When cougars will be back in Virginia?

Question

After 100 yrs they were absent

Answer 1

i've lived in va for a while now, and our property abuts shenandoah national park, and we occasionally hear mountain lions. I know people have reported seeing them and one tourist actually caught one of vide.  So I think they are there, but just few and fair between.

the general theory now is that these are animals that have somehow been "introduced"here recently (circa 1990s): escaped pets, etc.

Answer 2

It looks like they may already have decided to return to Virginia!  

Over the last three years their have been a number of reports and tracks found indicating that the cougar (also known as the puma and mountain lion) has returned to the state -- mostly around the Appalachian Trail.

This solitary and agile feline is surprising classified with the smaller "cats" such as lynx and bobcats.  This is mostly because their weight is less than that of say tigers or lions.  Cougars usually tip the scale around 180-220 pounds.

While still listed as endangered the population does appear to be increasing in the Rockies and very possibly on the East Coast as well.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

next wednesday, 5:13PM...

do you really expect an answer ?