are there mountain lions in west virginia

I hope to visit Richwood in the near future! I wascompletely surprised, not only because I didn't think they existed in West Virginia, but also because I know them to bequite elusive. Also several people that lived in the area eventually saw one or the other or both. The Mountain Lion Foundation is a tax-deductible non-profit organization, tax exempt under. 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. Thank you! Again, his certainty of the sighting is 100% according to him, as he had plenty of time to stare at the animal and take it all in. So if you think you have seen a black cougar, or mountain lion in West Virginia or Tennessee, you are not alone. Lion. Here’s why. Then.. Webmaster's Note! 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. My stepbrother, and I at the time were teenagers and lived at Horner WV, Lewis County was about a mile from Stonecoal Lake. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Refuges in which the Eastern puma is known to occur: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, I live in Boone County, West Virginia and back around the fall of 2006, one night I went walked outside to get the cat and put him in for the night. 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. Submitted by: Aaron The idea of unknown animals and the folklore behind them have always interested me. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Kinnison Mountain seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. Help ensure a future for mountain lions in West Virginia, News: Groups Urge USFWS to Protect and Recover Cougars Coast to Coast. To allow the species to begin recovering breeding populations in the extirpated regions, they urge the USFWS to protect pumas in the Prairie States and to limit puma mortality. I know it was no domestic cat, due to the way it moved and the size. Just found this website. Possible mountain lion sighting in Finger Lakes region. I will try to recover them and get them posted soon. The only confirmed populations east of the Mississippi are in Florida. all of our lives and believe me we know the difference! But attitudes have changed since the early 1900s and there's hope for the future. Then It took off up into the woods and I could hear it going around the side of the mountain and up the hill. At least three websites are devoted to cougar sightings in Virginia and West Virginia. The tail was as long as the body and was thick, it's back feet were large. 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). It was foggy, and his whole family was asleep. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color. Lion! Then in 1996 in the fall after the leaves had fallen, I was with a friend driving between Weston, WV and Jane Lew WV, it was evening almost dark, and we saw a animal at first glance thought was a large light brown dog coming to the road and my friend slammed on the breaks and it walked right in front of us in the head lights looked right at us, my friend was real excited, and myself to, as this made two sightings for me. I never seen shoulders move like that on a big cat in person nor a tail so long! While going down the trail it was not there, we spotted on the return, maybe 3 hours afterwards. Not only us, but two cars behind us also completely stopped and watched this graceful cat. I thought maybe you would like to know that they are definitely here in Hampshire County West Virginia as well.Submitted by: Nedra Platt. It was late in the afternoon and my wife said she thought she saw a large dog like a golden retriever walking in the woods about ten yards above where the tree line begins. Patty I got his attention and he freaked out and told me to run or get up the tree. Pineville is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, along the Guyandotte River and the zip code for Pineville is 24874. Webmaster's Note! Mountain lions used to roam the entire country, coast to coast, and the eastern cougar subspecies (Puma concolor couguar) occupied the northeast region. I was skeptical, but questioned him about the description of the cat. I can’t believe that these 10 dangerous animals have all roamed these West Virginia hills! They lived throughout the East when European settlers arrived. Dots on the map represent each mountain lion sighting. Wether or not anyone ever believes me I thought I should let it be known I now believe that Panthers exist in WV. From: Kimberly Rush Mountain lions are abundant in all those places, yet I've never seen one. In August 2008, a friend and I were in Ohio Co., WV on Harvey Rd. Nov 2, 2013 - The Scuttle Butt that I have been told was the Mountain Lions were exterminated decades ago from West Virginia. They are definitely here in West Virginia. On another note... Carlene and Sandy and all the others who have e-mailed me, I sent more pictures in to this site hope they are posted soon and hope you enjoy them! It was a young mountain lion about 50 -60#. and I have been coming to that area for over 30 years. 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. this would have happened in the Churchville area of Lewis County, WV. Not a first-hand sighting, so post/do not post at your discretion. It is always possible a Mountain Lion could come thru, and killed 3-year-old horse. 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. He was trotting and I could easily identify his large size, color, long tail, stockiness and head and the graceful movement. I was doing a search on the internet and found your sight and was excited to see that a man named Chris Sparkman had sighted one in Paw Paw about 9 months before my sighting. Submitted by: James Denney At first I wasn't sure what it was, I Could see a long tail and as I said before a large bodied animal. 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. He was coming across Kinnison Mountain, and it was around 4 a.m. in the morning. In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars.They can stand up to … I was hunting in Morgan County, about 6 miles from Paw Paw, close to Detour Road. 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. 400 yards above my house. Webmaster's Note! The head of the mountain lion stood below his waist (about 2 feet high) so perhaps a medium sized younger male or female. That is all bull, we have lived in the mountains of WV. In 1973, Congress passes the Endangered Species Act, designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a 'consequence of economic growth and development untendered by adequate concern and conservation.' Burlington KY. Webmaster's Note Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event. Tail of the creature, Kinnison Mountain WV. Question of the Month January 2017 Mountain Lions in Pennsylvania, New York, or West Virginia - any truth? Submitted by: Debbie Bond. 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. 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. Leadmine, WV. His incredibly mean doberman, turned tail and ran up to the house. A second look revealed to me that it was an adult mountain lion, 100-125#. He heard a noise in the tree area in front of his cabin and turned his flashlight onto the area from which he heard the noise. Shanks West Virginia is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia, the North Fork Little Cacapon River runs through Shanks WV. Near the Silica Mine on Rt 522 a large mountain lion was literally leaping across the road in front of our car. Submitted by: Denalda Bush and Brian Jett 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. Viral images show an unusually large mountain lion (cougar) purportedly killed near Parkersburg, West Virginia (or elsewhere, such as Altoona, Pennsylvania, Cadiz, Kentucky, and other unlikely locations). 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. I was gonna call the DNR but I was afraid that they wouldn't believe me either since they didn't believe my mother.. What Can I do to convince them that this is not a fake call and that we did see and hear it.. Is it gonnatake someone to be killed or hurt by this thing for them to come and check it out and not laugh at u? Thanks for maintaining this website. In the summer of 2007, two friends and I were going fishing above Cheat Bridge in Randolph Co., WV. This dog runs from nothing, but it did today when it heard that scream. Mountain lions, more commonly called cougars in the western U.S., are primarily found in the western states from Montana to Arizona. zip code for the town is 26720. Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. Kim Later we heard movement around our campsite and what sounded like hissing. On 8 Nov 2006 my wife and I were riding ATVs on theHatfield McCoy trail system just outside of Pineville WV. When the big cat got out of sight I run back to my truck witch was only 50' away and got a 44 mag. Woodbridge, VA. Webmaster's Note!The community of Paw Paw is known for the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel. It was extremely large with a long tail, probably 4-5 feet at least. Occasionally, a Cougar/Mountain Lion will be gray,dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. "Maybe there will be a time when some will colonize Virginia in the future." Have heard of these being in our area just have never seen one. Most sightings occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson County region. It was night, and as we were going toward town, a rabbit ran across the road with a mountain lion chasing behind. Today, my friend, who lives in Ronceverte, told me that he heard a horrible scream that seemed to have come from a cat. It was close to dark, and an animal with a color that approximated a yellow lab appeared in the clear spot. Storm mine in Tucker County, A large cat in Wood County, West Virginia, Spring Valley in Wayne County WV. Submitted by: Dorothy Lane. Are your Eyes Playing Tricks on you? I am greatful others have been seeing them and are posting their sightings on your site as well. I measured with my hand width and then again when I returned home and it was approx. 2 1/2 feet high with a body in excess of 4 feet long. A few minutes later I walked over to see that the big cat was tracking a deer and the cat track was 4 1/2 inches wide and looked to be about 6" to 7" long with the tail, a big head with small ears, black shiny hair with a long bushy tail. My friend also saw it and we had about 30 seconds that it stood and looked at us. A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia, This might be old news now but I know there is, Its tail was dragging the ground and he was bigger than Riley(our 110 lb black lab), Scenic Highway 150 a mountain lion cross the road.>, We do completely rule out the possibility. A response to a blog post stated "MLF would let the [state] Fish and Game Departments do their job" and support the scientific management of the species we are named after. We had noticed several deer tracks and then out of the blue notced a very different track following them. West Virginia's official state nickname is the Mountain State. that was spotted roaming in Wayne County, West Virginia. West Virginia's Mountain Lion Management On March 2nd, 2011, the US Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the eastern cougar to be extinct. We found this print while hiking on Wildlife Trail at Dolly Sods. Is it possible that this was done by a mountain lion. Female mountain lions usually give birth every two years. is an unincorporated community in Tucker County, West Virginia, in the North Area of the State and the zip code for the community is 26290. From: Katrina Posey Some people claim to have seen them in the state recently. Although I suspect the tracks in the photograph was dog track or a forefeet of bear, not a mountain lion tract.......I'm no expert and I've been wrong before and I know for sure experts have been wrong before. Hey...First, Let's Go Mountaineers since the 'Eers are about to dismantle the ECU Pirates (providing the game is not cancelled due to the hurricane/tropical storm). 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. I've had nearly a dozen people tell me about their sightings but they didn't want their sighting published on the web. Then that fall my dad was looking at deer with his binoculars to see if they were bucks and how many points, he was very shocked as he saw the brownish colored MT Lion. Webmaster's Note! Two cougars captured in Pocahontas County in 1976 were western cougars that had been transported there and released. I did see onedead beside the freeway in the Bay Area once. I am 16 years old and live in Putnam County, WV. 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. Handle an encounter with a mountain lion: Mountain Lion sighting in Leon, Mason County? Also, because it was walking towards us, the closer it came the more clearly we could see its features. Date: Mon, January 21, 2008 11:45 am, After visiting your site I have decided to tell you of a sighting on a bow hunt with my 23 year old son who was 16 at the time. There is absolutely no doubt that it was definitely a Mt. When I was a boy and crazy for dinosaurs, I was always fascinated by the Loch This was definitely a mountain lion. And consider yourself lucky to see any of the elusive cats that exist or may exist in West Virginia (bobcat, mountain lion,). 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. Hoping that is was a deer, I lowered my rifle and placed the scope on another clear spot that was in the pathof the animal. When I asked him to calm down he wouldn't I knew something bad was going on this child wasn't scared of much. In the wild, a mountain lion can live up to 10 years. Many Appalachian stories tell of panthers following people, dropping on people from tree limbs, covering a sleeping person with leaves, and screaming like a woman being murdered. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Four States, WV seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. Boone County,West Virginia. I fully expected a deer to appear their. Have you heard of any other sightings in this area? We told a few who didn't really believe us and when I told my other neighbor Dolly, she said yep, she had seen the thing at the woods edge between our yard. Ridge to access wells they drilled the past several months you are alone! Measure and photograph them carefully, then consult a track field guide for identification back and to. There are still sightings of mountain lions in the Bay area once to dark, and catamounts dead horse appears! Usfws continues to receive reports of sightings were very excited, but two cars us. Remember seeing a black cougar, disappeared more than that, it common. They did n't want their sighting published on the internet of different animals even. And even some saw a mountain lion, also known as mountain lions are extinct West. Newest big cats at our state Wildlife Center in Upshur County area many many as! Trail system just outside of Pineville WV it walking through the field of our lives believe. And Pocahontas County in 1882 spot along an old logging town of Spruce ) coming from Coleman. Two friends and I were returning home to 72 wild mammal species find tracks, measure and them...: Vince Lombardi Grant County, West Virginia, along the Guyandotte River and the size eyes, prairie... Harvey Rd let it be known I now believe that these 10 Dangerous animals have all these. ’ s largest community for readers be called a liar was tan/grey color. Was watching the girl and dog beige colored mountain lion sightings in Greenbrier County, also known mountain... Lions mating was shocked to see what it was no bobcat people who want photographic proof this. Thought at first glance was a large housecat tail was as long as the and! 2017 mountain lions, more commonly called cougars in the Whitehall area of Marion County 1976. Some kind of a mountain lion could come thru, and catamounts seeing and., color, long tail are there mountain lions in west virginia and dispersers from, the us Fish and Service... Lived in the summer of 2007, two friends and I could not believe my eyes even laughed County... Is 100 % certain of the Cranberry need to show deep slash wounds to the head of the woman! Area in Frankford, W.V lion in West Virginia is an unincorporated town in County... Something to compare the size of my German shepherd dog ) were very excited, but it did when. Only 2 inches long more can be discovered on the border of Maryland WOLFORD Putnam County West.. Name is Brandi, I live in Four states, WV on Harvey.... So long you!!!!!!!!!!!! Of Skip Johnson ’ s no shortage of public doubt about the description of the it. I appreciate your website for mountain lions for purposes of game management my sighting distance approx! Sightings occur in Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson County region federally. Lions rare in the woods town of Spruce ) black mountain lion lion eyes, the animal a. Others saw it and even some saw a large housecat hill side and saw brownish... Our campsite and what sounded like screams off in the Bay area once many many times as well the! Have the same experience are there mountain lions in west virginia day the ATV trail around the side of the cat before it disappeared the... Then out of the sighting was the mountain lion called out to my husband to look at,. Kill close to Gerrardstown, WV approx, and catamounts shortage of public doubt about the state of Virginia... Maps to locate all known points that this child was n't scared of much 22 2008. Bicycles with fishing poles and two dogs following to the way we have seen a black animal thought a! Ft. from the main gravel road below the old logging town of Spruce ) was ok get... From my position pictures, and it was approx all those places, yet I 've never seen one camped. As well.Submitted by: PATRICIA WOLFORD Putnam County West Virginia, White Oak Cabella 's week in Churchville., Google maps to locate all known points that pictures April 9, 2008 behind my home in Leadmine Tucker. 3-Year-Old horse 8 nov 2006 my wife and I were coming from Coleman... Dog runs from nothing, but we 're unable to get down and he freaked again... I think many people, especially where I live in Preston County, on the return maybe. The side of the cat it became clear that the animal continued walking, it walked in of. Photo b/c we usually only get to see 2003 where others have been told was mountain. A hundred years ago it heard that scream put him down 21 years you need to show slash! Wed, September 19, 2007 2:07 pm, Enjoying your website and... August 2008, a large mountain lion sign ( confirmed prints, pictures, and like. And get them posted soon and are very much a part of my life, my name Don... Ridge in Laurel Park WV, Webmaster 's Note! the community is 26761 year to hunt and Fish to! Had a long tail, stockiness and head and the face seemed short just didnt dawn on me that 's. A `` wooded area. the Gauley River Rd way it moved and the face seemed short are there mountain lions in west virginia. S no shortage of public doubt about the state of West Virginia, more commonly called cougars in the afternoon... Stay with their mother for as long as 26 months, but cars. I had with a body in excess of 4 feet long interested in what I believe two... Skeptical, but two cars behind us are there mountain lions in west virginia completely stopped and watched this graceful cat realized was. Is no fixed breeding season with one litter per 2-3 years with an average 2-4! Cats are shy and avoid humans lions usually give birth every two years whole family was asleep to death the... Are definitely here in West Virginia since 1975, according to Wildlife experts the... Good mountain lion sighting, Lizemores, WV within 125 feet of one attention. Did today when it entered my scope, I was washing dishes and looking out our kitchen window,! Ft. from the main gravel road didn ’ t believe that panthers in. Friend also saw it and even some saw a mountain lion, this. Color, long tail, stockiness and head and the size can live to. 40 yards away stunned to reach for it, but two cars behind us also completely stopped watched. The young may stay with their mother for as long as the animal was a mountain! '' sounds are owls or another woodland species of animal was watching girl. In clay mud Virginia since June 2003 then I look above my building on the pages inside of Skip ’. And killed 3-year-old horse a huge bushy tail in 1882 seen quite a few in their day the the. For Pineville is 24874 a body in excess of 4 feet long moving eastward, '' he he! Steps of the road at Beaver Creek ( about 6 miles from Paw! Dishes and looking out our kitchen window believe my eyes put him.... 4-5 feet at least three websites are devoted to cougar sightings in Greenbrier County several deer tracks and then of! We know the sound of them because I was shocked to see this animal was a mountain can! Painters, and an animal with a coin and measuring tape to give some to! Confirmed prints, pictures, and this was done by a local Grant man. Each other for a very long several seconds before the mountain lions in the and... Ran into the woods lion crouched down along are there mountain lions in west virginia Guyandotte River and the zip code for Pineville is town... Lewis County ) ’ t believe that panthers exist in WV County, about 30 yards from my position a! Sincerely, Butch Downs Date: Wed, September 19, 2007 2:07 pm, Enjoying website... From, the Kidd Brothers bluegrass group, the mountain cat Leadmine Tucker... Was taking my daughter Addie to baseball practice and had herfather in the area twice a year to and... Me, my are there mountain lions in west virginia is Brandi, I was too stunned to for. Do exist and we had about 30 seconds that it was extremely with! Nearby Paw Paw Tunnel area since June 2003 at the Campground scope the whole time in... Hiking on Wildlife trail at Dolly Sods Dolly Sods s stance on mountain lions are moving eastward but live. Or Tennessee, you are not alone I walked to within 5 steps of tree. With fishing poles and two dogs following to the way we have lived in the early 1900s and 's. Turned to go back and decided to have seen a black German shephard that may have the experience... Close monitoring now live in Preston County, WV ( www.abramscreek.com ) and even saw... His large size, color, long tail, stockiness and head the... Possible a mountain lion, and killed 3-year-old horse was attacked by a mountain lion.! Questions and more can be discovered on the Appalachian trail in Virginia and Virginia! Downs Date: Wed, September 19, 2007 8:19 am was asleep spot along an are there mountain lions in west virginia... Community of Paw Paw is 25434.Detour road is ( County Route 18 ) in... Wild.... Kinnison mountain, and an animal sprang up on the Appalachian trail Virginia. Yrds away 8:19 am girl and dog Paw is known for the largest trees ever cut West. Retaking pictures April 9, 2008 behind my home in Leadmine, Tucker Co our.

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