Cougars in Virginia?
CNN reports on cougar sightings in the town of Blackstone, Virginia, a bit southwest of Richmond. The official line goes that since mountain lions (Felis concolor) were wiped out along the eastern seaboard in the early 1900s, they haven't been found anywhere except for a relict population in the Florida Everglades (where they are called "panthers"). But this one little town in the Virginia Piedmont has had more than the average number of sightings. I think it would be great if mountain lions reestablished themselves in the hills of the Old Dominion. Our deer population is out of control, and while it's unsettling to not be at the top of the food chain, ecosystem coherence takes a higher priority in my mind. Along similar lines, in 2004 it was reported that coyotes had moved back into Rock Creek Park, the large national park that runs through the heart of northwest Washington, DC. Park officials have suggested they wouldn't be surprised if black bears moved back in too.
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About 10 years ago, there began to be rumors of cougars ("catamounts") back in Vermont, as well. There may even have been some hair from scat? There was also talk of cougars in Pennsylvania, although that may have been an escaped captive animal, not a remnant of a wild population.
I live in Crozet Virginia close to the Shenandoah National Park. A cougar was spotted about 1 mile from where I live. About the same time as the pictures (http://www.readthehook.com/Stories/2007/09/27/NEWS-cougardebate-B.rtf.aspx) were taken I heard the cougar as I was taking the trash out at 2:00AM. It made the hair stand up on my neck! I know what they sound like because I used to live in rural Oregon. I also have a friend who has seen the prints on running trails and another who has seen one in her neighborhood outside Charlottesville. The deer population has been dropping on Bucks Elbow Mountain, where I live. I used to see as many as 25 deer in my yard at a time, and now I only see 6-7 at a time. I have heard of many more sightings, but hearing the animal on my property is enough to convince me.
I live in Cumberland, VA and more than one sighting by several individuals have been reported. One stated the cougar stayed around their house for about six weeks in spring 2008.
I live in Powhatan,VA. I was pulling out of my driveway on Oct 19th 2008 when i spotted the cougar. It was about 100yds. away from me walking along the edge of the woodline.Shortly after I noticed the cougar it turned and walked back into the woods. I feel now that this may be the reason for losing my 2 outside dogs this summer.
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