Black panthers in America?

[hittman]

Not around central Illinois but I guess possible elsewhere ……

 

[Larryburford]

I saw one about 20 years ago in SW Arkansas. I had two friends with me and we all saw it. If it was not a black panther, I don't know what it was.

 

[eveled]

Truly black is a lot different than dark brown. I have on occasion seen black squirrels and it is actually startling.

We have a really black dog and it’s actually hard to get a good picture of her. In low light conditions she is impossible to see.

As stealthy as cats are a large pure black one would be terrifying.

 

[blume357]

Guy who my grandmother sold some land to said he saw one on our farm...this was about 50 years ago... central Savanah River area in S.C. Between Augusta GA and Columbia S.C.

 

[Jeepnik]

Not unusual for animals to occasionally have ones with out of the norm color phases. But like albinos they are rare. But they do happen.

 

[peachhead]

There's a running argument that there is no such thing in Georgia, but too many people I know have actually seen one.
I think at this point the DNR is just afraid to admit they made a mistake.

 

[unspellable]

Not black ones, but the DNR here denied the existence of mountain lions until some gal hit one on the road. Hard to deny it with the carcass lying there.

 

[Fox Mike]

Way way back in the late 50s I was crossing the Tamiami trail and spotted a big black cat crossing the road. Have never seen another.

 

[golferboy426]

Not unusual for animals to occasionally have ones with out of the norm color phases. But like albinos they are rare. But they do happen.

these are not color variants. They are a very rare and endangered sub specious of the typical mountain lion

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Not black ones, but the DNR here denied the existence of mountain lions until some gal hit one on the road. Hard to deny it with the carcass lying there.

They deny them here as well, claiming bobcats as the apex feline. Complete BS. I have personally had two sightings up by my lake cabin in the mountains. Others have seen them as well. They are returning ( they lived in the area with a decent population until the 1800s). Admitting they here would be bad for the camping / RV business in that part of the state.

 

[jmca]

As a kid growing up on the Northwest Pennsylvania border, a neighbor guy used to tell stories of Black Panthers living in the Hollows. He always told of how they screamed in the night.

 

[Jeepnik]

As a kid growing up on the Northwest Pennsylvania border, a neighbor guy used to tell stories of Black Panthers living in the Hollows. He always told of how they screamed in the night.

All cougars (regardless of species;)) are capable of screaming. But on a serious note, the scream of a big cat, in the dark, can chill you right to the bone. I figure it's left over from the screams of the saber tooth tiger of ancient times.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

As a kid growing up on the Northwest Pennsylvania border, a neighbor guy used to tell stories of Black Panthers living in the Hollows. He always told of how they screamed in the night.

Bobcats. Hear them often in my PA woods especially during mating season.

Also an effective call when hunting them. They are very territorial.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Slight sidetrack- Raccoons scream and chitter all dam night here at this time of year. Mating.

 

[unspellable]

Speaking of bobcats, around '66 or '67. one walked into the living room. Nice day, the door was open. About a hundred yards outside of the city limit of Austin, Texas. From the sofa to the middle of the living room it's hard to mistake a house cat for a bobcat. Wife said, "hello" and the cat departed in a hurry.