| | |
(#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
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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!   
Back to Richwood
(#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
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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......
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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
Back to Richwood
(#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
Back to Richwood
(#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
Back to Richwood
(#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 adeer 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 thepaw paw, the largest wild edible fruit native to America and grew in abundance throughout the community ofPaw Paw and Morgan County, West Virginia. The zip code for Paw Paw is 25434.Detour Road is (County Route 18).
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
(#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.
Back to Richwood
|
|
