Velociworld

On Sept 22 at noon, I observed from my car a jet-black panther crosssing Hwy 127 8 miles north of McClenny. This cat was about about 6 to 7 feet long nose to end of tail. I was about 100 feet away.

Ihave not seen one cause I live in Alberta. But I think there are two opinions, there is no such thing as a black panther or the black panther is an
species mistaken for another species. So in this both are highly researched and well written in each website I have read.

i think just because youve never seen a black panther(or leapord),dosnt mean they dont exsist.if you believe in seeing a tiger or cheetah,then why dont you with black panthers?it just dosnt make sense!yes,i believe in seeing differant animals that average normal people havnt.just because no one has seen it before dosnt mean it dosnt exists.im not saying you have to believe in panthers,but dont be so negitive towards it.

I am very interested is the existance of the black panther. I have done some in depth research and discovered that it may be a regular panther/cougar that has extra pigment and the pigment turns the fur black. This has been documented in jaguars and cheetahs and it has been given the name melanistic. I think that this condition can occur in panthers/cougars just like in other cat families. This would give an explanation without need for a new species. I also do not understand why some say there is a need for a new species. How could they not think that the black panther/cougar is a rare offspring of the normal panther/cougar. Kind of like red heads in people. The black color for panthers may be double recessive and can't be duplicated easily.

There are Black Panthers that have been around the West Virginia area going back into at least the 1800s. My grandparents often warned me about coming upon one in the woods, and I lived in West Virginia when one was killed. It screamed loudly for several weeks at night while it hunted, and was finally killed by a hunter. There alre also pictures of black panthers in Michigan where I now live. They have been reported there going back as far as l963, when I first heard of them.

There are Black Panthers that have been around the West Virginia area going back into at least the 1800s. My grandparents often warned me about coming upon one in the woods, and I lived in West Virginia when one was killed. It screamed loudly for several weeks at night while it hunted, and was finally killed by a hunter. There alre also pictures of black panthers in Michigan where I now live. They have been reported there going back as far as l963, when I first heard of them.

i love black panthers, they are my favorite animals in the whole world i really hope to own one when im older. i dont know if its legal, but i will find a way to get one. i want to either name it midnight, or ebony. i love there green eyes, and there mysteriousness. its exciting!!!

I saw a black panther in an undeveloped portion of kissimmee, florida. It was in september of 2003. After a few hours of working, my buddy and I took a catnap in our work truck. The truck was completely off, no a.c., no radio. I woke up about 45 minutes later....thirsty as hell. I quietly opened my door, as to not wake my buddy. Didn't shut it either. I walked to the bed of the truck flipped the lid to our cooler and it tapped the inside of the bed making a slight "ding" sound. Out in the middle of nowhere sound travels fairly easily. Almost simaltaneously with the "ding", I heard a rustle in some palmettos at the edge of a heavily wooded area. I glanced over spotting some swaying palmetto frons. This was about 150 feet from me. My eyes finally caught another pair of eyes about 10-15 feet into the woods.....staring right at me!! We only locked eye for 10-15 seconds and he leaped into the woods. And I mean leaped....I'd say four or five feet of air on at least one leap! Everyone tries to tell me it was probably just a bobcat, but I've seen bobcats up close...and this was no bobcat. This things head was probably at least 40 inches off the ground...and weighed a good 180 pounds.

I spotted a Black panther today around 1pm. It was at the edge of the woods. I live in Crestview Florida. In the panhandle about 60 miles east of Pensacola and 75 miles west of Panama city.

this aws a good article you wrote but i think that you should have put some pictures on herebut other than that this is a good article good luck on your next one!

- Courtney from miwaukee wisconsin

I live in Millen Ga. (Jenkins Co.)We are adjacent to Screven Co., where I beleive a large cat was spotted last year. A large, dark grey to black cat was seen near my house this evening around 7:00pm crossing the highway. This cat had a long thick tail and ran out into a field. My friend got within 20 yards of the cat in his vehicle and gave me this description.

Mac Watty

In March of 2004, I was on Hwy 196 in Long County, between Hinesville and Glennville,around 10:30 p.m., when I saw a huge, black, cat crouched down near the side of the road. I had heard stories that the cats were out there but never really believed it until I saw one with my own eyes. I am fascinated with them and would love to see another one. I would like to see them and their natural habitat protected. I read in the Ludowici, Ga. News of one being sighted in the same area that I saw that one. I believe there are some still out there, regardless of what the scientists say.

Out neighbors saw one in Walker County (LaFayette) this weekend

My wife and I were discussing black panthers after watching a show on TV. I told her how I had almost ran over a black panther in Newport, VA somewhere around 1987. I had no idea at the time that black panthers were native to the US until I stopped at a local country store to tell somebody, anybody what I had just seen. They just laughed at me and said it was no big deal and that it was a common sight. So, until I ran across this site I did not realize how rare a sight this really was therefore my reason for making this comment. Plus, I just like to run my mouth. LOL

In 2004 I was on my way to work at about 4:45 in the moring and I spotted a black panther outside of the entrance to my apartment complex. It freaked me out because I live in the Ypsilanti Michigan and the most exotic animal out here is the Coyote. The County and State Police confirmed that what I saw was probably the real thing because other people have reported sightings!

I was in Wisconsin last week for the wedding of my son. We took a trip to Cassville to see Stonefield (it was closed!). On the drive back from Cassville, we were heading south as close to the Mississippi as we could on the 133. Not far out of the town the river was on our right and there was a flooded area/tributary/overflow channel on our left. The road was passing at a higher level. My grand daughter and I both saw at a distance of a couple of hundred yards a large black creature, which I believe was a panther. It was by the edge of the water having emerged from woodland and was jet black and shiney. We asked paople when we were back to Madison, but no one had ever heard of such a thing. It was definitely not a bear or a big dog or a coyote (I've seen them in Arizona) Has anyone else seen anything like this in that area? We were too late to take a photo.

I never would of belived my eyes on that Sun. morning in early Oct. of 2005. Camping out at a good friend of ours in a disclosed location in Preston Co., WVA. our dog woke me up around 9am. She was looking out of the window of the tent twords the woods with a kind of a quiet wimper. waking my wife up, she then seen it also. No doubt about it, a large black cat that seemed to be around 70lbs. moving very stealthly through the brush close to the edge of the meadow.

I drive truck and last nite at about 2am I nearly hit a Black Panther. I was traveling towards Seneca Rocks, WV on rt 28 (about 4-5 miles past Doly Sods rd). I saw several deer standing along side the road and slowed to about 25 mph, after passing them I started to speed up and running along side of the road was a Very large black cat. It had to be a cat, not a dog because it ran like a cat does (the way you would see a house cat run). It acted like it was going to cross the road in front of me so I slammed on the brakes and came to a complete stop. When I came to a complete stop it jumped thru the brush and was gone. Thought you would like to hear my story.

i saw a black panther walking along the ditch in front of my house about 2 a.m. on a tuesday night while standing in my garage. it was full moon october. moon was only light.was big and not in a hurry.iwalked out to sidewalk in front of my house and i made a clicking sound real low.iwas about60 feet from it.it did not change its speed,moved another 15 feet and turned facing me as it hid behind power pole.about a minute later it went across the street.saturday(1week ago)i found some good tracks in my backyard.adult and baby tracks.tracks as big as back of my hand when making a fist.i have molds of both.gets better as we go. yesterday i saw 2 babies for a split second. today i have found dens dug underground with an entry hole about 12 inches in diameter and at least 1 extra hole if not 2 at each location.there are a few different locations.i know for a fact they exist in georgia.i have at least 2 babies and one adult if not more.tree over den has limb at about6 ft off ground with impressive claw marks over a5ft area all on bottom of limb as if she was sharpening her claws,sitting on the limb,while protecting her babies below her.my father inlaw lives across the street.he has spotted three in last 20 years.i cant explain why God has allowed me to see all of this in one months time. i have been here almost 3 years,been all through the woods on a regular basis,always with my head down watching for snakes.wonder how many times momma panther layed eyes on me without me even knowing it.i'm not going to clear this area.i'm going to let them have that spot of my backyard.its truly amazing!

forgot to mention i live in Effingham county,georgia

On a recent trip to Palm Coast Florida, I saw what appeared to be a black panther (mid-size cat).
It was crossing a road into a swamppy area, near a subdivision.
It was much larger then a commen house cat, and had longer legs, a different gait, snubby type nose, and was black.
It looked before crossing, and moved more like a horse cantering in large strides, then a small cat.
I wish I could have seen it longer.

I have been tracking something for years now.I do believe it is a panther.My grandfather saw this cat on several occasions once shooting at it.I never really thought much about that until about seven years ago when walking through the woods i saw a big oak tree with bark worn off and claw marks in it.I am 6'7 and the bark is scratched above my head.I have saw these trees every year since and always is a big oak.I deer hunt alot and yesterday went shed hunting and found 4 trees agian scratched in the same area each year it seems.I live in Rocksprings Walker County, Georgia ,but i also have about five square miles of nothing around me.These last trees had claw indents about a quater inch deep and a quater inch in diameter in the tree.But i have found paw prints only twice.Could this be a bear or is this a panther.Its nice to know other people have saw them in walker county and im not crazy lol.Maybe soon I will catch him on a game cam i am putting out this weekend.

I have talked of this to relatively few people because I am told that there is no such thing as a black panther. I saw this over a year ago at the south end of West Lake Toho in the parking lot of the Southport boat launch AT Approximately 8:15 A.M. As I drove into the parking lot one morning on the way to work the black cat walked right out in front of me. I stopped my vehicle and the cat was approximately 20' right in front of me in the open. When I stopped the vehicle it turned to look at me and crouched down slightly, broadside to me. It was jet black in color with no other coloring, approximately 4' total length, had a thick and long tail when compared to a domestic cat, and my guess is that it was about 40-50 pounds. It stayed crouched in front of me for approximately 30 seconds. My view was completely unobstructed and it was broadside to me. It then quickly turned and ran back into the wood where I saw it emerge. I am educated, have good vision, retired law enforcement, and at the time was an airboat captain so I was used to seeing various wildlife.
Now, try convince me what I saw was a dog!

In 96 or 97 my wife and I were driving the road north of Pickerel lake in Forest co. Wi. when a large black cat (about 5 feet long with half tail) went across road in front of us. The animal stopped in the ditch, and the tail laid up on the road. Tail was diameter of broom handle. This was no otter or fisher, as I think some people have seen and mistaken for panther. I would have never thought too much about it if it would have never stopped on the road. I can still see that long tail laying on the road.

My Son and I both saw a Black Panther,early one morning, on 172 south of Hartwell,Hart County, one mile north of holly springs store, in 1996.. And We Ain't Crazy

I live in west virginia. and I have seen a Black Panther, ever night, It comes close to our house and our dog chasses it up the train track , and the the panther chasses the dog back home. She is solid Black and has a strong body. She hasn;t every attacked me or my family. But at night time she can scream alful loud. Brenda Ksahola West Virginia

I have never seen a panther be fore but i have heard noices in my back yard. I live in Narrows V.A and me and my neighbor here something in the woods just about every weekend at night. I have heard that panthers are not native to Virginia but i disagree. There have been coments and a panther in a basement of a family of 3 down the street from me.

I hit a black panther with my car several years ago on the Turnpike just south of Orlando. I clearly saw it just before it disappeared from view underneath the vehicle. I slowed to see if it was lying in the roadway after I had passed over it, it was not, and I hoped that I had not killed it. No, it wasn't a dog, it had rounded very catlike head, shiny black fur and a very long flexible tail.

When I was a little girl,mama's would always remind you to stay close to the house and stay togather.
we had rivers and streams that crisscrossed the country,and the gulf of mexico on the south of us.
each summer/fall the big cats would come thru, and make them selves at home .
our Pecan trees were so beautiful in the full summer with the leaves and new fruit, and shade for the house,barn and smoke house. as well as the profit we had from them.
flying squirrels, redfox squirrels,gray fox,red fox ,
raccoon's,deer. all came to munch or graze ..
our garden was always a good 10/15 acres.
And the kids worked it.
we always had the natural respect of nature and what it can do if you cross it's path without
giving it a wide birth, or being observant.
So when I grew up the population in our area was
small compared to what we are dealing with now, with urban sprawl.
We didn't feed the wild animals,they fed them selves. And if you got to give money to an organization, wild life fish and game is best.
they don't pick and chose , they just get the job done with out the green radicals who think they know whats out there and whats best for them.
not curbing a population stresses all the food chain.
So back to my child hood story, one summer mama was gone and my brothers were playing pranks as usual. so out I went to the back porch in the cool of the evening.It was the L-shaped kind that ran the length of the kitchen and one bedroom,both had doors that opened out onto it.
This was an old country home ,and off from the porch about 20ft. stood the most beautiful , pecan tree on our place, with long limbs that sloped across the roof top. and smaller ones that you could climb on were lower to the ground.
the base of this tree was 10/12ft.with long roots that ran out like fingers.
That nite I heard a russel in the tree limbs,and couldn't see anything, the chickens some times would roost high up away from the nite critters, but not a peep from them ...so I decided it was time to go in.. My brothers had locked the doors and were laughting as I was getting a little excited about it.
More russel from the tree limb, and a Loud * thud*
as what ever it was hit the ground...And *That* was no chicken hitting the ground !
Thats when I started screaming that there was something out here !!!let me in !!! I knew it was there, I could feel it ..
When finally the door was opened and in I went..
closing the door behind me.
Mad as an Old hen at my brothers...
they said there was nothing out there,but never looked out them selves either...to see what it might be..
That summer was also the summer that a young cousin was saved by his hunting dogs when a panther jumped from a tree in his yard at him.
golden brownish.
We had also heard the story of our neighbor and the black panther that had chased her and her kids into the house and tryed to claw its way in.
she hit its paw with an iron skillet as it tryed to pull the door open from the bottom.
Mama always said screams would draw them to you.
so I guess we were some real serious kids at play not wanting to draw them close...
And after reading some items on calling them up I do understand why she said that.
It makes them think your pry..so they want to check you out.Small children are easy to catch.
But When I think of my childhood , I learned respect for what lived around me, and mothers were
always reminding you to stay togather.
When Nature was getting too close to mama's young,
the daddy's were sent to cull the problem.
We lived togather but we didn't cross the line of
nature /nor did we let nature cross it either.
As with all things , when nature gets out of balance , it gets stress..and that will effect all of us .
So when I see that our citizens are saving the animals, by putting them on farms, instead of not letting them be purchased in the first place.
I find the new generation of young people lacking in knowledge ,on keeping the numbers of predatory animals to a managed level in your areas...
This helps them and you keep the peace between you.
And stop importing animals that don't belong here.
Flordia now has burmese phythons pushing the gators out of their food chain.
use your brains people.
Yes there is black.gold, and tan panthers in Ms.
they have always been here , along the rivers and streams..even along the gulfmarshes. and swampland.They have always traveled the gulfstates.from tx.to fla.
Try and listen to the locals they know the habitat
and wild life around them.

I saw a black panther in Hundred at first I wasn't sure. I thought it was a cat only an ENORMOUS one. After it had jumped into the woods in a bush, I dangerously moved less than 15 feet away and called like I was calling a cat. Then a large glowing green eye stared at me from the darkness of the bush with a large, black outline. When I saw that I knew that it was no stray cat so I ran for the hills. c ya!

I live in St.Albans West Virginia.I let my dogs out every night.I was listening then I heard a scream it was in between a woman screaming and a cat when it's about to get in a fight.All 5 of my dogs almost tore of the porch tryin to get in.Now me, my sis, uncle, dad, and mom hears a scream or a rustle in the bushes.And even some sightings of it and it's young crossing the river.We live near Coal River.

I was 13 year old in 1965. I lived in Melbourne Florida. I was on the road that leads to the city dump near the airport. I came with in 30 feet of a larger than bobcat all black animal it was not a dog, it froze in its tracks for a few seconds. I had an unobstructed view. To this date I beleive it to be a Black Panther.

i'm nineteen years old. i was sitting in my room just two nights ago and started shining my flash light out in my back yard because i heard a weird crying/screaming sound & i saw two clear shiney cat eyes roaming across the backyard and i saw a blackish looking cat and it started trailing across the yard out into the backwoods. the cows around here were going crazy that night too. just thought i'd tell you what i seen. i think they live out behind my house in the woods. i'll try to take a picture of i ever see one again.

by the way i live in florida, too. lake butler florida. i'm way out herein the middle of nowhere. forgot to add where i was from. i'm going to try and get a pictore of one, jsut hope i don't ge slaughterd

When I was about 20 (I'm 36 now), I was helping a friend and his family clear some land near Ramhurst, Georgia.

It's near Fort Mountain (Yes with the weird ruins and witchy activity).

There are several caves and crevices on the land and we were working near a cave. There were several large black panthers (looked similar to the jaguars we'd seen in books and other large cats in the zoo). They weren't quite as large as some of the great cats, but about the size of a mountain lion(which I know for sure exists because I was with my granddad when he killed one.), and definitely larger than our common bobcat.

They were vicious and we had to kill all of them. (It's a gun-heavy county, so out came the shotguns, pistols, and rifles)

There were three grown females and what seemed to be an immature male. Apparenly no young and there wasn't indication of nursing on the females.

We reported this to our local game warden. He came out and told us that no good would come of it and we shouldn't tell anyone else and destroy the bodies. He seemed nervous for some reason.

His behavior was a bit worrisome and very weird.

We put the cats up at a deer freezer and contacted the Georgia DNR and they said that if they came out that there would be a paperwork nightmare since they didn't believe us when we told them. Veiled threats of fines, etc.

Again a bit odd. Shouldn't they have sent someone since we were attacked?

We even contacted a biologist at Dalton College. He called us back a couple of days later, but said that he figured they were just large hybridized cats or something. Bobcats mixed with domestic cats making a funky mutt-cat as he called it. (I've heard bobcats can breed with domestics, but haven't seen it).

Shouldn't a biologist at least be a little curious and want to drive the half-hour from Dalton College to our location.

We weren't sure what we had, but knew that other than our regular mountain lions, we hadn't seen cats like these before.

The color was really the only weird thing. That and they were fairly large (mountain-lionish).

This wasn't "magic" or "hoodoo". Just some dead animals.

Anyway, my friend's Dad skinned them and they saved the skulls, but weren't quite sure of the meat.

They still have the skins and skulls of one. They lost the others over the years.

Anyway guys, why were the various people we contacted acting odd about any of this stuff. We weren't kooks.

I certainly consider myself a fairly regular and sane guy. I'm a CPA now.

I admit that my gut says to not publicize this story for some reason, but its not like I'm saying that we shot-down a UFO or something.

My God, it was just some strange cats.

Just wanted to put in my little bit of experience.

On July 2 2006 I was almost attacked by a black panther. I was texting my dad and it came up behind me and sort of growled and I turned around and looked at it and it bared its teeth.Then I ran in the house got my 12 gauge shoutgun then when I came back out it was gone. Then my cousin went and hunted it and he saw it. And I see it everyday in the woods.

This morning, July 8, 2006, I saw what I believe to have been a panther walking along a deer trail 20 - 25 yards behind my house. I was sitting on the patio as I watched it walk by. It was NOT a house cat! It was huge! My dog noticed it too, but having an invisible fence and the trail being just outside the boundary, he did not attempt to pursue the animal. A very freaky sight indeed. I live in Hamburg/Brighton Michigan.

My sighthing occurred on 6/23/06 at 11PM in Watervliet Township Michigan. I walked within 20 feet of a large black cat animal that was either a cougar or a bobcat. It was a blacker than a black shadow but I got a look at it as it walked along the brushline into the area lit by our porch light. It stood at the brushline for a couple of minutes watching us, so after going into my house I was still able to get another good look at its face 50 feet away.

It was about 8 times the size of a black house cat, the body was a good 3 feet long and the top of the head was about 2.5 feet high, with glowing gold eyes. Unfortunately I did not get a look at the tail.

If anyone in southwest Michigan has seen similar animals please email me at chicago_gal_950@yahoo.com.

In November of 2000, three of us riding in my car in Northwestern Wisconsin about eight miles NNE of Grantsburg, Wisconsin saw a large jet black cat run across the road about 50 feet in front of my car. It was about 11:00 in the morning on a bright sunny day. I could hardly believe what I saw so I asked my brother-in-law what he saw. He said it was a large black cat. I asked him; how big was it? Again because I could hardly believe my eyes. He said it was over eight feet long from nose to tail. I agree, it was one huge black cat. My nephew also confirmed what we had just seen. We looked for tracks and found them but they were not well defined because it was in powder snow. The cat was running and each jump was twelve to fifteen feet. The tracks of the front and hind feet were together in the snow for each leap and the area packed down by the four feet was over one foot wide and about 18 inches long. It was a beautiful healthy looking animal. There have been several other sightings of large black cats here in Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota in the last few years. I contacted the Wisconsin DNR non-game biologist in Hayward and he said that he had not heard of any other reports of sightings in the area.

In November of 2000, three of us riding in my car in Northwestern Wisconsin about eight miles NNE of Grantsburg, Wisconsin saw a large jet black cat run across the road about 50 feet in front of my car. It was about 11:00 in the morning on a bright sunny day. I could hardly believe what I saw so I asked my brother-in-law what he saw. He said it was a large black cat. I asked him; how big was it? Again because I could hardly believe my eyes. He said it was over eight feet long from nose to tail. I agree, it was one huge black cat. My nephew also confirmed what we had just seen. We looked for tracks and found them but they were not well defined because it was in powder snow. The cat was running and each jump was twelve to fifteen feet. The tracks of the front and hind feet were together in the snow for each leap and the area packed down by the four feet was over one foot wide and about 18 inches long. It was a beautiful healthy looking animal. There have been several other sightings of large black cats here in Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota in the last few years. I contacted the Wisconsin DNR non-game biologist in Hayward and he said that he had not heard of any other reports of sightings in the area.

We have a black panther that lives near us and roams through our property in Eastman, GA (Dodge County). I'd heard of her, but didn't believe it until I saw her myself. She was crossing the highway only 2 blocks from our place, and headed in the direction of our property. At first my brain couldn't take it in because I just didn't believe the stories I'd heard. But it was coal black, had a long body and a tail almost as long as it's body. My mind said "is that a cat?! that is the biggest dang cat I've ever seen! like over 60 pounds! couldn't have been a cat. a black lab?? the head and tail were just WAY wrong for a dog". My neighbor swears he's seen it regularly, and knows it's a female because he's even seen it with babies, and watched the babies grow up. He thinks that the mother has now moved on or died in the last 6 months or so, and that it's one or both of the offspring that are now here. The babies were black, so it's not a fluke of color.

Most everyone here in the neighborhood knows without a doubt that there is a black panther here. Some know because they were chased by her in our woods. :)

My Mother and Brother live in Lincolnton, GA,(Lincoln Co.) I guess it was about April of this year, my brother heard what sounded like a BIG cat in the woods around the house. My Mom heard it early one morning after that and my bother saw it crossing the road near the house.

While visiting my bother came into the house and told us that the cat was back, so I heard it for the first time. It kept calling while going around the house and across the road. I guessing that it may be a female in heat calling for a mate. I haven't been outside after dark much since.

hi name is aarah i have liked black panther as long as i can remember they are beautiful cats i have not seen one because i live in nz bout i would love too see one i feel sorry for them they are getting killed for there beautiful black fur

I have a cabin in Juneau county WI, 4 miles north of Lyndon Station on county HH. On July 15, 2006 a black panther walked out of the woods and into our front yard. It was 11:30pm. I was astonished. Thinking at first that it was a bobcat I approached it (foolishly) to get a better look. I was 10 feet away when I realized it had a long tail and also was a bit large for a bobcat. I then retreated. It ran back into the woods not to be seen again. My 13 year old son was with me. Thankfully I have one witness. And yes, it was black.

Around 1998 I was at work at a textile mill in Toccoa, Ga ( Stephens County ) when a group of us were taking a break in the smoking area behing the building. A large black cat about the size of a mountain lion walked up near the fence and then headed down towards the service road. I didnt say anything right then, but as soon as it went into the woods, another coworker asked me if I had seen it. we were both shocked

Hey, Today I was eating with my son and daughter-in-law and she was telling of a lion that she seen the day befor in there yard.
She said it was pitch black and measured about 3 foot off the ground and it leaped over the back fence like it wasnt even there.
She had been letting my grandson who is almost 2 years old play in the back yard while she looked out the window.
I told her very firmly how they would love to get there teeth on such soft skin as my grandson.
ayou know living in the country you relax a little on locking your doors and keeping your windows shut but out there are things far more ready and able to get you or your children than in the city.
I remember as a little girl living in Louisiana watching a black panter stalk my brother who was in the feilds working.
And if they know that there is a baby in the house they will stalk your house.
People need to take these things seriously and stop thing that they wont come where you live

Yes it is true,I live in the downriver area of Michigan, I'm an advid hunter and have seen bobcats and much wildlife in my 35 years in the woods, I was traveling in my truck in the Lake Erie metro park, and there it was crouching down sneaking into the woods, appx. 4 foot black cat, muscles in the shoulders like a weightlifter, and a tail thick and long, curled at the end.I called the park rangers, police, but no other sightings that I know of.This sighting was in november of 2000.

Do any of you have pictures of the panthers that you have seen? I am from St. Albans WV originally, my father often talked of hearing panthers. I have always wanted to witness a panther sighting, I still have hope.

I live in Doddridge county WV now, last week I saw a beautiful Coyote, he sat looking at me, for how long I can't say. Anyone have those panther pics, let me know. Thanks

My son and I saw a large black feline, larger than a lab, run across the road in front of our car. It was definitely black, not brown like the Florida panther. This was on Hwy. 133 near Berlin, GA at about noon on Friday, 9/29/2006.

The Georgia DNR tries to deny or downplay it, but there have been too many sightings. The builder who built my house in rural Dawson County, GA, saw one run across the road in front of his truck one night in Lumpkin County, GA. Another friend, whose word is as good as gold, was hunting in Dawson County, GA, and thought that he saw a couple of black labs from a distance. When he got a better look through the scope of his rifle he realized that it was a pair of very large black cats, well over 100 pounds. Regardless of what the Georgia DNR says, they are out there.

I LIVE IN WAKULLA COUNTY, FLORIDA. THAT IS SOUTH OF TALLAHASSEE. I MYSELF HAVE NEVER SEEN A "BLACK PANTHER" BUT I HAVE HEARD ONE SCREAM IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. THIS AREA IS BIG ON HUNTING AND MOST HUNTERS AND MOST OF THE OLD TIMERS HAVE SEEN THE BIG BLACK CAT THEY SAY IS A PANTHER. I HAVE JUST ASSUMED THAT THEY WERE JAGUARUNDI. I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ONE OF THESE WILD CATS AS I LOVE CATS (I HAVE 10 DOMESTICS OF MY OWN) AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS BEHIND ALL THESE SIGHTINGS

I saw a brown panther near Damascus, Ga. First we saw 3 kittens, what we thought were bobcat kittens run across the road into the edge of the woods...we watched them sitting there for several min. Then after we drove on down the road a few min, I looked off into the woods again and I saw a large golden bro. cat like animal bounding into the woods deeper. It looked just like a huge panther or cougar.

My wife is an RN and works in Tallahassee FL. We live in Perry FL. This morning she called me on her way to work to tell me she had just seen a large black panther running full tilt across Highway 19 somewhere close to Lamont FL. She said it was unmistakable. I remember seeing one here as a young boy back in the sixties close to Cooks Hammock Grade on the Red Padgett Rd. For those who would say there is no such thing in Florida, I say WRONG!

Russ Knight
Perry Florida

Yes, I have Seen and herd a Black Panther on more than one time hunting on my stand back in 2005i had seen about 35 deer during the week so i decided to take one that next afternoon and so i walk back there and i smelt somthing dead not the normal dead racoon but a real strong one i walked off the trail about 10 feet and seen a deer head and the partialy eaten remains coverd with sticks and grass i wonderd what did this so i just went to my stand and waited for a deer but it had been 30 mins and noting had appeard not a rabbit not a racoon NOTHING i thought about what could have done that to the deer but i just shook it off my mind thinking it was just a wonded dear that had died about 10 mins later as the sun is even with the trees i heard somthing walking so i got my gun ready and waited a black cat like animal walked out of the think woods about 30 feet from me i put my gun back on saftey and watched it walk around and climb over a fallen tree about 15 feet away from me i have to admit i was getting nervous as it got darker but within 5 mins the cat went off into the woods

so after telling my uncles and grandpa they said they knew what it was and they said it was no doubt that the panther was responsible for the dead deer the cat was about 6-7 ft long lookd to be about 70lbs

and during the next few nights we could hear distance screams of what sounded like a women it was horrifying screams my grandpa said it was the panther

o and i live in South East Louisiana and since that time i have seen it 6 more times in our back cow pasture and in the fields around my house

Hello, first I’d like to say this is a very interesting site.
I am glad to find thoughts and opinions on this long debated subject.
This is my personal experience: I have seen a total of four large (native?) Fl. cats in my 46 years living in Dixie Co. Fl.
Without mistake two of these sightings were Florida panthers with all the textbook physical characteristics you would expect. The third was unclear.
Rather than elaborate on these I will go strait to the most remarkable sighting.
Two friends and myself were sitting on the front porch early one evening just after dark discussing plans and gear requirements for an upcoming deer hunt, as the season was about to open. It was a full or nearly full moon on a very cool clear fall night.
After about 30 to 40 min. of conversation we all began to hear what we agreed sounded like the short shrill cries of a human baby coming from about 100 yards across a field adjacent to my friends house.
As the nearest neighbor was at least a ¼ mile distance and had no children we immediately suspected something was terribly wrong for a child to be in that location.
My friend Ken ran into the house and retuned with a powerful battery operated spotlight and we sat in the dark for a moment to get a bearing on the sound before proceeding to attempt to locate it.
As it was dark despite the moon we had to go slow and listen in order to pinpoint the origin of the sound. As we approached to within about 50 yards we saw two bright eyes reflecting our spotlight.
Being experienced hunters and woodsman we assumed it must be a bobcat at that point and for the fun of it decided to see how close we could get.
We were able to approach the cat to within about 25yards by keeping the light directly in its eyes and moving very quietly thereby blinding it to out presents.
We were all amazed at what we saw; it was a very sleek black cat app. 50 to 70 lbs
I would estimate it to be six to seven feet in length including the tail which appeared to be nearly as long as the body itself. The coat was coal black and very shinny. We watched it standing motionlessly for what seemed like five minutes, in actuality it was probably only one and a fraction. After a time it apparently had enough of us and in a leap it jumped out of the light and was gone in an instant. The memory of that event will last my entire life I’m sure as it will with Ken and Sam my two good friends I shared that experience with.
Al

P.S. I’ll let others decide what species this may have been, personally I believe it may have been a jaguarondi but after some research that theory may have some holes in it as well.
What ever it was it was unusual and did most certainly exists.

i seen a large black cat in my front yard in jseup near the altamaha river around 11:00 pm making a loud noise

When i used to live in Douglas(Coffee County) in south georgia i was walking along some abandoned railrad tracks with my friend. We were just walkin down to the old railroad trussell and out of the bushes about 50 yards or less stepped out this huge black cat. We got an excellent look at it and it got a good look at us. We just stood there not knowing what to do. It just turned around and went back into the woods where it came from. It was so scary i seriously thought we were gonna die or somethin. The woods down there go on for miles and miles. When i went home i told my dad about it and he told me it was probably a florida panther; but this one was jet black. I'm really glad me and my friend aaron got to see that i will never forget it.

I have always lived in Telfair County and I have seen and heard panthers on several occasions. I was playing in my yard once when I was little and heard one scream from the big pine trees on the side of the house. The only clear sighting I had happened about ten years ago. My grandmother had a field in front of her house, and I sat on her front porch one mid-afternoon and watched a large, dark cat walk across the horizon. Long tail twitching back and forth as it sauntered unhurriedly across. I've seen bobcats in the woods, even come face to face with one on my dirt road and this cat was much bigger. The last encounter I had was hearing one scream in the woods about a month ago. NOBODY will tell me that they are not real. I am college educated and well grounded and they are here. What I don't understand is why an animal sighting is treated like a UFO sighting...it makes absolutely no sense to me.

i saw a panther in my neighborhood when i was riding my bike about 3 years ago when itell people they laugh and make fun of me like fatz buthe is gay and not a millionaire like me

Dec. 21, 2006
my daughter and i spotted a panther today in the woods near where i keep my horses . We had been on a horse-back ride and the horses were not behaving the way they normallly do. It was a rougher ride than usual & when we got back to the barn we spotted it. I couldn't believe my eyes but i knew it was about the size of a dog but it was moving like a cat. My daughter saw a smaller animal with , we still don't know if it was prey or the panther's baby. THis is the second sighting in broad daylight and the third sighting in the neighborhood. We have also had 2 sightings of mountain lions. North Georgia Mountains,
Blairsville

i will belive in anything and i do belive there are black moutain lions and florida panthers. all these comments show how many people belive and who don't. I LOVE ANIMALS. especially cats. big cats. florida panthers.black florida panthers. i liked and belived in them snice i found about them on google when i went to another website. then i found this one. i never saw one of these cats but since i am going to be a zooligest(don't know how to spell it) and will explore the world when i'm older(i'm 12). i really would want to see one since i live in royal palm beach florida. where i live is kill the trees and kick out the native plants and wildlife mainia. no kidding so when or if i ever see one in my life i just want to tell people this to make a difference. like i'm going to try and save wildlife like the black panther. thank you susan mcclung (remember the name because one day you might hear it on animal planet or not!)

There have been many reports in the past few years in the local paper about black panther sightings in Indiana. Even before these stories, we had heard tales of our family members seeing these animals years ago in the county where I am from.

oh ya and since the last time i went and posted this comment there used to be a HUGE wildlife perserve area that has became nothing but a pile of dirt. there was enough land to keep a full grown Florida Panther in there! but now it's probely going to be condos or houses. so if anyone finds this site do some research on the pather and help keep from dieing out but not just in Florida, the moutain lion is all over the U.S.A. and it ranges from southeren Alaska to central and south america. so if you have money don't be greedy and spend it on yourselves unless you need the money. think wisely of your choices.
thanks again Susan McClung

I am so glad to have found this site, people seem to think we're crazy. The tells I can tell, it all started after we moved to Pike County - Zebulon GA. At first I would be at the barn feeding and smell a very musky smell like a fox or bear. The horses would be very uneasy and not wanted to keep their heads in the buckets to eat. The first time this happen something big jumped and when I went to see it was the color of a deer only it was in a tree. Dumb me went on about my business, about a month later I went to feed and one of the smaller horses had claw marks spanning a 4" across all over her and under her neck was deep around her rear was more like punctures like she was being grabbed from behind while being chased. DNR came out and said that we do not have those around here but they are protected and if they are bothering our animals shoot 'em. It had not been long before that I had actually seem one in a field what caught my that day was the long thick tail floating along behind it. I had stopped the truck ( the cat was maybe 75 ft away in broad daylight there was no mistaking what it was) well that cat stopped dead in its tracks and stood there watching me until I drove away. Oh yeah and get this DNR girl said it was probably a bear there was 2 seen just this week nearby and yes we do have those too I just have not seen one hear. Heard 'em though after my animals. The kicker to all this is, A friend of mine had a horse killed approx a mile from my house. We went to her house one night there was that smell (she never believed me about the cats) there was the eyes shining so we came to my house got the BIG light drove to the back of her property where the horse was killed. She, myself, her son 18, my son 13 windows down in the truck talking when the light shined in a tree not 15 ft from the truck that was the biggest blackest cat I have ever seen not in a cage at the zoo. At the back of the truck was another smaller one. I have never laughed so hard at a grown woman, she was in truck and thought they were coming through the windows. Needless to say she believes me now, Funny thing is I had a gun in my hand, my son had a rifle and even though I have seen several of these cats all I could do was say Are you seeing this? These cats are amazing and getting run out of places to live. I don't mind them as long don't eat my animals and I have had several that I'm quite sure that they were dinner at some point. My brother and older son did find several dens and one the dens that was approx 200 ft from my barn was dogs bones probably from one that we lost. Also there is a website that I had researched for info on the cats early on to understand them FloridaPanthers.com They have migrated up and one was actually trpped in Manchester Georgia and returned to Florida The state had hired the person to trapped him. It was a tagged male and had taken him 2 years to travel from Fl to Ga

ok i know that this may seem stange but you know that area i told you about, it got cut down. well a boy in my class said that he saw a black panther in that area in science class one day. i'm not sure if i belive in him totally yet. but the area that was cut down was a natural perserve and was like acers huge so it could have held like 5 panthers and bobcats and coons and possems. so if this boy in my class is right it could be against the law and i need to interveiw him to find out. if any of you people know anything about laws try to e-mail me please. thanks again!

are you trying to save the black panther????

Hello,

Its me again and replying to sausan i herd somewhere that Black Panters are lone predators which is true and they travel along a 60 mile radius in search of food i find it unlikely that there are 5 in one spot unless they are cubs in that case then its likely and i spoted another panther in Huntsville Mississippi while on my way back to the hunting club on a dirt road i could see it clear as day i just seem to be in the right spot at the right time my little nephew was with me this time

End of December in the corn field our dogs were fighting with somthing by our flight pen which had about 75 full gown quails now i have to pretty big dogs a mix between a bluehealer and a Pitbull they dont let much survive around my house so i thought it was just a fox, bobcat or a coon well me and my brother go to check out what they killed but as we got closer the cat was putting up a hell of a fight it was massive to be a bobcat we got within about 25 feet and i lookd at my brother and said its a Black Panter and i was told by my dad and uncle who is a Wild Life Agent that if i ever seen one dont report it to any Wildlife agency because the Gov. can come in and mark that area off even if its ur land as a national preserve to allow this animal to live anyway i couldnt belive what i was seeing as well as my brother the sound of the cat was horrifying it reminded me of a very pissed of cat but alot higher picthd and louder more like a cougar they fought for about 1 min. until they got the Panter got a break and he ran for it with the dogs chasing it it was NO doubt what the animal was it was about 6ft long it was kinda skinny about 50 lbs i will never forget that day but i didnt smell any musk at all and i was VERY close to it i could have pissed on it if i wanted the next month or so chickens and a few cats went missing in the area i knew what was doing it but people thought it was the coyotes they had recently let loose in the area i live by James Rothan we are good friends i have seen the pictures he has and the video his aunt filmed while in a deerstand they are nice im on his comp and usin his email

yes summer i am try ing to save them but not just the black ones all of them. and to james my name is spelled SUSAN not SAUSAN. AND OK I'M MET HAVE EGERATED. BUT IT WAS A HUGE AREA AND I WAS MAD WITH THE GOVERMENT AND FUSTERATED BECUASE I KNOW THAT THEY DON'T LISTEN TO 12 YEAR OLD GIRLS, EVEN IF THEY DID HEAR ME THEY WOULDN'T CARE. NOW THEY GOING TO BUILD HOUSES ON MY DAD'S WASTE WATER PLANT. LOTS OF ANIMALS LIVE IN THERE AND SO DO TWO BALD EAGLES. SO I NEED HELP WITHMY POJECTS AND WHEN I'M OLDER AND IS ON ANIMAL PALNET THEN I WILL PUT ALL MY MONEY, STREGTH, AND EFFORT INTO HELPING THE ENVIROMET. OH AND BEFORE I FORGET. TO ALEX: TELL THE WILDLIFE SEVICES. EVEN IF IT IS KILING ANIMALS YOU NEED TO TELL THEM SO THEY WILL COME OUT TRANTQUILIZE IT AND CARRY IT OFF YOUR PROPERTY TO A NATIONAL PARK OR RESERVE. OTHER WISE THE BIG CAT WILL GET MORE FRIENDLY WITH HUMANS AND KILL MORE OF YOUR ANIMALS. THEY WON'T MAKE YOUR LAND A PERSERVE. THAT'S STUPID AND I NEVER HEARD OF PEOPLE DOING THAT UN LESS THEY ARE UNLISSEND OR IS SOME KIND OF CRAZY YAHOO GUY THING. SO ANY WAYS SORRY FOR EGSATERATING(I CAN'T SPELL GOOD). I KNOW HOW FLORIDA PANTHERS LIVE AND WHAT THEY EAT AND WHERE THEY LIVE. IT'S COMMON SENSE! THAT OR BECAUSE I WACHTED ANIMAL PLANET 24-7 SINCE I WAS LIKE 5. SO BYE AGAIN!

not to be rude but thats what u have ur name as and if there are really two bald eagles then they would shut that place down i work in the swamps near New Orleans we had a 2 bald eagles they made a nest and well we run gas lines underthe water they made us shut them down and anyone who did anything to disturb the animals would be fined and sent to jail complain to your National WildLife Officals
and there is no need to trank the animal and get him off ur property it is the panthers land first but if it endangers any of my animals it will be killed no doubt

I read that there are about 50 to 70 adult wild panthers today. In case you haven’t noticed that is not a lot. Before the Europeans arrived there were 1,360 Florida Panthers. Now there is almost none, but there are other reasons that the panther has became endangered. One is because of loss of habitat. Panthers have to have from 520-195 square kilometers so they can hunt and raise cubs. Another reason of the endangered panthers is because of interbreeding. Interbreeding is when an animal breeds with one of it’s own family member. When this happens cubs are born (or get) diseases such as feline calicivirus, panleukopenia virus, infectious peritonitis, and immunodeficiency virus. Panthers also have many types of parasites. The ones that are captured get vaccinated from respiratory diseases and rabies. The last reason is from people hunting them. It is now illegal but in the 1800’s to the early 1900’s it wasn’t and a lot of people killed many panthers a year. But people are not allowed to hunt in state parks such as the Everglades. So just remember that a habitat is an animals home including the Florida Panther’s.
i did this in the beginning of september and i forgot about it until today. it was supposed to be a project but i decided on another one. and to james for me not to be rude but how old are you and where do you live. you seem to know a lot and scince i wan't to be a zooligest(can't spell) maybe you can teach me? please? bye susan,

i did? i spelled by name sausan? oops! sorry for yelling. but anyways my dad told me so that there are bald eagls and that you can't take land away from them. but you can't shoot endangered animals like the florida panther. the reason why they come into your land is becuase there is no where else to go. but if you were in like colorado and had a pather living on your property then you could kill it. in florida it is illeagal.
so bye again! susan.

eagles******

i did tell the wildlife people. there was an older lady that knew my mom. she's the librarien for the adoubon.

i am from Southeast Louisiana and im 19 and we have over 198 acres of land just ours and people around us have about 60 acres each its a small town but most of the land here is leased to hunting clubs it doesnt take much to know about stuff and yea we ust to have alot of Red Wolves Around where i live but during about 1900's they were hunted extensivly there is nothing to teach about wildlife i just hunt and when u hunt you just seem to know alot about animal habits and stuff

well my uncle hunts. he can tell an animal from a mile away. seriously. a black bear hopped out of the woods where he lives(northern wisconson). all i saw was a big blob running across the road. so i guess your right. people who hunt do know a lot about nature.
susan.

I live on a farm in Middle Georgia and while walking my dog down a trail 1/4 mile away from the house this morning a large black cat, 4 foot in body 6-7 foot from head to tail, darted across the trail 50 yards ahead. The animal was beautiful!

Several times over the past couple of years we've heard the scream of a large cat off in the distance plus our horses become spooked now and then and gallop about the pasture. We've often thought it was a bobcat, now we know different.

Prior to finding this blog I did some research. Some believe the animals are jaguars, others the Florida panther. Some researchers believe there are only 50-70 pantehrs in the wild. All I have to say is I know where there's one big black cat living in the wild!

Could there possibly be any Panthers in North Georgia (Dawsonville Georgia? I saw a cat today the size of a medium dog.It was a very beautiful black, large sleek cat, taking long smooth strides as it walk across the horse pasture next to my house this afternoon.

yes there could be a panther living on your property. but i don't know if it would be a florida one or not. there are a lot of sub-speices of the puma, cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, whater you want to call them. so it could be a different kind. the size though. i don't know. it could be a young one yet. they don't reach maturity until they are 3-4 years old. plus females are usalley smaller than males. so for this cat that you have could be a small baby or youngster as they say. dog size is pretty small for an aldult.
anywho. bye again!
susan

Last thanksgiving I was driving on a dirt road in Georgia north of Mentone, AL when a large black cat (50-80 lbs, 5-6 ft from head to tail) with a long tail ran in front of the car. There is no question that it was not a bobcat and that it was much larger than a domestic cat.

I live in West Tennessee. My husband and I both have spotted a large black cat in this area on two seperate occasions.The cat was at least 5 feet long and I would guess it weighed about 80 lbs. or more, it had a long tail which bobcats do not have. Most people would think I'm crazy but the fact is this " there is at least one black panther type cat living here in West Tennessee".

BLACK PANTHERS DO SURVIVE IN NORTH AMERICA!!!

You ask why we can state this fact?? Because we have documented proof of their existance in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania & Maryland on clear videotape & in pictures. Tracks of large cats identified as pumas have also been verified. The trained observers who have seen them in various eastern & mid-west states say they weigh over 75 pounds & are coal BLACK.
From 1930 to mid-1960s, my Uncle John and Aunt Madaline Schaeffer lived in Tampa, Florida. They
told of BLACK Panthers predominating over native cougars in Atlantic & Gulf coast swamps. The Everglades cougars had cinnamon-red coats and also roamed across Florida at will. For more data, contact us at: epuma@hardynet.com

At least 2 BLACK PANTHERS are roaming WV Potomac Highlands today. One was caught on videotape in Pendleton County in Jan., 2005 and is a good clear tape of the cat, leaving NO doubt as to its survival. The 2nd BLACK panther was seen by trained observers with Wildlife Management and Law Enforcement backgrounds. Cameras are in place at a natural spring, along with methods of obtaining hair samples so a DNA profile analysis can be used as backup to proof already gathered.
We are seeking data from the 1800s thru 1900s on the ancestors of these Black Panthers to determine when their ancestors 1st appeared in West Virginia's Potomac Highlands. Contact us at: epuma@hardynet.com Thank you....

John A. Lutz do you know what part of west virngina? becuase i have an uncle who lives outside of summersville and has a cattle farm there.
susan.

also if you don't know where summersville is, it's by the meadow river.
bye again.

oh i asked my dad about black panthers and he siad that his dad and mom were camping over by a cliff. and that night a panther kept screaming. so my grandpa shined a light on it or something because they found out that it was all black. this is by the meadow river in west vinginia, and i live in florida but this past summer i went up there to visit, and my uncle found a fawn in his meadow and we saw about 12 wild turkeys. perfect place for a panther to live with all that prey around to cacth. i think that the panthers offspring roam the woods now. i want to go up there in mating season to see if i can hear one or even see it. even if it's not black.
susan.

Something made me think of this today so i decided to research and this is the first sight i came to.

On a sunny day when i was about 13 which was about 19 years ago since i am 32 now. How time flies 19 years ago.wow that makes me feel old. Anyhow i was in JASPER GEORGIA at my aunts house (Pete Bryant) for Thanksgiving and my cousins were not there so i walked down river on a four wheeler trail which is about 50 feet above the water and on the other side its about 70 feet with a rocky kinda slick way down to the water at the top there was a BLACK PANTHER sitting butt on the ground with its head held high, up right as if it was at attention, very proper like, staring way down river to the horizon i believe at first its eyes were closed for a few seconds very peaceful looking, it was just enjoying the sun on its back. I am on the other side which is about a hundreds yards away. The panther looked to be about 4 or 5 feet from ground to head and it was so black that it had a blue shimmer to its fur. It looked just like what a picture in a book would look like , like it was from africa or something. just like you picture one would look like. I took about three looks and ran. Not til now did i realize how rare of a sighting it really was. I saw it plain as day no mistaken. It was a BLACK PANTHER nothing else even close to this animal when you see one you will know its one. nothing else like it. simply amazing. I saw it plain as day no doubt what so ever a BLACK PANTHER in JASPER GEORGIA believe it. I am so thankful for being invited to this party and miracle in which we live.
Jeff

Something made me think of this today so i decided to research and this is the first sight i came to.

On a sunny day when i was about 13 which was about 19 years ago since i am 32 now. How time flies 19 years ago.wow that makes me feel old. Anyhow i was in JASPER GEORGIA at my aunts house for Thanksgiving and my cousins were not there so i walked down river on a four wheeler trail which is about 50 feet above the water and on the other side its about 70 feet with a rocky kinda slick way down to the water at the top there was a BLACK PANTHER sitting butt on the ground with its head held high, up right as if it was at attention, very proper like, staring way down river to the horizon i believe at first its eyes were closed for a few seconds very peaceful looking, it was just enjoying the sun on its back. I am on the other side which is about a hundreds yards away. The panther looked to be about 4 or 5 feet from ground to head and it was so black that it had a blue shimmer to its fur. It looked just like what a picture in a book would look like , like it was from africa or something. just like you picture one would look like. I took about three looks and ran. Not til now did i realize how rare of a sighting it really was. I saw it plain as day no mistaken. It was a BLACK PANTHER nothing else even close to this animal when you see one you will know its one. nothing else like it. simply amazing. I saw it plain as day no doubt what so ever a BLACK PANTHER in JASPER GEORGIA believe it. I am so thankful for being invited to this party and miracle in which we live.
Jeff

Something made me think of this today so i decided to research and this is the first sight i came to.

On a sunny day when i was about 13 which was about 19 years ago since i am 32 now. How time flies 19 years ago.wow that makes me feel old. Anyhow i was in JASPER GEORGIA at my aunts house for Thanksgiving and my cousins were not there so i walked down river on a four wheeler trail which is about 50 feet above the water and on the other side its about 70 feet with a rocky kinda slick way down to the water at the top there was a BLACK PANTHER sitting butt on the ground with its head held high, up right as if it was at attention, very proper like, staring way down river to the horizon i believe at first its eyes were closed for a few seconds very peaceful looking, it was just enjoying the sun on its back. I am on the other side which is about a hundreds yards away. The panther looked to be about 4 or 5 feet from ground to head and it was so black that it had a blue shimmer to its fur. It looked just like what a picture in a book would look like , like it was from africa or something. just like you picture one would look like. I took about three looks and ran. Not til now did i realize how rare of a sighting it really was. I saw it plain as day no mistaken. It was a BLACK PANTHER nothing else even close to this animal when you see one you will know its one. nothing else like it. simply amazing. I saw it plain as day no doubt what so ever a BLACK PANTHER in JASPER GEORGIA believe it. I am so thankful for being invited to this party and miracle in which we live.
Jeff

you are very lucky jeff. i wish i lived away from the city instead of in it. i hate it every time they cut down a tree. it's not that i'm a total nutcase of a tree hugger but i do belive people in the city might want to have a breath of fresh clean air once in a while.
susan.

Recently saw what appeared to be a large cat (panther) sitting near a wooded area near a subdivision in Snellville GA, About 7:30 AM, it appeared to be about mid thigh high on me in a sitting position roughly 40-50 yards away. Recent clearing of land near the subdivision might explain why he was there.

AS CHILD, I LIVED AT LESLIE WEST VIRGINIA AND I HAVE 4 SISTERS AND 2 BROTHERS AND WE HAVE ALL SEEN, THE BLACK PANTHER, IT CAME OUT OF THE WOODS AT NIGHT AND ATE OUT OF OUR GARABGE WE LEFT OUT SIDE OF OUR HOUSE, SHE WAS COLD BLACK. WE HAD A OUT HOUSE, AND AT NIGHT WE WENT OUT SIDE TO USE THE OUT HOUSE AND WE WOULD SEE THE PANTHER IN OUR DRIVE WAY SHE WOULD RUN WHEN SHE SEEN US, I GUESS IT WAS BECAUSE WE WOULD SCREAM AND SCARE HER. I THINK SHE WAS AS AFRAID OF US AS WE WERE OF HER.SIGN KASHOLA FAMILY

I AM WRITING THIS TO TELL YALL THAT I HAVE ALSO SEEN A PANTHER. ME AND MY MOM WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN A WAIST-HIGH COAL BLACK CAT JUMPED OUT OF A FIELD CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. WE STOPPED THE CAR AND THE CAT WALKED ON ACROSS THE ROAD, FLIPPING ITS TAIL AND THEN TURNING AND LOOKING AT US WITH PIERCING GREEN EYES. THEN A SMALLER PANTHER ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE 1ST ONES SIZE WALKED OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND FOLLOWED THE OTHER ONE TOWARD THE RIVER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhUE58vV2Ws

there ya go guys

I'm been seeing black panther walking around my yard ', at night. In enigma ga.

i saw that tape of a black panther on the first page of this site. it was probaly the best tape ever taped, little blury though.

i saw that tape of a black panther on the first page of this site. it was probaly the best tape ever taped, little blury though.

i saw that tape of a black panther on the first page of this site. it was probaly the best tape ever taped, little blury though.

Northern Wisconsin, Sawyer county, Billyboy Dam on the Couderay River. This area has seen black panthers. The local DNR has not acknowledged sightings or reported. Why?

to any one that will say there not out there (black panther) i have photo proof coming home from a family outing years ago in putnam county wv my mother snapped the last 4 pictures of one in the middle of a dirt road every now and then she will pull them out and i will tell my kids about how the pictures where taken and as a 11 year old kid in 1980 how scared i was

Me and two friends went fishing tonight on south fork in Beattyville KY we heard a sound off in distance yodling like, then 60 seconds later it sounded like a police or ambulance siren within 50 yards loud then it sounded cold chill hair raising scary screaming and limbs breaking it was very close we all dropped fishing poles and ran for our life 100 yard to van I stopped to wait on older friend behind,let him get in front of me by 10 yards then I looked to try see what it was, big green eyes shined in dusky dark moonlight about 40 yards away this was a big black panther trying to eat one or all of us there is no info on this animal in state wildlife records it is huge I have seen it its about 8 foot long and has to weight about as much as a cow but it is the fast and can jump long distance, we are so lucky no one was hurt!! If you are out in woods of KY you better hope you dont every cross path unarmed,like we were!!!!!!

I too have recently had a encounter with what I believe to be a panther or cougar. Fish & Wildlife brushed my findings off as inconclusive but they never came out to investigate. I live approximately 25miles south of Tallahassee, FL in a very dense wooded area. I have documented my encounter complete with photos of tracks, a scratch, and what I believe to be kittens. I would be interested in all comments. The documentary is quite lengthy and can be found here http://www.aquarianlawnsprinklers.com/cat.htm

there has been a black panther spotted in fall creek Wisconsin i almost ran over it.

I saw a Black Panther cross Highway 17 heading north just before entering the small Wisconsin village of Bloomville. The pickup truck 100 feet in front of me slowed down to about 20 mph as we both observed this beautiful Black Panther with a really shinny jet black coat cross in front of us, smoothly, like a cat. The panther was atleast 7 feet long from head to the end of it's tail. As I passed by where it slid into the tall grass I saw it's 3 foot tail disappear into the grass. No doubt about it. Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:15 PM

I was heading up north in michigan along highway 155 when me and my mother in law both spooted a black panter about 100yards away from the road. I t was about 6 to 8 feet long and moved very fast, it was in hunt mode i beleive. I did not think anything of it untill the locals told us they have seen black panters too.

It is strange that these BBCs (big black cats) appear once and are never seen or heard of again in the area. There is an explanation for that. They were never there in the first place. What were really seen were black housecats. If the sightings are verified by photos or videos, they are taken from a great distance and size can only be substantiated by human perception. If one takes the time to photograph and study the various big cats and housecats, he becomes familiar with the proportional differences. The videos/pix only show the proportions of BHCs or are to blurry to show anything. Anything beyond the distance of 100 yards should be dubbed inclusive. The human eye is very easily fooled beyond 100 yards. I have perused just about every BBC video/pic taken in the neUSA and found them all to be BHCs, and sometimes dog.

If you want to submit a BBC video that will get everybody buzzing in the area, here is all you have to do. Video a long, straight woodland road in such a way that objects close by are included in the scene. Have some unseen person release a BHC beyond 100 yards. The objects in the foreground will set an imaginary scale. The BHC should not be further than 300 yards. The greater the magnification used, the greater the BHC will appear in relation to the objects in the foreground. Most people are not familiar with the differences in feline proportions and will be fooled into thinking the cat is a bonafide BBC.

Any photographer who uses telephoto lenses will tell you that as you increase the focal length, the objects farthest away are magnified more so than those nearest to the lens. Besides, increasing the focal length also compacts the distances making the distant objects appear nearer. Go to a golf course driving range where targets are placed at every 50 yards and photograph them with increasing focal lengths and see for yourselves how the sizes appear to the eye.

It has been stated earlier on this forum that BBCs were photographed in Pendleton County, VA, and in Montour County, PA. I have personally examined the photos and can verify that both cases were BHCs, and not BBCs.
J.A.LANKALIS

I live in Rincon Ga. I saw a black panther come out of the woods, stop at the road, turn around,and go into the woods. It was around 7:30 at night. How cool is that?!!! I am hoping to see it again.

I live in the peaceful farming area of Otter Lake Michigan. At least is WAS peaceful until a Black Panther(completely jet black)was caught on a neighbors motion detector camera.(September '07) This animal was captured at fairly close range and was VERY large...170-200 lbs.This cat has been hanging around and been spotted by at least 5 people in the past month. We recently borrowed a motion/heat detector camera and were not surprised to find a picture of a black panther on it when we pulled the memory card out to have a look.
We believe this panther may have been a pet to someone and then released after it became to big.We first contacted the police who completely blew it off as a large dog after looking at the picture. We then contacted the DNR, who reviewed an emailed picture and were able to confirm that, yes, it was indeed a large "exotic cat" and not a dog, but totally out of their jurisdiction. We then contacted animal control. We feel/hope they will help to remove/relocated this panther to a safe and VERY distant location.
It is very unsettling to feel so exposed to such a powerful and unperdictable creature that has had its picture taken 2x's during the day and spotted day & late evening. We have a dog this is as dear to us as a child and children in the neighborhood as well that are frightened. We have stopped taking walks and jogging for fear that this cat will take chase. We are nearly desperate for the removal this animal.

Chris,
I am an active member of the Eastern Cougar Foundation, www.easterncougar.org. We are interested in evidence of cougars and black panthers in the East, and have developed expertise in evaluating photographs and videos based on body proportions and tail carriage. Would you be willing to email the photo to us for evaluation?
Thanks for sharing,
Helen
helenmcginnis@frontiernet.net

on July 2nd my friends and I were swimming in the Smoke Hole Wilderness of South Branch River in Pendleton County, WV when a deer came racing out of bushes to jump off a bank into the river followed by a large black panther which also jumped from the bank into the river. Both half-walked and swam across then deer climbed up onto the other bank followed by the panther.
All 5 of us agreed the sleek black cougar had muscular paws and haunches weighing at least 75 pounds with a 3 foot tail. In 17 years, I have never seen any cat jump into water as my old housecat hated water. We wonder if this panther was same one caught on film in Smith Creek Valley 2 years ago by Jason Bowers. Black panthers have been in this area since the days of the Seneca Indians and my grandfather saw them in 1912.

Chris:
As Director of the Eastern Puma Research Network of Grant County, West Virginia, we would like to talk with you regarding the black panther post. Such sightings are NOT rare events anywhere in North America. About 20% have been verified thru pictorial proof or specimens. Several EPRN Field Researchers are to investigate a Pennsylvania Black Panther report this weekend. Please e-mail us at: epuma@hardynet.com or call 304-749-7778. Visit our website: www.easternpumaresearch.com

I have verified with a game warden that "black courgers or black panthers" do exist in north georgia. To even suggest they do not exist is poor science. Big Foot and other legends do have sightings and such. Although the black cats and other large "mountain lions or panthers" are verified through officals.

Both my Mother, Grandfater, Uncle, Cousin, Grandmother and Brother have seen the Black Panther. I on the other hand have only seen the oridnary tan panther. I feel really ripped off.

Just like the Coelacanth a fish that was thought to be extinct until someone caught one and then found out the locals have seen them forever.

If you wish to verify that there are black panthers in Georgia please head up to the north western section stop at any gas station with a "good ol boy" working in it and ask where you should go. I am sure they would get a kick out of sending you to a place that would provide you a sighting. Especially when most of the sightings come with a great deal of fear involved.

Kindest Regards,
K

I saw one in 1996,a black panther, off Hwy 192, between Deer Park, and HoloPaw, Fl. I was driving towards Kissimmee, and had one come out of the sawgrass, stop in the middle of the road, turn towards our van, show it's teeth, and leap into the grass on the other side of the roadway. The next day we went to GatorLand, in Kissimmee, and I told our guide about the incident. After the tour, I had to give my story to a DNR ranger, and show him on the map the location.
Then this morning, around 6:00 here in North Ga. (Jasper/Talking Rock area), my neighbor was on his way deer hunting, and a black panther was standing in my front yard. There had been reports of one roaming the area, and my son heard it 2-3 months ago. Later on, around 8:30-9:00, my middle son went outside to ride his 4 wheeler, and spooked it. It was bedded down, next to a creek on our property. He watched it run up the bank, and dissappear into the woods.

I was deer hunting north of Dahlonega, Georgia on November 3, 2007 and spotted a jet black panther walking through the woods. At first I thought it was a black bear, then after looking at it through my rifle scope, I realized it was a panther. This is the second sighting I have had of a black panther in Georgia. The first one was in 1976 when one crossed the road in front of me on highway 76, between Hiawasee and Clayton.

I do believe such an animal as this does exist through the account of my sister who said she saw a black cat that had a dog in its mouth. It was odd I believed her because when we saw her she was crying. Afew days later we found another half eaten dog across a small creek just aways down from my house dunno if it was the same one or what but I've lived in this area of West Virginia for about twelve years and we don't have any bears that roam around the area. One one account I can recall I was outside just playing around it was late evening and then I heard what sounded like someone strangling a women it was the most frightening sound I have ever heard in my life, something that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I don't know what it was for all I know it could of been a bob cat or something but it was one of the most scariest sounds I have ever heard.

In 2003, just east of Naples, FL, north of Immockolee Road, we saw a black panther run in front of us. We were golfing and our foursome all saw it at the same time and all said it had to be a black panther. It was running from a lake in an adjacent gravel pit to the woods. It was loping along less than 100 yards in front of us. We have had golden retrievers for decades and have a good grasp at size. If this wasn't a black panther, it was a panther that had been dipped in oil!

Roadkill. Driving towards Atlanta on I-20. Before Madison. Nov 26 2007. Black panther. Someone should investigate with highway department. I didn't have time--en route to airport.
It was at leate 4' long, tail 1 1/2" feet, large feline head, jet black. No kidding.

Our hunting club has a large tract of land leased.
The tract is located about five miles from Jacksonville, Georgia (Telfair County). Our members are very experienced hunters, anyhow,
two weeks ago a member spotted a large black cat from his treestand, then last week a different member from his treestand, only 300 - 400 yards from the previous sighting, saw a big black cat walking down and old woods road. My hunting buddies have always joked with me, because I take a camera with a telephoto lens, tripod and a gun with me when I go hunting, now they want me to setup in the vicinity of the sightings to try to photograph this cat.

My son saw a black panther at the edge of our field. He was in our car driving through the woods from my parents house to our house. The sun had just almost set when the big cat came from the woods and stayed close to the field's edge. He had the headlights on and got a good view of this animal.

We have zebu cattle and horses in this field that is fenced in with electric fence wire. The next morning our fence was torn down in numerous place. We've had trouble, every once in awhile, with deer running into the wire and knocking down the fence in one or two places, this time there were post broken off and wire snapped into. It took us a good three hours to repair the fence.

Since that time we have had numerous scrapes on our trails in the woods. We hear weird noises just at dusk. Our dogs go crazy at times at night like nothing we have every seen before. We have a bull zebu that has now started protecting the herd. He has become more aggressive toward any dogs that come near the fence. All this leads us to believe we have a new residence in the area that is BIG, BLACK AND LONG.

I have started taking pictures of the scrapes and foot prints we find in the woods. The footprints are about 4 inches long and have not toe nails like a dog track. The width of the print is as wide the palm of my hand.

We live in Owen County, Indiana near 400+ acres of old coal mine properties. These properties have numerous hills from the old digging sights. Prefect place for deer and wild turkey.

We have noticed that there was a large number of wild turkey that would feed in our fields, but recently we haven't seen the flocks feeding. Perhaps they have been frightened off.....or eaten!

In Bloomington, Indiana, there have been numerous sightings of black panthers. There are articles in the Herald Times paper regarding the sigthings. The DNR claim there are no black pathers that live in our area. So what are all of these people, including my son, seeing?

I was told if the panther does attack our livestock that we can shoot it, because it must be an animal released by some person who was unable to care for it in their home. They claim that is a common occurs. I really don't want to kill this animal, but I can't afford to loose my livestock.

We also have a feline rescue center in Centerpoint, IN, not far from us. They lost a cougar earlier in 2006 that hasn't be reclaimed. It jumped over their very tall fence and escaped. So it would make sense that there maybe more cougars out there mating in our area producing baby cougars/panthers.

All I know is that there has been a change in our area with the weird noises, scrapes, and paw prints. I've lived in Indiana all my life and have been a very outdoor type person. I know the woods and the difference between a fox sound, coyotes, and bobcats. This growl-scream sound we hear is something I haven't heard in my 44 years.

We can tell when our fence is going to be broke again, because the horses and cattle start acting spooked when the sun goes down. The morning sun reveals that there has been a big vistor in our field the night before. It doesn't happen every night, but it does happen at least once a week something more.

I hope to get pictures of this black panther/cougar thing to prove that there is such a critter roaming our area.

I heard a panther screaming repeatedly over a span of about 5 minutes last night, he was on the other side of a horse pasture behind my house in the woods that run there. We are very near to Lake Jackson in Butts County, GA. It sounded like a child or woman screaming, but the pattern of the cries was different than the way a human would scream. It was bloodcurdling! We have heard it over a couple of different nights now.

My brother saw a black panter about 2 years ago now. He caught it on film twice, he saw it once early in the morning, late at night, and then once in the evening which he sadly did not get to film. It was investigated for awhile and the cats have not been seen since. There will be an airing of it and his interview tonight on the history channel at 10pm. This panther was spotted in west virginia.

there is a BLACK PANTHER in the Jacksonvile Zoo, in Jacksonvile Fl. So to all those who try to dispute the existis of black panther, i'd advise going to the zoo, and agrue their. Eric Carey

I am a life long broadcaster and executive. Several years ago, on the same day, I saw a Great Bald Eagle beside Interstate 77 just sounh of the Mineral Wells Exit (south of Parkersburg a few miles)...and I was amazed...a bright sunny day...no mistaking it...I had never seen one outside a zoo before.

The same day just North of Ripley, West Virginia I saw a huge black mountain lion. This thing was totally black and had green eyes, bright green, like emerald. The cat crossed in front of me going East to West across I-77 and the interesting thing was that it's body was nearly as wide as an interstate lane...and it's tail was as long as it's whole body...it took up a lane and a half...tail and all, nose to tip of tail...

The cat then in a very relaxed manner went up the hill into the woods near Ripley...

I have seen mountain lions before in the wild in the Arizona outback...the PUMA...a beige color...
not nearly as big as this black cat I saw...

We who live in West Virginia certainly know that the black cats are here...they never seem to bother anybody...but are occasionally seen by people who have a clue...

Later as I came home I saw an article in the paper about the nesting Bald Eagles on Blennerhassit Island...not far away by air from I-77 so yes...it WAS a Great Bald Eagle...

The big cat? YES! It was huge...had green eyes...was as long as a lane and a half of Interstate 77...no bullshit!

Ralph Allen

The sheer size of the cat was just amazing. I've seen lots of lions in zoos, seen cougars in Arizona where I lived a few years, and I've spent a lot of time hunting and fishing outdoors a lot. West Virginia is my home. I saw this huge black cat with bright green eyes crossing I-77 and I tried to get a take on how big it was...The cat's nose was at the right edge of the lane and it's tail which was as long as it's body...was into the passing lane about halfway so this cat was monstrous long and just fricking HUGE! I've never seen a cat that big before...

I've seen cougars leap right across the top of a car before in Arizona...you'd never see, hear, or smell one coming after you...you'd just be dead...

I cannot imagine a cat the size of the one I saw...they do not exist...not even half that big...but I saw it...HUGE!

I thought I was seeing things to see a Great Bald Eagle the same day? In the wild?

But I got home that night, and saw an article in the newspaper about the bald eagle pair nesting on Blennerhassit Island and then I knew I DID see a bald eagle beside I-77 that day...my eyes were fine...

The cat? A preditor that size...yes I saw it...it exists...but yet...no way there can be a cat that big here...

I'm just in awe of what I saw...and I did get a chance to look it over really good...it was HUGE!

I live in Spalding County, GA. About 10 years ago I saw a large black cat cross the road in front of my car. It was about the size of a cocker spaniel, had a muscular looking head, small close set ears and a long flexible tail. I saw it and it was gone before I realized what I saw. It was on the outskirts of town between two major thoroughfares.

Ralph Allen-

Are you monitoring this forum?

Are you open to contacting me directly?

Hey JA Lankalis-

I've neen reading your posts on the MonsterQuest site. You seem to know alot.

But you are very mistaken about angle of view, image magnification and optical illusions.

You sate: "Any photographer who uses telephoto lenses will tell you that as you increase the focal length, the objects farthest away are magnified more so than those nearest to the lens. Besides, increasing the focal length also compacts the distances making the distant objects appear nearer. Go to a golf course driving range where targets are placed at every 50 yards and photograph them with increasing focal lengths and see for yourselves how the sizes appear to the eye."

This is a popular misconception of the uninformed. I am a professional photographer/videographer with 30+ years experience.

Fact: Photographs taken from the same position but with different focal length lenses will exhibit IDENTICAL SIZE RELATIONSHIPS of all objects in the frame. Apparent size relationship of objects in an image (or to the unaided eye) are a function of position, not focal length. The only way to change the apparent size relationship is to change position, ie perspective.

Try this experiment: Take a wide-angle still photo of a scene. Without moving your camera position switch to a telephoto lens and take another photo. Then enlarge a section out of the wide-angle shot equal to what you got with the telephoto shot.

When you compare the two you will find (1) depth of field in the selected area is the same, and (2) the perspective is the same.

In other words, the blown-up section of the wide-angle scene will be identical to the telephoto version of the same scene.

You also reference the Ponzo illusion quite heavily. But the Ponzo illusion is a function of lines that appear to converge in the distance, as in railroad tracks. Also necessary are TWO identical objects for comparison, not an object and a memory of the size of a cat. So, the Ponzo illusion argument falls apart without converging lines (seen any lately in the woods?) and two identical objects to compare. Ponzo has nothing to do with assesing size at a distance. If you think I am wrong, please supply a concrete example of the Ponzo effect in nature that is applicable to assesing the size of a cat, BHC or BBC.

I'm not a true believer in the BBC or NABP. But you annoy me with your twisting of science to your own ends. Makes me wonder what other "facts" you have bent, both here and at the History Channel forum.

Waiting for your reply, JA!

Wes in West Virginia

I saw one two years ago while deer hunting in Sumter County Georgia. Many other people have seen them in the area

My father, brother and I, in about 1965 saw a large black panther about 4 miles from Loganville, Ga. It was common knowledge by the locals that it existed. When it crossed the dirt road it front of us, it was as wide as the whole one lane dirt road.

I live in Fort Valley, GA and I've seen a black panther twice. The second time I heard it as well as saw it. The first time was when I was about 16 in 1995 I was parked in the middle of a dirt road during the daytime so my friend could use the bathrooom and one very slowly crossed the road in front of the car. It was black/dark grey. My friend was about 6' tall and weighed about 175 I think and this thing was just a little bit bigger than him.

The second time was in 2000 around Thanksgiving and the same friend and I were riding down a dirt road late in the evening with our windows down and the radio on. My friend turned the radio off and yelled for me to stop the car and when I did we could hear lots of cows through the trees. They were mooing and doing what could only be described as moaning and screaming. Above them you could hear what sounded like a young woman screaming and crying. While we were deciding what to do it jumped out in the road in front of us and disappeared into the trees on the opposite side.

People have told me both times it was just a bobcat, but I've seen bobcats too and I'm sorry but they just don't get this big.

I thought I was CRAZY, until I found this site.

I to have see what I believe to be a panther, in West Virginia, near Clay County. It chased me out of the woods!It was so big, way to big for any house cat!

4 of us watched a very large cat for 15 min. He was very dark, if not black, some strips & possibly a white chin and paws. The tail was very long, thick and with that curl at the end. He was hunting amoung logs, pawing and pouncing around. We live in Northwest Wis, Polk County, 3 miles N of Range. We have seen a lot of deer, fishers, turkeys, bear, foxes, badgers in the 20 years we have lived there but never anything so beautiful as this cougar. Upon telling our neighbors about it, we came to learn it has been around since last summer when someone 3 miles south saw 2 of them and neighbors have heard it.

I saw a pair of black cougars while snowmobiling about 10 miles west of Mercer, Wi. on Feb 12th. They were less than 100 yards ahead of me when I first saw them, and about 50 yards when they crossed the trail ahead of me. I would say they were about 3 to 3-1/2 ft long from the chest to the hind end with a tail about 3 feet long. One looked right at me just as it was going into the woods, I don't know who was more surprised.
Randy

i saw a black panther in ellijay georgia a couple years ago on burnt mountain road when i was hanging out in the woods with some friends on thanksgiving nite. We thought it was our dog blue circaling our camp, but we was mistaken. I walked up to the cat thinking it was blue, our dog. I was actually about 8 feet from it the cat made a loud his and strechted out about 4 to 5 ft from head to tip of tail i guess it was pretty dark. The kat then ran off after scaring the life out of me.

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but click on the URL below and read it in its entirety. Maybe it can shed some light on the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_panther

Below are some personal experiences I'll share regarding "black panther" sightings & human nature in general, which is why I personally am not convinced a black melanistic phase of the cougar, puma, moutain lion even exist.

I worked for the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission back in the early 80's (and no this doesn't make me a panther expert) but we received numerous reports of "Black Panthers", but was unable to verify any of them. Below are a couple of examples of reported black panther sightings & even a black bear sighting.

After a hunt at our Fish Eating Creek management area, hunters reported a dead black panther just off one of the roads in the area. A co-worker went to investigate and found the largest melanistic bobcat he had ever seen, but it was no black panther.

Another black panther sighting supposedly yielded tracks. When our guys showed up to investigate, the individual who reported the sighting showed them the tracks and pointed out all the "claw" marks so it had to be a cat. To my knowledge the Cheetah is the only large cat that doesn't have retractable claws & they're not native to south Florida. Even a large cat, unless trying to take down prey doesn't typically leave claw marks in the tracks. It turned out to be dog tracks.

Our nusance alligator coordinator received a report of a black bear in one of the neighborhoods so he went to check it out. What he found was an extremely overweight black lab.

Its amazing what people claim to see and what they actually see. I'm not trying to make anyone mad just stating a fact. I've even had to do double-takes myself just to be sure I hadn't seen what I thought I'd seen.

After reading through a good many of these postings you would think this country is covered up with panthers, pumas etc., but the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) estimates the entire breeding population around 50,000. That's throughout its entire range of North, Central & South America. One gentleman posted that he sees his black panther everyday. If that's the case he should be able to get very good video &/or pictures.

I'm not saying there's no possiblity of the existence of a melanistic panther (puma), but even if 1, 2 or even 100 existed it wouldn't explain the hundreds or even thousands of sightings, but to date I'm unaware of any undisputable verified sightings. If anyone actually possesses that type of documentation I would think it would not only be easy to get it published they would have an obligation to wildlife organizations & scientist everywhere to do so.

hi I would like you to add pictures ad sound effects of panthers!!!!
thank you!

Jaguarundi have been in the Okachobee area of Fl. and it's common knowledge that (his name eludes me) released at least more than a breeding pair in the Ocala and Okachobee areas. My daughter who has seen bobcats upclose described them as dirt, reddish colored ugly cats. That describes the erytha version of Jaguarundi. I'm waiting on pics of these cats as they are diurnal and are regularly spotted on their property. Anyone who knows Fl. can understand the shrinking eco system. However, cats adapt more instinctively than ever thought. I have lived in Fl. for over 20 yrs., near the Everglades and now in Melbourne. I have seen a Fl. panther only once. It wasn't in the Everglades but at Canaveral national seashore park. Last yr. a panther was photographed and seen by many Suntree residents. Seems like the cats are saying "were back"!

I live in a small southeast community in Georgia. We are surrounded by woods here. Back in 1999 I believe, we were told by DNR that several big cats were released with tracking collars on. Well whatever you want to call them, there are big black cats here too that "scream". We saw one back in 99, was here eating my dog food. My neighbors dog that was chained , was attacked by something, which looked like claw marks, maybe so maybe not. Other people in the neighborhood were loosing chickens and such. And just a few years ago CSX was working on the railroad right by my house. There was 3 black cats then, 1 being a baby.
Well we know for sure 1 is back now. Two nights in a row we have heard the screaming. My dogs have not slept in 2 nights. No I haven't seen it, but my daughter did, in broad daylight trying to get scraps out of a bucket. Jet black, long thick tail and about 50 pounds, not a dog, a cat! I was up with the flash light and the camera last night but no luck. Just the screaming and my dogs going nuts. Would love to be able to catch it on camera.

I live in Indiana, but own property in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin where I am building a cabin. On May 1, 2008 I was working there and stepped outside to obtain better cellular service. When I stepped outside, I observed a large, solid black cat with a large tail at the bottom of a hill. The cat was about 30 lbs and about 30 inches long. I have sent the information to the DNR in an attempt to identify it. I assumed it was a common animal until I attempted to find pictures of it. Spread Eagle is in the Northeast corner of Wisconsin, outside of Florence, Wisconsin. Anyone else see anything like this in the area?

I also live in a small town in southeast georgia, in Coffee County. We have seen what everyone in the neighborhood calls a "black Panther" crossing our dirt road once. We have also heard the "scream" the person above was talking about. Everyone in the community has always said that scream is the panthers in the woods, and i have no reason to not believe them.