Big black cats in Southern Ill ???

I know this isn't a tractor topic but maybe some of you could shed some light on this. I know that Southern Ill has bobcats and a few cougars. But a couple of people have claimed to seen big black cats, maybe pumas, in the area. Can anyone else verify that there are big black cats in this part of mid-west or is this just a story ?

ha...

I've got a good friend who is a game warden and could probably out-track Geronimo on hunting game... He is an amazing bowhunter...

Anyway, he is out scouting game & countryside CONSTANTLY (and has tons of amazing pictures) and he swears up & down that there aren't any around out here in the OK panhandle. He says every time someone comes up with that, there is either no proof, or the proof turns out to be dog tracks, etc...

He said at best, there might be one pass through the country once a year or so, but 99% of all "sightings" are false...

That being said, my Mom has heard one scream out on the farm one night & a widow lady out west of us (that I was dealing with for a tractor) said she was bringing in groceries one evening about dusk and turned back to the pickup and there was one just standing there staring at her, not 5 feet from the pickup... So I personally believe they are more common than he does - so who knows??

There is a really good article about "stories" at this snopes link - I also got that email, saying the pictures were taken here in Oklahoma near Watonga, so its funny how the stories get passed aroung:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/patiomountainlion.asp

Nothing about Black ones in MO. but regardless of color I would hate to run into one while hunting.

The Missouri Dept of Conservation has had 4 or 5 verified sightings of mountain lions. Two were hit by cars.

MDC used to deny there were any here but now admit there are.

Gene

Sorry - I garbled the link:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/patiomountainlion.asp

There used to be leopards in the US, bu not for a long time.

Mountain lions have become a problem in many areas of California. The cats have added humans to their menu. In one chilling picture, a couple were taking pictures of their small child along a hiking trail. When they got the picture developed, there was a mountain line in the bushes just a few feet from their child.

Game warden says no big kitty in area while some other people say they saw one? Game warden may have orders to not panic public, denie reports if no cat captured or body brought forward. It happens in government service- say what you"re told for public hearing or lose pension when terminated for disobeying direct order. Exotic pets improperly licensed are sometimes released in the wild by nervous owners- that is a good out for DNR denials that get shown up when bodies presented after traffic crash, "somebodies illegal pet got loose and they won"t admit it because of possible prosecution- but there is no wild population of the critter in the area". Wisconsin had reports of Kangaroo a couple years back, mostly denied until little hopper was found in barn with some sheep. Friendly little guy, was obviously used to humans and handling, currently at Milwaukee zoo. RN
?

i wouldnt doubt it. up here in northern illinois, people have been spotting cougars occasionally. game wardens and dnr kept poo= pooing all the sightings. well, couple years ago the chicago police dept shot one. 2 year old male. it was not someones pet. the dnr then went on to say, well that one must have come from wisconsin.

A friend helped the Game Dept. set free 5 pair of black panthers neat Mt. Vernon, IL. The next few years when we checked in deer we were asked if we
had seen any black panthers.


Lowell T.

Tyey're native, and still roam in Florida.

Every few years there will be some one say that they saw in the bottoms across the Ohio from the Wabash. Ky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife says there are none. Some times some one finds a track in the mud. Never heard of any one getting good proof like good vidio or a dead'n. There was a photo getting emailed around here a few years ago about a mountin lion killed down Paducha, even had a Department guy in the photo. Dude in the photo says it was killed out west some where and he just had a pic made with it. I got a few photos in an email a few years ago of one that was on some one's porch in Crittenden county, looked photo shoped to me.

Long story short, who knows. Till some some kills one or I see one myself, I will always dout it.

There was an old lady here that for years would not let her grandkids or any one else go close to the woods behind her house because every month or so she would see a mamma bear and two cubs. Guess them cubs never grew up cause that is all she ever saw. Some said she was nuts, some said she was grow'n pot, again who knows.

Dave

I think that the working folks of Ill have seen sharks and vultures work their way up from the sewers and become politicians. Just look at the governor and the clown that came out of Chicago.

Hey gun guru. Don't associate those of us in southern Illinois to the likes of Chicago politician's. The only time they know us is at tax time and they want more money for Chicago. Besides I thought the subject was about big black cats, not jack a$$es

I m in S.E. indiana and have seen a big black cat 4 or 5 times . It was nt what ya would think a panther would look like . About 3 or 4 times the size of a house cat , tail as big around as a pop can but built low to the ground but sure can move . Shot at one out in the middle of a field and seemed like it was gone in about 3 jumps . P.S. for the tree huggers I was nt trying to hit it just wanted to see it move .

ive seen a documentry on this animal, nobody seems sure what they are i think its some kind of a hybred, just like bigfoot there going to have to catch one to figure out what it is, im wondering if maybe a cross between a housecat and a lynx , OT anybody here remember when "black cats" refered to a very rare version of the PBY catilinia?

Only saw one black one in Mo about 40 yrs ago. Saw it 10 or 15 times at an abanded farm about half mile from my house. Didn't pay it much attention until one evening it jumped out of my cornfield and landed in neighbors corn field across the road right over the hood of my car. Nawlorleans gator is correct. They live in Florida. About 20 yrs ago had a yellow one kill 60 forty to sixty lb pigs in a small pen one night. Evidently the pigs got to sqealing and running and got him excited. About once a week he would come back and kill some more. Son and I spent all winter in the hay loft of the barn at the other place trying to kill him but he would know we were there and wouldn't show up. If we missed a night he would kill more pigs. Had im surrounded one day with pickups and rifles but he slipped thru and got away. Finally gave up and quit the hogs.