COUGAR QUEST

COUGAR QUEST - VIRGINIA

(NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY, VIRGINIA / WEST VIRGINIA)

PO BOX 2142, WINCHESTER, VA 22604
(540) 888-3100 (phone) (540) 888-4833 (fax)

btc@btcent.com (e-mail) www.btcent.com/CougarQuest.htm (web site)

Contact: Barbara J. Chaplin, Executive Director, Cougar Quest - Virginia

BTC Enterprises, Inc.

Stories (& Map)

Brochures & Bulletins

Cougar Observation Form (web)

Cougar Observation Form (doc)

In early February 2005, we were challenged to prove the existence of the Cougar (also called panther, painter, mountain lion, puma, catamount, and snarlygoster) in this part of Virginia / West Virginia as an adjunct to the work of various other wildlife / environmental organizations that are researching the "re-existence" of Cougars in the East. As many know, the U.S. Department of the Interior has declared that the Eastern Cougar was extirpated from the Eastern United States by 1900 - that means, it no longer exists here - ever again, no matter where you or we might see one or its tracks. In all fairness, there has simply not been enough "hard evidence" to unequivocally prove that Cougars do roam and are permanent residents in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and elsewhere in the East. Virginia and West Virginia laws list this species as endangered, but do not believe it exists in the wild in these states. The Federal "Threatened and Endangered Species Act" lists Puma (=Felis) concolor couguar as 'endangered, presumed extinct in the wild throughout the East'; clauses [50 CFR 17.21(c)(2) & 50 CFR 17.31] state: ' where listed as endangered or threatened, wildlife may be taken by a person "in defense of his own life or the lives of others" '. Thus, a "non-existent" aggressively threatening Cougar may be killed in "self defense" to protect family and livestock, with which we agree. However, we do not believe in indiscriminate killing, just because Cougars show up in their travels through 25 - 200 mile territories in a non-threatening manner, once in awhile. We do not believe they should be reintroduced into areas into which they have not already migrated. But, we do believe that those remaining few wild Cougars (wherever they came from and however they got here) should be acknowledged and protected, by citizens like you and us if not by government agencies. We believe people in areas known to have a resident or migrant Cougar population should be educated about Cougars, their habits and habitats, their normal elusive, retiring relationship with humans, their most normal prey - the whitetailed deer, and their most hated prey - the coyote (and any other semi-related canine animal, including dogs). We definitely believe that multiple sightings of one of these animals should be taken seriously by any authority to which it is reported and that those citizens reporting such rare instances where lives and property are endangered should be treated respectfully and with prompt investigation.

(c) 2005: Cougar Quest - Virginia
We have agreed to act as the "sounding board" and collector of observation stories, proofs (including photos, video, tape recordings, track castings, specimen samples, and carcasses anonymously donated for DNA & other scientific testing - the only way to "undeniably prove" the "cat" is a "Cougar") for the Northern Shenandoah Valley sightings. We know they're here - we have our own stories! And so do our observers in Shockeyville, Gainesboro, Siler, Clearbrook / Brucetown, Hunting Ridge, Gore, Shawneeland, North Mountain, Mountain Falls, Shenandoah Nation Park (SNP), and other nearby VA, WV, MD, & PA county locations! [Notes: Some of our older SNP area stories are courtesy of Prof. Rob Simpson, LFCC, who graciously shared his files with us. The Observation Report Map is courtesy of Jeremy Vermillion, a CQ-VA volunteer.]

If you have stories of sightings or close up encounters; photos of cougars or cougar tracks; cougar video or audio tape; track casting or hair samples & other specimen; or anything related to cougars sighted in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia / West Virginia / Maryland / Pennsylvania (or other locations), please consider sharing them. By sharing your information, unless otherwise noted by you, you authorize publication on this web page, in articles, and a future book to raise funds for this project. (Please Note: an anonymously donated carcass or skull donation will be held in complete Confidence!) CAUTION: Cougars are powerful, wild, carnivorous predators - while they normally avoid humans, please do not pursue or corner these animals in the hope of obtaining a photograph, video, or other evidence! AND, please do not shoot at or kill a Cougar unless your life and property are truly endangered by an aggressive life-threatening animal, authorities will not respond to your request for assistance, and you have no other option!!!

To help you remember the details of your observations, Click here [Cougar Observation Form (web)] for the web version - Click here [Cougar Observation Form (doc)] for the version created for MS Word 8.0 or higher (please be patient as this file transfers to and opens on your computer) - SAVE either form to your computer, then complete it, and attach & send it via e-mail, or send a printed copy via postal mail. Or contact us for an electronic or printed copy. Or just send us your stories via either mail or e-mail. We need your name, contact address / phone / e-mail (but will only publish your first name and last initial on this page), area of sighting (i.e., city, county, & as specific a property location as possible), and as much detail as you can provide. Send your information to btc@btcent.com (or by mail to Cougar Quest - Virginia, PO Box 2142, Winchester, VA 22604). We may contact you for further clarification, if needed.

For additional free information see Brochures & Bulletins below.

Join us in this exciting, citizen-science project. Please pass this request along and ask your friends and neighbors to participate. Thank you. Barbara Chaplin, Executive Director

* * * Brochures & Bulletins * * *

The following brochures, bulletins, and forms are available free of charge. However, a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration.

1. Cougar Observation Form, available on the web page in two formats and in printed copy. Please Note: You do not need to complete this form to share your observations with us.

2. Introducing . . . Cougar Quest - Virginia: an introductory letter and part of our Mission Statement.

3. Cougar Quest - Virginia’s Cougar Facts: detail table and silhouettes of Cougar tracks and of a Cougar vs. other wild animals thanks to Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (www.miwildlife.org).

4. John James Audubon’s Cougar Research: detail table and copies of two of his Cougar paintings.

5. Wanted Poster: for window or bulletin board display showing what we want and the purpose of our quest.

6. Bulletin: Cougar Vs. The Law: Virginia and Federal law with CQ-VA Comments.

7. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Handout: reprinted with permission from VDGIF (www.dgif.state.va.us).

8. DOs and DON'Ts - reprinted with web permission.

9. Other flyers & brochures & observation / tracking workshop materials are constantly being created - please join us when we set up a public display or contact us for additional information. All CQ-VA material may be copied and used for educational purposes as long as Cougar Quest - Virginia is recognized as the copyright provider of the material and any other permission-granted copyright holders are likewise acknowledged.

* * * Stories (& Map) * * *

Disclaimer: All posted observation reports are considered "credible" unless otherwise noted,
however, no claim is made by CQ-VA that any report is "confirmed" unless details of such confirmation are also posted.

DATE	PLACE	OBSERVATION
MAP	This map shows some of the many reported, credible but not scientifically confirmed, sightings of cougars in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, VA - Jeremy Vermillion, CQ-VA volunteer	More Maps . . . (plus Cast & Skull Photos)	Official Statements: "VDGIF has never released cougars into the wild in Virginia, and is not releasing cougars into the wild now. Furthermore, to our knowledge, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has never released cougars in Virginia, and is not doing so now." [Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Richmond Office via Rick Reynolds, Wildlife Biologist, Verona Office - response to CQ-VA query received via e-mail 11/10/2005] "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurs with VDGIF. We have never released cougars into Virginia and are not doing so now." [Eric Davis, USFWS, Virginia Field Office - response to CQ-VA query received via e-mail 11/10/2005]
2010 Aug 14	Frederick Co, VA	Observation Mark W & wife (property owners, outdoorsmen, law enforcement officer) We heard the whistle she makes to her kittens first. We've seen her several different days and times of day. We think we've seen a couple of her kittens, but they aren't much bigger than the strays that hang around here for the food we leave out for them ... or the raccoons that help themselves to the same food. Since this isn't the first time I (we) have seen her, we think she has a den nearby and has for several years. I used to see mountain lions frequently on Paris Mountain and occasionally in other wooded mountain areas of Clarke & Frederick Co. Of course they are here.
2010 Jul 12	Shenandoah Co, VA	Observation Karen S (vacationer) Vacationing for the first time on the river...last night in cottage, something in trash below deck...we tried to look between the cracks of the wood, but couldn't get a good look, so I decided to go down stairs and scare it (raccoon, opossum, black & white cat that had been hanging around?)...the small cat was sitting on the top step, terrified... as I bent down to pick up the cat, I looked down the steps, and saw a huge, yellow, lion with no mane walking away. Now keep in mind, I am not an outdoors type person and my knowledge of the area and what lies within it is slim to none. With every hair on my body standing up, I slowly stood up, turned around, went inside, shut & locked the door. That cat was, in my opinion, large enough to jump up on the deck and come in if it wanted to! We never saw or heard that lion again.
2010 Jul 2	Spruce Pine, NC	Report Aaron C (home owner) I have recently got a very clear audio tape of this cougar that has been screaming outside my house for many months. It leaves but always comes back to near my house.. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: We are continuing to talk with Aaron in hopes that he can reproduce the tape to send us a copy while he keeps the original.]
2010 Jun 6	Basye, VA	Observation Timothy H (property owner) OK, I'll admit I may have been influenced by a friend's son who related that the Basye diner was all atwitter about panther sightings. It wasn't 5 minutes after I left my friend's condo that I made a wrong turn and ended up at a clearing next to a dead end. There it was, big cat, long tail, looking orange in the evening sun. I had a broadside view from about 50 yards and could tell this was no domestically-sized cat. It stood still as if it was watching the clearing (away from me) and after a minute I left and drove away. I didn't have my phone which has a nice camera.
2010 May 21	Loudoun Co, VA	Observation Thomas D (wildlife supporter) Despite my raising beef cattle and chickens, releasing bobwhites, and watching wild pheasants and turkeys on my property between Purcellville and Hillsboro, I welcome natural predators. On this night, one of our dogs was furiously barking and I heard a cough like deer during mating season (wrong time of year) only much louder and coming from near the dog kennel. I shined a flashlight and saw large, round, bright green eyeshine that blinked. Another pair of eyes was shining maybe 50 feet further away. They were 18-24 inches off the ground. As I walked over near the pasture fence, the eyeshine casually bounded away and stopped. This animal made a cream that could have come from a well-made horror move. I wish I'd had a more powerful flashlight.
2010 Feb 23	Leon, IA	Observation Lenny R (hunter, property owner) 7:00-7:30 AM: found parents' 50#-60# dog killed about 50 yards downhill from house, 1 of 2 smaller dogs badly injured ... about 12" snow, blood all over fight area ... large cat tracks leaving in 13 foot bounds ... later discovered all but 1 chickens were lost with one huge, heavy cage dragged and destroyed ... observed tracks as cat came down from tree, straight line walk to chicken coops, up & over pasture fence ... about 30' from house
2010 Feb 17	Crozet & Wintergreen, VA	Report Chris M (nature lover) Summer 2000, Crozet: My 10-year old daughter and her friend asked if we had "big cats" in Virginia. They explained that they had seen a large cat at least as big as a Labrador, drinking at the edge of one of our ponds, in a sitting position with its tail wrapped around its lower body. I went back to where they saw it but couldn't find any tracks in the leaves or on the rock where it was sitting. We talked with the game warden who indicated that Cougars are sort of like UFO's - lots of credible people report seeing them but no hard evidence is normally found. 2009, Appalachian Trail near I-64 & the Blue Ridge Parkway near Wintergreen Resort: My friend, out hiking alone, came within 20 yards of an adult mountain lion. She said it was clearly visible and definitely a large cat she recognized as a cougar, with a long tail. It looked at her and walked off. She just stood her ground, without any sudden movements and it never made a move toward her.
2009 Dec	Martinsburg, WV	Horse Attacked Mary O'B (owner / manager Equine Rescue farm) - We had a mountain lion attack in December. The horse that was attacked (claw marks down her back and legs [photo forwarded to show huge claw sweeps]) was older and suffers chronic arthritis. The other horses were so scared they ripped the fencing down and took off. I have never experienced anything like this. The vet is the one who told us it was a lion. Foot prints and claw marks were almost 4" x 4". I notified Dept of AG, but no one ever did anything or cared. - We have only seen the cat one time; it was also seen in Falling Waters by some hunters; the sewage treatment plant off of the Potomac & Opequan also have seen it. We did see the tracks again in the snow, but again officials never came out to follow up on the attack or check the tracks.
2009 Nov 29	Paris Mountain, Clarke Co, VA	Reports Noel G (reporter, nature lover) 1. Oct. 2009, Paris Height Lane: Andrew S - female cougar standing in road with 3 kittens; 2 weeks later, hunter saw female cougar with 2 kittens in same location 2. Nov. 2009, near Rte. 7: Barbara H (author) observed cougar on her way to a meeting
2009 Nov 28	Skyline Drive, SNP, VA	Observation Carol, Roger, & Julia R (nature lovers, environmentalists, amateur photographers) Sunny evening. It crossed the road behind us as I was reviewing a photo of the overlook view. Both my daughter and husband shouted, "what is that!?" as they observed a large, black, cat-like animal cross the road and stop to look at them. It hopped onto the rock wall on the west side of the overlook and then crept down from the wall into the woods. We approached the spot and tried to see it down the woody slope, but it had disappeared.
2009 Nov 21	Roanoke, VA	Observation Yvonne C (nature lover) 5:30 PM, driving on Rte. 311 past Jefferson National Forest, near Dragons Tooth heading towards Roanoke. I saw a very large goden tan cat quickly run in front of my car. I excitedly called my husband and told him. It was very long, perhaps 6-7 feet long and it's shoulders were almost as high as the hood on my jeep. The pictures on the internet of mountain lions (or cougars) match exactly to what ran in front of my car. I am positive it was not a deer, dog, or bear. It was not a bobcat. This cat I saw was huge! It was fluffy with thick legs and big paws. It was golden color with no spots. I just read that mountain lions in Virginia are non-existent according to the Forestry. Well, I don't know about that but I do know what I saw and am happy to see such a rare animal.
2009 Oct 4	Frederick Co, VA	Observation John R (property owner, avid world-wide hunter); Report by Kelly R (wife) 10:00-10:15 PM, cougar scream very close to house, between garage & road; John's and dog's hair straight up; small children scared. Not first time cougar scream heard, just much closer than prior. John donned his head lamp, loaded his shot gun, and went out on the porch; the cougar didn't show itself. Feb. 1998, we moved to this location and saw tracks at the front porch in the snow ... they were large cat tracks, bigger than a bobcat.
2009 Sept (12/2007- 09/2009 emails)	Nottoway & Dinwiddie Co., VA; Virginia Beach / Great Dismal Swamp, VA	Observation Douglas A (military base property manager; game tracker) 1. I work on a military base where I am one of the persons that manages and has access to the land to include the uninhabited areas that are locked and that very few people have access to. I have been tracking sightings reports from credible professionals, people I know personally (military, forestry, security, environmental fields), over the past few years on and around the installations where I work. I know that cougars are here in VA and think my installation(s) may be one of their refuges since we have plenty of space, deer, and very few people. I believe they roam all over, but are actively using the green space that surrounds most of our river systems as thoroughfares between the Great Dismal Swamp and the mountains. Rivers like the Nottoway, Appomattox, Mahrrin, Roanoke, and maybe even the James, though I don't see how they could easily get around Richmond. 2. c. 2005, on my way to work I saw a road kill cougar but couldn't stop - intersection of Baltimore Rd. and Rte. 460, at the town of Ford Crossroads in Dinwiddie Co. I took off work a little early that day hoping it would still be there. Unfortunately, it was completely gone with hardly a spot on the road by the time I got back there. Someone had obviously policed up the carcass. It was a beautiful animal when I saw it; very sleek and a dark reddish / tawny color. 3. Fall 2008 I was backpacking with my son. We had just gotten back to the car and started down the gravel road from the parking area above Crab Tree Falls on our way back down to the blacktop road SR 56, when a cougar jumped down the hill across the road about 50 yards in front of us and continued down the side of the hill, making it across the road in one bound. It was more of a gray color, but that tail and the cat-like motion is unmistakable. Very Exciting! (Coincidentally, where I saw him is just a couple short miles from Painter Mountain Lane; go figure.) [Painter is another name for cougar, mountain lion, panther, etc.] 4. Throughout 2008 I was involved with an extensive Meso Mammal Study with military and VA Tech experts on one installation. Unfortunately we never "got us a cougar". 5. Currently, I'm very interested in the reports coming out of the Great Dismal Swamp and surrounding areas, some of which are on your web site.
2009 Aug 26	Purcellville, Loudoun Co., VA	Observation Alice B (nature lover) Telegraph Springs Rd, near entrance to Curle Lane, 8:45 PM, clear dark night. What I first thought was a deer bounded across the narrow road with thick vegetation on both sides, 40-50 feet in front of my car headlights. I've seen literally thousands of deer in my life; this wasn't a deer; it wasn't a dog. Head much bigger and boxy, squarish, closer to the body; body mass and color similar to a smallish deer; legs thicker and straighter; graceful. I really think it was a cougar.
2009 Aug thru 2010 Feb	Augusta Co. & Bath Co., VA; Elkins, WV	Reports Adam E (wildlife observer; citizen scientist) Bath Co. - Scotchtown Draft Rd (Rt. 629) mid 1970s - My father saw a cougar along this road - very rough, dense country Augusta Co.- Criders 1. Aug 2009 Handyman building retaining wall at my cabin: The mountain lion was about 50-75 yards from him, just sitting on the side of the ridge watching him, no defensive posturing or motion to get closer to him; he was so shaken up that he refused to come back to work after his sighting. As tight as money is right now, he would have to be pretty sure of what he saw. 2. Sept 2009 Bill H observed live animal and tracks while in vehicle & on foot. Animal: feline, 24" shoulder height, 60" body length including tail, 30" tail length, tawny color. Tracks: approx. 3.5"x3", 1/2" deep in mud, no claw marks, 18"-24" stride + multiple smaller similar tracks assumed to be cubs; followed track trail <5'. 3. Other residents in area describe multiple cats (one reported black, one with cubs) being spotted at least 6 times and claim VDGIF captured and relocated one of the adult cougars in Aug 2009. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: We followed up with VDGIF who had no knowledge of this report, had not captured a cougar in the area, and would not, under any circumstances, relocate a cougar to a natural habitat.] Elkins, WV (52 miles from Criders, VA) Sept 2009 Shortly after the Criders cougar was "captured", a female cougar with two cubs were reported.
2009 Aug 18 thru Nov 10 (phone, email, pix)	Halifax Co, VA	Observation Bob C (property owner - 93 acres near S. Boston bordering 2,000 acre private hunting land, hunter, big game hunter, game camera enthusiast, wildlife observer - [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Bob sent photos & video; photos were sent to expert trackers whose opinion, as usual, was mixed: definite, probable, possible, not feline; our opinion is that the large, deep mud tracks are indeed cougar]) 1. 08/07/2009 7:30 PM (still light outside): saw cougar near a pile of cinder blocks next to my pole barn, about 100 yards from back door where standing; 2" grass that had just been cut. It was at least 120 pounds (may have been over 125 pounds), over 2 feet high at the back (which could be seen over the 2' pile of cinder blocks when it passed behind them); definitely a mature cougar. Tan body about 4' long with at least 3' tail, held straight out with the black tip curled up; very muscular legs. Before fully identifying, he called out to his wife: "There's a dog as big as a mountain lion out by the barn!" After realizing that it was a mountain lion, he said, "I couldn't have been more surprised if I had seen an elephant in my back yard." 2. 08/08/2009 afternoon, bush-hog cleanup with friend found & photographed cougar tracks sunk up to 1" in the mud along creek / watershed area c. 200 yards from barn - 4 1/4" x 4 1/2", some overlapping like cats walk, claws visible in deep mud but less than 1/4" deep, rounded print with thick heel pad unlike dog prints. 3. 08/11/2009 took more photos of the area; mud dried; many canine tracks; undetermined other. 4. 08/17/2009 follow up - Bruce P, friend, 3 miles NW of his property: big, full grown boxer attacked 2 weeks ago by large feline assumed to be cougar: razor clawed hind legs, slices front to rear of body. Others saw the cougar 5-6 miles east of his property around this same time. 5. 09/18/2009 follow up - Reports 09/05 5 miles North; 09/06-11 reports and possible game camera photo 15 miles South. 6. 11/10/2009 follow up - Workman 1/4 mile and across the road was on the 2nd floor porch at 10:30 AM: 1) observation in field: approx 3' body without tail, at least 2' tail up in air, ready to pounce, brown gray color; 2) got binoculars; 3) watched cougar cross the road and pasture toward the house and then into the woods where there are rock outcrops, caves, and very overgrown woodland.
2009 Aug 17 thru Sep 5 (emails)	Monterville, Randolph Co., WV	Observation Jim W (property owner, nature lover, professional outdoor writer, author) I have had about 10 mountain lion sightings going back to 1976 or 1977. All except one have been full grown and tanish. - 4 sightings were probably of the same cat, as it had a regular pattern in 2 consecutive Octobers (1999 & 2000). These sightings were in my yard in Monterville. The cat would appear in my neighbor's yard about 300 yards away and slowly work its way up to my yard. My neighbor would call me on the phone and inform me it was in his yard and to be on the lookout. - One was a sub-adult in wintertime, with snow on the ground and it had a winter darkish coat. My wife, Betty, witnessed this sighting which was in Pocahontas Co. - The closest 2 sightings were in the 50 foot range. ~ In '76 or '77, I was backpacking by myself on what they call the Upper Elk (river) near Slaty Fork, WV. I was sitting on a rock a long step from shore looking downriver. About 7 PM in August. I slowly turned around and there it was sitting on a rock in the river bathing its 2 front legs. No more than 50-60 feet. The cat saw me and just stared. I was near paralized with fear. I never moved a muscle. The cat finally leaped to the bank and loped away from me. The aftershock sank in and I half ran back to my car about 5 miles downriver, leaving all my gear at the campsite. The next day I got a local to go back with me to retrieve my gear. That August was dry and we could find no prints. The local never believed my story. ~ In In the mid '80s, I was behind one on my ATV on a gravel road going to the top of Elk Mountain; it was loping up the same road in front of me. I pulled up close enough to get a positive ID, then backed off. All of my sightings were "no doubt" cougars. No one can expect to have a sighting when they are looking for one; it's one of those being in the right place at the right time scenarios. I am pleased they are here. I don't care how they got here, but I do not believe the rumors that our DNR brought them in. The only thing I know is they are reproducing as many reliable sighting are young offspring. The WVDAR's denial that they exist in WV is ludicrous; it could be for a number of reasons, including not causing a panic to not paying out "damage fees" for lost livestock (hardly anybody raises sheep around here anymore), but it's still ludicrous.
2009 Aug 14	Montvale, VA	Report Paul S (nature lover) About 15 years ago, my father and my uncle claimed to sight a cougar on my father's farm. I was reminded of this when I saw a photo of a mountain following behind a whitetailed deer buck at a small store in Bedford, VA. When I asked, the clerk said it was taken near Lithia, VA at Iron Ore Mountain, the "Spec Mines". [CQ-VA Editorial Note: After seeing a copy of this photo which Paul provided, it is one that has been copied off of the Internet and making it's rounds as originating in several eastern states. Paul also provided a link to a sighting July 10, 2008 that was reported in Craig Co, south of New Castle --- sure sounded like a cougar to us! - go to www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/168668]
2009 Aug 12 - ... (original report date, continuing ...)	Elkins, WV	Observation Kimberly S-W, husband, children, friends of the family, and others ... Reports Kimberly S-W (property owner, writer, reporter, avid wildlife observer, nature lover, and professional grief / bereavement councilor) & Jim W (see Aug. 17 for other observations) [CQ-VA Editorial Note: This is the most credible observation and the most difficult for us to summarize after many conversations, facts, and confirming observations reported by others than Kim & her family ... a mother cougar (Lily) with two kittens (Freddie & Freaky) were sighted on numerous occasions by numerous individuals (some with "expert" credentials) and is well documented in the Elkins WV newspaper (www.TheIntermountain.com - search "mountain lion" or Kimberly Short Wolfe in their archives for August + 2009).] Summary: Kimberly & family moved to a long-abandoned, overgrown, wooded farm in May 2009. June started the sightings of a large mountain lion in and around their property, close to the house, walking down the driveway, bounding into the woods, etc., with many follow up sightings through June, July, August, September. As it turns out, this was a female (Lily) who was denning on acreage, apparently very close to their old farmhouse, hunting to feed herself and her kittens ... a young kitten (Freddie) was observed even more often than the mother in August ... it was soon discovered that there was actually a second kitten (Freaky). The fearful (but tolerant!) family identified a pattern of sorts as the cougar(s) made their rounds. The family's kenneled dogs were terrified and their cat refused to go outside. The cougars did not cooperate when a reporter / photographer came to take their pictures. Game cameras have so far failed to "capture" the cats. Kim has some photos, but says they just aren't good enough for "proof". WV DNR has been sympathetic but unsuccessful in finding the animals; police and other professionals were notified --- not interested; neighbors were notified and were supportive, keeping their wary lookout and reporting back any related experiences. A retired Game Warden is a neighbor and has confirmed the cougars. A veterinarian neighbor confirmed the reports. A outdoor wildlife magazine journalist / author has confirmed the reports. Fortunately, Lily and her youngsters have behaved themselves - Lily trained her kittens to hunt deer and other wildlife, not to attach "Fluffy" the family cat or the neighborhood dogs, cattle, horses, etc. and no harm was done the last we heard. With over 10 individuals having seen this cougar family (many on more than one occasion), is there any doubt of the veracity and credibility of this mountain lion family living in WV, in the mountains near Elkins? If there's a female mountain lion with two kittens, is there a doubt in anyone's mind that a male mountain lion exists? Are all cougars east of the Rockies "extinct"? Are all credible cougar sightings "escaped pets" that can't fend for or feed themselves and have no other cougars in the territory with which to breed? I leave it to you, the readers of this web site, and especially this report, to figure out the answers.
2009 Aug 8 / 9	Salem, VA	Report Karen U (nature lover) A cougar took down a deer at the Roanoke Camp (off Dry Hollow Rd) this weekend and I have been trying to determine if indeed it could have been a cougar or if it was a bobcat. The camp is near a reservoir in a very wooded mountain area with few houses; Dry Hollow Rd. is a small road with 3 one-lane bridges. I will try to get the camp director to fill out a sightings report.
2009 Aug 8	Luray, Page Co, VA	Observation Penny M (nature lover, hiker) Vacationing near Shenandoah River just west of Rte. 340. 8:00 AM, Saturday 8/8/09, I was out for a morning run on some back roads. I noticed a large, dark-colored animal in a fenced pasture just ahead of me. I initially thought it was a bear, until it ran, jumped a 5 foot pasture fence with ease, and landed about 4 feet from the fence. It then stopped in the road and turned to look at me. I was only about 50 feet away. I was frozen with fear as I realized it wasn't a bear, but a mountain lion. It was dark, maybe very dark brown, with a very long tail 3-4 feet long. It looked like it could have easily weighted 100-120 pounds (I have a 100 pound lab, and this cat was larger than my dog). It stood about 3 feet tall, and had a rounded face with low-set ears. I knew not to run, so I just stood there and waited. It finally took off on the other side of the road into the woods, and I made a U-turn to the nearest farmhouse! If it hadn't been the last day of our trip, I would have gone back to look for tracks to possibly photograph! I telephoned VDGIF; they suggested I call the Page Co. office on Monday, but then tried to inform me that "there are no mountain lions in Virginia...what you saw was a bear or a bobcat". I am an educated woman who lives in the country; I have seen many bears and bobcats. This was a cougar/mountain lion. There simply was no doubt in my mind. It was so beautiful and graceful. I will remember it forever!
2009 Aug 3	Virginia Beach, VA	Observation Curtis McD (former Boy Scout; 2 close encounters with mountain lions in California where lived prior to move to AA) Mountain lion family walking less than 5 yards from my standing position. Golden colored female cat the size of my Irish Setter, yet way more streamlined; 4 cubs, the one closest that I could see the best seemed to have paws too big for itself, but was curious and was approaching me till another one ran by in front of it and they turned away. I have someone who will go out to the location with me to try to take pictures.
2009 Jul 11	Shenandoah National Park, VA	Observation John & Kathy H (hikers, nature lovers) August 1990: sunny, clear early evening, SNP, heading north about 5 miles prior to Dickey Ridge. Sleek, dark tan cougar ran out of the woods, across the Skyline Drive, and bounded over the rock wall. 100-150 yards in front of our car. My wife distinctly remembers the date because it was 4 weeks before our daughter was born.
2009 Jun 30	Clarke Co / Frederick Co, VA	Observation Michele C (commuter, animal lover) 3:30-3:35 AM on way to work, Rte. 17 near Sky Meadows Park, on left, eating in grass near side of the road --- about 2 feet from my open car window, saw head & front, not back of 100# - 120# cat, one color --- it looked up right at me --- BEAUTIFUL! --- definitely a mountain lion.
2009 Jun 18 & Aug 5	Jefferson Co, TN	Reports Debora S (property owner) 1. A couple of years ago, my neighbor Ed saw one run onto my property; this evening my husband Les saw one nearby while driving home to our very rural remote mountainous property (just off the Shropshire Hollow which adjoins the Muddy Hollow; also near Cocke & Sevier counties). I hope you can tell me more about these apparently secretive and indigenous animals. 2. Another neighbor Mrs. S, recently (August 2009) saw one. We'll try to get casts of tracks if possible.
2009 Jun 11	Crozet, VA	Reports Marjo vD (observer) 1. About 2 years ago, my friend and I are looking at land next to Mint Spring Park in Crozet. It was an overgrown brushy field. At one point, my friend says: "Look." I turn around and see that we are "stalked" by a cougar which disappeared in the woods. It was one big cat with a long tail, sort of the color of deer in the summer. 2. Another time, I saw a cougar crossing Buck Rd., Crozet. Fast and large, definitely not a fox or deer. 3. August 2008, Buck Road. Backing up my car, a cougar is standing perfectly still a few yards away looking at me before calmly walking away towards the woods. There was no possible mistake; this was a cougar. A BIG cat, gorgeous coat, long tail. Ever since this sighting, I have my camera in my lap when I am on Buck Rd, but no luck so far.
2009 Jun 6	Capon Bridge, WV	Sighting Donnie W (hunt club member), reported by wife Kimberly W Donnie was in his truck driving slowly up the dirt road to the land owned by his hunting group on the capon River. He spotted an animal lying near some rocks and ferns. He stopped and looked and realized it was a mountain lion. He watched it through binoculars for appx. 5 minutes. It was aware of him but didn't seem to be too concerned. After a few minutes, it quietly got up and moved off into the woods, disappearing quickly. It was around 6 feet long with a long thick tail with dark fur at the end. One of the other members of this hunting club had seen 2 mountain lion cubs a year or two earlier, in this same area of the woods.
2009 Jun 1	Chesapeake, VA	Observation Dawn P & daughter Isabella (nature lovers) As I was driving my daughter to school at about 7:45 AM, I looked to my right and saw a cougar walking slowly across an alfalfa field which had been mown a few days ago; my daughter looked and recognized it right away as a cougar. I wanted to pull over for a photo, but there is no shoulder, just a ditch. I will try to get prints as the ground may be soft enough. I would have thought I was crazy without the sighting about 2 miles from here reported on your web site.
2009 May 22	Frederick Co, VA	Observation Donna Y (rural property owner, nature lover) May 22nd 2009, dusk; outside the old family farm house she recently inherited and is process of renovating: heard blood curdling big cat scream less than 1/8 mile from house; Uncle had talked about the mountain lions when she was a child, but she didn't know that there were any still around. Next day, found tracks around the pond that appear to be cougar; will set up game camera and will take photos & make casts of any future tracks. Has also found tree scratches possibly made by cougar. Researched wild cats and determined that the sound, tracks, and scratch marks fit cougar. Talking with owner of a local small store, she was told that they had heard the cat's mating cries on May 31st. Will provide follow up of future observations.
2009 May 14	Isle of Wight, VA superimposed photo	Game Cam Photo by Charlie W; Comment by CQ-VA; Photo by VDGIF A "cougar" photographed by a game camera was reported in print and web site by The Daily Press, Newport News, VA as provided to CQ-VA by one of our observers in that area. The size relevant to the foliage, the ears, and the lack of a curl on the end of a long tail was suspect to CQ-VA; as was the fact that cougars are very aware of everything in their environment and extremely difficult to "capture" on laser cameras. VDGIF investigated the report and used the same camera focused on the same spot to photograph a dog, a deer, & a kneeling biologist; they superimposed each on the "cougar" photo and came to the conclusion that this is either a large domestic cat (like our 30# blond cat who definitely will not walk across the laser beam of our game camera) or a bobcat (which Ben Shrader of ECF has determined to be very leery of game cameras, especially at night when the original "cougar" photo was taken). Many thanks to Rick Reynolds for sending us VDGIF's research results and many thanks to Charlie for cooperating with their investigation! [Please note: we are not saying that there are NO cougars in the area; just that this picture is not a cougar.]
2009 Mar / Apr	Rockingham Co, VA	Overheard by Nathan McD Sheriff's deputy mentioned someone calling to report seeing a cougar on Massanutten Mountain. He dismissed it as crazy.
2009 Mar 26	Ararat, VA	Observation JS (hunter, nature lover) 2:00 PM; 50-100 yards from moving vehicle; live tawny brown animal crossing road; approx. 23"-25" high at shoulder, 4'-5' body length, 3' tail; top of head & along the back & top of tail had black-tipped fur.
2009 Mar 26 Report Date 2009 Apr 16 Follow up	Southampton Co., VA	Observations reported by Peggy G - Late March 2009, c. 11:00 PM, leaving brother's farm with sister, house set back in woods: In the trees to my left, came a very agitated cat snarl. We jumped into my sister's van and heard an even louder growl/snarl that gave us the cold chills! I do not walk from dusk to dawn anymore around the paths on our farm. - 1st week Jan. 2009: a local man was driving his truck on a back road, within 2 miles of other sightings, during a deer hunt when a deer ran across the road in front of his truck and chasing it close behind was a cougar. - 2008, early summer, 9:00 AM: local woman saw a mountain lion bound across the road and said that it looked just like the ones she has seen pictures of. - 02/2008: my 2 sisters saw a cougar jump in front of their car after visiting me; it landed in the middle of the road in one jump, and disappeared into the woods with a second jump. Jean reported that it was a very large, muscular animal with strong looking legs and a long tail; definitely of the cat family, and much larger than a bob cat. - 2008, early morning: my sister-in-law had her "cat sighting" on the way to work. The animal landed with one leap in the middle of the road and jumped from there out of sight in the woods. She particularly noted the cat ears on its large head and the very long tail. - 2008, 9:00 AM: a neighbor had a cougar run across the road in front of her car.
2009 Mar 18	Warren, VA	Observation KH (property owner) 12:30 AM off my back patio, I saw a large light colored cat. It was the size of a large lab retriever. I am in Warren County just 1/8th of a mile from the Shenandoah. I did not see a tail to see if it was a bobcat; the prints look like a bobcat but very much bigger.
2009 Mar 2 Report Date	Fredericksburg, VA	Observation Tim P About 5 years ago while traveling with my family through Fredericksburg on a 2 lane road, I saw a big muscular cougar about 150 feet ahead on the road. There is no doubt about what I saw and it was not a little cat either; it was a very muscular cat with a nice big muscular face. All four of my family members saw it and we all agreed with what we saw. The big cats are out there for sure!
2009 Feb 28 Report Date	New River, WV	Observation Gary W (retired Federal Police Officer, seasonal employee with NPS) [sighting date not provided] I saw a cougar in the National Park along The New River. WV DNR and the National Park Service denied the sighting, but I was adamant! They said it must have been a lion that was raised as a pet and then released. I tried to find the late 60s / early 70s Washington Post article about Dept. of Interior releasing mountain lions imported from out West, but was unable to find a copy.
2009 Feb 13	Frederick Co, VA	Observation & Animal Tracks Philip H (rural property owner, hunter, nature lover, park ranger, environmentalist) - 02/13/2009: Photos & casts of probable cougar tracks; front and rear feet; front foot c. 4" wide x 4+" long; rear foot is slightly smaller. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Our expert tracker has confirmed these tracks as "large feline, probable cougar". We are indebted to Phil for allowing us to re-cast his casts!]: At about 5:00 PM, I was walking around my house checking for wind damage when I noticed large animal tracks in an empty flower bed in front of my front porch. I immediately went in the house and got a tape measure and camera. I took 4 pictures of the best track. I had to go out that evening so it was about 10:00 PM when I made the castings from plaster of paris. I have since gone onto another web site which showed cougar tracks and am certain that these are cougar tracks. I have seen this type of track one other time in a small patch of snow sometime during the winter of 1995. - 2000, Fall, c. 7:30 PM: I had just finished feeding the fish in my pond and was walking back around the pond when I heard a thud like an animal jumping from a tree. I looked towards the sound and saw a large animal running away from me at about 20-25 feet. Its rear quarters were approx. 24" tall and its tail was at least 36" long. Its color was a mix of light beige and dark brown. It was running, but not like a real scared cat. The hair on its tail was matted like it was wet and the tail was 5-6 inches wide.
2009 Feb 2	Smyth Co, VA	Observation Jeff A and father Feb. 3, 2008: My father and I were outside talking at dusk and I saw something trot across the road about 60 yards above us. My father asked me if it was a dog and I said "No, look at the tail dragging the ground behind it". I grabbed a light so I could get a better view and it stopped and looked back at us and paid us no more attention; it walked away and disappeared into the woods. It looked like a black panther! When I called DGIF, they said it was a black lab until I asked "Since when does a lab's tail drag the ground", and the phone when dead - they hung up on me.
2009 Jan 25 Report Date	Cumberland Co, VA	Observations reported by Martin L (avid outdoorsman & reader on animals and history) - My mother saw a cat the size of a large dog cross the road in front of her. She noticed it had a long tail and was dark brown or dark gray color; she described the color as "muddy". [within last 3 years] - I saw a similar cat about 100' from our house. It stood about 2'-2.5' tall at the shoulder, had a length (nose to rump) of approx. 5', and a tail (that swooped almost to the ground and then curled back up at the tip) with a length of about 3'. This cat had a huge head (about the size of a Labrador Retriever's except more round and cat-like) and a dark, muddled color. [within last 3 years]. - 01/24/2009, I found a scat pile in my front yard that was a U-shaped scratching mark with a pile of dirt and moss in the center of the U. Inside this pile of dirt was a small pile of feces that were much smellier than a domestic cat. I saved a sample of the feces in case someone wants to test for DNA; I am almost sure that I have found the feces of a cougar.
2009 Jan 2	Winchester, VA	Observation - Animal Tracks Steve K (hunter) + wife & children Noon, sunny day, walking in rural woodland area; fresh & plainly visible tracks observed in mud; <1 hour old; estimate 4" wide x 4" long with sinking depth of 1". Very clear impressions of a feline track, looks too big to be a bobcat. No claw marks in any of the tracks; long stride about 24"; walking with consistent track distances. The tracks followed deer tracks. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Steve said that he had a photo of the tracks, but has not yet sent a copy for confirmation.]
2008 Dec 5 Report Date	Berkshires, MA	Observations reported by Chuk P 11/09/2008, my wife Sarah & I saw a cougar go under a guardrail, North Adams MA, Rte. 8 N. It squeezed under the guard rail (there was less than 12" clearance) and disappeared into the swamp area; we had a full view of the muscular body and long tail, around 100' in front of the car. Other observations: - 2006: Michael H of Alford MA saw one cross the road in front of his car in broad daylight; he jumped out and ran toward it; it walked slowly away without acknowledging him. - About 13 years ago, I saw an adolescent, not fully grown, that still had its spots as it crossed the road in front of my car in Becket MA running full speed. - 1999: Sarah walked by one on Schultz Rd, Washington MA. - 1990s: Hanna K saw one on Rte. 66 Huntington MA as it ran across the road in front of the car she was in and saw it jump and extend it's body with it's huge tail. - My father Charles saw one in the '80s while he was on the turnpike in Becket MA; it was eating on the side of the road in broad daylight. - Ed W of Otis MA saw two in the mid 1980s. - Bob R of Florence MA saw one in the Eastern Berkshires cross the road in front of him and jump up a ledge [no date provided].
2008 Nov 22	Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk, VA	Observation Gail B (property owner, nature lover, environmentalist, some tracking training) 11:30 PM, dark clear night, approx. 1 min. sighting from stationary car, 10-25 yards away, leaves on ground so no tracks found when checked the next day. My house is set in the woods between a very large area of undeveloped woodland and a marsh about 10 miles west of the Great Dismal Swamp. I returned home and saw movement in the shadows; I watched the moving forms as they neared my neighbor's garage lights; a deer was being pursued by a large low cat shaped animal about 24-30 inches tall at the shoulders and about 4-5 feet body length; the tail length was unclear as he was backlit, but I noted the size! and movement! of the very stealthy feline predator. The animal chased the deer around the yard twice and disappeared into the woods by the marsh. In the light of the garage, I very clearly saw the shape of the two animals.
2008 Oct 13	Wintergreen, VA	Observation Stephanie P (hunter, nature lover) 8:10 PM, Walking on edge of road as we were driving down the mountain from the ski resort, 5-10 yards in front of car's headlights, toward the guard rail was a cat as tall as the guardrail, lanky, about 70 lbs, color of a deer, with a long tail that dipped almost to the ground and curled up. I mainly saw the back side so know exactly what the tail looked like. People can't take away from me what is burned in my memory. This is unbelievable!
2008 Aug 17	Frogtown, VA	Observation Robert R-B + wife & 2 adult friends Juvenile Cougar: Blue Ridge Mountain Rd, 3 miles S of Rte. 7, just N of Frogtown, N of Sky Meadows State Park, cougar went into Dept of Homeland Security area; 12:00 Noon, sunny, 10-25 yards, in car; 2 feet at shoulder, 4 feet body length plus >18 inch tail, medium reddish brown. As we arrived, the cougar was standing just to our left, then trotted into the woods and crawled under the barbed wire fence that separates the road from the large Dept. of Homeland Security facility. The last thing any of us expected to see was a cougar, but we all independently, simultaneously yelled- "mountain lion!". [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Follow up e-mails determined that this was not a bobcat, Robert et al being very familiar with bobcats - tail re-defined as about 1/2 body length. Further, it was noted that 2 DHS video cameras were in the area - if anyone at the DHS facility knows about this cougar, we would appreciate hearing from you!]
2008 Aug 3 Report Date 2005 Mar 28 Observed	Rockingham Co. VA	Observation Robert M (hunter, property owner) 12:15 AM, in stationary vehicle, clear night, coming home from 3-11 shift work, observed 3-5 min., 25-50 yds - a large object pounced past the headlights of my truck, ran up a slight hill between two homes on Cory Drive and stopped, turned its head, light reflected off it's eyes. It was the biggest cat I ever saw! It was as big as a large German Shepherd and its tail was very large. It turned broadside, sat down, and wrapped its tail around its side. I watched the cougar for about 2-3 more minutes, drove to my house, and notified the sheriff of the sighting.
2008 Jul 30 & 31	University of Maryland	Washington Post 08/01/2008 news article, pB02; TV news stations One report 07/30 night; Several Eye Witness Reports 07/31 from 6:00 AM to late afternoon Light tan / tawny brown; about 4 feet long, 4 foot tail, 50 lbs; investigated by MD Dept of Natural Resources and University Dept of Public Safety. No follow up report re. capture or more sightings.
2008 Jul 29	Leesburg, VA	Observation Gina L (property owner) 3:20 AM for 5 min from front porch; dark, light rain; My dog woke me to go outside; I turned on the front porch lights and heard a very loud hissing / snarling sound that was very unique coming from the pine trees about 75-100 feet from the porch. I could find no evidence the next morning, but my lab/basset was very interested in the smells. I check the internet to try to determine what made the sound; the closest was a cougar. Unfortunately, I only heard the animal; I did not see anything.
2008 Jul 27 (discussion) 2000 Summer (experience)	Shenandoah National Park, VA	Experience John S Hiking conversation, while observing a bear with two cubs: JS & daughter met couple who said "you don't want to be out here in the early morning because that's when the cougars are stalking around"; discussion about official statements that reports of cougars in SNP are still "unsubstantiated". JS personal experience: Summer 2000, 9-10 AM, hiking in Whiteoak Canyon just below Skyline Drive, almost same location as 2006 report from 2 brothers (see below): fog / mist, hard to see; heard eerie scream from large feline, then heard a growl; thought might be a bobcat, but sounded like larger animal; growls/screams kept repeating; felt threatened & vulnerable; picked up rocks & threw towards the sound; never saw anything, but most certainly felt that I was having a standoff with a mountain lion that was not happy with my presence. When I told my experience to one of the park rangers, he got very excited as if he felt validated, once again, that mountain lions are, in fact, IN the park and surrounding areas.
2008 Jul 20	Great Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA	Observation (phone) Michael F (farmer / rancher; gov't engineering supervisor) - wife (biology teacher) also saw but not as clearly 10:30-11:00 AM timeframe, clear day, dark brown cat with long tail curving up on the end ran across the road in front of my truck; it was coming out of the swamp into our farm fields which are located next to nature conservancy property; neighbor lost couple of calves 2-4 weeks before - don't know what killed them.
2008 Jul 15	Scott Co., VA	Observation Jonathan D [also see Feb 11, 2008 report] Possible cougar tracks (approx. 3" long) taken with cell phone at closed & locked shale mine where JD inspecting vegetation & drainage; photo taken in drainage ditch to sedimentation basin; prints in clay; area: very rugged, sandstone outcrop cliff formation; grasses 18-24" tall. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Our track expert sent the following comments: "These are the front track (left) and rear track (right) of (most likely) a canine. The shape of the tracks are similar to a feline, because they have a round shape rather than oval, and can easily fool even an experienced tracker. Because of the soft clay, a feline could extend its claws for traction and produce such a track. If the rear track were directly in the front track, I would be more inclined to think it feline. Pictures of the track pattern would be helpful. While I believe these are canine, it is not with absolute certainty."]
2008 Jul 12 (report) 1994 mid-July (observed)	Shenandoah National Park, VA	Observation Helen K & 4 children (ages 2-8) 1-2 miles S of Loft Mountain information center on Skyline Drive in SNP; 11:00 AM; clear sunny day; observation < 1 min. at 5-10 yards while in vehicle; saw large tan animal loping down the open mowed area on the east side moving toward the road; slowed to a stop; thought might be a camper's dog. The animal crossed the road at a moderate pace approx. 15' in front of my stopped vehicle & I recognized that it was a cat. The cat's back was approx. the height of my sedan's hood (30"); the color was a golden brown; the coat was solid in color & the hair was short; the features of the head & face were feline; the tail was quite long (c. 36"), but shorter than the body length (c. 50"); the feet were large heavy paws. The cat sauntered across the road and only began running as it entered the woods on the west side; it did not approach the car or look in our direction. We continued to the visitors center and reported the sighting to a park ranger who assured us that it was a bobcat and showed us a bobcat display; the size, color, proportions, & features of the sighted and illustrated animals were entirely different. I could believe that this animal had been domesticated and released, as the cat appeared to have no fear of being in the open or near our vehicle. It is hard for me to imagine that there were no other reported sightings of this particular animal due to its proximity to a campground & high traffic visitors center.
2008 Jun 8	Frederick Co., VA	Observation Andrea R Construction site Brookland Lane area; brief observation while walking with two dogs on sunny day; about 50-100 yards away; approx. size: height 2.5' at shoulder, 3.5' body length, 2' tail; dark color. I thought at first that it could have been a large dog, but it moved like a cat. It was about the size of a golden retriever and had a long tail that moved like a cat's tail, not like a dog's tail wagging. It walked slowly & completely ignored my two dogs barking at it. It walked into the woods and I heard a dog on the other side barking at it.
2008 May 28	Berkeley Springs, WV	Observation Judy S 8:30 AM, I saw what I believe to be a panther about 200' away from the window, crossing the top of the yard at the summit of Spriggs Rd, S of Berkeley Springs WV, walking downhill towards the SE, and entering a semi-wooded area towards an apparently abandoned house on the next property. Because we lived in Kenya (foreign service), we are familiar with "big cats". In my opinion, this was definitely a mountain lion / panther. The most striking features were its very long tail, its rounded, cat-like head, and its steady, determined cat-like walk (like lions in the wilds of Kenya). The color appeared to be brownish-gray. I estimate the length of the body as between 3-4 feet; its tail was very long - about 3' - and carried slightly above the body in a relaxed manner. We searched for tracks &/or spoor, but found none.
2008 May 26	E. of Cumberland, MD	Cougar Road Kill J.C. 6:30 PM rain just started; traveling E. on Rte 68 near State Park on motor cycle; slowed down considerably; saw dead animal about 5' back from the shoulder on the S. side of the road - observed large, long "cat" with 3' tail; did not stop & did not have camera; told friend who had contacted you before on 05/27/2008 and we called in the report. If anyone knows more about this roadkill, please contact CQ-VA.
2008 May 1	Akron, OH	Observation Kim N & wife My wife saw what she thinks was a cougar with a smaller animal in its mouth; it went under a fence but did not drag its head or the kill on the bottom of the fence. I went to the site and found 2 hairs where it went under a fence; the hairs are coarse, short (2") with tiny close together waves until almost the tip. Can you tell me where I can get a hair picture?
2008 Apr 5	Winchester, VA	Observation Becca L Mountain Lion dead (I think) on the side of the road just past the Apple Pie Ridge elementary school; paws bigger than my hand; didn't stop or slow down for fear; reported to sheriff.
2008 Apr 2 (report) 2004 June (observed)	Wise County, VA	Observation Gary & Cheryl J Appalachian Mountains. We spotted a young mountain lion standing on the side of the road at the edge of the woods. It stood there and looked at us for several minutes before it calmly walked into the woods. I couldn't believe what I just saw; my wife is from southern California & has seen this animal before. No, it was not a bobcat - too large & had a long tail. We could see this cat clearly. We mentioned it to neighbors & one said he had it regularly raid his dog/cat food left out on his back porch at night (his home backs up to the woods). We have to laugh when we hear someone say there are no mountain lions this far north (supposedly only found in Florida)! They are here among us and probably have been all along.
2008 Feb. 26	Parkersburg, WV	Phone Query Pat [no last name] 2nd hand report of cougar allegedly hit by car between Parkersburg and Grantsville WV, euthanized by game officials on Monday Feb. 25, 2008 was questioned by caller. CQ-VA contacted John Lutz of EPRN (WV) for input / follow up. Turns out that this cougar, killed in Arizona in 1999, has been making the e-mail hoax circuit in VA, WV, PA, ME, & possibly other states. The e-mail (4 forwards with no original dates) that had been sent to John with this and another photo claimed the cougar was hit by a car between Grantsville & Walker WV and "charged the Fish and Game guy" when he went to "put him down". Moral: Check your facts before you forward a cougar kill allegation hoax-mail. Thanks, Pat, for putting us onto this one! And, thanks, John, for the facts! [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Oren L followed up with a phone call on 03/04/2008 (see his observation "Fall 1985") to say that a radio talk show host out of Wheeling WV claimed that the Grantsville 'roadkill cougar' weighed in at around 350# (!!!) - a bear maybe, but not a cougar - and added to the general hype & hysteria. Oren asked if we were debunking all cougar sightings in the Parkersburg / Grantsville area, and we hastened to tell him no - that this article is only about this particular hoax e-mail with the warning not to believe unsubstantiated "facts" propagated by individuals or the media.]
2008 Feb. 11 (report date)	Coeburn, VA	Observation Jonathan D & wife I live in Southwest Virginia. I grew up in Wise County. I now live in Abingdon. I just wanted to tell someone else about what my wife and I saw one evening near Coeburn, VA. This has been a pretty long time ago, probably 7 years ago. We were driving home around 7pm one evening in early August. We turned off the main highway onto a secondary road to take the scenic route. Not very remote, just off the four lane highway. As we came around a curve, a large cat (Mountain Lion) crossed the road in front of us. It leaped once to the center and once to the other side. I can still see it a vividly now as we did then. It was a fawn color, probably 4 feet long from nose to rump and had a long tail, about 2 feet. It had long smooth short hair. Not shaggy like a dog or for or coyote. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road where the cat entered the woods. It was out of sight. I have a friend that swore he saw one in the High Knob area while deer hunting there years before. I never did quite really believe him until that evening. I found out later, that a man just up the hill from where we saw the cat, raised chickens and had been losing some but didn't know to what. To the left of the road was a steep bank that goes down to the Guest River. It is a small river and I would normally call it a creek. Beyond that was private farmland that backed into the national forest. I have been an avid hunter for years, 25 or so. I have only seen one bobcat that whole career. So, I believe there are definitely mountain lions around. I don't understand why the state doesn't support this. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: We know that at least some of the VDGIF officials are aware that at least some of the cougar reports are valid. However, physical, scientifically re-confirmable proofs are needed to determine whether there is a native "wild" population or whether released / escaped "captive" cougars are responsible for these sightings. Our observers' stories help us map "possible" and "probable" sightings for future tracking expeditions and for current camera trap attempts (one is now in it's 2nd year - sponsored by the Federal Government and supported by the State agency; 2 others that we know about are sponsored by another cougar organization and a wildlife group). Only with photos, videos, & track casts (of adult and young cougars), or scat and carcass parts (for DNA testing) can we prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Virginia has one or more "wild" cougar populations, thus allowing the VDGIF to justify the budgetary allotment required for tracking these elusive animals. All assistance with this citizen science project is greatly appreciated!]
2008 Feb. 4	Leesburg, VA	Observation Matt McC 6:15 PM; Sycamore Dr / Potomac Station Dr.; tan; tail same diameter base to tip (2'-3') = 3/4+ body length of 3'-4', had white tip on end, was held at 45 degree downward angle to body with last foot curved up; staking something in brush, moving like a cat; jumped across the ditch. Stopped vehicle; shone lights on the animal; got out to take pix with cell phone; animal ran off.
2008 Jan. 4 (report date)	Surrey County, VA	Observations Earl T 1. Thought that you folks would like to know that a cougar has been spotted in Surrey County, VA. A fair number of folks have seen the cat (including my wife and I). Hopefully no one shoots him. 2. There is no doubt that this is a mountain lion. The game warden has met with the local hunt clubs about him (or her). Month's ago he walked right in front of my wife's car as she drove down our driveway; he did not seem to care about her at all. When I saw him about 1 or 1 1/2 months ago, he was walking across the state road like he owned it. Then about 2-3 weeks ago we both saw him running across the state road in front of us - spooked by a bunch of hunters and hunting dogs. He appeared smaller to both of us in this sighting which means there could be two, though it was likely his speed that made him appear smaller. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: CQ-VA discussions with local game officials validated this report, while cautioning that the animal in question may not be "wild", but a captive that sometimes gets loose and has been periodically reported for several years. We hope to provide follow up in the future.]
Fall - Every Year	Kerneysville, WV	Observation Christopher J For many years have observed cougars in the fall, usually in the evening toward dusk, on Opequon Creek in Kerneysville WV area. <5 years away; wooded area. From: vehicle, on top of our tent, from Grandma's porch. Cougar activity: standing broadside, walking / running broadside, waling / running face on. Light brown color
2007 Dec. 31	Middletown, VA	Observation Linda & Floyd (Sr.) H New Year's Eve traveling from Stephens City to Middletown to visit son and family; turned left from Middle Rd. onto Minebank; headlights caught large (shoulder height c. 2'; body length c. 3'; tail length 2'-3') tawny colored mountain lion on right side of road walking slowly broadside before turning slightly and entering wooded area. Stopped vehicle, backed up swinging headlights onto the mountain lion until it disappeared into the woods; it was not in a hurry or bothered by traffic. Our observation was pretty remarkable, made even moreso when a common house cat crossed the road at the next turn. Floyd Sr. made the comment that it was probably searching (and finding) Christmas leftovers being thrown out.
2007 Nov. 23	Page County, VA	Observation Cory M On the morning of November 23, I'm certain I saw a cougar. My family has a cabin in Luray, VA in Ida Hollow, which borders the Shenandoah National Park. I was walking up the ridge where my hunting stand was located, still being somewhat dark around 6:45 AM, when I startled something upon reaching the top. I assumed it was a deer as I often jump them up in this spot but, the animal seemed to only run about 20 yards down the other side and then slowing down to a walk which seemed odd to me, as all the deer usually run off in the distance. After coming to the top of this ridge I still had to walk about 30 yards up it to reach my stand and while doing so I could hear the animal walking down below almost parallel with me. I got up into my stand and didn't hear anything for ten to fifteen minutes. Being light by now I heard some commotion in the thick laurel above me moving closer and closer to my shooting lane. The cougar ran a cross the lane 40 yards from my stand, moving up the ridge. I did not get to look at the animal head on, but it seemed to be as large as a yearling deer, and I could clearly see a slender tail sticking somewhat straight up in the air and being about a foot and half in length. I also could see the animal was tan and slightly lighter in color than a whitetail. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* From the tail description, this was probably a bobcat, not a cougar.]
2007 Oct. 21	I-81 near Buchanan, VA	Carcass (Road Kill) Sharon C (& college age son) I-81 near Buchannan in rural area, approx. 9 AM, sunny; in moving vehicle <5 yards from carcass; body length 3', tail > 2'; animal lying on its side; color tawny brown, white cream mouth with dark outline surrounding it. The cougar had been killed by a car(?) very recently on I-81 near Buchanan close to the Blue Ridge Parkway exit in Virginia. I was taking my son back to college in Wise VA. It was completely intact when we saw it by the roadside. Very young cat; I don't believe it was fully grown. Due to where the animal was killed, it must have been seen by many people unless they simply weren't paying attention. You simply couldn't miss either seeing the cat (it was large), what it was, or it's beauty. It was right on the shoulder of the road - you couldn't help but see it, nor could you mistake exactly what it was. It was a beautiful animal.
2007 Oct. 20	Boyce, VA	Observation Melissa Y Wild Cat Hollow Rd off Rte. 50, back side of Paris Mountain, 1 1/2 miles west of Sky Meadows; 8:30 AM. Description: 3' long, 3' high, 3' tail with crook in it; total shiny black coat, no other color; ears close to head, not pronounced. Deep in woods on a fire trail, heard long before saw, large black cat made quick, tight 360 degree turn on rock by the back of a pool approx. 25' away from me. Full extension as jumped off rock. 3 strides, sounding as heavy as a human's, took it 100 yards down the hillside into a meadow. "I was excited, not fearful, to see this elegant healthy full-grown cat!"
2007 Oct. 2 (report date)	King George Co., VA	Observation Craig H This is to let you know that I feel that we have confirming evidence of a large cat being back in King George County Virginia. For the past two weeks we have seen the raccoons, foxes, deer, birds and badgers vanish from our property. This morning we found two different spool or scat piles around two to three feet in diameter from a large cat about 60 to 80 pounds. I know that years ago we used to have a small black panther that had lived in the area for over twenty years before passing away and we do back onto the northern most section of the Great Dismal Swamp where this cat probably came from. I have seen stool piles like this in Mississippi with panther tracks around them so I feel pretty certain of what I am looking at.
2007 Sept. 27	Purcellville, VA	Observation Marn K Cotoctin Creek, NE of Purcellville; about same size as 50# dog; blond color; slinking along the edge of the woods; tail definitely too long for bobcat trailing along ground; 2 streams, lots of deer; 1 hour before sunrise.
2007 Sept. 23	McLean, VA	Observation Eric V Time: 4:30 PM, sunny & clear, 80 degrees; 5-10 yards from vehicle. Observed large cat cross the road in front of my vehicle from right to left and disappear behind brush in front of a residence. Stopped vehicle after crossing the animals path, but did not exit my vehicle and was unable to see animal. Animal was approx. 24"-30" tall. tan color with no discernible markings. Would compare overall size with a large German Shepherd or Doberman. Slender build with tail slightly longer than body. Tail was carried horizontal with the animals back during observation, curling slightly upward at the tip. As animal was first observed, was walking briskly, maybe a 'trot' would best describe it, then seemed to bound or leap into the brush; may have become aware of my presence. This was a cat for sure; specifically what type of cat I can not say, but bears strong resemblance to pictures of "mountain lions" that I recently looked at on the internet. Notes: This is a heavily developed area, only a few miles from Washington, but the area of sighting is near wooded areas including Pimmit Bend Park (Pimmit Run) and not very far from the Potomac River. We also have a deer overpopulation problem here.
2007 Sept. 15	Sheldon, CT	Report Jeff W Puma sighted by two people in woods near Sheldon; slight rain, no clear tracks.
2007 Sept. 7	Chesapeake, VA	Observation Eric K & family (3) + friends (4) Close to Dismal Swamp on Bunch Walnuts Rd., Chesapeake VA Evening - 5 minutes each of 2 consecutive days; sunny; 50-100 yards from back deck of house; photos & video. We were helping some neighbors move in rural southern Chesapeake and took a break on their deck. Their oldest boy saw what appeared to be a deer (getting dark) in the back of their 3 acre lot. He went to get his binoculars and soon discovered it was a cougar. Every one of the 2 family / 8 people saw it through the binoculars before it left. Myself and the other dad went back to the back of the property and with a spot light saw a baby cougar. This might explain why the mom stayed so close for so long, as it had a baby (thank goodness it did not decide to defend her baby). The next day the other dad saw the baby in the same spot and took a video and picture. The video and pic was sent to the VA DNR and it was confirmed as being a cougar. where the video and pic now is I do not know. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* CQ-VA has not yet obtained a copy of the photo or video. Rick Reynolds, VDGIF contact, was unable to track down who had received the evidence and who had confirmed that the animals were cougars. Hopefully, Eric will be able to get copies from his friend and share them with CQ-VA.]
2007 Sept. 1 (report)	High Meadows, VA	Observation Robert P June 9, 1979, 7:45 PM: On farm owned by parents, High Meadows Hunting & Fishing Club, Inc. Animal was stalking 180 lb. doe. When the doe ran off, the cat appeared out of 2-3' laurel and perched upon a small mound of granite rocks. It was 4' - 4 1/2' long with a tail of 2 1/2', general color was brown / tan with dark markings on its head and tail, hair was short. Many deep caves and plentiful deer in the area would have provided a good cougar habitat.
2007 Aug. 2	Frederick Co., VA	Observation Polly D (former zookeeper, B.S. in Wildlife Biology) 08/02/2007 6:00 PM, Sunny, in stationery vehicle, habitat: rural roadside heading into a thick wooded area toward North Mountain. Approx. 28" shoulder height, at least 56" body length, tail length >28" (curled near ground); color: tawny grey. I discovered later that 2 of my neighbors had also see it, but didn't say anything because they didn't think anyone would believe them. Their description was consistent with what I witnessed. We all saw it in the same location as well.
2007 July 29	Bentonville, VA	Observation Ed B & 2 sons (ages 11 & 7) + 3 other children (ages 2 - 13) 1:00 PM, Bentonville, Whitney Land - on gravel road, in car, then got out for better look. Cougar was running down a path and into the woods; about same size as 75# Lab, but lower, longer, and more slender. No spots or ear tufts. Tail was not bushy; it was long (about the same length as the body or longer). Color was tannish brown / light brown. Face not seen clearly. Several streams, RR track, near Rte. 340. - Neighbor heard big cat growl on July 27 as she was getting out of her car. - Friend in Bentonville reported seeing a cougar 1 year ago in the western part of Shenandoah National Park.
2007 June 25	Martinsburg, WV	Observation Charlow I live off Needy Road in Martinsburg.... WV. My cat went missing 2 weeks ago Last week around 1130 pm I heard cooing like an infant / or cat meowing sounds... went out thinking my cat had returned ... the noises stopped. Then last night as I went to put my key in the front door while returning home from work at 430 am, I heard an actual cougar snarl, in the area behind my home. They have just dried up a run off spring and cleared land behind my house for 2 additional home lots. I live in a hilly area just after Salvation Road in Stonebridge.
2007 June 24	Loudoun County, VA	Observation Christa B (Park Ranger, Hunter) Road kill cougar carcass- Rte. 7 E Bypass Leesburg VA. Observed at 12 noon from moving vehicle & 5 PM from stationery vehicle; <5 yards; sunny weather. Tan body, black tipped ears and tail. Game warden contacted 6-7 PM. I was traveling from Harper’s Ferry, WV to Springfield, VA via Rt9 to Rt7 through Leesburg, VA. On the Rt7 bypass, I came across a struck COUGAR, laying on the left side of the road, just past the bridge for Business Rt7. On my way home from Springfield, VA, I decided to make sure of what I’d seen. I turned around, and revisited the scene. It most certainly was a cougar. When I got home, I contacted the VA DNR, and they apparently went to investigate and take care of the carcass. It had not been reported to authorities. In the past 72 hours, coyotes have been spotted here in the Eastern Panhandle of WV, and Northern VA, and there certainly isn’t a shortage of white-tailed deer. Perhaps the cougar is returning to its land. Might I suggest a follow-up by your group in this matter? I just thought I’d inform you of this recent development. Thank you for your time and interest in protection and conservation. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* This is a most interesting case. After various calls on June 29th, CQ-VA found that VDOT had received a call at 8:40 PM on 06/24/2007. The report read to us over the phone stated that the animal was picked up at unknown time by "Kinlaw", was described as "large dead cat", location "Rte 7 near Stockley Way, Leesburg, VA" (Stockley Way is actually Lane and this "location" is just south of where Christa saw the cougar on the Rte. 7 Bypass at the business route junction into Leesburg), case closed 1:10:54 PM 06/25/2007. No other cat / cougar / mountain lion pick up logged for 06/24 according to Fred with whom I spoke and who checked files. Rick Reynolds, VDGIF, followed up on July 2nd and was told the animal was a "dead deer". Another interested cougar quester contacted VDOT on Dec. 11th after finding out about this roadkill during a phone conversation with CQ-VA - following is a summary: "I called VDOT about the roadkill report of June 24 and a woman named Tracy was very helpful, checked the computer for roadkills on that date at Route 7 and Stockley Lane, and said the only thing picked up that day was dead deer. Finaly she asked what the animal was that had been killed. I told her it was a "cougar" or mountain lion and she said, "Oh, that sounds very familiar, I remember that call," and she turned from the phone and said to others in the room, "Does anyone remember getting a call months ago about a mountain lion being killed on the road?" Nobody responded and she continued to insist to me that she remembered that call. I asked her to connect me with "Kinlaw," the name mentioned in your e-mail to Rick Reynolds as the guy who picked up the animal. She did, and Kinlaw said he knew nothing about a mountain lion, and said he didn't actually pick up dead animals but called a contractor who did that. I asked for the contractor's name and amazingly, he gave me his name--Ali Khan--and his phone number. So I called Ali Khan - he didn't remember picking up a mountain lion and I tend to believe him. He added that "sometimes VDOT picks up animals and doesn't call me." He promised to check his own records for that day and call me back if he found anything but I'm not optimistic. Ali Khan called me back and said his records for June 25 (nothing for June 24) show a deer was picked up at Rt. 7 and Stokely "Way" that day. He also said he didn't pick it up, but the guys who work for him did so. How many layers are there in roadkill pickup?
2007 June 3	Woodbridge, VA	Observations Angela DeH Today, as has happened every spring for the last 5 1/2 years, my Black Lab and Pit Bull mix dogs were going crazy barking on the back deck. Behind the house, at the edge of the woods, the cougar sat staring between them - its stare was intent; it leaned forward with bent knees looking ready to pounce or run. The cougar usually stays around for 3 weeks, emitting its bloodcurdling, long scream with a growl at the end. Its a lion for sure: small perfectly round ears, very lite cream / tawny color, a gigantic head, about the size of a Rottweiler or Saint Bernard, approximately 34"-36" when sitting to the top of its head. Watching it walk, the tail is fat, long, and curves toward the ground; the tail goes down at least as far as its ankles with the tip curled in the grass. The first time I saw it, I was sitting in the woods near a run-off pond, which is now a year-round pond. My dogs were stalking birds when the cat got up from its hiding place and started to stalk them; I got up yelling and it ran off. I've seen tracks in shallow water, sand, mud, and in clear spots in the woods but haven't yet made any casts. Neabsco Creek, which flows into the pond, would be an easy access route - a cougar can walk along the shallow creek under all the roads that cross over it. Others in this area have also seen this cougar each year.
2007 May 19	Lambsburg, Carroll Co., VA	Observation Don G (outdoorsman) 05/19/2007: Since my close encounter with a cougar in 2003 (see below), I have been trying to find positive proof of the existence of cougars in this area. I purchased a motion sensor camera but have been unsuccessful in getting a picture of a cougar. The track I found yesterday is the closest I've come to finding proof. I am reasonably certain that it is a cougar track. It is approx. 3 1/2" wide and 3" long. It followed a deer track which was not very distinct. I found it within yards of Stewart Creek within a quarter mile of my house; my road dead ends into Stewart Creek along the Wildlife Management Area. I found tracks which I believe to have been a cougar's in sand near Stewart Creek a couple of months ago but they were too indistinct to make a mold. 07/23/2003: 11:35 PM, 5 min. observation from 200 yards to within 30' of the deck I was standing on; used hand-held "million candlepower" spotlight to observe the cougar. I have absolutely no doubt that it was an eastern cougar. It was similar in color to a deer and the long tail, head, and "stalking walk" were that of a cougar; it was not a bobcat as I am very familiar with bobcats. It may have been a young cougar, as it weighed about 80 pounds and was about 5' in length. The cat didn't seem to fear the light, but when I whistled for my dog, the cat ran back to the safety of some nearby brush beyond the scope of my spotlight. A second area resident, Emmanuel G, reported seeing a cougar near his residence several weeks prior. At least 2 other neighbors have sighted a cougar in this neighborhood since my sighting in 2003. All the old timers in this area have cougar tales of encounters over the years and many hunters have heard their screams or caught glimpses while hunting.
2007 Apr. 11 (report date)	Loudoun County, VA	Observation Claire A I am writing you to inform you of 2 separate cougar sightings. These sightings are not from me personally. I live in a community in Loudoun County (Leesburg, VA). We have a 511 home community. One of my neighbors last week stated they saw the "panthers" down near the creek at Old Mill Vet off of Lawson Road. Her being new to the area I didn't believe her. Her fiancée also witnessed these cats. However, another neighbor posted on our community web site (he does not know my next door neighbor), that he was walking his dog on the trails in the early AM on the 8th of April and saw a Cougar. Now I believe my neighbor. After doing some research, I found your web site. I can try and get the people who truly saw these beautiful cats to e-mail you. In the meantime I thought you might be interested to know. The game warden won't respond to our calls because they stated they get calls all the time. Until they have a confirmed sighting with a picture they won't respond. Would they be keeping these beautiful animals in the interest of the cougar or hurt them? 'Cause I would really like it if we get a confirmed sighting to be able to trust that this animal will be treated with respect. After all they were here 1st. (Further clarification: 2 cats sighted together near Goose Creek, next to the W&OD trail near Lawson Rd.; single cat sighted 3/4 mile from other sighting.)
2007 Mar. 25 (report date)	Crozet, VA	Observation & Newspaper Report Randolph B I didn't know if you had heard about the cougar sighting in February 2007 in Crozet, VA (Albemarle County near Charlottesville). I just found out about your site, so I am emailing you the Newspaper copy herein. Before I add it to the end of this email, I just want you to know that I too saw a cougar about 1994/1995 between December and April near Crozet. My business partner lived in a rented house on the top of Bucks Elbow Mountain in western Albemarle County above Crozet. The road going up the mountain is dirt and zigzags for 4 miles to the top. After visiting the top, I was on my way down the 1-lane dirt road when a cougar went across the road 15 feet in front of my truck (I was going 10 miles an hour) and leapt up the embankment and went up the mountain into the woods (no leaves at this time of year...about 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. full sun). There was no mistaking what this was. The tail was as long as the big cats body which was much larger than a yellow lab. This cat leapt up that 15' embankment like it was nothing, stopped at the top and turned around and looked at me as I stopped the truck, and then went off into the woods. I got out and looked for tracks...then I went down the mountain and the next day I called the VA Fish & Wildlife folks. They were cool about the sighting and said they had had some recently in the area. Their Web site currently lists the Eastern Cougar as part of the fauna in Virginia. I am a very qualified observer as I have a Bachelors in Environmental Science and a Masters in Environmental Ed and have taught same at the college level. I am also an amateur wildlife photographer and a lifelong fisherman used to the outdoors and can identify all sorts of creatures by their sounds alone. I'm a fairly good tracker and scatologist too. At the time I was 45 years old. There have been many sightings near Crozet. Crozet Cougar Seen Near Hilltop Street (Crozet Gazette-Feb 2007 Vol 1 No. 9 Pg 7) A large cougar was seen by Roger Rawlings in his yard on the north side of Hilltop Street in Crozet shortly before noon Saturday Jan. 20. Rawlings was cutting firewood near the rear of his lot, where it borders the eastern reaches of Barnes Lumber Company, and when he cut off his saw to move a branch he heard an unusual noise. He expected to find a cat when he turned around, he said, but was surprised and startled to see the cougar about 25 yards away. "It was pretty big. It wasn’t no small one," Rawlings said. "I got a good look at him." He estimated its length at five feet and described it as "tan with a white patch on its belly." Rawlings said the nearest the cougar came to him was about 15 yards. He is familiar with bobcats, he said, and the animal he saw was not a bobcat. Rawlings said the cougar "showed his teeth. He was staring right at me. I took off running as fast as I could." When he went back later to recover his saw he found no sign of the cougar. He said he believes they will attack. His neighbor Sharon Hutchinson said she has heard what she believes is the cougar in the same area, the woods between Hilltop and the railroad tracks, on three different occasions. "I heard that awful wailing like a baby," she said. She said one night her son’s dog, Jake, which was tied in the yard, "was raising a fit" barking and when she went to investigate she saw "a pair of yellow eyes" staring at her through the dark. "I swear to God it was there," she said. "I’ll guarantee he was there that weekend" [when Rawlings saw it]. Hutchinson said she reported her encounter to Albemarle County police.
2007 Mar. 17	Madison County, VA	Observation Tammy T (Park Ranger) 9:30 PM, 5-10 yards, from moving vehicle; habitat: rural roadside, farmland, woodland My daughter and I were driving home from visiting with her grandfather in Madison County Virginia - on Rte. 658 heading toward Rte. 657. Before I came up to the three way stop sign at Ruth & Thrift, I saw this rather large cat crossing the road into the woods. This was a very large cat compared to domestic cats around here. It's color was a light tannish brown, the walk was different (head kind of down), it's size was large (but I do not think it was a full grown adult cat), it's ears were slightly rounded and it had a rather long tail. Nothing like a domestic cat. I was so excited that I called my mother immediately to tell her that I had seen some sort of wild cat but couldn't think of what it was called. I knew it wasn't a domestic cat or bobcat because the characteristics were not the same. My mother said that it sounded like a mountain lion - so I looked it up on the Internet and there it was. I keep telling myself, I hope my eyes were not playing tricks on me ... but I know what I saw was not a domestic cat or bobcat and looks VERY similar to a mountain lion. I keep looking at different pictures of mountain lions on the Internet because I did not want to report something unless I am absolutely sure and this is something I am sure about.
2007 Mar. 10 (report date)	King George, VA	Observation Justin K I strongly believe I saw a Cougar on my family's farm in King George, VA back in November '06 at approximately 5:30 am on opening day of deer season. I was pulling into the farm when I spotted several deer that all seemed spooked and I didn't think it was because of me. I proceeded to park my truck and gather my gear so I could go get on my stand. On the walk down to the pasture I shined my powerful flashlight over at an old barn because I detected movement and eye reflection. There was a huge cat approximately 4' in length with a tail that seemed at least 6' long. The strong light caused the cat to become disoriented for a second and it couldn't find an exit and ran towards me, broke towards the right, and then in the opposite direction. At this point I was a little spooked myself. I continued to walk through the pasture and heard noises that sounded like a metallic purr off to my left. I shined my light in the direction and saw a set of eyeballs that were about 2 feet off the ground. Those eyeballs continued to follow me until I got on my stand. I never saw or heard the cat once the sun came up. I'm about 80% sure that what I saw was a cougar but I never reported it until now.... I was tempted to shoot it, but I never really felt threatened. After reading and learning from your web site, I'm surely glad that I didn't shoot such an amazing and beautiful animal (if it was in fact a cougar)...
2007 Mar. 8 (report date)	Kingsport, TN	Observation Angela W I live in Kingsport, TN where my husband and I have both seen a panther/cougar, whatever you wish to call it, outside of our home. We live at the bottom of Bays Mtn. and there is a huge field to the right of us where deer constantly graze. Both times that we have seen this animal (it has been very close with a very short amount of space between us), it has been in the late fall (2005 & 2006) around 10 to 11 pm. It was a very magnificent looking animal and a very scary sight at the same time. Escaped pet/ wild/ whatever ...we did see this animal and are very aware/positive of what we have seen (we do know the difference between bobcats/dogs/wolves/coyotes etc.). The panther/cougar that we saw would have to be considered as full grown and possibly male because it was very large. It appeared to be solid black but it was night time. It's tail was almost as long as it's body length and it knew I had seen it because it looked at me and opened it's mouth - I saw it's teeth, but heard no sound. I was fascinated at seeing it but still had enough sense to be scared to death. My husband is a very no-nonsense type of man and he came inside very shaken up the night he saw it out. Whatever category it falls under, it was a very large cat...much, much larger than a bobcat and most definitely a full grown cat. It's existence has changed our patterns of walking when it is cool late at night in the summer. We are not sure if it is around here during those months but I have no desire to find out!
2007 Mar. 6	Northern NJ	Report Jeff W 2 pumas sighted on land trust 35 miles from NY border, near Adirondacks in northwest NJ
2007 Mar. 1 (track print for comparison)	Western Cougar Prints	Photo of Cougar Track in Snow, Jeremy V (Cougar Quest Volunteer reporting from Oregon) I'm at my dad's in Portland. We've been going out to hot springs over the weekends. On one hike I saw a bunch of cougar tracks in the snow (see attached picture). We had split up to search for the hot spring, so I quickly turned around after seeing the tracks and hearing noises up ahead. They seemed extremely fresh and like it was a huge cat.
2007 Feb. 26 (report date)	Wintergreen, VA	Report Marilyn F Last year my husband and I were camping at Sherando Lake. We were talking to a resident (retired Norfolk police detective) who told us that he and his son had seen a cougar just outside Wintergreen Resort several years ago.
2007 Feb. 21 (report date)	Shen. National Park, VA	Mountain Lion Sighting Randy F (with brother Gary F) In July 2006 my brother and I hiked from the lower parking lot at the beginning of the White Oak Canyon Trail to Big Meadows. At a point a little past the halfway point of the White Oak Canyon Trail, past the steps and before you get to the last of the falls which is the one closest to the horse trail, we clearly saw a mountain lion. The time was between 9:00 and 9:30 in the morning. My brother told me to look to my right. He started fumbling with his camera. The mountain lion did not run off but ambled 10 or fifteen feet from us turned around and looked and then went a little further and did the same thing. Finally he was out of sight; we were tempted to follow but did not. My brother got one picture but the mountain lion was almost out of sight. On the Appalachian Trail between Skyland and Big Meadows we met a ranger and told him about the mountain lion. A week later my brother was called to discuss what he saw.
2007 Feb. 7 (report date)	Prince Edward Co. / Charlotte Co. line, VA	Cougar Sighting Anne P We own 60 acres of undeveloped land that boarders many more acres of timber land on two sides and is within a short distance of Briery Lake State Park; a creek runs through and this is where our sighting occurred. About 18 months ago (summer 2005), my children and I saw what I believed was a cougar on our rural property. I did not report it, as I did not believe cougar were found in that area and thought people would think I was crazy. My son, walking backward, yelled "What is that?" We turned to see the animal in mid-air, jumping across the path into thick woods. It was approximately 4 1/2 feet long from nose to base of tail and perhaps 2 feet tall. It's coloring was darker than a deer. There was a long tail. My daughter, seeing a book with a cougar picture that I was recently reading, said, "That's what we saw that time!" and was very insistent and excited.
2007 Feb. 3	White Hall, VA	Observation Julie M I have some unusual scratch marks on some trees that I cannot identify. Although I haven't seen a cougar, or footprints or scat, it looks like a very large cat scratched those trees. My neighbor, also on Green Spring Road, said that there had been a mountain lion sighting in May or June 2006 in a meadow on Apple Pie Ridge road, a mile or so south of Green Spring Road. The lion was observed chasing a deer in the meadow, in very late afternoon.
2007 Jan. 26 (report date)	Dinwiddie Co., VA	Cougar Sighting Joyce I My brother and sister-in-law had an encounter several years ago on their way from Varina to Keysville, VA. They were driving along Rte. 460 through Dinwiddie Co. when they witnessed a very large cat with a long tail crossing the highway. They were both startled at what they saw and asked each other..."Did you see that?" My brother said, "That was a Mountain Lion!" My sister-in-law described the animal exactly as your web site does. Unfortunately, they were not able to get photos as the Cougar disappeared into the woods. In my opinion, a pack of coyotes is much more a threat than a cougar. Mountain lions, who are more solitary creatures, are less likely to pose a threat to humans and large animals, such as horses. Our authorities need to ... develop plans to cope with the wildlife that already exists here ... At least cougars are native in the east...coyotes are not.
2007 Jan. 17 (report date)	Louisa, VA	Cougar Sighting / Track Cast (photo sent with report) Scotty D. & Nephew Dates of Observation: June 15, 2005 observation c. 100 yards from farm house in meadow by South Anna River (cat 2 times larger than 65# husky / lab mix with long tail, ears erect, facing calves bawling in neighbor's field, c. 5PM); July 30, 2005 found tracks in "leak" of sandy loam, took cast of right front foot; Nov. 2006 neighbors saw the cougar, were concerned because have young children. Has heard of other sightings in Louisa and Goochland and near the North Anna Power Station.
2007 Jan. 6	Sterling, VA	Cougar Sighting Jon H Am I crazy or was the long, lanky, low lying, tannish, 3-4 foot long (not including tail) animal that I saw crossing Acacia Lane in Sterling, VA last week a cougar? It was crossing about 75 feet in front of my car and my first thought was "what an odd looking deer", but the long down then upward curving tail told me otherwise. This is one of the last undeveloped areas in the industrial section of Sterling that contains America Online and both sides of the street are wooded here. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* There were 2 other reports in Loudoun County in the fall of 2006; one where the sheriff posted a warning sign, the other a passing observation. This report is well within a cougar's territory if it is the same animal.]
2006 Dec. 10	near North Mountain, VA	Casual Mention in Note to a Friend Diane K "A few weeks ago we heard the loud chilly growl of a mountain lion here on the ridge. The world is a strange and wonderous place."
2006 Nov. 25 (report date)	Upper Marlboro, MD	Observation Lorraine P My mother, daughter and I saw one of these cats about 4 years ago crossing the road in the Clinton and Upper Marlboro area, but very close to Andrews Air Force Base. This was before all of the area home building. I really believe the authorities do not want to admit that these animals are around because they may be forced to stop the area home building that is destroying the wild life habitat. If you talk to many of the older hunters in the area they too have seen these big cats. They are no one's pet.
2006 Jun. 21	north end Big Creek State Park, IA	Cougar Sighting / Recording Jeanette D. .wav files recording her Golden Lab and animal thought may be cougar since many in area had seen a cougar and several dogs were severely injured (one killed) by a "probable" cougar; the animal on the recording was identified as a fox by Iowa DNR [CQ-VA experts also identified the sound as fox (or possibly raccoon) not cougar]. However, the actual observation by this reporter and 6 others in a 4-mile radius is definitely consistent with cougar. Jeanette & husband saw the cougar come out of the forest into their yard light early in the morning of June 21 and briefly stand behind their Lab. "It was yellow in color, tail long as body and fluffy, cat face ... it was about 3" taller than our Lab and 6"-12" longer than our dog". A neighbor saw 5" tracks left in a muddy corn field after their dog was killed. The Iowa DNR is skeptical, but, according to Jeanette, did meet with the residents, assigned additional law enforcement & DNR personnel to the area, and have arranged for a tracker with dogs to follow up on any further sightings / dog kills. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* We hope to hear back and will follow up on this report.]
2006 Jun. 17	I-85 VA; near Nottoway River	Cougar Sighting Tim A. Traveling south from Richmond VA to Durham NC, cougar crossed I-85 in front of car c. 15-20 miles north of South Hill near the Nottoway River. Originally from Keysville VA & never heard that cougars were in the area. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Have requested more detail regarding this sighting.]
2006 Jun. 6	Bradford Co., PA	Cougar (?) Photos Linda O. Sent several photos showing a domestic housecat walking along gravel drive with cut grass and small orchard and of canine tracks, later determined to be made by her Great Pyrenees dog. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* We're not impressed with obviously fake reports.]
2006 May 23 & Jun. 8	Winchester, VA	Cougar Sightings as reported in The Winchester Star (May 24th & May 25th issues) A woman walking in the early morning and a man walking at 4:45 PM on May 23rd 2006 saw and reported a cougar. The Winchester Star sent a reporter and photographer to the scene where Winchester Police Animal Control Officer, Garland Miller, was checking for evidence after the woman's report. A black bear was reported on the same morning in the same area in the Meadow Branch community. The black bear was considered as "confirmed sightings", the cougar as "unconfirmed sightings" - even though no evidence was found to indicate the presence of either. The reason: black bears do roam the area; cougars do not exist in Virginia. Cougar Quest - Virginia went to the area on May 25th and again on May 26th. We found possible cougar prints in very loose soil and in a rain-dissolved muddy patch; we found deer tracks, bird tracks, and small animal tracks (probably squirrel). The newly developed area is adjacent to woods, marsh, swamp, ponds, creek, and miles and miles of savannah grasslands with brush and tree hummocks. A railroad track crosses East through the savannah and the development before entering more highly developed areas; this railroad track leads from the mountains and pastures west of the city - a little used "highway" for migrating bears / cougars. Of concern: a daycare with 5 1/2' - 6' solid fence play yard where the cougar was seen - squeals of invisible young children sound like penned puppies or piglets, not humans, to a cougar, and the fence could be easily jumped over by a cougar; we contacted the director and suggested they post adult personnel outside the fence when the children are in the play yard. On June 8th 2006, residents of the Meadows Branch community once again saw and reported the cougar - there was no write up in The Winchester Star. We do not know "the end of the story". We highly commend Officer Miller for his response and follow up!
2006 May 17	Crozet, VA	Cougar Sightings Judy L. "Crozet Gazette" June 2006 issue reported cougar observation the week of May 17th in Crozet. Judy reported that 2 other families in the neighborhood had also seen a cougar at different times during May.
2006 May 11 - June 1 (?)	Gibbsboro, Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, NJ	Cougar Sightings as reported in the Courier-Post & Philadelphia Inquirer (May 26(?), 2006 and June 1, 2006) Since May 11, 2006, nine people, including two police officers and a state environmental officer, have seen a large cat roaming in several areas on the Gloucester County, NJ, a rural, wooded South Jersey area near the Delaware River. Each eyewitness described the cougar as being 90-100 pounds with a thick tail longer than its body, large paws, and gray or light brown, depending on how the sun was hitting it. On May 11th, a man saw the cougar from about 50 yards away while in his vehicle - he said it was about 6' long from nose to tail. A farmer watched the cougar on May 20th from about 200 yards away as it walked along the edge of the woods in his cornfield then leaped into the woods. Two children saw the cougar in a tree on the afternoon of May 25th - it leaped down and ran off; shortly thereafter, one of the police officers responding to the report saw the cougar as it crossed an access road at the DuPont plant 30 yards in front of his cruiser. The environmental officer found paw prints where the big cat entered the woods. The second police officers saw the cougar chase a small herd of deer. Four teenagers saw the cougar May 28th after 10 PM near a Little League ballfield. The cougar was also seen near a daycare center where the director decided to keep the children inside and the windows closed and locked until proof that the cougar was captured or no longer in the area. A NJ Tracker reported that he had tracked a cougar in the county two years ago (2004) and the current tracks are belong to a much bigger cougar, probably well over 100 pounds, that could be the same animal. Additional law enforcement personnel were assigned to patrol. NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife personnel set up trip cameras and determined that the sightings "did not indicate a danger to the public". A police officer stated that if caught, the cougar would be DNA-tested; if wild, it would be released in a western state; if a former pet, it would probably be destroyed. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* It makes no difference to most federal and state officials whether the cougar has been living on its own, surviving in the wild for X number of years: if DNA tests show any contamination by South American pumas, it will automatically "prove" that the cougar is a released pet, probably obtained through the (illegal) exotic pet trade; if DNA tests show only North American puma / cougar / mountain lion cellular structures, it will probably be considered "wild"; if DNA tests show Florida Panther traits, it would be considered "wild" and "endangered" and be returned to the Florida Everglades.]
2006 Apr. 26	Alexandria, VA	Cougar Sighting Jennifer M. (and neighbor Randy H.) My neighbor and I both saw a cougar in the woods behind my house. It's body was about as big as my neighbor's 2-year old German Shephard; it's tail was about as long as the body and had a curve in it and light rings around it, so I think it was a young cougar. It was quite simply orange in color - very beautiful color. It was standing on a tree trunk that had fallen over and is about 6' off the ground. It was just checking things out. It did see us and didn't do much until my dog barked. Then it just went deeper into the woods. I am concerned that it was an exotic pet someone dumped when it got too big. The woods are very small and are surrounded by highways. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Interestingly, the next day, two adult cougars (one described as tan, the other as black) were sighted at Andrews Air Force Base across the river from her location and reported in Washington news papers and television.]
2006 Apr. 12	Charlottesville, VA	Cougar Sight & Cries Tara & Mark I. (report submitted by Mark I.) 5:00 AM: from house porch observed tawny brown animal with dark spots, approximately 2' at shoulder with 3' body and 3' tail in residential backyard near woodland. "We woke up to the sound of the animal and thought it was our baby - it sounded like a baby in serious trouble. When we realized it wasn’t our baby, we went onto our porch to see if one of our neighbors was in trouble. When my wife saw the animal, it froze for a couple of seconds and took off running back into the woods. The cougar seemed very young and it may have been calling out to its mother. It was also initially crawling with its body close to the ground while it was calling out."
2006 Apr. Report: 2001 & 2003	Monterey, VA	Mountain Lion - 3 Sightings Sharon H. 2001: had daycare, mountain woods / field; #1 - mowing after kids left, neighbor (Mr. R) came by to say he'd shout at a black panther he'd seen at about 3:00 PM and not to mow after dark. That night about midnight, I heard a horrendous scream outside the kitchen window that sent chills up and down my spine; I dropped and broke a platter I was washing. #2 - several weeks later, one 5-year old boy was still playing in the back yard waiting to be picked up; I was in the kitchen washing dishes. T., standing on the picnic table, called "Come Now, Come Quick" his face red with excitement and pointed across from the barn near the woods yelling "Lion, Lion"! I ran out and got him inside quick. We watched from the kitchen door as the mountain lion limped from the barn area through the lot in a half circle and went slowly back into the woods, seeming to focus on its feet. It was very large (about 2' from the ground to its belly) with a long tail about the same size as its long body, a dark brown between yellow, tan, and grey in color. It looked just like a lion without a mane. It looked older, not young. The Deputy Sheriff, my neighbor (Mr. R), and T's father went after it with their guns, but found nothing. 2003: #3 - After realizing I was in the middle of big animal territory (coyotes, bobcat, & black bear seen frequently), I closed the daycare and moved to town. One late evening, sitting on the porch with my friend Rosie, we heard a puma scream up toward the cemetery in the woods that joined the woods of my previous property. It was quiet. Then, we heard it scream again from across town.
2006 Mar. 18	Madison, VA	Cougar Observation Marie & James McD Today, at about 4 PM, my husband and I went out on our back deck and about 50 yards away slowly walking along the tree line was a cougar. We have many deer in this wooded residential neighborhood; the group had passed through about 1 hour before we saw the cougar. Others in this neighborhood have said that they had seen these beautiful animals, but this was our first sighting. The cat was about 3 feet from shoulder to rump - it was much larger than the many bobcats I've seen growing up in Maine and had a slower gate. It was walking side to me but didn't seem in too much of a hurry. Its head was turned away but I could clearly see the rest of the body and tail which was approx 3' long and turned up at the end - tan / tawny color.
2006 Feb. 8	Jefferson National Forest, Wise County, VA	Panther Sighting Buster W. (& friend) At approximately 12:00 noon (2-8-2006) a Virginia Division of Mined Land Reclamation Inspector and I were traveling east on Forest Service Road #700 in Jefferson National Forest, Clinch Ranger District (Wise County, Virginia). We saw what appeared to be a large dark colored cat cross the road 40 yards in front of my vehicle. It had a long slightly upturned tail and round head. It appeared to be 3' from rear end to snout not including the tail; which appeared to be almost as long. It jumped the berm to the center of the road and then jumped to the road-cut bank. Very athletic. We stopped at the point that it left the road. We could see where it hit the bank and the top of the road-cut but could not make out any tracks. We looked into the timber and listened for movement for about 10 minutes but did not see it again. I am a geologist and outdoorsman and spend a lot of time in the woods, but I have never seen anything like this. It was much bigger than a bob cat and it had a long tail. I have heard accounts of Cougar (Mountain Lion) sightings on Black Mountain and Pine Mountain (VA.- KY. state line) from people I believe, but I always thought that a "black panther" was a mythical folk tale.
2006 Feb. 1	Skyline Drive, VA	Cougar Sighting & Photos Patrick B. (& Ed L.) Attach are a couple of pictures I was able to take on 2/01/06 while traveling south on Skyline drive in the area between Simmons Gap and Loft Mountain. I don’t have the exact mileage marker as I never thought to mark an exact location (sorry). It was approx. 3:00 pm in the afternoon. A co-worker, Ed L., and I were taking the scenic way back to Highway 64 from a business meeting in Elkton on our way back to Williamsburg. We were enjoying the scenery and I already had my camera out to take pictures. As we came around a slight bend, we saw this cat walking diagonally across the road 40 yards or so in front of us. We pulled up to where the cat had crossed and I had enough time to take these two pictures. I don’t believe they are conclusive but I thought I would pass them on. I have lived most of my life in the country in upstate NY and have spent a lot of time in the woods as an outdoorsman and hunter. I have seen a Bobcat five or six times and this cat we saw was at least 2 to 2 ½ times the size of any Bobcat I have ever seen, it looked much more muscular and longer. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* The photos show what appears to be a cougar from body & head / ears clarity; however, the tail is hidden behind a tree, so the cat can not be "confirmed" as cougar by our experts.]
2006 Jan 6 (report)	Clarke Co., VA	Observation Jim, Erik, & Gary S (hunters) Late 1970s: Farm on old Charlestown Rd. & Crums Church Rd.; sunny afternoon, 4-5 minutes duration; 25-50 yards; hunters on foot. We were gopher hunting when my father had us stop and stand still. He then pointed out 2 tawny mountain lions, 1 large (mother? - 2-3' at shoulder, 4-5' body length, 2' or more tail) and 1 smaller (cub). they proceeded to walk slowly past us, stopping every now & then to sniff the air. After they went out of sight, we went back to the farm house ... quite scared.
2006 Jan 6 (report)	Elkins / French Creek, WV	Newspaper Articles sent by Evelyn W: The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD April 7 & 14 1976: Elkins 04/07/1976: Farmer shot cougar after it killed one of his lambs; a biologist with WV DNR confirmed the mountain lion and stated that it probably came from KY or VA "where there have been several reports of sightings"; the cat was to be shipped to the Smithsonian to determine if an eastern or western species. French Creek 04/14/1976: A 100-pound mountain was tranquilized and captured in Pocahontas Co.; it was taken to the French Creek game farm by conservation officers; officials had guarded the animal; it was full following a sheep kill and didn't want to leave; a part of her tail had recently been cut off.
2005 / 2006 Fall / Winter	Summit, VA	Cougar Track & Neighbor Reports Doug B. Before seeing the tracks in the snow, I hadn't seen evidence of the cougars reported by my neighbors. The tracks were the same as those I've seen while hunting in the west - definitely cougar. One neighbor had talked about the screams heard several nights in a row, another about 2 cougars watching and pacing on a ridge above her house as she mowed the lawn, and another about 2 cougars seen as she was working in the yard. We all agree, they come and go; but cougars were here in our woods this past year. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* We learned about these cougars in June 2006 and went on a quest through the mixed deciduous / evergreen woods, ravines, and knobs. No cougar evidence, but plenty of animal sign: fox, bobcat, skunk, squirrel, deer. We plan to return as soon as we hear that the cougar(s) are back.]
2005 Dec.	Parker Mtn. (5 mi from SNP), VA	Mountain Lion (Panther) Sighting Janice S-F (& husband) AM - snow on ground - both saw a large panther running up the mountain ridge in and out of trees and over rocks / boulders from the ravine beside their farm house; house "butts up against the ridge"; neighbor's dog barking and running after it; neighbor later reported that her dog had come back with a wounded eye. Husband took photos: very long and thick black tail and black body obscured by tree trunk. Large tracks found next morning near car parked at end of drive that "my husband could put his fist in". When reported to SNP personnel, was told it was probably a pet. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Unfortunately, the photos were too distant for us to positively identify; this reporter has excellent observation skills and once saw a cougar cross the SNP trail in front of her.]
2005 Dec. 19	Warm Springs, VA	Mountain Lion Cross-Breed? Lindy W. On September 20, 2005, about 3:00 PM, I saw a large cat slowly cross 220 North, approx. 1 mile north of the 39/220 intersection in Warm Springs. It never looked at me and went down the embankment into the woods. It was the size of a small lab and very muscular, very fit. It was completely DARK grey and had a bobbed tail. It looked like a mountain lion, but the tail threw me. I have seen bobcats before as well as coyotes; this was neither. Bobcats have tufted ears; this large cat did not. On December 19th, 2005, I was driving up our driveway, exactly one mile from the last sighting, at 5:00 PO; snow was on the ground and the same cat slowly crossed my drive. His feet were massive! It did not acknowledge me this time either and went into the wooded thicket. We have a lot of deer on our property and they were out the next morning; haven't seen any signs of anything being killed on our property, most of which is open land. None of my neighbors have seen this cat. When I called the game warden to report the incident, he had no idea what I had seen. This cat looked like something that would be in a zoo.
2005 Dec. 17	Christiansburg, VA	Cougar Sighting Margaret P. Around noon just off exit 118C, I-81 she and a friend saw a cougar on a hillside across a highway from the Denny’s Restaurant. The cougar was walking broadside across the hillside with a cub bouncing around her (presumably female because of cub). The sighting lasted a few minutes. They had seen cougars in a zoo and compared the size as similar with a dark tawny color and long tail. Not being from the area, she asked a local if there were mountain lions around there; he said that there were in a disinterested manner as if they were fairly common. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Follow up by CQ-VA Honorary Director Don Linzey, 30+ year cougar researcher, could not confirm or deny this observation.]
2005 Initial Report: 2001-2006	Lawrenceburg, TN (Map) (not exactly our area of study, but too good to pass up)	Cougar Sightings / Sounds David B. 2001: heard bloodcurdling, hair raising scream about 9:00 PM approx. 300 ft. from house "like a woman being murdered on loud speakers" (2 min.) "then like a small child laughing". 2003: son & friend saw two cougars in the big field next to house - lots of tracks. 2003 / 2004: listening to police scanner, heard report of screams in nearby David Crockett Park; Park Ranger followed "large cat" up Shoal Creek Trail. March 26, 2005: dozens of tracks on 4-wheeler trail in the field next to house (deer tracks interspersed) - photos. May 8, 2005: neighbor, Beverly P, almost hit cougar with car about a mile from his house; it ran into a field. Yellowish tan, as high as the front of her car, long tail, cat at least as long as her car was wide. May 25, 2005, 5:15PM: walking in above field, saw head pop up above waist high sage grass then disappear; got binoculars & watched as cougar got closer, popping head above grass periodically and looking at David; it's ears flattened as it got closer; "I'll never forget that face and the fear I felt!!!"; at less then 600 feet, cougar stood staring at him for at least 20 seconds. Cougar stopped in tall grass, David was in 1 1/2' high grass; he hurried home, looking over his shoulder but cougar did not pursue. From height of grass and size of head & shoulders, David assumes the cat was over 150#. Color tan / reddish brown with white under chin & inside of ears. Summer - Fall 2005: found large cat tracks & smaller cat tracks (like mother with cub), "scrape marks wider than I can spread my fingers" showing 4 claw marks with scratch marks at least 2 - 2 1/2 feet long, and carcass remains (deer, coyote, armadillo) found in same cleared place in field; "lots of scat, strong smell of cat urine". Winter-Spring 2006: more evidence; game camera set up; CQ-VA submitted scat specimen to labs for DNA tests. More: Over 20 people in 3-5 mile radius have reported cougar sounds and sightings to David. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* We are waiting for scat DNA tests to confirm this observation.]
2005 Late Fall	Clarke / Loudoun County, VA	Mountain Lion Sighting Pete D. I was working on the mountain property southwest of Berryville and had a man using a weedeater. He looked up about the same time I did. The mountain lion was very close to my helper who turned white as a sheet and held up the weedeater as if to defend himself. The mountain lion jumped from rock to rock up the hill, seemingly right over my head. It was a beautiful big adult mountain lion, very big with a long, long tail.
2005 Nov. 17	Bath County, VA	Sighting Greg D. [confirmed bobcat] While hunting in a ground blind in the George Washington National Forest, he saw what he thought may have been a cougar walk by him. It went down the mountain and when it returned later he was able to get photographs. From the photographs we were able to determine it was a bobcat. Even though it turned out not to be a cougar, he was able to get good photographs of a cat rarely seen in daylight.
2005 Nov. 04 11:00 AM	Hillsboro, VA	Cougar Sighting - Reported by Dan S. (homeowner) & Jerry K. eyewitness. A supervisor and crew that were laying fiber optic lines saw a cougar on his property. Eyewitness observer Jerry K. of Texas, with many years backcountry & animal tracking experience, confirmed sighting was made by himself & crew of 3 - "obviously nursing, female lion, approx. 6' including body-size tail, tawny / tannish-yellow, came out of brush at Dan's creek (200 yds. from his house) with something black in her mouth the size of a large chicken or barn cat, walked along the edge of the treeline, S into & across a large recently cut hayfield, then E up far treeline into woods" - "I was surprised to see a lion in Virginia, but was amazed to see a lion fearlessly crossing such a large field in the middle of the day." [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* CQ-VA went to site 12/03/2005 after much rain washed out any tracks - no fresh tracks or other evidence - confirmation pending next observation.]
2005 Nov.	McDowell, VA	Panther Lele S. (reported by mother Patricia S.) We live close to the river on a large farm with a long driveway from the road to the house. Early in November 2005 at 5:15 PM, Lele stopped to open the gate to our driveway. When she stood up out of her car, she saw a black panther crouched 4' from her at the side of the driveway. It ran off across the street. It was about 20" high, 2 1/2' body (not including the head), had a 2'-3' long tail, and was about the size of a large Lab (between 50 and 70 pounds). From then to now, she won't get out of the car to open the gate after dark - she calls and we go down to let her in. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* "The Recorder" newspaper which serves Highland and Bath Counties published this story in their March 13, 2006 edition. From at least December 2005 through March 2006, "The Recorder" published attempts by residents of these counties to have the VDGIF and other wildlife personnel help take care of their concerns about wolves (wolfdogs / wolf hybrids?), coyotes, bobcats, and other wildlife that was preying on human property and acting strangely. No cougars, no wolves in Virginia. But, a lot of reports and even frozen wolf "evidence". And, a lot of rabid animals - including a 32 pound bobcat that jumped into a pickup with its window rolled down and attacked 2 hunters.]
2005 Aug. 04	Bath County, VA	Cougar Sighting Paul W. (Off Rt. 627 Scotchtown Draft Rd.) Hiking on a trail to South Sister Knob in the George Washington National Forest. When rounded a turn, observed a cougar observe him and run into the woods. Very fresh feces was on trail along with strong cat urine smell. Feces / smell was observed by three other people. Will collect sample if it ever happens again.
2005 Summer 2005	Edinburg, VA	Cougar Sighting Emmett U. A friend of his spotted a cougar crossing his field in broad daylight. Similar sighting by neighbors mentioned at local bar-b-que.
2005 Aug.	WV	Scat - Craig C. [confirmed canine] While hiking in the Mononghela National Forest found what he believed to be either cougar or bobcat scat. He sent a picture of the scat which the experts all report to be canine - probably large dog.
2005 July 30	Patrick County, VA	Cougar Sighting Rhonda B. At 3:45 PM looked out kitchen window and saw a tan cougar walking broadside across the backyard. Observation lasted about a minute at around 25 yards away. Notes it was at least twice as big as her 75 pound Labrador Retriever.
2005 July 26	Goochland County, VA	Cougar Tracks Ben J. Noticed cougar tracks on a road site being constructed adjacent to a creek. Took photos of the tracks and casts. A close acquaintance who lives a mile away related seeing a large, long tawny cat with a three foot long tail on two separate occasions. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Our experts have identified the track as feline: probably cougar (1), possibly cougar (2), definitely bobcat (1); and as canine (2). We are hoping for additional evidence.]
2005 July 24	Shen. National Park, VA	Cougar Sighting Janice S. Janice is a volunteer for the park who, for two weekend days each month from May-Oct., is based as a guide at Old Rag Mountain in SNP near Madison, VA. While hiking to the summit via the Saddle Trail in the late afternoon she saw a cougar walk across the trail about a mile from the summit. Having observed many cougars in Colorado, she describes it as being a picture perfect mountain lion and appeared to be hunting/stalking deer. It crossed the trail about 50 ft. in front of her and never looked toward her. She reported the sighting to her supervisor who told her "there are not any cougars around here". She asked for spray or some sort of protection, but park officials said it wasn’t necessary and they didn’t want to frighten people. She also asked about having a radio to carry while working and was told that volunteers do not have the privilege of radios. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* This is a very surprising and extremely unsafe practice - if a volunteer, standing in for a paid ranger (who does carry a radio), were to fall or somehow become injured (or find an injured hiker/tourist), they would have no way of getting help. Other national parks make carrying a radio mandatory for all their crew - paid and volunteer. We do not understand how SNP could not follow the same precautions and hope this oversight will soon be corrected.] She also reports that she has heard a big cat’s scream a few nights and that a neighbor of hers in Stanardville, VA took a photo of what he thinks is a cougar track.
2005 June 15	Washington County, MD	Cougar Sighting Charlotte S. (Kaetzel Rd.) While walking dogs around 7-8 pm, saw a large dark animal run across road app. 30 yards away. About the size of a large dog, but had a very long tail with a tuft on end. A car coming down road scared it off into the bushes. First thought was that it was a panther. Also has heard screaming sounds at night.
2005 April 21	Blacksburg, VA	Mountain Lion Sighting, Jayson M ( via e-mail) "I just thought I should let someone know that I saw a mountain lion at about 12:30 AM as I was driving south on Rte. 81 around mile marker 123-124. I got a good look at it and am 100% sure it was a mountain lion. It was about the size of a German Shepherd, and very lean. The tail was long and the same width all the way down. It came from the left across the interstate to my right, walking south along the road, then paused by the side of the road (that's when I got a good look at it), and then ran into the woods in those mountains."
2005 April 4	Advice From Montana	Hi Barbara, About 15 years ago the mountain lions started moving into populated areas of Montana and stalking people, especially small children. It is a myth that they will not attack people and they are very hard on the dog and cat situation! Be careful if there are big cats in the area. We always walked in groups, Mr. Smith & Mr. Wesson are good company in cat country. Your friend, Bill [e-mail] [CQ-VA Editorial Note: While we do not share his opinion about carrying firearms, we do agree that hikers should stay in pairs or groups and that children and pets should be closely monitored during all outings in unfamiliar territory.]
2005 Mar. 31	Wells Mt., near Wyalusing, Bradford Co., PA	Mountain Lion (Cougar) Sightings with Photos forwarded by Wayne W. (original by Millie McC.) A rural resident took photos from inside her house early on the morning of March 31, 2005. "Now will the Pennsylvania Game Commission finally admit that the Pennsylvania Mountain Lion, or otherwise known as a cougar, is no longer extinct in the state?" [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* The 3 photos definitely show a cougar on the porch and looking in the glass door!!! 03/01/2007 UPDATE: The same three photos were recently reported as being taken in Michigan. When contradicted by MWC, claim was made that these photos were originally taken in Wyoming by a Missouri biologist (??? really ???). Obviously, the cat and the house were somewhere / somewhen - maybe in PA? This is a good example of why scientifically re-confirmable proof is required for recognition of a cougar's presence in any area, especially in eastern states! 02/01/2008 UPDATE: The same three photos were recently reported as being taken in Giles County, Virginia. According to www.cougarnet.org, Dr. Dave Rogers took these photos in Lander, Wyoming in a riparian corridor that he calls home. Thanks to VDGIF Rick Reynolds for providing this update & web reference.]]
2005 March	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sounds (evidence?) Linda H, (Stephens City, Property Owner) As I was walking my 2 dogs the other evening, I heard a deep throaty, rumbling growl / purr (that's the only way I can describe it) - if it had been any louder, the ground would have shaken! - every hair stood up - on both me and my dogs. No, it wasn't a coyote or bobcat or bear or owl - I know what they sound like. It was definitely a cougar. We have strange scratch spots in the yard and scat with lots of hair and bones that has gotten watersogged in the rain. I'll keep my eye out for fresh scat and freeze a baggyful for analysis. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Scratch marks like she described on the phone are common marks made by cougars called "scrapes" to mark their territory. We hope Linda will be able to provide specimen if she notes the same conditions in the future.]
2005 March	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sightings Melinda B, (Cross Junction, Property Owner) Around March 15, our housekeeper arrived around 8:00 AM on a bright sunny day in time to watch a cougar cross our driveway and meander through our field. She was very specific in the detail of her observation and quickly wrote it down. About 4 days later, my husband was going out to kennel our dogs for the night when he heard them in an uproar. He had a weak flashlight that he shown up into the tree where the dogs were hopping around and barking. Expecting to see a raccoon, he was truly surprised to see two big yellow eyes, set wide apart, staring back at him. He's sure it was the same cougar seen by our housekeeper. I'll take extra precautions when I let my little boys play outside, but hope to get a photo of that cougar.
2004/2005	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sightings / Live Stock Kills Spring thru Winter 2004 / 2005: Several reports, Frederick Co., VA (Siler / Gainesboro / Hayfield, Property Owners / Farmers) [synopsis] A tawny mountain lion was observed by several respected individuals around 4:00 PM in the same area off Rte. 600. A dark colored and a tawny mountain lion were seen together in the area by several farmers. Calves were killed in a manner consistent with cougar kills. Several rather large dogs "went missing". Farm cats "disappeared". On a stake-out one night, the dark mountain lion was seen over a recent heifer kill as the tawny mountain lion ran off into the woods. The dark lion was ["humanely terminated"]. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: see related (?) story below. Could the dark mountain lion have been the mother and the tawny mountain lion, terminated several months later, be the cougar-in-training? We'll never know without DNA testing on the carcasses. We have been assured by the Federal Endangered Species Inspector's representative, that our proposed procedures of handling an anonymously dumped carcass will not result in prosecution of ourselves and, obviously, will not result in any investigation of the anonymous donor.]
2005 March	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Aggression [anonymous] (Brucetown / Clearbrook Property Owners) A tawny mountain lion had been roaming this part of the county and for several months got more and more bold, coming toward humans on their front porch, killing cattle in the pastures, and perhaps the cause of missing dogs and cats. Many people saw it. Some reported it, but were laughed at and told they were crazy. "No authority would do anything to help us get rid of this aggressive cougar." Finally, it was ["humanely terminated"]. "Now, we can sleep again without constant worry and fear for our children, pets, and livestock." [CQ-VA Editorial Note: see related (?) story above. Was this one related to the one above or was it a released pet / escaped zoo animal that had not learned hunting skills and was relying on humans to provide food? It is our opinion that law enforcement personnel should always treat multiple "threat reports", such as this, with honor and dignity, bringing in experts to assist with the investigation of aggressive animal behavior (even if such animals are supposedly extinct) as they would with any aggressive human behavior."
2005	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sighting / Evidence Needed:: Rob (& Ann) S, (Professors of Environmental Science LFCC; Nationally Recognized Wildlife Photographers) Big predators bring out the best in fervent discussion - but, all science must be based on material reproducibility. Years ago I had a student make a sighting of a cougar in Shenandoah National Park; he got a job with Bob D who was the Fish and Wildlife Biologist tracking the evidence for Cougars in the E. USA - he even got his picture in National Geographic associated with the project. Another student obtained casts of potential tracks which I showed to 3 cougar experts with 3 different opinions: yes, maybe and no. I have kept many written records of possible sightings in N.W. VA (some seem very credible including female with 2 young) but no documented proof. I have many stories to go with the sightings - one person used to see them pretty frequently, especially black ones. If someone reports a black one in the east there is about a one in zillion chance they are correct. With all that said, and my extreme skepticism of any observation, I have seen one - Ann and I saw one crouched along the campground road in the southern part of Shenandoah National Park in the south district - it was stalking (crouched ready to make the kill) a female deer with two young babies who were frozen, staring at the cougar with a pure look of trembling death - we were 82 paces from the cougar in our van - we were observing it with 10x image stabilizer binoculars - the cougar kept looking back and forth at us and the prey - we opted to observe rather than reach behind and grab the cameras (frankly, we thought we would have time for photographic evidence after the kill) - finally the cougar crossed the road, down the bank and under a log - we searched for a track and more importantly for a single hair on the underside of the log (DNA test could have established the subspecies) - the ghost left no sign. 3 days later the park botanist had another roadside sighting. Because we did not get a photo (and neither did he), this is still just a hypothetical observation and there is still no proof. The next question: was it a released cat from some disgruntled "owner", an escapee, or did a few of the Eastern Cougar subspecies actually survive? Were they secretly released in the park? - for the last 30 years I have asked every SNP park naturalist, Park superintendent, and wildlife biologist (behind closed doors where secrets could be shared) if they were released purposely in the park and the answer is always "no". Physical evidence is needed for the cougar to rise above the ranks of Elvis sightings.
2005	Ski Resort, WV	Mountain Lion Tracks Spring, Luke D, with parents. It was afternoon and I was on a ski lift going to the top of the mountain when I saw tracks in the snow. They were fresh and plainly visible in the light snow cover, less than 5 yards from the lift.
2004 Nov.	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Tracks & Scat Barbara C, (Siler, Property Owner, Executive Director CQ-VA): A crouched right hind leg and right front paw in the mud at the stream where the cougar paused for a drink. (Observation and discussion shared with 2 local heavy equipment operators / hunters who agreed that only a "mountain lion" could have made the very large 'cat' prints.) 04/2005 follow up: one piece of cougar scat (visually identified by 2 cougar rehabilitators) found at base of tree up the ridge from the tracks. [CQ-VA Editorial Note: Another expert 1st identified the scat as probably not cougar based on the food material in the scat - later stated that it could be a cougar that had eaten a raccoon.]
2004 Sept.	Frederick Co., VA	Charlie H, (Honorary Director CQ-VA; President NSVAS) Myriad sightings of the elusive, ghost-like cats have added excitement to the modern lore of our Appalachias, but definite proof remains as elusive as the cats themselves. The respective state wildlife agencies all officially deny the existence of a true or resurgent population of cougars. But the interest in this magnificent animal is now facilitated by the internet, DNA science, and remote camera 'traps'; soon our official agencies may be compelled to recognize -- and study, and fund, and protect -- the recovery of the cougar.
2004 June	Warren Co., VA	Observation Kelly E - employee at LFCC, Environmental Science Dept. (S. Warren almost Page Co., VA, uncle’s property where she rents a house) Early morning; daily jog with baby in jogging stroller; along power lines. Large 4" diameter (presumed cat) prints on deer trail: one extremely clear in mud, others not clear; near prints found long snake-size (about 2 feet long, curled up like snake) hair ball next to print; almost ran stroller over it. Returned with camera; mud drying & photo not clear. "I haven’t run back there since then; won’t let my cross-country running daughter run there either." [donated piece of the hair to Cougar Quest – VA, another piece to Shenandoah Nat'l Park] 11/09/2005 at LFCC: found small bones mixed in hair seen under high power microscope (Prof. Rob S, Prof. Raymond S, Kelly, Barbara (CQ-VA)) – probable squirrel bones, definite fox squirrel hair – probable fox scat (though no fecal matter apparent) – probable not associated with large cat print unless cat stalk / take fox at that juncture.
2003/2004	Frederick Co., VA	Panther Sighting: Winter Tommy V, (Gainesboro, Property Owner) The first indication that a mountain lion was on my property were the tracks in the snow. Several nights later, the moon was full and, as I looked out the window while getting ready for bed, I saw a panther crossing the field - it looked coal black, midnight black, not tan or tawny. A couple of afternoons after, I glanced out the window to see the panther dragging a deer carcass across the snowy field into the woods. We kept a close eye on our dogs and wouldn't let them loose for several weeks.
2003 Dec.	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sighting - Deer Hunting: Nick M, (Hunter): I was hunting on private property with permission from the owner. I sat on a log in the sun with a snow flurry now and then. I almost fell asleep when I heard a noise. Looking up, I was staring at a mountain lion. I froze. He wandered off. I will never hunt on that property again!
2003 Nov.	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Sighting: Jay Y, (Honorary Director CQ-VA, Hunting Ridge, Property Owner, Wildlife Rehabilitator): "As I look up from my seat on the back deck, I see a cougar stealthily walking up the far hill along our fence line. I reach for my binoculars and inspect every part of him! I watch how he holds his head so straight, his body low, his shoulders hunched, his every muscle intent on moving forward in a deliberate, concentrated walk. Only the tip of his enormous tail bobs as an anxious warning. I suspect he is headed for our neighbor’s carcass pile, testimony of hunting season’s bounty. He will dine well tonight." [*CQ-VA Editorial Notes:* Note 1: A local hunter on the wooded property side of the fence line confirms that he came within 30' of a tawny mountain lion at this same location in the fall of 2001. They made eye contact; he froze; the mountain lion turned and walked away. He continues to hunt on the property. Note 2: A young lady was looking for her pet chicken and found . . . feathers and cougar tracks . . . at the same location in 1998. Note 3: Three other hunters report they have seen a mountain lion in the same area at various dates through 2004. Note 4: Late Nov. 2005, the horses in Jay's pasture reacted with great fright to something in the woods and would not be calmed - she attributes their behavior to the cougar. However, due to development in the area and no fall carcass pile, the cougar was not seen.]
2003 Present (?)	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Mates Annual Spring Occurrence Kim C., (Mountain Falls, Property Owner) Every year throughout the spring, we have to put up with nightly caterwauling from two cougars on or near our property that starts just after dusk and continues through the night. We believe this noise is related to the cats mating. There are definitely two voices. We have a poor recording from last year and will definitely get a better one this year, now that we know someone takes us seriously and is looking for proof of our cougars. We think we know where the den is but haven't had the courage to get too close. When my brother was hunting near there, he heard growls and hisses of warning and quickly moved off in a different direction. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* Sharon B., who lives in Mountain Falls, shared a report in 2006. When they were building their house, residents advised that they have no outdoor pets and put any livestock in the barn at night. When asked why, they said "This is cougar country." As she said, "Everyone knew cougars were around and would prey on pets and pastured livestock, so they took precautions. To this day, there are no small pets and livestock is sheltered at night."]
2002 Sept. 30	Kalkaska Co, MI	Damage And Nuisance Animal Control Permit issued by MI DNA - Law Enforcement and Wildlife Division - "large feline inflicted scratches on various horses, mules; missing chickens; left tracks by rabbits / pigs" - disposition - lethal method: trap or shoot [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* refer to Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (MWC - www.miwildlife.org) for Michigan Cougars population proofs and white paper]
2001 Nov. 15	Frederick, County, VA	Cougar Sighting Randy K. (Cattail Lane, Gainesboro) Saw cougar from a hunting blind about 25-50 yards away. The cougar saw him and turned and walked away. The body was 3 to 4 ft. long and tail was 4’ to 4’ 6" long.
2000 Nov. 11	Shenandoah Co, VA	Gary B (Zepp) Sighting near Orndorff’s Rainbow Trout Farm. Man observed cat fitting a cougar’s description. Said he saw it lying down and it jumped up and ran. Said it had a long tail and it was tannish brown.
2000 Aug.	Hardy Co., WV	Cougar / Deer Observation - High Power Line near Moorefield / Fisher - Jeff T., Professional Photographer I know that mountain lions survive in the East - I saw one. I was picking berries at the base of a mountain, under a high power line. Hearing a commotion up the mountain, I looked up and saw a large deer racing out of the woods, across the power line field, faster than any race horse I’ve ever seen. A mountain lion was almost on it’s tail and gaining ground, a fluid streak of muscle, long tail straight behind the body, making the cougar appear even bigger than it was. Before I could put down the berry bucket and focus my camera, they had disappeared into the woods on the other side of the field. It looked like a documentary film, only it was real life. A missed photographic opportunity that will never be forgotten.
1996 Nov.	Baltimore County, MD near PA line	Cougar Kill & Other Evidence - c. 10 mi. S of PA line on Rte 165 - Sallie R. (property owner) We lived in an old farmhouse on 7 acres of land with lots of wooded acreage around us. Every fall, we heard cougar screams like a woman being strangled. One year our daughter brought home a deer skull that she had found at the end of a branch in a large tree she was climbing. Nov. 1996, as we were driving home in the evening, a cougar sprang from the left into the middle of the road directly in front of our car - it was the largest cat, a huge cat, dun colored, beautiful! Unable to stop, we ran into and over it with all 4 wheels. Suffering extensive damage to our front end and undercarriage, my husband continued driving the short distance to our house. We called the authorities who had a road crew clean up the mess. Asking for confirmation details the next day, we were told that it was a "road kill" and could get no further explanation. It could have been nothing other than a mountain lion.
1995 Oct.	Frederick Co., VA	Cougar Cry - 2 stories: Barbara C, (Siler, Property Owner, Executive Director CQ-VA): 1) Sitting under the "Mother" tree on a full moon night, I heard a small animal scurry into the nearby bushes, immediately followed by a deep growly, rising in pitch, two-tone yowl from the nearby woods that set every one of my hairs on end and made me wonder if I foiled the meal or would be next on the dinner plate. Stupidly, maybe, I stayed under the tree - and heard no more. 2) My fearless dog, Spike, was spooked a few days later, so I went out with him as the sun was setting. The cat's cry, not 50 feet away in the same wooded area, caused Spike to scurry behind my legs with his short smooth hair sticking out like a porcupine and my hair to stand on end yet again. This time, I yowled back in as close imitation and as loudly as I could manage through my human vocal structure. We didn't see or hear from that cougar again that year.
1995	Frederick County, VA	Cougar Sighting Spring: Teresa S., (Apple Pie Ridge, Property Owner): My husband and I built our home on his family farm in 1994 in the Green Springs/White Hall area of Frederick County (between Hunting Ridge and Apple Pie Ridge). In March or April of 1995, I was waking from our home to my in-laws' to return books and movies along the scenic route - through the old logging road which runs the property lines. My three dogs were with me and just as soon as we hit the wooded portion of the property, they started acting strange. The hair on their necks and backs was raised, they would freeze and act like they were scenting something. I did not feel threatened but was getting a little spooked. I heard a noise ahead of me which I thought sounded like my father-in-law using his tractor out in the hay field - like the metal bucket on the tractor scraping against a boulder (there was a very large rock pile boarding the field). I proceeded to the field but saw no sign of my father-in-law or the tractor. All of a sudden the dogs took off and I heard the cougar scream. My initial reaction was to look up. The only time I had ever heard that noise was on TV (Lassie, in particular) and there was ALWAYS a mountain lion in a tree or on a cliff about to jump down on the unsuspecting traveler. Then the dogs burst out of the woods and crossed the path in front of me and into the field. The grass was pretty high and I could see the cougar running away from me towards the "big woods" or where the property ended and several hundred acres of unoccupied property began. I distinctly remember his tail - it seemed to be 8' long and curled at the very end. He was leaping and running - making tremendous strides in front of the dogs. I was carrying a plastic grocery bag of books and movies AND my camera! The last thing I was thinking was to take a picture. I whistled for my dogs to come and turned around and ran - I think I thought I was running for my life - even though the cat was running in the opposite direction. I had to negotiate a barbed wire fence which did not go well. The fence won that battle. I believe I left a 3" diameter patch of hair and scalp hanging in the fence. I ran all the way to my in-laws house, crashed through the door and collapsed in a chair trying to catch my breath long enough to tell them what was wrong. I think my father-in-law was skeptical but my mother-in-law still swears to this day that she saw a black panther in the same area of the farm when my husband was a baby (1957-58-ish). I did not see my dogs again until about 2 hours later - they were fine but tired. My husband's theory is the carcass of a cow that was dragged into the woods may have attracted the cat. He went out that evening to look for signs and sit and watch for a while but we have seen no other sign since. It was an experience I will NEVER forget - very memorable and exciting. Unfortunately, the woods behind the farm are being developed rapidly so that was most likely my one and only encounter (although we did have a black bear very near the house last July). Thanks for allowing me to officially tell my story to someone who won't look at me and wonder what planet I was from.
1994 Feb. 5	VA	along Rte. 55 toward WV line (Duck Run Bridge) About 10:20 PM David D Black cat around 90-100 lbs. about the size of a Doberman, crossed road in front of my car, stopped, crouched, and stared into the headlights. Definite cat body, muscular
1994 Jan. 24	Frederick Co., VA & Hardy Co., WV line	Big North Mountain at Rte. 55 on ridge. 10:45 PM, partly cloudy & cold Christie W Body size about 4 feet in length, maybe somewhat smaller; color brownish-gray; very long thick tail; came down bank & crossed road in about 4-5 leaps.
1993	Madison, VA	Mountain Lion: Joe A (near family home ) Less than a mile from Grave's Mountain Lodge, when we were driving home from dinner, I saw a live mountain lion on the side of the road. My relatives confirmed that it was a mountain lion, and report that they have spotted it several times since.
1989 Dec.	Frederick Co, VA	Cougar hit by car: Jo C (dec.),. (Siler / Shockeysville, former Property Owner) Driving home on a dark night from a visit with our children, we slowly rounded a wicked curve, slammed on the brakes, and bumped into a dark ... panther that was standing on the side of the road. It jumped across the road and disappeared into the trees on the other side - it's tail was almost as long as it's body! We managed to drive the rest of the way home, but had extensive body work that needed to be done on the car. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* The story was later changed to a "cow" that had been bumped into and leaped across the road into the woods at the insistence of their son who told them people would think they were crazy.]
1986 Aug.	Warren County, VA	Tawny Mountain Lion Meryl C (several sightings near Dry Run At South Fork Shenandoah, Property Owner, Nature Lover, Environmentalist) 1) Scat & tracks in builders sand pile <12 hours old, fresh & plainly visible. 2) Live tawny mountain lion: 25-50 yards away, walking along the roadside, approx. 30" tall at shoulder, 42" long, with a 30" tail. (Meryl notes that other residents have seen cougars along Panhandle Road (Rt. 613) in Warren County from 1986 until at least 1995.)
1985 Fall	St. Mary, WV	Observation Oren L Twin sons Matthew & Jeffery (age 17) killed a deer near the family 'old home place' on Federal Ridge Mountain near Middle Island Creek & hung it in a tree; when they came back with Oren, the deer was gone - without a photo of the deer in the back of the pickup with one of the boys, Oren would have questioned their claim of the big buck - they wondered what had taken it, thinking another human or dogs. A few weeks later, Matthew spotted a cougar at the old bathtub watering trough on the farm near where the deer had been killed - there were fresh tracks & Matthew showed them to the farmer (who had not lost any animals to predation). A bit later, just below the nearby Mt. Pleasant Church house, Oren was hunting when two young cougars, about the size of beagles and with the typical dark / tan / spotted coloration, ran off from the brush within 25' of where he was walking. The missing buck mystery was solved - the thief: a mother cougar thankful for a free meal for herself and young. But, there's more ... in the Spring a year and a half later, Oren and his sons went camping near their favorite hunting spot; there were huge rocks and caves on the hill they chose as their campsite, as well as LOTS of deer bones. Now they knew where that mother cougar had dragged the boys' kill. They decided to move their tent, just in case she was still nearby.
1980 Nov. 22	Shenandoah Co., VA	Rte. 655, 2 miles into North Mountain. Early morning Clarence B Heard in pine & hardwood hollow. Confirmed later that day by nearby resident.
1980 Spring, probably April	Loudoun Co., VA	Rte 690 near Philamont Donna D Large cat, tawny color, long tail
1979 July 31	Shenandoah Co., VA	Massanutten Mtn., 3 mi. N or more on Signal Knob Trail from Elizabeth Furnace Doug P Cat-like walk; thought it was a deer until tail was seen, not bushy, but cat-like.
1978 Dec. 19	Blue Ridge Summit, PA	Cougar Sighting / Mrs. C. M. and husband While sitting in their home at 7:17 AM, looking out a picture window over their snow covered land, they watched a large doe grazing along a narrow foot trail. Suddenly a large greyish-brown cat leaped down out of a tree onto the doe. The cat brought it down, but the doe managed to escape and took off. The cat was identified by Mrs. C. Mack and her husband as a cougar from pictures provided by John Lutz, EPRN. They contacted a local game warden who examined the area, found traces of blood but no deer or mountain lion, and classified the event as the work of a mountain lion. New residents continue to hear and observe offspring of that 1978 puma. [*CQ-VA Editorial Note:* CQ-VA Honorary Director, John Lutz, with more than 30 years cougar research as founder and President of EPRN, confirms this story and believes that the animal was a puma.]
1978 Early Aug	Clarke Co., VA	Rte. 632 (1.5 mile in off Rte. 7) Betty L - saw long tail; size of a large dog (larger than fox and bobcat) - on road at night. Previous to this, Jack & Betty L heard what they thought may have been a mountain lion early in the morning.
1978 April to August	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Rappahannock Co., Keyser Run Area, Thorton Fike Trail, Old Hull School, Beaver Dam, 10 yards SE of Pond, C.C. Tracks found repeatedly in this area April through August 1978
1977 Nov. 25	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Browns Gap Fire Road, near old dump 12:00 Noon, misty about 40 degrees F R Family Large cat with long tail (18"-20"), greyish brown about 18" high. About 2 feet long excluding tail. Did not show fear. Trotted purposefully down fire road for about 300 yards and then up a faint path.
1977 Aug. 25	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Dark Hollow Falls Trail at Skyline Drive 9:15 PM, clear & cold Harry W Animal tan in color & long tail. Animal crossed road east to west. Stopped car to get a better look, but animal disappeared into woods.
1977 June 26	Blue Ridge Pkwy, VA	between Buena Vista & Skyline Dr. 8:00 AM, partly sunny Ike & Phyllis T About the size of a small German Shepherd dog, but longer body, shaped like a cat. Long curved tail, rather large feet. Walked across road, then ran into woods.
1977 May 13	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	100 yards south of Lewis Mt. Campground 8:55 PM, just before thunderstorm Alice D. & Joseph C. D, Jr. Saw large animal crossing the "Drive" about 3 car lengths ahead of us going from west to east, lighted by pick up truck head lights. It was walking, not running. It’s length from head to tail was a little less than width of pavement lane (approx. 6’). It was about 2’ high, that is the back or shoulders. It had a long tail that hung low with a swoop upwards and a smallish head with a short muzzle and round ears. It’s all-over color was tan with no distinctive markings. "It reminded me of a small leopard without spots. I believe it was a mountain lion." It had short hair. Observers have seen several bobcats and feel familiar with them. Animal’s color was lighter than illustration in Peterson’s Field Guide To Mammals. Tail description, "looked like if you grabbed it, you would feel meat / muscle, rather than fur." "Fur length not longer than a German Shepherd dog, perhaps about that long or shorter."
1975 Oct. 4	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	½ mile N. of Big Meadows 11:00 AM, clear, cool Marylin L Light brown cat. 3-4 foot body. Long tail, short ears. Crossed highway from west to east, from low land to high land
1975 Sept. 9	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	mile post 23 9:45 AM, clear James D. C The cat had a long tail. Was reddish blond in color. Dark around ears and tip of tail. Weight approx. 60 lbs.
1975 July 6	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	mile post 63.6 11:10 PM, clear with light rain Rob Y & John T (Park Rangers) While on patrol, driving north, we observed a large yellowish-tan animal cross the road approx. 100’ directly in front of us (east to west). Although we only saw the animal for a brief instant, we both agreed it had all the characteristics of a puma. The animal was large: approx. 60 lbs. or more, much larger than a bobcat. The animal was cat-like in it’s physical structure and body movement. John T observed a long tail and the animal was short haired. The animal was short legged, yet long in contrast to a deer or bobcat. In approx. 3 bounds, it crossed the road and ran up a steep embankment into the woods and rocky area. We attempted to observe it with spotlights and flashlights with no success. The following day, we returned to the area and searched for tracks but were unable to locate any, mostly due to the rocky terrain. Both of us have patrolled the "Drive" during darkness hours very frequently, and have observed many bobcats and probably all other related wildlife in the past.
1975 Sept. 28	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	10 minutes N. of Skyland Lodge 11:00 AM Dean B In the middle of the road, then over a low stone wall. He was honey-colored and about the size of a German Shepherd dog.
1974 Aug. 13	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Hawksbill area 12:00 midnight, clear Mike A Large cat crossed the drive. At first thought it was a dog, but with it’s long tail and bounding movement in crossing the road, was sure it was a puma.
1974 Aug. 7	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	mile post 37.5 O Family They seemed positive the animal was a puma because they noticed specifically the exceptionally long tail and large body of the animal. They further stated they had lived & traveled a lot in the Rocky Mountains region and knew a puma when they saw one.
1974 Aug. 6	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Cabin at Skyland Lodge 2:00 AM Skyland Employee Sounded like a baby crying. Employee stated she had a good enough look at the animal to say positively it was larger than a bobcat, had a very long tail, and was a yellowish-brown color. She frightened it away with a flashlight.
1973 June 5 & 6	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Skyline Drive, mile post 90 9:30-10:00 AM, fair, fair John R. (Park Ranger) On two consecutive days, visitors have reported seeing what they called a bobcat crossing the road. Later, their description of the animal – very long tail, size of a collie dog, solid brown color - indicated it could have been a puma.
1973 April 28	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	on trail from upper Hawksbill parking lot to crest 2:30 PM, moderate, cloudy Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. D Man & wife who are familiar with SNP sighted an exceptionally large feline with smooth dun-colored coat, long smooth whip-like tail and flat face about 25 yards ahead of them on trail. Round ears – no tufts. Size about 40 inches excluding tail. Weight about 60-70 pounds. "About the size of a young German Shepherd dog, only it was definitely feline, both in shape & movement."
1968-1970	Frederick Co., VA	Panther: Peggy R, (Siler / Collins Grocery, Property Owner) Our son G was coming up to the cabin one night when a panther crossed the road in front of his car. He came in excitedly reporting the shining amber eyes in the night-black cat with a long tail. A couple years later, my husband C was showing a prospective buyer a piece of property nearby when they looked up at the limestone overhang on the bluff to see a panther stretched out in the sun looking back at them. C said he thought that having a panther on the property would surely nix the sale. But, the buyers were delighted with the resident wildlife, including "their" panther, and quickly wrote out the deposit check.
1968 Aug. 5	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Skyline Drive, mile post 95 Morning, clear weather Joseph S Crossed Skyline Drive & "bounded" up bank and disappeared. Had long tail. Man said he knows bobcats & recently observed pumas in zoo. Emphasized it was not a bobcat.
1967 Aug. 2	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Skyline Drive, 4 miles North of Big Meadows Hot Ranger A (Park Ranger) Animal described as cougar. Also several visitors reported seeing animal fitting cougar description.
1960 Feb.	Shenandoah Nat’l Park, VA	Rappahanock Co., US Rte. 211, Skyline Drive, east of Panorama Dusk Employee of Sullivan Heating Co. Saw large cat with long tail. Was too large and tail too long to be a bobcat. Tail almost as long as body.

[End Note from Barbara J. Chaplin, Executive Director, Cougar Quest - Virginia: Cougars are normally reported as tan, tawny, honey-tan, reddish-tan, greyish- tan, light brown. brown, soil-brown - all using a variety of brown. However, dark colored cougars have been reported in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and elsewhere for many years and are normally called black panthers by their observers. Most scientists believe that a melanin (black) variety is impossible; most cougar research groups immediately dismiss all reports of black-colored cougars. A very small group of scientists and only a very few cougar researchers believe that dark grey / black cougars may be a possible color variation in small pocket populations where inbreeding from too small a resident gene pool results in physical oddities, such as the pugged faces found in the endangered Florida panther population, kinked tails, or dark (melanin) coats. On the other hand, there aren't supposed to be any cougars in the eastern states - none at all. Why then distinguish that there are no black ones if there are also no brown ones? The answer is that no black cougars have been seen in the western states where there are many cougars and a large gene pool - totally different circumstances in my mind. I am open minded to the possibility of black as well as tan / brown colored cougars. I also recognize the very real possibility of color-blindness changing tan to grey and shadows making brown look dark grey / black. To me, personally, all observations from credible eye witnesses are worth noting and mapping to determine clustered locations of possible cougar presence. To some of my CQ-VA colleagues, this attitude is an anathema, and I have been asked to eliminate black panther reports entirely. In an attempt to satisfy all and probably satisfying none, on this web page any "black panther" observation is noted as simply panther or dark cougar / mountain lion. CQ-VA maps do not delineate the color reported; other organization maps may. Only those who read this end note will know that my goal is to locate eastern state cougar populations, whatever the color, wherever they came from, however they got here, and whatever they are eating to survive. Only your scientifically re-confirmable physical evidence will eventually prove whether any cougar survives in the east. Thank you for your interest and assistance in our Quest!]

COUGAR QUEST - VIRGINIA

(NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY, VIRGINIA / WEST VIRGINIA)

PO BOX 2142, WINCHESTER, VA 22604 (540) 888-3100 (phone) (540) 888-4833 (fax)

PO BOX 2142, WINCHESTER, VA 22604
(540) 888-3100 (phone) (540) 888-4833 (fax)