Black Panther Sighting

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.

Welcome to The Forum.

Can someone get me some grated Parmesan cheese for my Popcorn and another Heineken, PLEASE.

I saw a black mountain lion walk through the backyard last Christmas eve.
Later that night I heard a thud on the roof.
Went outside and couldnt believe my eyes.
Santa was sitting in his sleigh, but no Reindeer.
It was the Chupacabra himself pulling Santa's sleigh

Now I heard a feller on KERA, you know, that there public edgycation channel on the radio.

Well this here guy said that they had been monitoring an experiment Santy Claus had been doing, trying to get chupacabras to fly his sled.

The hard part was getting them used to the cold. Seems like he got that worked out. Seems like they fly faster, are able to haul more weight, and ain't near as picky about their diet. I mean those reindeer critters only eat a special kind of moss.

The only real problem with the chupies is that Santy can't bring small house pets as presents anymore due to not being able to keep the chupies from eating them.

PETA and HSUS have both launched attacks on Santy's new mode of travel, as the number of stray animals they take in declines sharply around the time of Santy's visits. They are quite sure there is some correlation between the two.

LOL! Goodun, Randall

I am so proud of myself! I know the answer to what everyone of you have been seeing when you thought it was a black panther.

After extensive research, I have come up with the conclusion that each one of you have just seen NatureBOY out foraging for food.

You...you mean that what we've seen in natureboy, in his birthday suit out foraging in the woods?

Hmmm - gotta think about that fer a sec or two...

was he under a feeder? LOL

What would you put in that feeder?? Tofu?? Quiche? or just nuts and brans?

I don't think you even need a feeder.

All you need is a field of beautiful tulips!

No Tgil they are flying Deer !!! LOL !

if you have any doubts why not ask a troubleshooter they would know! best i could tell you all mainly south tx and old mexico are where they are found if any are still in existing.

IM SURE THAT SANTA CAME TO SEE ALL OF YOU BLACK PANTHER BOYS
HANG ON THE EASTER BUNNY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!!!!!

Back in the late 60's and 70's there was a "black panther" a mile west of Zavalla in Angelina County. I heard it scream a few times, but never saw it. My wife, Dad, a couple uncles and Grandpa did see it on numerous ocasions. It roamed the woods and came around about the same time twice a year. My wife had to walk 1/2 mile down a dirt road to the bus stop and saw it following her. There are skeptics out there, but I know it was there. Once some ecology boys from SFA came down and stopped at my Grandpas house and was asking him questions about it and also about did he remember the days when wolves were around in the area long ago. Pa told them that there still was wolves there and they said they all died out or were killed long ago. He went and got a picture he took in 1976 of a wolf he killed while deer hunting only 300 yards from his house. I happened to be there that day when I heard him shoot and about an hour later he came dragging the wolf to the house. Those ecology boys were dumbfounded. Pa taught me a lot about hunting and what were in the woods in Angelina County. He was the best hunter and tracker and was so stealthy, I walked up to him once and never even saw him. He passed away in 2003 and the ripe old age of 91 1/2. I sure do miss him.

It wasn't a Black Panther. I enjoy this topic as much as anybody, but PLEASE, tell me why no one has a picture of one on their game cams, why no one has shot one, and why not a single one has been run over. I would love to see someone come up with a real specimen of one. It ain't happened, it ain't gonna happen. There are way too many folks out in the woods, for such an animal to not get shot. There are way too many folks driving our highways, not to run over one sometime. There are way too many folks running game cams, not to have gotten a picture. Regular mountain lions, get shot, get caught on game cams, and get run over. Are the black ones bullet proof, have radar to avoid cars, and invisible to cameras.

Crazy Horse, just because you've never seen one doesn't mean one doesn't exist. Sasquatch is a great example. One grainy film of ole Bigfoot running thorugh the Washington/Oregon woods is all the "proof" we have, but nobody in their right mind questions his existence. Black Panthers must be rare because so few have been seen, but they must be out there!

I have a quick black cat sighting story from Coleman Texas. We had been hunting this lease for 2 years when one of our hunters came to camp saying he saw a long tail black cat and had even tried chasing him down with the four wheeler. Of course we all had a big laugh behind his back. He is always full of stories. Not real believable guy.

Anyway, it was during dove season and we had been filling feeders and what not. Myself and two life long buddies loaded up in the truck the next day to go fish a tank on the back side of the property at about 3:00 pm and I made the comment as we were getting in the truck to keep an eye out for a black long tailed cat as we all laughed. As we rounded a corner close to cross fence on the property, I'll be damned if a long tail solid black cat was'nt in the road and took off to our right. My buddy John jumps out with a 22 pistol to try and get a shot with no luck through the mesquite trees. The cat was about 50lbs. or so. Not a big cat. I called the landowner and told him what we had all seen. He made the comment that it could have been a black mountain lion and he came out that after noon and we all setup in the area to hunt him and never saw him again. That has been 5 yrs. or so now.

Not sure if it was black panther, jaguar, mountain lion etc....., but I can say without a doubt that it was solid black with a long tail. During our time in Coleman there was a 50lb. monkey taken at a deer feeder which was documented in the paper with pictures and at one time there were 3 african lions lose in the north part of the county that had escaped from somewhere according to the local game warden. You never know what your going to see.

It ain't gonna fly man. NO black panthers/mountain lions, on anybodies game cams, no animals run over, no one sees one during deer season. THEY DO NOT EXIST. I would love to see someone kill a real one, it ain't ever happened and it ain't going too.

These things aren't being seen in WILD places. These things are being reported around Lake Fork, and other places, where people that aren't on this forum, ain't gonna think twice about shooting something like that or a regular mountain lion either.

How could it be, that since the Spanish, came to this part of the United States in the 1500's, till today, there has never been an AUTHENTICATED killing of a black panther/mountain lion. Everyone can get out the Popcorn or whatever else they want, but how can it be, that one has never been shot, never been run over with a vehicle, never caught in a trap or snare, and NEVER photographed on a game cam.

Are you going to tell me that these things are bullet proof, automobile resistant, and know how to avoid game cams.

This is an old story that keeps cropping up, and NO one has ever brought ANY verifiable proof forward.

Do you really think that these ?? animals are able to determine who is going to shoot them, and who isn't, so they only show themselves to people that pose no threat.

I have said repeatedly, and am willing to back it up with $150.00 toward the mounting fee for a full body mount, but there ain't NO black panther/mountain lion out there anywhere. We ain't talking Leopard or Jaguar, because those animals do exist.

I take you to be an intelligent person, so how can you say that these animals may be out there, when ALL of the evidense proves that they ain't.

As for your mention of Bigfoot, unfortunately, there are too many folks out there like me that will kill one if they get the chance, no one has killed one yet.

You can think what you want to on this subject, or about me, but there ain't NO black panthers, Sasquatches, Chupacabras, Loch Ness Monsters, or any of the other mythological creatures out there, because if there was, there is some bloodthirsty-trigger-happy idiot like me or a starving Cajun, that is gonna shoot the thing on sight.

Looks almost like modern art to me, or could be the picture of a black leopard. Panther/Black Panther is a term used to refer to the black phase of the loepard. There are also Black phase Jaguars. That is not at dispute. It is the business of Black Mountain Lions.

If you will go back and look at all of the posts, saying that these animals exist, they always have a reason for not shooting one when they see it. No gun, driving a car, etc., etc. For some reason, they never are able to provide actual physical evidence, and the only thing that will provide proof that will be acceptable, is a carcass, live or dead.

There is no way, something that size could exist in Texas or the U.S. for that matter, without someone having killed one, either with a gun or a vehicle.

Check out this sight. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_lion

The cat we saw is very similar looking and size to the jaguarundi. It looks like they can have a melanistic gene that is black.

Looks like a dog to me

After looking at the link I just posted I am in agreement with you that black mountain lions (puma) do not exist. Maybe in other cat species, but not the puma line.

I bet you don't believe in Santa, either, but he left me a Ruger Red Label O/U in 20 guage yesterday morning! I am a believer! I may even use that bad boy to take down a black panther and collect that $150!

you better not pout you better not cry

SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN.
BUT HE WONT HAVE A PICTURE OF A BLACK PANTHER

CAUSE THERE AINT NONE.
CAN YOU SAY ZERO?
HOW ABOUT NADA?
ZILCH?
HOW ABOUT NAUGHT?

I KNOW YOUR MOTHERS NIECE'S BROTHER'S STEP NEIGHBOR IN LAW SISTER SAW ONE BUT HER CAMERA WAS OUT OF FILM.

I've never seen Jesus and only have the Bible to tell me that He lived, died and was resurrected, but I believe in Him. I just hope your first experience with a Black Panther isn't when you are far from town, all alone and one of those killers has you by the throat, teeth tearing flesh and saliva slinging everywhere! And that's just what you're doing! He will be doing even more! Then you guys will all be believers!

You have been watching to much tv

I limit my television viewing to the Discovery Channel and programs about Black Panthers in the wild.

I guess you believe in bigfoot to.

PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND NOW RELIZE HOW SILLY IT IS TO COMPARE JESUS TO A BLACK PANTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT THE AGAIN JERRY FARWELL NEEDS SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO HIM.

I do believe in Santa, because I personnally pissed him off about 15 years ago, and he told me in no uncertain terms that I would never get another thing from him and I ain't.

I really don't know why he got so mad or which actual thing about what I did that upset him so much, whether it was the chicken the cheezwhiz the weedeater or the sheep, but he definetly left mad.

I'm not comparing Jesus to a Black Panther! I am comparing the CONCLUSION that since we have no video, no trail cam images, no stuffed critters, no road kills, etc., Black Panthers don't exist. Well, I only have a Bible that is a translation of manuscripts that were merely copies of copies of copies of the original writings; no photos, no stuffed Jesus, no road killed Jesus, etc., and I still believe in Him. Most of us believe in Jesus based upon the testimony of others over the generations. Hmmmmm, sounds like the Black Panther scenario, doesn't it?

I have the feeling that in the very near future a Black Panther is going to be documented for all of your nay-sayers.

By the way, I clicked on "no" for the survey about shooting a Black Panther. You guys who clicked "yes" would probably shoot a Whooping Crane too! There are surely more whoopers in the wild than Black Panthers.

NO IT DOSENT EVEN RESEMBLE JESUS. WHOOPING CRANES??????

AINT NO BLACK PANTHER
THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR ONE.ie NO GENIS OR SPECIES
ITS FAKE JUST LIKE BIGFOOT AND LOCH NESS MONSTER?

Now I have heard it all! No Bigfoot? Please. The number of skeptics on this web site is astounding!

There are somethings in this world, that we have to take on faith. Religion is one of them. Do you believe that Americans landed and walked on the moon. That could be one real elaborate hoax. Got plenty of videos and stuff, but how many of us really know that it happened.

Dealing with the natural world is different, as I have said many times before on the forum, I would really love for someone to kill an actual black mountain lion. How come people that hunt lions with dogs have never caught one. How come, with as many Game Cams as are being operated around this country, there is not a single picture of a black mountain lion.

How is it these elusive cats seem to be only seen by people that won't kill them. How do they manage to travel thru the country with out becoming road pizza.

I am not skeptical, I am a realist. And knowing humans the way I do, there is not a chance in the world, that Sasquatch, a chupacabra, a black panther, or any of them other mythical beasts, would escape being shot, if they showed themselves in front of a lot of hunters.

From www.answers.com:

The black panther is a genetic variant of several species of cats.

It does not exist as a separate species. The variant is most common in jaguars (Panthera onca), and leopards (Panthera pardus). Close examination of one of these black cats will show that the typical markings are still there, and are simply hidden by the surplus of the black pigment melanin. Cats with melanism can co-exist with litter mates that do not have this condition, nor does it mean that either parent exhibited this trait. It is probable that melanism is a favorable evolutionary mutation with a selective advantage for its possessor, since it is more commonly found in regions of dense forest, where light levels are lower.

So, a Black Panther is not a species in an of itself. A Black Panther is a genetic mutant just as an albino would be.

Yes, but not Mountain Lions. None of us have disputed the fact that there are black leopards or jaguars. Leopards are not native to North America, and other than some occasional ones that cross into Arizona, there are very few if any jaguars residing in the U.S. Also Jaguaroundi's are smaller animals, and even though they are longer built and have a long tail, they are about the weight of an average bobcat. Jaguaroundi's do have a black color phase.

Now this whole thing, has been about black Mountain Lions, also called panthers. You can keep coming up with everything you can think of, but you are not going to prove that black mountain lions exist. As I have said before, the only way this subject will be brought to a close, is with an actual specimen, either dead or alive. Nothing else is going to work.

I would love to see someone come up with a real specimen, but it ain't gonna happen.

http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/BlackCat.htm

Visit this page when you have some free time. Good information about the elusive Black Panther.

I checked it out, what was it supposed to prove. It is saying basically the same thing about 80% of us on here are saying. Yes, there are black leopards, Yes, there are black jaguars, Yes, there are black phase jagaurundi's, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SINGLE AUTHENTICATED BLACK MOUNTAIN LION.
What is so hard to understand here. How can someone argue with over 500 years of history, since europeans came to the new world, NO ONE, has been able to kill or capture a black mountain lion. It ain't happened, it ain't gonna happen. I will be the first to sing the praise of the person that kills one and I will apologise for being a doubting Thomas to everyone on The Forum, both profusely and professionally.
But you are not going to find anything that is gonna convince me that the things are any more than tall tales. As I have said before, it is going to take a carcass either alive or dead, of a black mountain lion, Felis concolor, if you care to look it up, basically translates into "Cat of one color." and it ain't black.

I sense some waffling going on here! Folks have been posting that they know of Black Panthers. Folks have posted a number of viable explanations for Black Panthers in Texas. Articles are found that indicate that black cats exist and are called by people, "panthers." Now the posts are showing up saying, "We're talking about black mountain lions." Waffling, I tell you. There's a whole lot of waffling going on here. Crawfishin'!

The DNA tests came back on the Panther shot this year, heres the article.

DNA tests have revealed a mysterious cat shot in Gippsland was a gigantic feral domestic cat.

Big cat researchers have claimed it could be the state's largest feral
.
The size of the cat led to initial predictions it was a Panther. The tests could end decades of speculation over big cat sightings in the Australian wilderness.

The feral cat's tail was 65cm in length, nearly twice the length of the largest recorded domestic cat tail.

Monash University experts analysed a sample from the tail of the cat, shot by Melbourne hunter Kurt Engel, and have concluded there was a 98 per chance it was a feral cat.

Mr Engel, 67, who photographed the cat and disposed of the carcass, but kept the tail as a trophy, said he accepted the finding but was adamant the cat was extremely large.

"If it was just a pussy cat, it was the biggest in the world," he said.

The laboratory testing compared the cat tail DNA against several samples of DNA taken from feral cats and other big cats from around the world.

In tests against DNA from feral cats, the tail DNA recorded several matches of 100 per cent and was always at least 97 per cent similar.

But when compared against DNA from big cats including leopards, cheetahs, lynx and tigers, the results were a 90 per cent match or less.

Big cat researcher Mike Williams said he was stunned by the DNA result.

"It was so large I just assumed it was an exotic animal," he said.

"I was obviously wrong, but it is extraordinary that Australia has a mutated cat that can grow to the size of a leopard.

"This might explain why there are so many reports of monstrous black cats in Australia.

"It is the world's largest feral cat."

Fellow big cat researcher Bernie Mace said it was an important finding.

"It leaves a question mark over the feral cat – how big does it really get?" Mr Mace said.

The only waffling going on is the ones you eat at breakfast. This whole topic, all 2 or 3 hundred pages of it now, in abouyt 5 different topic sections, has been about black panthers in Texas. Now then, since all of us agree that leopards of any color aren't native to Texas, and that Jaguars while coming both in black and spotted varieties are extremely rare, if there are any at all in Texas. Now then, don't get lost here while chewing on that waffle, that leaves just 1 (one), count em, one large, big cat in Texas. Mountain Lion, yes, panther is one of about 30 colloquial names used for this animal, but it is all the same animal, and they ein't none of them black. Now you probably need to put some more maple syrup on your waffles before they dry out and gum up your works.

As I have said for about 50 times;
1. I would love to see actual proof that they do exist.
2. If I ever see one, I will kill it and take it on tour.
3. This is a fun subject to mess with, but facts is facts.

Randall, as you know the US military used black panthers as Mascots as a trial during world war 2, the military heavily trialed them, then let em go. Whats to say they didnt in Texas. One was shot, posted for DNA, then maybe 98% its a frigen huge domestic cat, from a massatusis test.Imagine the recall and liability if the US military say yeah its our panther dumping. Anyway I want more Panther dumping as there cool

Quote:

---

I am not skeptical, I am a realist. And knowing humans the way I do, there is not a chance in the world, that Sasquatch, a chupacabra, a black panther, or any of them other mythical beasts, would escape being shot, if they showed themselves in front of a lot of hunters.

---

Because I suppose they were trained to avoid Germans, then over time, avoid all vehicles, sound, humans etc. They failed the miltary as they could not distiguish between German and American, and a bunch of hunters would be easy compared to a bunch of Germans to avoid.

Poor Black Panther and german tanks and Grenades on him