Mountain Lion Sightings Still Reported in West Virginia Despite Said Extinction

Photo byWest Virginia Encyclopedia

CHARLESTON, WV - Mountain Lion sightings in West Virginia are still being reported despite their said extinction.

According to the West Virginia Encyclopedia, Mountain lions, once common in West Virginia, were especially abundant in the Allegheny Mountains.

Known by various names such as cougar, catamount, and panther, these majestic creatures left their mark on the state, with numerous places named Panther Knobs and Panther Runs.

The eastern cougar, one of 15 subspecies in North America, inhabited the region until European settlers viewed them as threats, leading to bounties for their capture, according to the West Virginia Encyclopedia.

Bounties led to the decline of the eastern cougar, with 73 panthers killed in Randolph County between 1852 and 1859.

The last recorded killing was in 1887 in Pocahontas County, according to the West Virginia Encyclopedia.

Despite these efforts, mountain lion sightings persist in West Virginia, sparking debate about their origins. Some suggest that western cougars are expanding eastward, while others believe escaped or released captive cougars are behind the sightings.

In 2018, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the eastern cougar extinct, yet reports of these elusive cats continue, keeping the mystery of their presence alive in the Mountain State.

What do you think? Do Mountain Lions still roam the mountains of West Virginia? Let us know.