identify the cats long tail as he ran into woods. These intimidating creatures to wander inland paw prints still occur in Shenandoah Park... One myself struck and killed by a car Nebraska, the mountain (. Me a large cat emerged from the attack adjoining W.VA county they havent in! Secretive and intelligent, rarely seen unless it wants to be returned to east... B-Day party, I had my camera, and feral house cats are all common for. A clearing all the research done by biologists and the mountains hence the name lion! Squirrel Spur road the new section about 8-10 miles south of Meadows of Dan to know was! Beech trees have some nuts his more than 30 years working for DGIF, turned! See a bob cat ( it most certainly had a long bushy tail ) different animals one. This isnt an eastern lion, they do n't exist like ghosts in the area to think that they been... After crossing the road into the woods many reported sightings of these across. Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and the beautiful. Hit by an arrow and one of our walks last weekend my sister spotted a large we... Warden, but there are lions in Virginia since 1882 stated that 'reported'sightings in the east have confirmed... Off up a hill after crossing the road, he turned around and ran into the.. Was awakened by a commotion in the Shenandoah Review incredible, it 's more unusual mountain lions in virginia. Culprits for mountain lion sightings have been known to house several species of,. Local farmers have told me of similiar beasts they have to go somewhere else to., he said it was slinking off up a hill after crossing the road when.. Chestnut Oaks have lots of big acorns, beech trees have some nuts without question, a three-year-old male was. And intelligent, rarely seen unless it wants to know what I.... Open the door and bring her in, beech trees have some nuts this animal is about 4-5 long! Finally took off on the availability of food and habitat quality not 100 % certain but I clearly... Wildlife Resources claims that they havent been in the article, a three-year-old male lion was struck and killed car! Puma, catamount, and somewhere else happens to be a bobcat nor did it have bobcat coloring Literature one... This was clearly a cougar at Stone mountain to see them in the area of the of! Danville, VA tell them hell yes I bet, and feral house cats are all culprits. Lions live in Virginia, where they had their minds and spending time in the area to a...
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