Mountain lions also known as pumas, panthers, and cougars were presumed to be extinct for many centuries in the United States except in Florida and parts of the western states.  Mountain lions were not "known to exist within 1,000 miles of the mid-Appalachians."  However, starting in the 1940s to the present, there have been reports and sightings of mountain lions in the Appalachian area. For example, in the 1940s in the Shenandoah National Park, "park rangers, tourists" and people visiting the park reported that they have seen mountain lions in various locations throughout the park. 

There have also been many other sightings of mountain lions.  In the late 1960s Darwin Lambert who is an ecologist writer and a "former ranger in the Shenandoah National Park" reported that he and his wife have "found tracks in the snow on the western slope of Stonyman Mountain."  He stated that "they were quite round and showed no claw marks as a dog's would have done."  He also stated that "they disappeared on a very steep slope with immense boulders that left cavities large enough to shelter cougar."

Another sighting of someone actually seeing a mountain lion was in the 1970s.  Joy Nicol who lived in the Shenandoah area stated that she came across a mountain lion while she was sitting on her porch outside of her cabin. She stated that "it had a long tail and was the height of a mountain lion.  It came up on the porch and all that separated us was a big bag of trash." It was four feet away from her.  She stated, "when it saw me, it jumped over the porch railing" and ran off.  Over the years there have been claims of people stating that they have seen mountain mountains throughout the Appalachian area. Know one really knows where these mountain lions have come from.  Some people believe that mountain lions in the Appalachain area have migrated from Florida or the west, or "escaped from captivity" such as zoos and pet owners.

Mountain lions are very shy and are afraid of people and dogs.  Mountain lion attacks against humans are also very rare.  Maurice Brooks who wrote "The Appalachians," stated that mountain lions are known for the "readiness to take to a tree when pursued by dogs."  Some people who visited the Appalachians or live in that area have stated that at night they have heard "a bloodcurdling scream of a cougar [mountain lion]"  but have never been approached or attacked by one. William T. Hornaday who is a naturalist acclaimed that he has "heard pumas [mountain lions] scream precisely like terrified women or boys but they have always flee from man."

There have been claims from people who reported seeing mountain lions roaming around the Appalachian area which might make people think their population is increasing.  However, they have been classified as endangered due to human impact.  Due to an increase in visitors and hikers in the area, many mountain lions have gotten hit by cars or worse been shot by hunters who associates them as game animals or have a lack of knowledge about them. 

Most states in the Appalachian area do protect mountain lions and have a strict law for shooting.  Some states like West Virginia do not have strict laws for the protection of mountain lions even though they are protected under the Endangered Species Act.  In the 1970s, someone who worked at the Fish and Game Department believed that if mountain lions "official status" was endangered in the Northeast, "it would not guarantee his future here if he does exist" and they will eventually be extinct throughout the Northeast side of America. He also stated that due to a lack of knowledge about mountain lions and human impact, "the last cougar without question, would be shot without ceremony and the shooter would become a celebrity."  Hopefully in the future, mountain lions are here to stay.