The numerous Panther Knobs and Panther Runs found across the state provide evidence of this animal's influence on early Mountaineers. The eastern cougar, which occurred in West Virginia, is one of 15 subspecies found in North America. Cougars vary in color from yellow brown to almost gray, but no black cougars have been found in North America. There is little biological data on eastern cougars, but western animals reach a length of 8 feet and weigh up to 160 pounds.
Males are usually larger than females.
As Europeans settled the wilderness, mountains lions were viewed as a threat to both humans and their livestock. Bounties were paid for dead mountain lions in many areas including Randolph County where, between 1852 and 1859, bounties were paid on 73 panthers. In 1936, tracks in the vicinity of Kennison Mountain, Pocahontas County were reported by workers from the U.S. National Museum. Although there are still sightings of mountain lions in the Mountain State, the source of these animals is difficult to determine. Two cougars captured in Pocahontas County in 1976 were western cougars that had been transported there and released.