The Virginia Game Department says that cougars, mountain lions, do not exist in Virginia. Period. End of argument.
But…..
There are at least three hunters in Louisa County who disagree. Sherman Shifflett, a frequent contributor to CvilleBuzz, said that the hunters saw a cougar in the Ware’s X community, not far from Lake Anna.
The hunters were using beagles to make a drive near an old abandoned stone quarry. In that area, there is a huge berm covered with riprap and scrub pines and brambles have grown up on the berm. The hunters said it has always been a good spot to jump deer. They always post hunters on either side of the berm. Deer like the berm because they have a good observation post.
The hunters noted that last season deer were scarce on the berm, and they could not figure out why. Near the end of the season, the driver cast out the beagles at the bottom of the berm, and as the hounds approached the top, the witness said he saw a tawny animal easing through the scrub pines. Initially, he thought it was a deer, but then saw a long tail, and he knew exactly what it was. Two other hunters saw the big cat, including a young girl.
If there was a mountain lion hanging around, it is no wonder there were no deer on the berm. Lion urine is a sure-fire way to keep deer and many small animals away. Some use it in their gardens to discourage groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels and especially deer.
Interestingly, the beagles covered the area where the big cat was seen, but did not give chase. Had it been a deer, they would have been on the trail, but apparently, they didn’t know what it was.
I suppose the Game Department will continue to deny that cougars exist in Virginia, but several veteran hunters in Louisa County are convinced otherwise.