Letter to the Editor
Published: March 20, 2008

Editor:

On March 3, we received information about two cougar sightings along Route 689 near Ida in Page County. In both cases, the cat fled up the mountain towards Skyline Drive.

If it kept running over the mountain, its next destination would have brought it down the eastern slope into western Madison County. That brings us to this letter.

We are seeking information from residents of Madison County along the eastern boundary of the Shenandoah National Park, if they had the opportunity to see either one of these mountain lions.

We would also like to know if any farmer has found evidence of a farm animal being killed in a predator attack.

Since 1965, we have conducted field investigations on cougar reports, which was featured on the History Channel’s Dec. 12 “Monster Quest” program.

Contrary to what Virginia Department Game and Inland Fisheries officials claim, wild cougars do inhabit mountainous areas of the Old Dominion state.

A cougar or mountain lion was confirmed in western Augusta County in July 2004. A similar event occurred in southwest Frederick County near Wells Tannery in 2006. Tracks identified as a cougar’s were confirmed in 1969 near Brownsville in Page County. So yes folks, cougars continue to survive and thrive in Virginia.

If anyone has an interest in learning more on the habits of native mountain lions or cougars, they can send a stamped, self-addressed business size envelope to us for a free flyer entitled “All You Need to Know About the Wild Eastern Cougar or Mountain Lion.”

John A. Lutz
Eastern Puma Research Network
HC 30, Box 2233
Maysville, WV 26833