From Zero to Hero: Mountain Lions in Virginia, Again?

In 1882, Virginia looked a lot different than it does today. Back then, the eastern cougar roamed its lands, bred in its mountains, and stalked its wildlife, especially whitetail deer, a favorite meal. Today, however, all that remains in Virginia and the eastern U.S. of the Puma concolor couguar are unconfirmed sightings.

The eastern cougar goes by many names: mountain lion, puma, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn, an Ojibwa term. Mountain lions hold the distinction of being the largest wild cat in North America, north of Mexico. A mature mountain lion stands 27-31 inches tall, grows to be 6-8 feet long, and weighs 75-160 pounds. As with many mammalian species, males are taller, larger, and heavier than females.

Status in Virginia

Mountain lions are rarely seen, even in areas where their presence is known, as this cat is elusive, secretive, and highly intelligent. They can swim, climb, and jump just as well vertically as horizontally. Despite their physical strength, raw power, and evasive nature, mountain lions were declared extinct in 2018 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Historically, these creatures once roamed the eastern portion of the United States from Maine to South Carolina and west from Michigan to Tennessee, meaning they extended well into Virginia, where they had populations, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although they still live in North America, there aren’t any wild populations east of the Mississippi River, save for one of about 200 cats in Florida.

Estimates currently place the U.S. mountain lion population at 20,000-40,000, nearly all of them living in the western part of the country. Nevertheless, people insist that they have seen mountain lions in Virginia. According to the state’s Department of Wildlife Resources, 121 sightings have been reported and investigated by the department since 1970, mostly near Shenandoah National Park and in Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties.

Officially, there are zero mountain lions living and breeding in Virginia, but the likelihood of mountain lions reclaiming their former territories in the mountains of Virginia is a distinct possibility. Let’s explore what that looks like some more.

A Possible Triumphant Return

The last known mountain lion in Virginia was killed in 1882, and since then, no active breeding population has been present across the state. Sadly, hunting and habitat loss contributed to these animals being declared extinct in the eastern U.S.

As mentioned above, a small population of Florida panthers live in the Everglades and pine forests of central Florida. The Mountain Lion Foundation is hopeful that the Florida Wildlife Corridors Act will contribute to the return of this majestic cat to more parts of the eastern U.S., first Georgia and then (maybe?) eventually Virginia. The Act “aims to create safe passage for the cats to get from South Florida to Georgia where more abundant habitat lies.”

Those 121 reported sightings are cautiously recognized as likely mountain lions, but there are reasons to tread carefully with this hope. First, many sightings during certain periods may, in fact, be the same cat. If a mountain lion walks around an area long enough, many people will likely notice. As a result, multiple sightings across different time periods could be attributed to the same cat.

Second, the sightings of mountain lions are likely the result of escaped or released animals that were once captive. Since there are no breeding populations in Virginia, the likelihood of a secret population that has existed since 1880 is very unlikely. Instead, these sightings may be captive cats that were intentionally or accidentally released or traveling mountain lions from a state out west.

As the science stands, the most likely option is that the sightings are the result of young, even desperate males living in South Dakota, Idaho, and Utah, traveling east in search of new hunting and breeding grounds. For the first time in years, these cats are on the rebound and could be extending their range into their historic regions.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are prime habitat for these cats, and once they get a foothold in the region, the signs are positive that they could return. Some researchers claim that there could be native eastern cougar populations across the Blue Ridge in as few as 25-30 years.

Wild Cat Cousins

Currently, only one species of wild cat lives in Virginia. The bobcat is a resilient cat that has managed to keep under cover and establish territory across most of the United States. This medium-sized cat weighs between 9-33 pounds, has a stubby tail, and distinct tufts of hair coming from its ears.

Although these wild cats are smaller than mountain lions, they are extremely good hunters. Their typical prey includes rabbits and squirrels, but they can kill deer when they are feeling up to it. In fact, bobcats take down prey that weighs as much as eight times their own weight.

Bobcats generally live away from humans, preferring places like the Great Dismal Swamp and Virginia’s mountains. Part of their success is due to their adaptability when it comes to hunting and habitat needs.