(#51)
Date: Jan 26, 2010 12:27 AM
I have had a couple sightings and heard what I believe were two lions mating.I live in Alexander, WV near the Upshur/ Randolph line I have had a couple sightings and heard what I believe were two lions mating. My first sighting was in 2000 I was riding my 4 wheeler on bear camp road I saw an animal jump off the road into the woods when I got a little closer I found a deer with its throat mutilated and its hind quarter partially devoured its head was all matted with leaves and blood. After looking at the carcass and noting the fresh blood in the rear flank I decided it best to move on. Upon driving a little more I came upon a field and I saw a cat run through it over the hill. I’m quite sure that it was not a house cat that took down the deer and I saw no bullet hole so I am sure it was a mt lion. When I was a child it was in August just before the first day of school probably 1997-8, my dad came in and told me to open the window. when I did I heard something that sounded like a woman and a baby just raising hell scream in and squalling then I hear a lower more gutter all sound not really a growl but definitely feline. My cat was going crazy all bowed up and hissing. My dad said he hadn’t heard that since he was a child but it was a mt lion and I believe it. Soon the sounds came together and then within 5 minutes I heard a fearful hiss and growl and timber crushing and then nothing.I also saw a cougar cross the road in front of me last winter I have no doubt that it was something else a deer does not have a 3 ft tail and cat tracks instead of hooves. They have always been here and probably always will be and I am glad for that
Joe S.
Webmaster's Note!
A lot of guys and gals might say that you are right, they have always been here. So do I.
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(#50)
Date: Jan 10, 2010 11:28 PM
Someone stated it was clearly a BobcatThere is a picture someone posted of a "big cat" on 10-3 and someone stated it was clearly a bobcat well I believe they clearly don't know what they are talking about. if u click on the links to the pictures of the mountain lion on page 02 there is a picture of a mountain lion in the almost the same stance as the one pictured on the trail cam. You can see the structure is extremely similar as is the dark ears and thickness of the body and tail. Open the link and place the pictures side by side. It’s a mountain lion not a bobcat.Also I’m have a photography background and if u take a look at animals photographed that have shiny black fur or just plain black fur u will notice with a flash often it will shine white in places as the ears did in the trail cam probably due to the flash.
Vicki Parks
Webmaster's Note!
 You can make up your own mind about the cat in photo #1, but it looks more like a bobcat than a mountain lion.
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(#49)
Date: Date: Oct 15, 2009 10:59 PM
My husband and I were taking a walk two years ago at Cranberry Glades on the Richwood side following Cranberry creek and a black panther came from the left onto the path in front of me towards the creek. I stared at it and it stared back at me and then quickly went back up the hill from where it came.
It was wonderful to see such a creature. My husband was behind me near the creek and did not see it but he saw the cat prints in the snow. He has done a lot of hunting out west and at first he did not really believe me until he saw the prints in the snow. It was early spring.I am an RN and I had a patient from the Richwood area and he also saw the Black Panther and stated no one believed him and we were really happy to talk with each other about it. We both saw it clearly with no doubt as to what we saw.Thank you
Melodie Spencer
Webmaster's Note!
In the glades a young panther or mountain lion was caught in a trap in the late 50's by Ed Buck (outdoorsman and high school biology teacher at RHS) some believed it was a hoax, but the panther or mountain lion was displayed in Richwood City Hall. Unconfirmed sightings and sounds continue to be reported from the Cranberry Glades West Virginia. Tracks and scat were observed in the Monongahela National Forest as recently as 1981, but no positive confirmation was made but that doesn't mean they aren't present.Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event. So unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar/Mountain Lion will be gray,dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color. The Scuttle Butt that I have been told from reliably people was a Black Cougar/Mountain Lion was sighted in the woods of Flag Pond Tennessee in 2007 by the Hensley and Shelton boys. So if you think you have seen a black cougar, or mountain lion in West Virginia or Tennessee, you are not alone.
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(#48)
Date: Oct 14, 2009 10:03 AM
How does that clearly look like a bobcat? I have a question about the photo posted on 10-8 which was taken on 10-3 in Preston county.
How does that clearly look like a bobcat? What are the distinguishing characteristics that u see that make u convinced it is not a Mtn. Lion? I’m not seeing them :)
From what I can see, the animals tail extends far longer than a bobcat, Also the ears are small and rounded, representative of a Mtn. Lion, they do not have the tell tale tufts that bobcat ears commonly have. As well the body looks too long and tall to be consistent with a 30 lb. Bobcat, but more consistent w a larger cat.
Is that a salt block in the background? If so that cat is def too big to be a Bobcat.
Please reply to my email and let me know what you think. I would really appreciate a response as I am truly curious and know much about Identification of these two species. I have also seen many tracks and sign of the big cats in Garrett County, MD and Preston Co. WV and the vicinity but everyone still denies their existence.
Thank you,
Todd Grubb
Webmaster's Note!
Hi Todd that’s a bobcat, in my opinion. These big cats can range from 30 to 40 inches in length and can weigh anywhere from 10 to over 40 pounds, with males usually larger than females. Mountain lions range from 6-9 feet in length and weigh between 80-275 lbs. This cat doesn’t have the long heavy legs or the large feet like a mountain lion. Mountain Lion heads are relatively small compared to their bodies, in this picture of the big cat, the head doesn‘t seems out of proportion to the shape, or size of the body…
Mountain Lion ears are rounded, and the back of the ears are solid black to dark gray and this cat ears are not solid black or gray. Mountain Lion tail 21 to 35 inches; carried low with curl at tip 5 to 6.5 inches; carried close to the body. The tail in the picture is not close to the body…..Really I saw no size measure that indicated it was bigger than a bobcat... The camera is closer to the cat, and that is what makes the cat look bigger and the salt block in the background is far away from the camera so it will look small in the picture.
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(#47)
Date: Oct 8, 2009 9:27 PM
It was just recently photographed in Preston County.Hello, I am attaching a photo that my friend's son got with his traill cam. What do you think? It was just recently photographed in Preston County.
Shelley Mitchell
Webmaster's Note!
This cat clearly looks like a bobcat; bobcat has distinguishing characteristics from the mountain lion and domestic cat.
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(#46)
Date: Sep 1, 2009 9:30 AM
I have heard about Cat sightings all my life growing up around Racine in Boone Co.Hello, was doing a bit of research this AM on a large cat sighting that I had on Fri. Aug 28th 2009 @ 1330hrs…..While riding ATV's in Indian Creek, Racine, W. Va. (Boone Co.) my friend on the lead ATV pointed out what appeared to be a large squirrel in a small tree adjacent to the gas well road which we were riding on. After getting closer to the animal, I realized it was a small cat of some kind. I turned off my ATV and watched the Cub walk slowly down the hill side from atop the ridge. While watching the Cub I noticed movement @ 30 feet from the smaller cat. That is when I saw the big cat. Cannot be 100% sure about the color, just know is was pretty dark. The tail looked to be around 3 to 3 1/2 feet long. The cub on the other hand seemed to be a reddish brown color. Looked to be around 20 lbs. My buddy came back to check on me and we both left pretty quick after seeing the larger cat. When we got up to the gas well, two other guys were already up there on ATV's and asked us if we heard a Cat scream. Told them we did not hear it, but saw it. I was listening to my IPOD and my buddy had his ATV running.
I have heard about Cat sightings all my life growing up around Racine in Boone Co.
Submitted by: Jarold C. Leffel (Jerry)
Webmaster's Note!
I remember back in 70's. My aunt Velmar - in Van West Virginia heard a cat scream, a couple of miles away from Massey Energy, Mountain Top Removal operation in Boone County, West Virginia and her description: it’s not a roar sound or anything else close to it; it’s more of a piercing cry and she actually did not like the sound. I have seen mountain lion, and am an avid fan of this large cat. .... In my experiences, and have only heard a scream twice. .... It's almost like a high pitched woman's scream so I think one possibility is that the sound was a mountain lion and I believe my aunt did hear a mountain lion in Boone County that cold clear October night, she was born and raised in those West Virginia hills when mountain lions was free to roan anywhere they want . I listening to stories when she was growing up in West Virginia and she heard that similar sound many time when she was growing up. She said Bobcats also may do this eerie scream and the long-eared owl but the long-eared owl are uncommon in West Virginia and they don‘t make that totally disturbing eerie scream like the mountain lion.
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(#45)
Date: Aug 23, 2009 7:24 PM
I'd never heard of a black mountain lion. I believed the only large black cats were in AfricaThis happened in approx. 1988 or '89....in Lincoln Co., on route 34 near Harvey Creek. It was nighttime, I was driving alone, and I passed what I thought looked like a cougar-sized black cat on the top of a wood-pile just at the side of the road....I had traveled right past before I did a kind of mental double-take! I looked for the next place to turn around and drive back ( the road at that time and late night was relatively lightly traveled ).
Upon getting back, whatever it was gone...which wasn't surprising to me. I cannot say, as many can, that I definitely saw a cat ( vs. a large dog ), so I wouldn’t be writing, except for the fact that, at that time, I'd never heard of a black mountain lion. I believed the only large black cats were in Africa somewhere...hence, I thought I must've mistaken a large black dog for a cat. But since reading on your site the numerous other sightings, and that black mountain lions in fact exist, well....I'm no longer so certain I was mistaken! While I'm writing, I might as well mention that, 6 or 7 years ago or so, my daughter, driving the same road in her car, again at night, as the rest of the family followed separately, believed she'd seen a cougar cross the road in front of her and slink under the fence of a horse pasture/farm several miles up the road from place mentioned above...she also only had a fleeting glance, but was struck by not only the catlike movement, but especially by a long tail. We phoned the people there when we got home, but they'd gone to sleep. Days or probably weeks later, we had occasion to speak with them and suddenly remembered the cat sighting, and told them of it. They said that in fact they have seen a mountain lion several times already, when riding or working in the hills above the pasture. For what it's worth. Thanks for the interesting and useful page.
Submitted by: Tom H.
Webmaster's Note!
Occasionally, a Cougar or Mountain Lion will be gray, dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Some people call them panthers; this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! Most mountains lions are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color.
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(#44)
Date: Aug 20, 2009 4:18 PM
Eastern Puma Research Network in Grant County of WILD, Wonderful West Virgina As Director of the EASTERN PUMA RESEARCH NETWORK in Grant County of WILD, WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINA, we thoroughly enjoy your revised website featuring mountain lions. We can say with certainty the big cats are definitely back in the Mountain State, or perhaps the question should be "Did they ever leave"??
Judging from the number of sightings pouring into our office near Maysville on a weekly basis, we would say "They have been here since time began" and have NO plans on leaving with the huge deer herds, excellent habitat cover and ample fresh water supply.
The most recent confirmation of sightings occurred near Mt. Storm in February 2006, when the tracks of an adult cougar and cub were found and identified along the CSX RR tracks going into the Mount Storm Power Plant.
Another pair of confirmed tracks were found in late August 2007 north of Onego along Roaring Branch in western Pendleton County.
We recently obtained a full report from the family of Botanist George Rossback Sr, of Wesleyn College in Buchannon, who along with a student found and followed tracks of a mountain lion in the Wilderness Area of the Monongahela National Forest in June 1998.
We will soon send you copies of his official report and pictures of the cougar tracks he found and had identified.
The most recent sightings reported this 3rd week of August 2009, are along the Greenbriar Rail Trail in Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties of southeastern West Virginia. 2 of the multiple reports came from medical students at the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg.
After repeated showings of History Channel's Monster Quest series since December 12, 2007 of our documented reports, we received over 7,500 responses for additional information of actions of the big cats and what safety measures should be taken by witnesses.
As long as people do NOT run from a cougar, puma or panther, witnesses should NOT be overly fearful of a big cat. The primary secret is NOT TO RUN FROM THEM. Such a action triggers an instinct in the big cat, making them think you are 'prey', which can lead to serous consequences.
On 2 occasions and without any forms of protection, I have been within 15 feet of a cougar in the wild. In neither case, did the puma show any hostility or approach me.
If anyone does come upon a cougar/mountain lion or black panther in the wild, when camping, fishing or hiking, the primary thing to remember is NOT TO RUN FROM IT. Its best to keep looking at the cat, while slowly, very slowly back up & try to get a tree or any object between you & the animal. Any object makes a good barrier.
We would ask anyone seeing a big cat in West VA, to please contact us at 304-749-7778 or e-mail us at: epuma  hardynet.com
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
John A. Lutz, Director
Eastern Puma Research Network
HC 30 Box 2233
Maysville, WV 26833
Submitted by: John A. Lutz/Eastern Puma Research Network
Webmaster's Note!
Mountain lions are solitary animals and lots of country out there in those hills and hollows of West Virginia and the mountain lion reports keep rolling in here, so I think there are a few mountain lions in those hills and hollows.If you should see a mountain lion consider yourself lucky and enjoy the moment.
But be sure e-mail us your sighting.......
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(#43)
Date: Aug 17, 2009 4:17 PM
I can remember hearing the Panther scream. It sounded like a woman screaming.When I was a young child my uncle lived in Wirt County, WV and I can remember hearing the Panther scream. It sounded like a woman screaming. Also my Dad lives out Strange Creek in Braxton County and my brother seen a Black Panther on his way to work one night. He said he would never forget it. He said it was just standing in the middle of the dirt hollow road. Then it took off running. Love your sight, hope you can prove this. I grew up in WV my whole life. I went to college and the professor was from Kansas, some of us told him about the big cats. He thought we were full of it.
Love the site, Thanks
Submitted by: Cynthia Lawson
Webmaster's Note!
Mountain lions are known for making a sound very much like a woman screaming in fear and you are not alone many people heard the eerie scream of the mountain lion and sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event and so unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar or Mountain Lion will be gray, dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Some people call them panthers; this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! Bobcats also may do this and the long-eared owl but the long-eared owl are uncommon in West Virginia and they don‘t make that totally disturbing eerie scream like the panther or mountain lion.
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(#42)
Date: Aug 8, 2009 11:11 AM
My friend and I were leaving the Barnum area of the north branch of the Potomac just below the Jennings Randolph dam. We were driving on BARNUM RD about halfway between the river and ROUTE 46 A mountain lion was crossing the road about 25 yards in front of us. When it saw us it hurried across the road, but when it got almost to the top of the 8 to 10' bank it stopped and looked back at us. By this time we were right beside it, about 10 yards away. It was an adult cat and looked somewhat emaciated. This seemed strange because it was toward the end of spring- beginning of summer and food should have been plentiful in this area. There is no question that it was a mountain lion, We got a very good look at it for about 20 seconds at about 10 yards. We are both avid predator hunters and are very familiar with these animals. This sighting occurred at about 4:00 pm spring 2007
Submitted by: Eric Short
Webmaster's Note!
It possible that this could be a pet mountain lion, either escape or let loose.
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(#41)
Date: Jul 31, 2009 9:19 PM
I grew up in Richwood, but now live in Elkins, WV. My three children and I have recently had several sightings of a mountain lion and her kitten. Her kitten came upon my deck off my bedroom and woke me up several nights in a row. Each time, I'd look and try and figure out what on earth kind of cat it was. It was the size of a bob cat, but had a long tail. We were eye ball to eye ball, and it was not afraid. Then, one night, my 15 year old son, Joe was walking his old 14 year old dog. He looked up..7:00 pm and there was the big momma mountain lion. She was not afraid of him and just turned her head and watched him while he ran away. Then, I looked out on my patio and there she was sauntering across the basketball court and into my flower garden. Her paw prints were much bigger than my hands. All of us have seen the kitten many times. Once recently it was chasing a small deer and the next night a rabbit. The DNR dismissed the report saying it was probably a house cat. I assured them this was NO house cat, but rather a cat around 120 lbs… is my guess. They asked for pictures. We've set up a wildlife camera and hope to get pictures to post soon! Kimberly (Shiflet) Short-Wolfe .
Submitted by: Kimberly Short
Webmaster's Note!
It is not inconceivable that a former pet mountain lion could be out there, but the bobcat is the only resident "big" cat. However, It would be easy to identify a full-grown mountain lion in the zoo, but not so easy to identify a full-grown mountain lion roaming the wilds.
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(#40)
Date: Jul 12, 2009 7:44 PM
Mountain Lion sighting in Mineral County and Allegany County MarylandI've been seeing the same mountain lions for the past couple of weeks. I live very near this gully, with my girl friend. I know why they are out there; it's full of life all day long, rabbits, coons, possum, and deer. Plenty off food and a water source not too far away. For a long time this area, Mineral County and Allegany County Maryland, have denied that this animal even exists here cause of tree hugging tourist, I'm a Maryland resident, I used to hunt, but I've been tracking animals since I was 9. These tracks are too big to be my dog! The scat and animal carcasses out there tell me that if it is my dog he's a hunger little animal. Something to add to your list of sightings', I should have pictures for you by next week.
Submitted by: Maryland Resident
Webmaster's Note!
It is not inconceivable that a former pet mountain lion could be out there in that gully, but the bobcat is the only resident "big" cat in those counties and those animal carcasses out there. Could this be the work of bobcats? Maybe a coyotes or wild dogs? They feed primarily on small mammals, birds, rabbits and squirrels. However, when the opportunity is presented they will eat larger animals including deer. It would be easy to identify a full-grown mountain lion in the zoo, but not so easy to identify a full-grown mountain lion roaming the wilds. We receive other reports of mountain lions, cougars, and even black panthers in the northwestern part of Maryland. We tried to confirm the presence of eastern cougars in the northwestern part of Maryland, but were not able to do so but that doesn't mean they aren't present.
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(#39)
Date: Jul 11, 2009 11:47 AM
Panther Watch, Catlettsburg, KYThis summer a black cat was seen by my neighbor in early afternoon. The cat ran so fast she didn't really know what she had seen till she approached her son's pig pen and found the three 200-pound pigs slaughtered with claw marks to the bone. I tried contacting local news media but they were not interested, and I suppose they did not believe me. When I found your website, I thought you would be interested in this sighting in Catlettsburg, KY.
Submitted by: Gloria Floyd
Webmaster's Note!
Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event and so unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar or Mountain Lion will be gray, dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color.
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(#38)
Date: Jul 10, 2009 6:55 PM
Mountain Lion, too large to be a domestic cat Just returned from climbing at Seneca Rocks but on Tuesday night we were traveling into Elkins WV on Hwy 33 just as it opens into the 4 lanes and there was a large black cat running in the short grass at the side of the road. It wasn't in a hurry so we had a lot of time to see it. It was far too large to be a domestic cat and had a large long full tale. The cat was all black. We were traveling at supper time but there was plenty of light. I have spent over 25 years in the area on vacations but have never seen anything like this.
Submitted by: Brad Christian
Webmaster's Note!
Large house cats can be mistaken for Mountain Lion in poor light or at a distance. Many of the reports turn out to be dogs or large house cats.Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event and so unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar or Mountain Lion will be gray, dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color.
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(#37)
Date: Jul 6, 2009 9:41 PM
I was driving north on I-77 at WV mile post 61.1 on 7/6/09 and looked over to see a large (200 lb) black cat climbing down the hill/cliff near the roads edge on the south bound side. I had a good view of the cat for several seconds before I past it. It appeared to be after a dead animal in the ditch. Really an awesome animal. Really surprising since it was around 11:00 am.
Submitted by: Dwayne Atkins
Webmaster's Note!
Could there be a mountain lion roaming on I-77 at WV mile post 61.1? Sure there could be. It is not hard to find mountain lions for sale on the internet, though it is illegal to possess one in some state… So it is not inconceivable that a former pet mountain lion/panther could be out there and contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA.
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(#36)
Date: Jun 8, 2009 11:51 PM
Possibly heard a Mountain Lion or other large cat - in Boone County WV.I live about four miles south of Danville in Boone County. Over the Memorial Day week end my 13 year old son and I were camping out for the first time together in our new camping hammocks. We had planned to camp somewhere on the mountain behind our house. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately after hiking around for a long time trying to find three trees suitable to hang the two hammocks close together we found that in our hurry to get going I had neglected to pack one of the two hammocks. I had two tarps, two sleeping bags and two insulating pads, two of everything, but only one hammock. Thus we were forced to return home and it was to late in the evening to hike back to where we had found suitable trees to hang close together.
Nevertheless we already had our hearts set on trying out hammock camping for the first time together. So rather than giving up on the idea we camped in the yard. My neighbors yard in fact since I don't have suitable trees in my yard. We set up the hammocks and tarps and had the sleeping bags ready just as it was getting dark. Then went into the house for snacks and TV time and went back out about 11 p.m. to go to sleep. Now I had hammock camped out the previous evening by myself at a different spot on the mountain behind my house, not far above the barn behind my house.
About a half hour after going out to sleep I heard a loud hissing sound from the woods, which seemed to be coming from about the same area where I had camped by myself the night before. The dogs up and down the 'holler' were barking and whatever it was made the loud hissing sound about 6 times. My son never said anything but it certainly made the hair stand up. About a half hour later the same sound was heard again repeated several times again. I called out to my son to ask if he had heard the sound, but he was sound asleep. Again some time later, perhaps another 30 minutes, I heard the same sound yet again - but now it had moved off to the west. I would judge that it was now coming from 200 or 300 yards further west on the same mountain side. After that I never heard it again and fell asleep myself.
I can only describe the sound as sounding like a cat hissing. But it was much to loud and of a deeper tone to be a common house cat. I thought perhaps it could have been a bobcat or perhaps some kind of bird. I searched around on the internet for various nocturnal animal recordings, birds, bobcats, skunks, possums etc. The only thing I found which was even close to the same sound, and the recording I found which is very nearly identical in sound, duration of the sound and tone of the sound was a recording of a panther hiss, which is linked below. I have been told that bobcats can make a hissing sound but none of the bobcat recordings I found was anything near to the sound I heard.
So, panther, mountain lion, or something else I can not say as I did not see what creature made the sound. I only know that it was nearly identical to the panther hiss sound clip I found on the internet, which is linked below.
http://www.soundsnap.com/node/85435
What ever it was, I was glad I did not hear it the night before when I was camping alone in about the same area from which the sound at first appeared to be coming from. And the third time I heard the sound, after it moved westward, it would have been coming from about the same area where we would have been camping had I not forgotten the hammock. Though I think the sound was lower on the mountain from our intended camping spot. As this spot was high on the ridge and a rather difficult hike in day light I would not have wanted to hike out in the dark as I think would have been likely to have happened had we been camped there. I think the sound would have been loud enough to have awakened my son and he would have wanted to return home. And if he had not awakened from the sound, it may well have frightened me enough for his safety that I would have wanted him some place safer that out in the woods, only wrapped in fabric shelter.
David Walker
Webmaster's Note!
The Scuttle Butt that I have been told was the eastern mountain lions may be extinct from West Virginia and no breeding populations have been positively identified within the historic range since the 1920's. Unconfirmed sightings and sounds continue to be reported from the mountains of West Virginia. Tracks and scat were observed in the Monongahela National Forest as recently as 1981, but no positive confirmation was made but that doesn't mean they aren't present.
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(#35)
Date: May 25, 2009 12:52 PM
I am a committee Chairman for a boy scout troop and on Tue May 19, 2009 me and my three son had just got back from a boy scout meeting it was about 8:30 p.m in my garden was a Black Panther this was a first for me I had never seen anything like this before I do not know what it would do or what it would attack if anyone knows e-mail me back at br549wjr @ yahoo.com I have farm animals and I am missing a pet cat right now.
William Rhodes
Walton, WV.
Webmaster's Note!
Mountain lions are typically very elusive, so most sightings last only a few seconds and the wild mountain cats are shy and avoid humans in fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... You and your three sons are very lucky to have seen this animal.
Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event and so unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar or Mountain Lion will be gray, dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color.
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(#34)
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 10:44:40 AM
Hello,
My name is Ian Thornton and I live in Huntington, WV. I was traveling up Merritts Creek Road last night around midnight when I drove past what I believe to have been a mountain lion, or possibly a cougar. Granted I didn’t spot the animal until I was pretty much passing it, it was just walking along the side or the road. This is not a real busy road and is encased in wooded areas on both sides. Now I did not get a great look at the animal, but it was much too large to be any dog and not tall enough to be a deer. Its movements strongly resembled that of a cat, but I had no way to turn around and investigate further. I would say there’s a 95% chance that it was a big cat of some sort. I found this website this morning and thought I’d write. Are there any other steps people take after a sighting? I’m just not sure if I should contact authorities or not the animal was only about 2 miles away from populated areas, like a public pool just down the road. Thanks for your time.
Ian
Webmaster's Note!
It’s clear there are thousands of residents who often mistake native bobcats for mountain lions despite a difference in size and the animals most often mistaken for cougars are coyotes, or large domestic dogs or cats. So if you are not 100% that it was a mountain lion and it was just walking along the side of the road I would not contact authorities, it's probably a canine.
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(#33)
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 10:44:40 AM
Saw a mountain lion sitting on a wall watching the deer. I am a mountaineer security guard at Hawks Nest State Park. On April 4, 2009 at 4:30 am, I saw two deer in a field; I turned on my light and saw a mountain lion sitting on a wall watching the deer. When I turned on the light it left. Two days before a lady saw a mountain lion at the park overlook bathroom area around 9:00 pm. She reported the sitting to one of the maintenance men at the park.
Dana Redman
Hico, WV.
Webmaster's Note!
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(#32)
Date: Apr 20, 2009 10:40 AM
Large Black Panther in Tucker County West Virginia.On Friday, April 17, 2009 at approximately 6:30 PM I was driving westbound on WV 93, with my wife, just into Tucker County I think, when we saw a large black panther in the road way. Initially from further away I believed there was a small bear in the road. As we approached I slowed to a stop about 50 yards from the animal. I noticed it was too lean to be a bear and the thought of a very large dog crossed my mind. I decided it was too large to be a dog and as soon as it began to move, it's magnificence was revealed. I realized it was a large black cat. It moved like a lion and had a long tail that extended from the end of it's back almost to the ground. The cat was black, I would not have been as surprised if it had been a fawn or tan color. It moved from the road into the woods down a hill and we lost sight of it.
From: Jeremy Pelter
Webmaster's Note!
Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event. So unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar/Mountain Lion will be gray,dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color.
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(#31)
Date: Apr 11, 2009 8:11 PM
I just came across your website and I'd like to share my experience with you.
I have lived in Berkeley Springs (Morgan County) all of my life. I never dreamed that we had Mountain Lions in our area until I actually saw one.
It was in 1999 and I was on my way to work one morning. When I got down to the US Silica plant, I passed the large pond area and on the right side of the road I saw something brown laying by the road (RT 522). At first glance I thought it was a deer that had been hit by a car but as my car got closer I realized it had a long tail. I slowed down as I neared it and realized it was a Mountain Lion! It was huge with a tail that looked to be at least a 15 to 18 inches long.
When I got to work I, of course, told everyone. And, of course, no one believed me. When I left work I decided I'd go home and get my camera to prove to everyone that I was telling the truth but when I passed the spot where the animal had been, it was gone. I suppose it may not have been dead when I saw it...maybe just stunned or unconscious from being hit by a vehicle.
I was never able to prove this sighting but I KNOW what I saw! This was NO bob cat! This was a VERY large, light brown colored cat. It was probably as long, as I am tall and it had a very long, very thick tail. It was DEFINITELY a Mountain Lion.
April Dailey
Berkeley Springs, WV.
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(#30)
Date: Apr 1, 2009 7:56 AM
BLACK PANTHER SIGHTED ON ROUTE 19, HICO WEST VIRGINIA!On April 1st, (not a prank) we were on our way to work coming from Fayetteville towards Summersville, when a Black Panther was spotted. Yes, a panther. A few vehicles stopped to look. I didn't realize what it really was till I had past and it stepped out of the dip in the median. It was crossing onto the opposite of U.S. Route 19 and onto Smailes Branch Road.
I was not sure what it was until I made it to work, as unbelievable as this was. My co-worker also had seen it. For black panthers being nocturnal, it was about 7:45 A.M. what a sight! This justshows how amazing God's creation is!
From: Samantha Dickinson
Webmaster's Note!
I talk to an old fellow in Hico West Virginia in the 1990’s, I think his name was H.C. Willis, World War II veteran seen a mountain lion at dusk in the neighborhood of U.S. Route 19 and Smailes Branch Road in the late 1990 at Hico West Virginia. So if you think you have seen a panther, mountain lion or cougar in Hico West Virginia area, you are not alone.
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(#29)
Date: Feb 14, 2009 8:08 PM
I have a question.. Can Cougars or Mountain Lions be Whites in color? In November, I saw what I thought was a snow white panther. I woke my daughter up to make sure I wasn't seeing things. She also saw it.. It was a huge cat.. So I'm not sure what kind of cat it was, but it was beautiful.. It didn't seem threatened by us.. It got up and walked back up in the mountains.. I have also watched black panthers come down when its very quiet out, on sunday mornings. I live in Logan County..
From: Shawn
Webmaster's Note!
Albino cougars have been reported in the USA but I' haven't seen one or pictures of a white mountain lion, they are known by many different names. A few are: cougar, catamount, puma, panther, American lion, West Virginia mountain screamer, and the Indians had their own name for the mountain lion as well, devil cat or the Appalachian Devil's Cat, Ghost of the Appalachian, and Forest Cats of Appalachian. We do completely rule out the possibility that a white eastern cougar or panther is out there in Logan County West Virginia, but if they are, we can’t understand why a white eastern cougar or white panther hasn’t been shot or killed by a hunter. We don’t completely rule out the possibility that a cougars/mountain lion/panther or two may be roaming around out there in Logan County.Mountain lions are typically very elusive, so most sightings last only a few seconds and if the white cat didn't seem threatened by you and got up and walked back up in the mountains it sound like a "quite friendly cat" that had been raised in captivity. Domestic dogs and bobcats are the animals most likely to be misidentified as a mountain lion in West Virginia and I have seen many white canines.
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(#28)
Date: Feb 11, 2009 3:42 PM
Hello,I'm writing in that I found large paw prints in the snow a few weeks ago during the very cold snap in WV. We live in Marlowe (Falling Waters) about a mile from the river. These prints were so large I could put my fist inside them!!! so I took pics with my cell.It looks like cougar prints are the only ones I found on line that are similar. It was mentioned it could be a large dog only I don't think there are any in this neighborhood. The back yard is a deer run so possibly the cat was tracking dinner???I've attached the photos for you to check out. I'd appreciate any feedback you can give. One photo has a leaf that is about 4" long on top of the print so you can use that as a reference. The stride was about 27-37" as well.
Hope to hear back from you.
Jill Speelman
Webmaster's Note!
A large paw print with no claw marks - indicated it was a possible mountain lion print. Unfortunately, the mobile phone, camera's pictures not very good quality and we could not confirm whether or not it was Mountain Lion or Cougar or canine.
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(#27)
Feb 9, 2009 3:48 PM
That track you found on the trail left by coyote or a big dogWe found this print while hiking on Wildlife Trail at Dolly Sods. While going down the trail it was not there, we spotted on the return, maybe 3 hours afterwards.
Webmaster's Note!
It’s clear there are thousands of residents who often mistake the tracks of coyotes and large dogs as Mountain Lions but the track you posted looks to me like a canine print..
A track in soft dirt spread out more and may look bigger from one in regular dirt. Animals tracks 3 to 4 inches Mountain Lion; no claw marks | 2 to 2.5 inches Bobcat; no claw marks | 2 to 3 inches canine; claw marks.
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(#26)
Date: Jan 21, 2009 9:58 PM
Mountain Lion Near the Silica Mine on Rt 522, Morgan County West Virginia Just found this website. Last year my wife and I were returning home to Berkeley Springs WV in Morgan County. Near the Silica Mine on Rt 522 a large mountain lion was literally leaping across the road in front of our car. It was extremely large with a long tail, probably 4-5 feet at least. This was not even close to a bobcat. Not only us, but two cars behind us also completely stopped and watched this graceful cat. It was an experience The lion continued up towards Cacapon mountain.
Sincerely,
Terry and Marsha Moore
Webmaster's Note!
There have been several Mountain Lion/Cougar sightings in Morgan County West Virginia since June 2003.
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(#25)
Date: Jan 20, 2009 9:49 PM
Cougar Sighting Paw Paw Tunnel near Paw Paw WVHi, I'm a 47 year old professional and have spent a great deal of my free time in the woods, hunting, fishing, biking and hiking. In Sept 2007, I was on a bike trip along the C & O Canal and at 8:15AM I was coming out of the Paw Paw Tunnel near Paw Paw WV when a mountain lion crossed the trail in front of me within 125 feet. He was trotting and I could easily identify his large size, color, long tail, stockiness and head and the graceful movement. I know what deer, bobcat, fox, bear and every other animal look like because I've seen them all hundreds of times in the woods. This was definitely a mountain lion. I was doing a search on the internet and found your sight and was excited to see that a man named Chris Sparkman had sighted one in Paw Paw about 9 months before my sighting. I've been trying to find him on Facebook, so we could talk about it.I don't care that all the so called experts say they don't exist. I know a mountain lion when I'm within 125 feet of one. I would have gotten track impressions if I had thought that no one would believe me, but I was frankly pretty scared of it and got out of there asap. As for people who want photographic proof, this animal wasn't sticking around long enough for me to even get my camera out.
Rob Watt
Webmaster's Note!
There have been several mountain lion sightings in Paw Paw Tunnel area since June 2003 where others have reported seeing the mountain cat . I've had nearly a dozen people tell me about their sightings but they didn't want their sighting published on the web.
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(#24)
Date: Jan 17, 2009 11:09 AM
Mountain Lion sightings In the summer of 2007 and 2008In the summer of 2007, two friends and I were going fishing above Cheat Bridge in Randolph Co., WV. We were near the end of the road at Beaver Creek (about 6 miles below the old logging town of Spruce). An animal sprang up on the bank from the road about 40 yards away. I first thought it was a bobcat but then I saw the long tail and the reddish color of the cat and realized that it was not a bobcat. It was a young mountain lion about 50 -60#. My fishing buddy saw it and we agreed that it was a young mountain lion.In August 2008, a friend and I were in Ohio Co., WV on Harvey Rd. about a mile from West LIberty when I saw what I thought at first glance was a deer. It was about 75 yards away in a meadow. A second look revealed to me that it was an adult mountain lion, 100-125#. The long tail was a dead giveaway. My friend also saw it and we had about 30 seconds that it stood and looked at us. The camera was in the back seat but I was too stunned to reach for it. Later we heard a report of a deer kill close to Cabella's. The deer was killed by a farm pond and the owner saw the tracks of a mountain lion in the mud around the dead deer.
Dave Marshall
Fairmont, WV
Webmaster's Note!
These large, wild mountain cats are shy and avoid humans. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... You and your friends are very lucky to have seen this animal on two occasions in the wild...... They said wild mountain lions had always been there in the Allegheny Mountains Wilderness but in other parts of West Virginia most are thought to have escaped from private compound or been let loose by those keeping them as pets. On most sighting their no way to determine if a Mountain Lion was always wild or had been let loose in wild when someone happen across a mountain lion or cougar.
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(#23)
Date: Jan 3, 2009 9:23 PM
Lewis County family Claims two Cougars attacked and killed their horse at Churchville, WV. 
FW: pics, From: Lisa Campbell
From: Kimberly Rush
Here are some pics of a horse that at least 2 Mountain Lions attacked and killed last Friday in broad daylight right along the road and across from houses.
Kim
From: Julia Spelsberg
Hello,
Someone I work with had her horse killed last week (December 26, 2008). These are some of the pics. Is it possible that this was done by a mountain lion. this would have happened in the Churchville area of Lewis County, WV.
From: Katrina Posey
Subject: Mt. Lion Suspect in Killing of boys Horse in daytime
Please read this and click on the link to look at pictures, one of the pictures is a picture of a ladies hand and the paw print. Does this look like Mt. Lion to you??
From: James Denney
Subject: Horse Is Killed By Predators (Lewis County)
Webmaster's Note!
The photo, submitted to The Richwooders site by a third party, and we could not confirm whether or not it was killed by mountain lions. The dead horse which appears to show deep slash wounds to the head and a powerful bite to the neck. It is always possible a Mountain Lion could come thru, and killed 3-year-old horse. The Scuttle Butt that I have been told was the eastern mountain lions, were exterminated decades ago but that doesn't mean they aren't present... We believe people in Churchville and the surrounding area need to be aware that definitely it's a possibility that there are mountain lions that come through this area.
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(#22)
Nov 19, 2008 6:54 AM
Alleged Mountain Lion sighting at Abram's Creek -- Grant CountyHello Richwooders!
I am the owner of Abram’s Creek Lodge and Campground in Grant County, WV (www.abramscreek.com).
Last Wednesday early morning, at 1:30am 11/12/08, a cabin user (cabin #2) at the Campground in Grant County stepped out of his cabin at 1:30am to use the rest room. He heard a noise in the tree area in front of his cabin and turned his flashlight onto the area from which he heard the noise.
He said he starred straight at a beige colored mountain lion’s eyes, the animal complete with a huge bushy tail. He said they looked at each other for a very long several seconds before the mountain lion darted and ran into the darkness. The head of the mountain lion stood below his waist (about 2 feet high) so perhaps a medium sized younger male or female. Again, his certainty of the sighting is 100% according to him, as he had plenty of time to stare at the animal and take it all in.
The sighting was by a local Grant County man named Trevor who is 100% certain of the creature sighting. He says that he knows a bobcat from a mountain lion, and this was no bobcat. Trevor and his wife has been inhabiting cabin #2 for several weeks in exchange for performing labor (exchange) at the campground.
Vince Lombardi
Grant County West Virginia
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(#21)
Date: Tue, October 28, 2008 3:38 pm
Possible sighting of a mountain lion in Putnam County WV Hello!
I just want to say how much I appreciate your website. I have found myself landing on it numerous times, whether researching ramps, bobcats, or mountain lions! I live in Putnam County, and one of my students who lives on "Redhouse Hill" which is rural and beautifully mountainous, with many ridge top roads populated by picturesque farms, told me he had seen a mountain lion. I was skeptical, but questioned him about the description of the cat. I thought it might have been a bobcat, but his description sounded more like a puma/mountain lion! Thanks for maintaining this website. I hope to visit Richwood in the near future!
Patty
PATRICIA WOLFORD
Putnam County West Virginia
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(#20)
Date: Fri, October 3, 2008 11:58 am
I saw Two (2) adult Cougars on Spruce Flat Rd. in Buckeye. They were on the hill across from my house and close enough to see with the naked eye; but I still grabbed my binoculars to get a great look at them.
Dorothy Lane
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(#19)
Date: Fri, September 5, 2008 3:15 pm
Submitting this "report" of a possible Mt. LionHey...First, Let's Go Mountaineers since the 'Eers are about to dismantle the ECU Pirates (providing the game is not cancelled due to the hurricane/tropical storm). Anyway, I am submitting this "report" of a possible Mt. Lion anonymously because I think many people, especially where I live, would think that I am crazy. But here goes...
My wife and I bought a house in the Whitehall area of Marion County in the summer of 2002. That autumn, my wife and I were sitting on our back porch which faces a "wooded area." I use the term "wooded area" because it would be hard to characterize the area as woods or forest - more like a strip of trees about one hundred yards wide that separates our house from the neighbors who live on the hill above us. It was late in the afternoon and my wife said she thought she saw a large dog like a golden retriever walking in the woods about ten yards above where the tree line begins. As the animal continued walking, it walked in front of trees which allowed us to give some perspective to its size. Also, because it was walking towards us, the closer it came the more clearly we could see its features. First, as it walked towards us it became clear that the animal was a cat and not a dog. Second, when it walked in front of several trees (big tulip poplars), it was pretty clear that the cat was bigger than a golden retriever and it had a long tail. My wife and I watched the cat walk up the hill through the woods and disappear at the crest of the hill (which is where our neighbor's yard is). The weird thing about this is that we live in a fairly populated area where I never thought you would see a mountain lion, if that was what it really was (maybe a bobcat with a longer tail than normal?). Despite the location where we saw it, and the fact that we have never seen it since, my wife and I are 100% certain that the animal we saw was a VERY large cat (at its closest it was only about thirty yards from us) that was bigger than a golden retriever yet had a coat that was similar in color.
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(#18)
Date: Sat, August 30, 2008 9:52 am
Black Cat Sighted in Preston CountyI live in Preston County, on the border of Maryland. Yesterday August 29, 2008 I was driving on a country road called Cranesville Road that leads to Oakland Maryland when a large cat all black ran across the road in front of me. It was about 80lbs. I am guessing (the size of my German shepherd dog). The tail was as long as the body and was thick, it's back feet were large. I did not see much more than that, it was booking across the road, 2 leaps and it was gone. I know it was no domestic cat, due to the way it moved and the size.
Sue Maund...
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(#17)
Date: Tue, August 19, 2008 9:13 pm
Puma sighting in Greenbrier CountyAbout 10 yrs ago, my friend and I were coming from the Coleman Cliffs area in Frankford, W.V. It was night, and as we were going toward town, a rabbit ran across the road with a mountain lion chasing behind. It was beige, had a long tail, and cub like ears. I didn't tell anyone because I knew I would be called a liar. But I know what I saw! I am a college graduate and I work for AFLAC. Today, my friend, who lives in Ronceverte, told me that he heard a horrible scream that seemed to have come from a cat. His incredibly mean doberman, turned tail and ran up to the house. This dog runs from nothing, but it did today when it heard that scream. I was wondering, have there been anymore sightings in Greenbrier County? Thank you and have a nice day. If you have any questions for me, my name is Alice Hanna and my number is (304) 000 - 0000.
Webmaster's Note!
The Scuttle Butt that I have been told was the eastern mountain lions, were exterminated decades ago in Greenbrier County but that doesn't mean they aren't present... Are you aware that there have been big cat sightings in other counties around Greenbrier County. The Eastern puma is known to occur: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Refuges in which the Eastern puma is known to occur: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
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(#16)
Date: Sat, August 16, 2008 9:13 am
Bobcat vs Mountain LionHello.. my name is Jennifer and my husband Zach has a field camera posted in our field in Triadelphia WV (A community in Ohio County). We were shocked to see this photo b/c we usually only get to see deer, on this camera! : ) Can you please help us try to identify this animal? We are kinda leaning towards a cougar/mt.lion... seems to have too long of a tail to be a bobcat. ?? any help you may be to us is appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Jen ~
Webmaster's Note!
That is a great picture of the cat. Good Job on the pic. ... This cat clearly looks like a bobcat, "but I'm not 100% sure but we need more pictures". Be SURE to note its tail - a "bobcat" tail (6-8") is a bobcat. Mountain lions have VERY long tails and bobcat with faded spots could be confused with mountain lions. |  |
General InformationEastern pumas are reddish brown-tan in color. They have white fur on the belly and under the chin. Black markings are apparent behind the ears, on the face, and on the tip of the tail. On average, they weigh between 65 to 130 pounds and grow to be 6 ft in length. Many eastern pumas have an upward turn or kink at the end of the tail and a swirl or cow lick in the middle of the back. Puma kittens are pale with spots and have rings around the tail. They lose their spots and rings at approximately six months of age.
Current Listing Status: Endangered
Date Listed: Jun 4, 1973
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(#15)
Date: Sun, June 15, 2008 11:41 pm I became aware that It was a mountain lion.I live in Boone County, West Virginia and back around the fall of 2006, one night I went walked outside to get the cat and put him in for the night. When I walked out side to find him my cat came running at me, and he never runs, he is a pretty big cat and doesn't run much at all. So when he came running at me I figured there was another neighbor hood cat outside after him so I walked around the corner of the house and soon realized there wasn't another cat. Then I look above my building on the hill side and saw a large bodied animal. At first I wasn't sure what it was, I Could see a long tail and as I said before a large bodied animal. Then after it I guess you would call it growled at me I became aware that It was a mountain lion. I know the sound of them because I do research on the internet of different animals. The sound that mountain lion made is nothing like you would ever imagine, It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck and it scared me. Then It took off up into the woods and I could hear it going around the side of the mountain and up the hill.
Zachary Harris
Boone County,West Virginia
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(#14)
Date: Tue, May 27, 2008 10:45 amFour States, WV. Mountain Lion Sightings.Hi My name is Brandi, I live in Four States, WV. I'm 30 years old and scared to death for the safety of mydaughters. One month ago my mother Celestine was taking my daughter Addie to baseball practice and had herfather in the car with them.. They seen this animal coming out of the woods and she thought it was a big dog or fox from the distance, until it got closer to her she stopped her car and this big CAT came out in front of herand she said oh my goodness it's a mountain lion and her dad said it sure is and she said it walked in front ofher car as slow as it could go and just looked at her like it wasn't scared. She said it went up and stretched outon a log and just looked down and than went on it's way my daughter who is 8 years old says I've lived here in Four States for 8 years and have never seen one of those well her grandfathers looks at her and says AddieI've lived here for 73 years and I've never seen anything like that before so they went on to practice and whenshe got home she called the DNR and they laughed at her told her to get a pic of it or show some kind of a signthat there is one near.. She told them that she wasn't gonna go hunting for this big cat that it's there responsibilityto go look for this thing.. Well Last night May 26,2008 I went to take the garbage up to the end of the drivewayand I made it as far as the sidewalk when I heard sounding like a cat growling and I said oh God that's not alittle house cat.. So I ran in the house told my husband to get his gun that there is a cat out here and it isn't nolittle one either is a big one so he gets his 22 pistol and thinks I'm messing with him he comes outside with me tosee what I was scared off I was shaking.. So I make it back to the end of my sidewalk when we hear it againI told my husband your on your own buddy I'm gone I ran back in the house he looked at his gun and said I have the wrong one for this one that's a big ole kitty.. and the dogs barked and was ticked off all night.. I was gonna call the DNR but I was afraid that they wouldn't believe me either since they didn't believe my mother.. What Can I do to convince them that this is not a fake call and that we did see and hear it.. Is it gonnatake someone to be killed or hurt by this thing for them to come and check it out and not laugh at u??
Brandi Heflin
Four States, WV
Webmaster's Note!
In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Four States, WV seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. You need to show some kind of a mountain lion sign (confirmed prints, pictures, and etc.) that there is mountain lion near.. DNR gets dozens of mountain lion reports and my guess is that DNR cannot check ever visual sighting.
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(#13) This picture was taken April 7, 2008 behind my home in Wallace, WV approx. 400 yards above my house. They had recently added a right-of-way along the ridge to access wells they drilled the past several months. The tracks were from a step down onto the road which is rich in clay mud. We had noticed several deer tracks and then out of the blue notced a very different track following them. Here is a couple of pictures of what we had found. We plan on retaking pictures April 9, 2008 with a coin and measuring tape to give you something to compare the size with. I measured with my hand width and then again when I returned home and it was approx. 4 inches compared to a deer imprint of only 2 inches long.
Submitted by: Denalda Bush and Brian Jett
Webmaster's Note! Although I suspect the tracks in the photograph was dog track or a forefeet of bear, not a mountain lion tract.......I'm no expert and I've been wrong before and I know for sure experts have been wrong before.
If you find tracks, measure and photograph them carefully, then consult a track field guide for identification. And consider yourself lucky to see any of the elusive cats that exist or may exist in West Virginia (bobcat, mountain lion,). These rare and elusive cats are most active at night, so you seldom have an opportunity to see one!   
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(#12)Two Lewis County Sightings. I am happy to have found your site. I have had two Moutain Lion sightings. One was either 1979 or 1980 in June. My stepbrother, and I at the time were teenagers and lived at Horner WV, Lewis County was about a mile from Stonecoal Lake. We rode our bicycles with fishing poles and two dogs following to the Lake to go fishing. It was around 2pm on a weekday, hardly any traffic at all on that road during the week in the early afternoon. We were about 150 to 200 ft. from the main gravel road. I remember seeing a black animal thought was a black german shephard that may have gotten loose. Then never paid anymore attention to it for a while as I couldnt see it anymore. Then a little bit later we decided we were done fishing and would go home, about half way up to the main road we saw the black animal again, and I thought what kind of dog is that? As the ears looked really strange and small and the face seemed short just didnt dawn on me that it was a cat. The dogs were barking at it but they would not go right to it, which was odd cause they always go to a dog passing by and check it out but they would not get too close, then we rode our bikes a little faster and I could see it was cat, but couldnt believe my eyes, then it finally took off running not real fast but yet way ahead of us and it leaped up the side of the hill maybe a 8 or 10 ft jump. Of course no one believed us my dad even laughed. But it wasnt too long that others saw it and even some saw a brownish colored MT Lion. Then that fall my dad was looking at deer with his binoculars to see if they were bucks and how many points, he was very shocked as he saw the brownish colored MT Lion. Also several people that lived in the area eventually saw one or the other or both. Then in 1996 in the fall after the leaves had fallen, I was with a friend driving between Weston, WV and Jane Lew WV, it was evening almost dark, and we saw a animal at first glance thought was a large light brown dog coming to the road and my friend slammed on the breaks and it walked right in front of us in the head lights looked right at us, my friend was real excited, and myself to, as this made two sightings for me. They are definitely here in West Virginia. I am greatful others have been seeing them and are posting their sightings on your site as well. They are a beautiful Animal and are very much a part of West Virginia.
Thank you,
B. Foster
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(#11)Beyond a doubt a cougar I doubt anyone would want to believe this, but after reading all the comments on "mountain lions" I have to share what happened to me and Larry. It was late summer, (2006) around 7 in the evening, and we were on the side deck eating watermelon, watching the girl accross the road walk her lab dog, when I notice in the woods what I thought at first glance was a deer. I watched a second then realized this wasn't a deer and it was watching the girl and dog! Well it moved, I seen it was a cat and scream for the girl to get her dog in the house, she thought I had lost my mind but thank heavens she did what I screamed for her to do and ran to the house... this cat got up and started walking toward my drive, Larry couldn't believe his eyes and I said no house cat is that big at that distance! Then.. Lo' and behold the thing crossed right beside my drive and up the hill not 15 yards from where we sat on the deck and it was beyond a doubt a cougar. I never seen shoulders move like that on a big cat in person nor a tail so long! ... scared me to death but was fascinating too!... We told a few who didn't really believe us and when I told my other neighbor Dolly, she said yep, she had seen the thing at the woods edge between our yard. So no doubt about it... Mountain Lions cross our area if not living in this area!... On another note... Carlene and Sandy and all the others who have e-mailed me, I sent more pictures in to this site hope they are posted soon and hope you enjoy them! Ya'll have a happy March... and speaking of lions... in like a lamb...out like a lion!... And to those who make this site possible...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
Debbie Bond
<houstons_maw yahoo.com>
Webmaster's Note!
Hi Debbie Bond, I could have accidentally delete those pictures you send us when I accidentally deleted an entire page of emails and photos from my laptop. I will try to recover them and get them posted soon.
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(#10)Tail of the creature, Kinnison Mountain WV. Hello, My name is Aaron. I am 16 years old and live in Putnam County, WV. I play in a bluegrass group, the Kidd Brothers Bluegrass Group (http://kiddbrothers.tripod.com). Anyway, to make a long story short, our bass player, Markel Fertig, was driving to the mountains of Pocahontas County about 6 years ago. He was coming across Kinnison Mountain, and it was around 4 a.m. in the morning. It was foggy, and his whole family was asleep. He came on a straight stretch and came upon what he thought was a deer standing in the road, but when he got closer, he said that it jumped off the road, and he saw the tail of the creature, which had to be a mountain lion.
Thanks! Aaron
Fri, February 22, 2008 9:56 pm
Webmaster's Note!
I've spent time on Kinnison Mountain picking ramps and hiking, but never saw any mountain lions. In fact, most people never see this animal in the wild.... Kinnison Mountain seems like it would be good mountain lion habitat. Your friend is very lucky to have seen this animal in the wild......
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(#09)1993 Mountain Lion Sighting I just stumbled across your sight, mainly because of a conversation I had with a fellow employee in Cincinnati. He was telling me about a cousin of his in WV that said he had saw a panther there, but my friend did not believe him. I just laughed because I was born and raised in Logan WV and had also thought that stories like these were so much imagination. Until 1993, I was working for a Coal Company in Sharples WV, while riding with a fellow worker in a company pickup truck we were looking for deer and we spotted a set of eyes in the headlights about twenty five to thirty yards away, for at least a full minute neither one of us said a word, I think we were both in shock. There before us crouched down and broad side starring straight at the headlights was a LARGE black cat, and its tail was very long and switching back and forth like a house cat would when annoyed. We watch it for what seemed like a long time and then it bolted into the brush, we both looked at each other and said "HOLY S@%^ that was a Panther!". Wether or not anyone ever believes me I thought I should let it be known I now believe that Panthers exist in WV. I have saw one with my own eyes.
J Gore
Burlington KY
Webmaster's Note
Sighting a Black Mountain Lion is a rare and unexpected event. So unexpected that it's common for people to initially mistake them for panthers. Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in USA. Occasionally, a Cougar/Mountain Lion will be gray,dark brown, cinnamon which can appear almost black and, even more rarely, solid black mountain lion. Most are essentially reddish and light brown to tawny in color. The Scuttle Butt that I have been told from reliably people was a Black Cougar/Mountain Lion was sighted in the woods of Flag Pond Tennessee in 2007 by the Hensley and Shelton boys. So if you think you have seen a black cougar, or mountain lion in West Virginia or Tennessee, you are not alone.
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(#08)A mountain lion sighting was reported at, Showshoe West Virginia We just wanted to inform you all that during our trip to the Snowshoe ski resort in West Virginia we sighted a mountain lion at a nearby field. The mountain lion was lying down in the snow. This was on January 25 at around 5:30 pm. Have you heard of any other sightings in this area? We were very excited, but we're unable to get any pictures.
Thank you!
Krissi Wood
Date: Sun, January 27, 2008 3:22 pm
Webmaster's Note
Along the way we have seen black bears, deer, and hawks. but I haven't heard anything about Mountain Lion sightings in this area, and I haven’t seen them, but that doesn't mean they aren't present.
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(#07)This might be old news now but I know there is mountain lions in West Virginia. In 1990 I was at a old coal mine sight on the Gauley River rd. area in Webster county that my dad had mined out, I was there alone dropping off a flatbed trailer to be loaded with supplies in the next few days. While I was there I happened to be looking around at the stuff that was to be loaded up and I look up for the biggest surprise of my life, About 50' away there I saw solid black cat walking in a wide open area in the middle of the day with his nose on the ground. I didn't know how many goose bumps a person could have on there neck but I could feel every one of them,
In shock and afraid to move I froze for a moment and the big cat never seen me and kept moving. When the big cat got out of sight I run back to my truck witch was only 50' away and got a 44 mag. pistol. A few minutes later I walked over to see that the big cat was tracking a deer and the cat track was 4 1/2 inches wide and looked to be about 6" to 7" long with the tail, a big head with small ears, black shiny hair with a long bushy tail.
Ronnie S
Date: Mon, January 21, 2008 11:45 am
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(#06)Its tail was dragging the ground and he was bigger than Riley(our 110 lb black lab) After visiting your site I have decided to tell you of a sighting on a bow hunt with my 23 year old son who was 16 at the time. The hunt took place in Mineral Co. and was one of the most shocking things my son and Ihave ever had together. We got to the bow stand at daylight just off of the Potomac River and I helped him into the tree with a climbing stand then retreated back the grassy rd. to find a tree to climb some 100 yrds away. I could not find a good tree so I settled on the one close the road pulled my bow up set down and had the worstfeeling of my life. I kept having visions of my son in danger and it involved a mountain lion and no matter what I did I could not get the fear to go away. So I lowered the bow back down jumped to the ground and startedtowards my son, but when I spotted him from a distance I realiized that he was ok (at least I thought!) I felt stupid right then. I turned to go back and decided to have one last look and that bad feeling hit me again. I walked to within 5 steps of the tree and I could not believe my eyes. My son was holding his bow with an arrow noched and another in his right hand pointing down towards the ground, he was pale and shaking anddidn't even notice me. I got his attention and he freaked out and told me to run or get up the tree. When I asked him to calm down he wouldn't I knew something bad was going on this child wasn't scared of much. I got him to talk to me and I told him to lower the bow and come down to me but he wouldn't he said dad there was a big cat that came out of the river bottom and walked under the tree stand and up into the bouldersbehind the stand. So I walked up into the rocks to prove it was ok to get down and he freaked out again. So Isaid to him did the cat have big pointed ears and a short stubby tail and he said you don't understand Dad its tail was dragging the ground and he was bigger than Riley(our 110 lb black lab) so I convienced him to comedown that whatever it was, was long gone by now. I later tried to talk to the DNR about it but they said we were making it up. I don't need to have there input if they were going to act like we needed to make up storiesjust to have something to talk about. I hope this will help someone else who may have the same experience some day.
Thanks very much, Jeff
Date: Thu, November 22, 2007 2:07 pm
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(#05)Scenic Highway 150 a mountain lion cross the road. Enjoying your website, very nicely done. My name is Clyde Downs I live in Bristol TN. and I have been coming to that area for over 30 years. Myself and 3 other close friends travel to the area twice a year to hunt and fish. We are all originally from Pineville WV. but now live in various parts of the country. We’ve camped in the Cranberry area many many times as well as the Greenbrier river area and Pocahontas county. Since we’ve gotten a little older and the ground has gotten harder we have opted for a cabin at Watoga State Park the last 6 years. One of my friends, Charlie Keaton (retired school teacher), was on the Scenic Highway 150 two weeks ago and saw a mountain lion cross the road in front of him. He said he got within 20 yards of the cat before it disappeared into the woods. About 15 years ago we were camped at the head of the Cranberry. One night after going to bed we were awoken by what sounded like screams off in the woods. Later we heard movement around our campsite and what sounded like hissing. From that experience we’ve always thought that there were mountain lions in the area. Glad to hear we’re not the only ones who have felt that the big cat it here (eastern wv) having migrated to the area many years ago.
Sincerely,
Butch Downs
Date: Wed, September 19, 2007 8:19 am
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(#04)
A Mountain lion sighted in Morgan County, West Virginia
It happened on December 26, 2006. I was hunting in Morgan County, about 6 miles from Paw Paw, close to Detour Road. I was watching a clear spot along an old logging road, about 30 yards from my position. I fully expected a deer to appear their. It was close to dark, and an animal with a color that approximated a yellow lab appeared in the clear spot. Hoping that is was a deer, I lowered my rifle and placed the scope on another clear spot that was in the pathof the animal. When it entered my scope, I was shocked to see what it was. It was clearly a mountain lion. It continuedalong the logging road until it disappeared into some thick trees. I watched it through the scope the whole time. I wascompletely surprised, not only because I didn't think they existed in West Virginia, but also because I know them to bequite elusive. I'm from California and have spent quite a lot of time in the Sierras, Cascades, San Bernardinos, San Jacintos, and the Rockies. Mountain lions are abundant in all those places, yet I've never seen one. I did see onedead beside the freeway in the Bay Area once. Needless to say, this sighting was a treat that I will treasure forever.
Chris Sparkman
Woodbridge, VA.
Webmaster's Note
The community of Paw Paw is known for the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel. The community was named for the paw paw, the largest wild edible fruit native to America and grew in abundance throughout the community of Paw Paw and Morgan County, West Virginia. The zip code for Paw Paw is 25434.Detour Road is (County Route 18).
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(#03)
A Mt. Lion crouching near the road at Gormania WV.
Hello, My name is Don Woods Jr. My wife's name is Margaret. I saw a Mt. Lion crouched down along the road at Gormania WV. about six years ago. There is absolutely no doubt that it was definitely a Mt. Lion! Margaret has seen two over the years. One about twenty years ago near Friendsville in Garrett Co. MD. And the other near our home in Leadmine, Tucker Co. WV., about three years ago. They do exist and we know many other people that have seen them. Some say maybe it was a bobcat or maybe it was a large housecat. That is all bull, we have lived in the mountains of WV. all of our lives and believe me we know the difference!
Don Woods Jr.
Webmaster's Note
Gormania WV. is an unincorporated town in Grant County, West Virginia, along the North Branch Potomac River. Gormania, West Virginia, is in the Allegheny Mountains range comprising the western part of the Appalachian Mountains and near the borders of Virginia, Maryland and PennsylvaniaGormania WV. zip code for the town is 26720. Leadmine, WV. or Lead Mine, WV. is an unincorporated community in Tucker County, West Virginia, in the North Area of the State and the zip code for the community is 26290. Leadmine is known for the largest trees ever cut in West Virginia, White Oak.
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(#02)
Mountain lion sighted in Shanks West Virginia
It was about 7:30 a.m. November 21, 2006 when I saw it walking through the field of our neighbor. I called out to my husband to look at this, I was washing dishes and looking out our kitchen window. But he had not gotten in the room fast enough it had moved rather quickly. It was about 4 ½ feet long and had a long tail it was tan/grey in color. Have heard of these being in our area just have never seen one. I grew up in Garrett County MD. and my great grand parents said they had seen quite a few in their day. I thought maybe you would like to know that they are definitely here in Hampshire County West Virginia as well.
Nedra Platt
Webmaster's Note Shanks WV. is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia, the North Fork Little Cacapon River runs through Shanks WV. and the zip code for the community is 26761.Shanks WV. population approx: 800.
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(#01)
A mountain lion sighting was reported at the Hatfield McCoy trail. I thought you might be interested in what I saw. On 8 Nov 2006 my wife and I were riding ATVs on theHatfield McCoy trail system just outside of Pineville WV. The trail system is called Pinnacle Creek Trails.I saw a mountain lion briefly, from a distance of approx. 50 feet. My guess is that its back was approx. 2 1/2 feet high with a body in excess of 4 feet long. Upon my return to Pa. I wanted to do some research into my sighting. It was in fact a mountain lion that I saw. My approx. location at the time of the sighting was the easternsection of the ATV trail around the northern intersection of the trail 10 and 15. I saw on your web site that itis believed that mountain lions are extinct in West Virginia. I can assure you that what I saw was in facta mountain lion.
Ken Vandevort
Webmaster's Note Pineville is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, along the Guyandotte River and the zip code for Pineville is 24874. It is the county seat of Wyoming County and population approx: 750.
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