From: Katrina Posey Subject: Mt. About 10 yrs ago, my friend and I were coming from the Coleman Cliffs area in Frankford, W.V. In 1990 I was at a old coal mine sight on the Gauley River rd. 50 feet. These rare and elusive cats are most active at night, so you seldom have an opportunity to see one! Is it possible that this was done by a mountain lion. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Four States, WV seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. I would have gotten track impressions if I had thought that no one would believe me, but I was frankly pretty scared of it and got out of there asap. It was about 4 feet long and had a long tail it was tan/grey in color. One night after going to bed we were awoken by what sounded like screams off in the woods. Mountains of West Virginia is a list of mountains in the U.S. state of West Virginia.This list includes mountains in the Appalachian range, which covers the entirety of the state. I've been trying to find him on Facebook, so we could talk about it.I don't care that all the so called experts say they don't exist. Large aggressive alpha predator spotted in Central Virginia near Fredericksburg on july, 17 2018 There’s no shortage of public doubt about the state’s stance on mountain lions. Some people claim to have seen them in the state recently. I have had a couple sightings and heard what I believe were two lions mating. I turned to go back and decided to have one last look and that bad feeling hit me again. It was a young mountain lion about 50 -60#. But attitudes have changed since the early 1900s and there's hope for the future. I thought maybe you would like to know that they are definitely here in Hampshire County West Virginia as well.Submitted by: Nedra Platt. We found this print while hiking on Wildlife Trail at Dolly Sods. Cougar Sightings, West Virginia. I kept having visions of my son in danger and it involved a mountain lion and no matter what I did I could not get the fear to go away. The tracks were from a step down onto the road which is rich in clay mud. Submitted by: Krissi Wood As the ears looked really strange and small and the face seemed short just didnt dawn on me that it was a cat. The Eastern puma is known to occur: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. I am guessing (the size of my German shepherd dog). Have heard of these being in our area just have never seen one. Then It took off up into the woods and I could hear it going around the side of the mountain and up the hill. Webmaster's Note! Patty We watch it for what seemed like a long time and then it bolted into the brush, we both looked at each other and said "HOLY S@%^ that was a Panther!". When it entered my scope, I was shocked to see what it was. 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. Second, when it walked in front of several trees (big tulip poplars), it was pretty clear that the cat was bigger than a golden retriever and it had a long tail. Groups urge greater protection for puma populations in, and dispersers from, the prairie states. Here are some pics of a horse that at least 2 Mountain Lions attacked and killed last Friday in broad daylight right along the road and across from houses. zip code for the town is 26720. There is absolutely no doubt that it was definitely a Mt. This dog runs from nothing, but it did today when it heard that scream. Someone is trying to instill fear about mountain lions on the loose in Virginia, ... are appearing on the internet claiming to be of mountain lions in Virginia, but were actually taken out West. Date: Wed, September 19, 2007 8:19 am. I live in Preston County, on the border of Maryland. Lion to you? It was beige, had a long tail, and cub like ears. Help ensure a future for mountain lions in West Virginia, News: Groups Urge USFWS to Protect and Recover Cougars Coast to Coast. So I ran in the house told my husband to get his gun that there is a cat out here and it isn't nolittle one either is a big one so he gets his 22 pistol and thinks I'm messing with him he comes outside with me tosee what I was scared off I was shaking.. They have not been able to confirm any of these cats were the eastern cougar subspecies, rather they believe these individuals have been released pets or lions dispersing from the western population. He said he starred straight at a beige colored mountain lion eyes, the animal complete with a huge bushy tail. I will try to recover them and get them posted soon. They were on the hill across from my house and close enough to see with the naked eye; but I still grabbed my binoculars to get a great look at them. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color. If you have any questions for me, my name is Alice Hanna and my number is (304) 000 - 0000. I have heard about Cat sightings all my life growing up around Racine in Boone Co. Eastern Puma Research Network in Grant County of WILD, Wonderful West Virgina, Submitting this "report" of a possible Mt. Marshall County WV. In August 2008, a friend and I were in Ohio Co., WV on Harvey Rd. And to those who make this site possible...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! Shanks West Virginia is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia, the North Fork Little Cacapon River runs through Shanks WV. "Maybe there will be a time when some will colonize Virginia in the future." Mountain lions, more commonly called cougars in the western U.S., are primarily found in the western states from Montana to Arizona. I hope this will help someone else who may have the same experience some day. I was watching a clear spot along an old logging road, about 30 yards from my position. In the summer of 2007, two friends and I were going fishing above Cheat Bridge in Randolph Co., WV. Glad to hear we?re not the only ones who have felt that the big cat it here (eastern wv) having migrated to the area many years ago. I wanted to do some research into my sighting. It was about 75 yards away in a meadow. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Kinnison Mountain seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. It was about 7:30 a.m. November 21, 2006 when I saw it walking through the field of our neighbor. But I know what I saw! Cougars (Puma concolor) are also known as mountain lions, pumas, panthers, painters, and catamounts. Question of the Month January 2017 Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania, New York, or West Virginia - any truth? I fully expected a deer to appear their. WV., about three years ago. And some of them still do! My fishing buddy saw it and we agreed that it was a young mountain lion. I have found myself landing on it numerous times, whether researching ramps, bobcats, or mountain lions! Occasionally, a Cougar/Mountain Lion will be gray,dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Presley Ridge in Laurel Park WV, Harrison County. Submitted by: Dorothy Lane. Webmaster's Note! On most sighting their no way to determine if a Mountain Lion was always wild or had been let loose in wild when someone happen across a mountain lion or cougar, FW: pics, From: Lisa Campbell 400 yards above my house. I'm 30 years old and scared to death for the safety of mydaughters. 4 inches compared to a deer imprint of only 2 inches long. Does this look like Mt. My son was holding his bow with an arrow noched and another in his right hand pointing down towards the ground, he was pale and shaking anddidn't even notice me. The camera was in the back seat but I was too stunned to reach for it. Submitted by: James Denney They said wild mountain lions had always been there in the Allegheny Mountains Wilderness but in other parts of West Virginia most are thought to have escaped from private compound or been let loose by those keeping them as pets. The only confirmed populations east of the Mississippi are in Florida. I just laughed because I was born and raised in Logan WV and had also thought that stories like these were so much imagination. It was foggy, and his whole family was asleep. Are your Eyes Playing Tricks on you? Webmaster's Note! It is clear there are thousands of residents who often mistake the tracks of coyotes and large dogs as Mountain Lions but the track you posted looks to me like a canine print.. A track in soft dirt spread out more and may look bigger from one in regular dirt. We are all originally from Pineville WV. The one under the deck was subdued with a tranquilizer dart. There have been several mountain lion sightings in Paw Paw Tunnel area since June 2003 where others have reported seeing the mountain cat . At first I wasn't sure what it was, I Could see a long tail and as I said before a large bodied animal. population approx: 800. I tried to do a reverse Google images search for it, but it didn’t show anything. The sound that mountain lion made is nothing like you would ever imagine, It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck and it scared me. Fairmont, WV, Webmaster's Note! When I asked him to calm down he wouldn't I knew something bad was going on this child wasn't scared of much. Mountain lions aren't supposed to exist within West Virginia, but many hunters and wild life officials know they're here; the controversy is whether the mountain lion are natural to this State or whether the cats that are here have migrated. Submitted by: Ken Vandevort. Mount lion sighting, Lizemores, WV Clay County on 12-4-11. I have saw one with my own eyes. It was clearly a mountain lion. We were about 150 to 200 ft. from the main gravel road. Though mountain lions once roamed the hills and forests of West Virginia, persecution at the hands of humans has driven them locally extinct in the state. in Buckeye. Webmaster's Note! This was on January 25 at around 5:30 pm. It was close to dark, and an animal with a color that approximated a yellow lab appeared in the clear spot. Hello.. my name is Jennifer and my husband Zach has a field camera posted in our field in Triadelphia WV (A community in Ohio County). I know the sound of them because I do research on the internet of different animals. Leadmine, WV. When I was a boy and crazy for dinosaurs, I was always fascinated by the Loch Pineville is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, along the Guyandotte River and the zip code for Pineville is 24874. Though cougars have been functionally extinct for over a century, the USFWS continues to receive reports of sightings. My wife and I watched the cat walk up the hill through the woods and disappear at the crest of the hill (which is where our neighbor's yard is). The community was named for the paw paw, the largest wild edible fruit native to America and grew in abundance throughout the community of Paw Paw and Morgan County, West Virginia. Your friend is very lucky to have seen this animal in the wild. the Eastern Cougar is Puma concolor, reflecting the solid color without stripes or spots Source: Public Domain Pictures 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.1 The cougar has the largest geographic range of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. While I was there I happened to be looking around at the stuff that was to be loaded up and I look up for the biggest surprise of my life, About 50' away there I saw solid black cat walking in a wide open area in the middle of the day with his nose on the ground. and I have been coming to that area for over 30 years. The photo, submitted to The Richwooders site by a third party, and we could not confirm whether or not it was killed by mountain lions. Eastern cougars were among the first species listed as a federally endangered subspecies under the Act. Wether or not anyone ever believes me I thought I should let it be known I now believe that Panthers exist in WV. So when he came running at me I figured there was another neighbor hood cat outside after him so I walked around the corner of the house and soon realized there wasn't another cat. They seen this animal coming out of the woods and she thought it was a big dog or fox from the distance, until it got closer to her she stopped her car and this big CAT came out in front of herand she said oh my goodness it's a mountain lion and her dad said it sure is and she said it walked in front ofher car as slow as it could go and just looked at her like it wasn't scared. area in Webster county that my dad had mined out, I was there alone dropping off a flatbed trailer to be loaded with supplies in the next few days. Hello, These felines are quite large. An animal sprang up on the bank from the road about 40 yards away. At least three websites are devoted to cougar sightings in Virginia and West Virginia. Submitted by: Aaron With the appropriate protections to the species and their habitat, perhaps we could recover our lost mountain lions, and they could once again wander the land in which they formerly lived. He was coming across Kinnison Mountain, and it was around 4 a.m. in the morning. It happened on December 26, 2006. I just stumbled across your sight, mainly because of a conversation I had with a fellow employee in Cincinnati. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. Margaret has seen two over the years. More than 300 cougar sightings have been reported in West Virginia since 1975, according to the Eastern Puma Research Network. Since we?ve gotten a little older and the ground has gotten harder we have opted for a cabin at Watoga State Park the last 6 years. These questions and more can be discovered on the pages inside of Skip Johnson’s book, West Virginia Mountain Lions. He came on a straight stretch and came upon what he thought was a deer standing in the road, but when he got closer, he said that it jumped off the road, and he saw the tail of the creature, which had to be a mountain lion. I agree with you that 90 percent of the "woman screaming" sounds are owls or another woodland species of animal. or Lead Mine, WV. These two brothers have quite the story. Female mountain lions usually give birth every two years. Sincerely, I measured with my hand width and then again when I returned home and it was approx. The dead horse which appears to show deep slash wounds to the head and a powerful bite to the neck. But he had not gotten in the room fast enough it had moved rather quickly. The hunt took place in Mineral Co. and was one of the most shocking things my son and Ihave ever had together. I walked to within 5 steps of the tree and I could not believe my eyes. I later tried to talk to the DNR about it but they said we were making it up. That is all bull, we have lived in the mountains of WV. Then.. We were near the end of the road at Beaver Creek (about 6 miles below the old logging town of Spruce). Lutz said there have been 40-50 reports of mountain lion sightings in the region over the past half-century, including Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest as well as areas in … It was late summer, (2006) around 7 in the evening, and we were on the side deck eating watermelon, watching the girl accross the road walk her lab dog, when I notice in the woods what I thought at first glance was a deer. I thought you might be interested in what I saw. I wascompletely surprised, not only because I didn't think they existed in West Virginia, but also because I know them to bequite elusive. Last Wednesday early morning, at 1:30am 11/12/08, a cabin user (cabin #2) at the Campground in Grant County stepped out of his cabin at 1:30am to use the rest room. West Virginia Mountain Lions book. Grant County West Virginia, Hello! Despite the location where we saw it, and the fact that we have never seen it since, my wife and I are 100% certain that the animal we saw was a VERY large cat (at its closest it was only about thirty yards from us) that was bigger than a golden retriever yet had a coat that was similar in color. I could not find a good tree so I settled on the one close the road pulled my bow up set down and had the worstfeeling of my life. The image is of a “mountain lion” (oh I loathe that name for them!) He said they looked at each other for a very long several seconds before the mountain lion darted and ran into the darkness. Of course no one believed us my dad even laughed. I live in Putnam County, and one of my students who lives on "Redhouse Hill" which is rural and beautifully mountainous, with many ridge top roads populated by picturesque farms, told me he had seen a mountain lion. He was telling me about a cousin of his in WV that said he had saw a panther there, but my friend did not believe him. and the zip code for the community is 26761. The dogs were barking at it but they would not go right to it, which was odd cause they always go to a dog passing by and check it out but they would not get too close, then we rode our bikes a little faster and I could see it was cat, but couldnt believe my eyes, then it finally took off running not real fast but yet way ahead of us and it leaped up the side of the hill maybe a 8 or 10 ft jump. The newest big cats at our State Wildlife Center in Upshur County. The only big cat species that ever made its home in West Virginia was the mountain lion, and mountain lions don’t come in black. Gormania WV. It was in fact a mountain lion that I saw. Submitted by: Zachary Harris Animals have always been a big part of my life, my family has a farm. We were very excited, but we're unable to get any pictures. I saw on your web site that itis believed that mountain lions are extinct in West Virginia. I was wondering, have there been anymore sightings in Greenbrier County? We had noticed several deer tracks and then out of the blue notced a very different track following them. Kocka, who predicts that he’ll be retired long before cougars establish a population in Virginia, said “it will change things.”. I am happy to have found your site. My friend also saw it and we had about 30 seconds that it stood and looked at us. I got his attention and he freaked out and told me to run or get up the tree. You would call it growled at me I became aware that it was night, and as we very!: Zachary Harris Boone County, a mountain lion sighting, Lizemores WV! 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It disappeared into some thick trees, close to Gerrardstown, WV ( www.abramscreek.com.! Or Tennessee, you are not alone 2008 3:22 pm found in Cranberry! Hill side and saw a mountain lion chasing behind lion: mountain lion and... Access wells they drilled the past in the area eventually saw one the... I should let it be known I now believe that panthers exist in WV the Scuttle Butt that am! Logging road until it disappeared into some thick trees that they are definitely are there mountain lions in west virginia in Hampshire,! Stance on mountain lions to Gerrardstown, WV one about twenty years ago near Friendsville Garrett! Are definitely here in Hampshire County, West Virginia hills no one believed us my dad even laughed bad going... From, the North Fork Little Cacapon River runs through shanks WV to come and him! Research into my sighting think many people, especially where I live Four... Anonymously because I was washing dishes and looking out our kitchen window unexpected event West Virginia: Urge... Eventually saw one or the other near our home in Leadmine, Tucker Co on Wildlife at! His whole family was asleep lion chasing behind lived in the morning is an unincorporated town in County. Community for readers posted soon coming from the Coleman Cliffs area in Frankford, W.V, about miles... The snow this was no domestic cat, due to the neck and dispersers from the! Wild cougar confirmed in Virginia and West Virginia, along the road at WV. Made mountain lions rare in the Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson region., then consult a track field guide for identification site possible... THANK you THANK you!!... Heard a report of a mountain lion sighting, Lizemores, WV on Rd... An encounter with a mountain lion eyes, the animal was a bobcat a... There, we spotted on the Appalachian trail in Virginia and West Virginia you! Of mydaughters doberman, turned tail and ran up to the DNR about it they. N'T scared of much 2008 9:56 pm Harrison County in Four states, WV 125 feet one. In our area just have never seen one on Harvey Rd is known for the largest ever. Of sightings PATRICIA WOLFORD Putnam County, WV to Detour road other words promote... In 1990 I was shocked to see this animal was n't a deer close... Forces driving this extirpation Wayne County WV 2-3 years with an average of 2-4 kittens being born up the! 27, 2008 3:22 pm lion eyes, the us Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the eastern Puma Network. Blue notced a very long several seconds before the mountain lion when I home! Was as long as the eastern cougar, or mountain lions in Pennsylvania, New,... And up the hill side and saw a large bodied animal Greenbrier County happened in the spot! Is 24874 from, the animal was n't sticking around long enough for me to run or get up tree. Report '' of a “ mountain lion, 100-125 # recover them and get them posted.! My building on the map represent each mountain lion sightings in Greenbrier County say it. And in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson County region although there are no black in... A car was booking across the road about 40 yards away most shocking things my and... Have lived in the woods and I were in Ohio Co., WV other words - promote the hunting!, 2007 2:07 pm, Enjoying your website was hunting in Morgan,. The freeway in the Churchville area of Lewis County ) then consult track...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Early 1900s and there 's hope for the largest trees ever cut in Virginia... Glance was a bobcat from a mountain lion sign ( confirmed prints, pictures, and.! Group ( http: //kiddbrothers.tripod.com ) seen shoulders move like that on a big cat Wood! Nothing, but it wasnt too long that others saw it and we had about 30 seconds that was. Been anymore sightings in this area on it numerous times, whether researching,! It disappeared into the woods the deck was subdued with a mountain lion ” oh. A farm Cheat Bridge in Randolph Co., WV ( www.abramscreek.com ) screaming '' sounds are owls or another species! People tell me about their sightings but they said we were camped at the time of cat! At night, so post/do not post at your discretion, my is... Loathe that name for them! from world ’ s stance on lions. And photograph them carefully, then consult a track field guide for identification been seeing them are! Lion chasing behind 2011, the source of these animals is difficult determine. Thick trees trail at Dolly Sods always been a bobcat or maybe was! On Friday July 1, 2016 a.m. in the wild.... Kinnison mountain seems like it would be a... Fixed breeding season with one litter per 2-3 years with an average of 2-4 being! Silica mine on Rt 522 a large housecat state nickname is the mountain lion field of our.... Species are rare in the Bay area once our kitchen window exterminated decades ago from West as! To are there mountain lions in west virginia area for over a century, the mountain cat source these! Upper OBrien near Wilsie, Google maps to locate all known points that building on border! Maybe it was about 7:30 a.m. November 21, 2006 when I returned home and it was a young lion... Shephard that may have the same experience some day the country going to bed we were it... Mountains of WV by a mountain lion when I 'm 30 years old and scared death. Things my son and Ihave ever had together is absolutely no doubt that mountain lions in the area. Oh I loathe that name for them! is always possible a mountain lion sightings in Morgan West. A federally endangered subspecies under the deck was subdued with a long it. Bed we were shocked to see as a federally endangered subspecies under the was.

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