Thursday, August 28, 2008
Mountain lion sighting debate rages on
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: The tinkling match between Mr. Lutz of the Eastern Puma Research Network and our Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is very interesting and entertaining. What I find fascinating is that the DGIF website lists the Eastern Puma (cougar, mountain lion) and even has it cataloged on the Virginia Sate Endangered List.
I think this means they would jack the jail and put you under it if you killed one. But I am under the assumption that the DGIF wildlife biologists do not believe that we have cougars here in Virginia. Bob Ellis of the DGIF said, “Currently, we have no firm evidence to support the idea that wild cougars live in Virginia.”
So, if you kill one and officials believe they do not exist, could you be prosecuted? Not that I plan on killing a cougar if I happen to be one of the lucky few that gets a glimpse. I want to believe they are “out there.”
When I was a kid hunting in Bath County, I was sure there was a bear behind every tree. Now, at age 51, there are more bear in that county than ever before. Perhaps before I'm permanently planted there will be cougars roaming throughout Virginia.
Mr. Lutz makes the accusation that Virginia wildlife officials had ridiculed those that claim they have seen a cougar and called those officials “arrogant high-ranking game policy makers.”
Virginia has some wonderful wildlife and fisheries biologists. Virginia also has biologists that are simply taking up space. I can believe the ridiculing by some and I have seen the arrogance of a few. Hopefully, Mr. Lutz and DGIF will land on the same page.
STEPHEN HINER
BILL: I seriously question Miller Williams' claim of “hundreds of thousands of trail cameras” in use in Virginia seeking cougars or mountain lions. If that was the case, there would be more gathered evidence of cougars or mountain lions in the Old Dominion.
Cougars are not plentiful in any Eastern state. They only associate with a mate during breeding time. At all other times, they travel alone and are solitary land mammals.
We have sought the big cats since 1965 and have only seen three in those 43 years. Two were of black panthers and one a tan cougar.
If more serious researchers were available in Virginia, with abilities of responding to reports of sightings, there is the likelihood more proof of their presence could be located. It takes time, patience and the ability of knowing what to look for and where to find it.
JOHN LUTZ
Eastern Puma Research Network
Maysville, W.Va.
BILL: I have certainly enjoyed reading your columns. I used to hunt the Sugarloaf Mountain area back over Garst Mill Road Extension way back in the late '50s and early '60s. From 1960 to 1970 I lived in Blacksburg, going to school at Virginia Tech and working at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
I saw mountain lions twice during that period in the Prices Mountain area of Montgomery County. Also I twice saw one in the Bennett Spring’s area of Carvins Cove. The Roanoke police officer who patrolled that area --I have forgotten his name -- told me more than a few stories of seeing or watching mountain lions on the dirt road going into the Cove. He even related one occasion of seeing a mother and two cubs.
I wish you would see one of these critters in your home area. You would be a very believable witness, much more than the average lifelong hunter and outdoorsman.
I am now living in Florida and often fish for baby tarpon, up to 60 pounds, with top-water lures in the St. Sebastian River.
BILL LIPSCOMB
