Probably not, but I have to tell ya'll about it anyway. Last night my wife called me on her cell phone as she was driving home. She was only about 1 mile from the house when she saw it. She asked me if we had any black panthers in the area. I said probably not, and she went on to say that it looked like a big cat. I thought it might be a bobcat, but then she said it had a long tail.

Given the fact that there's a spring fed pond in the area where she saw it, I think it was probably an otter. I've seen them when I've been fishing in this pond, and when they run on land, they sort of look like a big cat.

Like I've posted before, there's been plenty of sightings of large black cats near our old home place in New Colony (south of Atlanta, TX)...which means I'm not the only one that's seen one. Thing is there's never been one killed or a dead body found.
Hadn't figured it out yet, but I'm sure there's an explanation.

Maybe what I saw wasn't a panther at all, but that sight will stick with me all my life.

I have heard that hipnotism can bring clarity to memories, but if They don't go back far enough, they're liable to hear something worse than black panthers...

Our tan colored lion was spotted this week about a mile from my house. Guess she moved a little. Lots of development in the area now. But, rather than move away from the direction of the new homes, she moved up into them. Guess there used to be a lot of little city raised poodles that got moved out there too.

Until i see a picture of a black panther in texas i still cant believe they exist here. Jaguarundi, bobcats, and even hogs have been claimed to be black panthers, but the proof is in the pic, hate for someone to kill one if they do exist just to prove it.

I went and looked at some lease property today. I leased from this lady about 8 years ago. We got to talking about that piece of property and what do ya know, Somebody saw a black panther on it after we left it! I immediately thought of my fellow THFers.

Yes, but as has been said on here many times, pictures ain't gonna get. Pictures are too easy to fake. It will have to be an actual specimen, live or dead, but something that biologists can actually examine.

As I have said before, I would love to see someone either kill or trap one, just to prove that it is possible, but I don't see it ever happening.

Now what TheHag was talking about, is a lot more common than what most folks want to believe. There is probably a substantially larger population of lions in Texas than people realize.

It is almost like the things, if they exist are mystical or magical. I mean there was never one killed by an Indian, in fact in the research I have done on Indians, I have never found any reference to a big black cat. They must never really cross highways, because by now, one would have been hit by a vehicle. They either disappear completely during hunting seasons, and predator calls don't attract them. They evidently have some pyschiatric powers, as they never expose themselves to people that would shoot on sight.

It is a fun topic, and the thoughts that something like a black mountain lion actually exist are neat, but fortunately or unfortunately as each persons point of view may be on this subject, it is going to take a carcass, live or dead, to verify that it was there.

As I understand it Black Panthers do absolutely exist but only in S. Florida. No, I've never seen one. Yes, they're protected. I really have seen panther crossing signs (near high fenced roadways) in S. FL.

Crossing signs....Hmmm..That brings to mind the black dancing deer in Texas and most other states for that matter. Though I've never actually seen one or a photo, they must exist because I see signs all over the highways. Big yellow signs with a black deer that looks like it's dancing. lol!

There was an article in the Dallas paper about a sighting near Canton recently. I think they found a dead calf that was kind of hidden, so that he could come and eat it later.

correction to above post; The article was in the local Cedar Creek Lake area paper. "themonitor.net"

http://www.themonitor.net/frontpage.htm#lion

HERE WE GO AGAIN. YALL DO THIS JUST TO GET ME FIRED UP.
AINT NO SUCH THING NOPE NADA NO NONE NAUGHT.

The do exist! I saw a couple when I was a kid - watching the Mexico City Olympics.

Florida panthers are not black although many people believe they are. Florida panthers are tawny (the same color as deer). The fur on their bellies and the inside of their legs is lighter, and the fur on their backs, tails, and legs is darker. In the summer of 2000, biologists found two kittens with very light fur, but no one has ever found a black panther.

When Europeans first came to Florida, they thought they were seeing tigers or leopards. At the time leopards were called panthers. Some early settlers called Florida's big cats "tigers." Others called them "panthers." The name panther stuck, and that's why Florida's big cat is called panther today.

Panthers most frequently die from fights with other panthers and from collisions with cars and trucks.

http://www.panther.state.fl.us/rosie/describe.html

Anyhow, I spotted one recently, and here's proof!

What did you Spot him with, Invisible Ink.

I know the general whereabouts of one.

I aint saying, and maybe one day, I will bag it.

I aint seen it. But have heard about it from several people.

only had 1 , no wait, 1-1/2 beers.


and I am actually serious!

Am I totally wrong, or have we discovered one of the secrets to Black Panther longevity. Do they migrate out of state when deer season starts and everybody is packing a gun. Just Curious.

Black panthers are kewl man...I was at this party one time and one pulled up in a Corvette. Her name was Tina...man was she hot. And those heels! I was totally trippin, man. I was just about to get a picture...ya know for you guys...and her date...a Yeti...got out and slapped the camera outta my hand. I was all like "DUDE!!" and he was all like.."lay off my date, punk!" Friggin foreigners...anyway....what were we talking about?

Thanks heeeerod I needed that been a long hard day

In east texas, near athens at our place we have had several sighting's i have only seen one black panther ran across the headlights. When my dad was younger and new to our club he saw one tear through a deer blind and ran back to say what he saw. of course no one believed him...two weeks later two were shot 10 miles south near Gus Engling WMA believe me they are around.....

What?!?

Oh, I can't wait for the posts to come about a black panther being shot!!

Didn't we have a sighting on this forum last year? LOL

HOW BOUT THEM 8X10 COLOR GLOSSIES

OOPS IM SORRY I BET YOU CAMERA WAS OUT OF FILM.
OR YOU DIDNT HAVE ONE
OR WHAT EVER.

IMOHO TSBS

Let's see, cause I know everyone is waiting for me to bale off into this one, so here goes. Consider this as my Christmas present to the membership on The Forum.

1. No one has ever killed one.

2. No one ever sees one during deer season when they are carrying a loaded gun. Black panthers must have some Psychic powers that we just do not understand, but they are able to distinguish some one that is harmless from someone that is ready, willing, and able, to kill their a$$.

3. I have forgotten where it stands now, around $400.00 I think, that will be put toward the full body mount, of a real black mountain lion. Not a black leopard or jaguar, as those animals do exist.

4. From the research I have done, there is NO mention of a big black cat in any of the American Indian legends or religious beliefs.

5. Not counting the visit by the vikings in 1050 a.d., europeans have been on this continent, for approximately 513 years. No verifiable evidense of a black mountain lion.

6. Not only can these incredibly psychicly gifted creatures avoid people that would kill them, they are also able to avoid trail cams, and automobiles. Normal mountain lions are unable to avoid all of these.

As I have said before, I would love to see someone kill an authentic, verifiable, black mountain lion. It ain't happened, and I feel pretty confident that it won't.

And before I forget, someone is saving me a crow so I can eat it when a black mountain lion is killed, I just really hope it ain't too freezer burned.

cccduckkid, Welcome to The Forum, everybody on here is not as big an A$$ as me, and the subject of black panthers/black mountain lions is fun as hell, and I am not meaning to offend you or make fun of you, but realistically, there is no way that one or two actual animals would not have been killed by this time. Law of averages says that they can only dodge a bullet or a cadillac so long.

Hope you enjoy The Forum, as there are some really great folks on here with lots of knowledge.

I grew up at Lake Fork and saw one in the late 80's. There was a sighting in the same area that year. Maybe it was the aliens, Elvis or a really fast Angus bull. Either way, I know I saw what I thought was a black cat.