In April 2008, Chicago law enforcement authorities shot and killed a wild western mountain lion.The cat was proven to be wild, and not just an escapee, through autopsy reports and DNA suggestions.This is a long way from Va. but there have been several Class 1 confirmations (dead ,or live captured animals, photographs or video, and positive DNA analysis)and multiple Class 2 confirmations (tangible, physical evidence,scat ,hair, tracks)in the Northeast including Mass., New York, and Maine, all confirmed by researchers and biologist.And reports of "sightings" in almost every state in the union.
Sources; Outdoor Life March 2009
Cougar Network .com

2lunger, this "thing" did'nt terrorize all cattle inthe whole county, just those within sight or smell of it's line of travel (within a couple hundred yards either side of it). And as a matter of fact you can draw a line on the route this thing took and it did go between 10-20 miles.This was proven by a farmer with anenquiringmind who, after his "very tame" cattle had broken 3 strands of barbed wire fence, set out on a mission to find out "why". After several phone calls to neighboring farmers he found that they also had the same problem the same night. Now remember, not all farmers, just those in the path of this thing experiencedproblems.Weeks later, after manyphone-logged hours to farmers, even into an adjacent county,he was able to create a line of travel that stretched over atremendousterritory and it all took place the same night. He reported this to the Game Dep't.with whom he ended up speaking to numerous times. They gave a few suggestions that my buddy quickly discredited, and finally admitted that they could not and would not throw out the idea of this being amt. lion, but again there is no concrete evidence. That is why i was asking for feedback on this subject. I know the guys on HuntingNet are alwaysin and around the outdoors and maybe would have some interesting thoughts or experiences.