Before we begin, let me repeat a few things that I have said before. I know that there is no such animal as a “black panther.” The known big cats that have been given this moniker are either African leopards or New World jaguars exhibiting melanism. So, when I use the term “black panther” realize it is a colloquialism, a catchall phrase, if you will, that is commonly used in Texas and the Deep South to describe any large, black or very dark, long-tailed cat.
Now that we have that taken care of, below are the latest and most credible sighting reports to come in over the last few months. Just to add something a bit different, I have included a few reports of which I am very skeptical or believe to be an outright attempt to hoax me. The questionable sightings will not be included on my updated black panther distribution map. I include them in order to show you, the reader, some of the processes I go through and some of the questions I ask myself when trying to decide if a report is credible. I say “ask myself” because most reports come to me in the form of comments to previous posts on this topic with the commenter remaining anonymous. This makes follow up questions to the commenter difficult to impossible. It is possible that some sighting reports I have deemed as credible are the work of hoaxers but I have diligently attempted to weed out those that seem questionable and printed only those that seem reasonable. Now, on to the reports.
The original reports are in italics and are followed by my comments.
3/24/14
“I recently saw a large black animal cross the road in front of me near Taylor, Texas. It was smaller than a mountain lion, but bigger than a bobcat. Its tail was long, which ruled out a bobcat. It's body structure and muscle tone all point to a panther or cougar. I now look everyday hoping to catch another glimpse of this animal.”
- Shawn Everett
TCH Comment: Taylor, Texas is located about 30 miles northeast of Austin in Williamson County. Though the sprawl of Austin is beginning to reach this area, there are still a lot of open and rural spaces for a big cat to roam. The account Shawn describes is typical of many reports, a simple road crossing. The long tail eliminates a bobcat in this case and the black color would seem to eliminate a cougar. What does that leave?
4/11/14
“Fall of 2013 in Hood County, Texas. In the daylight I watched one cross M&M Road in Granbury. Three other people have seen it too.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Granbury is 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth. It remains comparatively small with less than 8,000 residents as of the 2010 census. The surrounding area is decidedly rural with agriculture being the dominant industry. Though this report is very short on detail (an understatement), I include it as the area near and around Fort Worth have a long history of big cat and black panther reports. In addition, there is just a “here’s what I saw, take it or leave it” quality to the report that, as a native Texan, I recognize and understand.
4/12/14
“In the early 2000s I came across one on our land. It was solid black and very large. What was most peculiar to me is that it was capable of jumping over a 4 ft fence with virtually no hindrance whatsoever. We live on 50 acres in the small farming town of Kosciusko, TX. This past November, our neighbor saw one in our field. And I believe I just saw one this week at night. Our dog started barking, so I grabbed a flashlight and there was a large black animal in our field. Our dog will chase off coyotes, hogs, possums, etc., but he was scared of this thing. It started running, but it turned for an instant and I saw it had yellow eye shine. Now, I used our dog for a scale reference. Our dog is 50 lbs and this thing was double its size, hands down.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Kosciusko is a rural community that sits at the intersection of Farm Roads 541 and 1347 in Wilson County roughly 50 miles southeast of San Antonio. As of the 1965 census, the population was only 50 souls. I do not know how much, if any, Kosciusko has grown since then but can tell you the area remains sparsely populated. This area is far enough south that the idea of a wayward jaguar making it there is not that far-fetched. The witness’s estimate of a 100 lb. animal would seem to eliminate any cat other than a jaguar or mountain lion. The yellow eye shine reported is something I have heard many times from people claiming to have seen a black panther.
4/22/14
“I live in Fort Bend County near Katy close by West Park & Hwy 99. We have a large open field/wet land by our neighborhood. Me and my 2 young daughters were riding our bikes on the trails. We spotted a large cat like creature about 80 to 100 yards in front of us. It was all grey about 2 1/2' tall and about 3 1/2' to 4' long. The ears were small but stood straight up. I was unable to make out the tail. I looked up a few pics on wild cats native to southeast Texas and found a pic of a jaguarundi. It looked exactly like this from the distance we were at.
- Jake Zimmerman
TCH Comment: The description Jake gives certainly fits the jaguarundi mold and the fact that what he claims to have seen is a dead ringer for jaguarundi he saw in a photograph seems to make this one fairly open and shut. While it is possible that Jake saw an unusually large feral cat, the head and ears of a jaguarundi are quite distinctive. The fact that Jake immediately focused on these distinct characteristics leads me to think that he likely did see a jaguarundi. This would be news as these small wild cats are not supposed to live too far north of the Rio Grande River. The marshes and bayous of southeast Texas would be very suitable habitat for these small enigmatic cats.
4/30/14
“Believe it or don’t, it happened, and I have never been able to explain it away.
I was 10 years old and walking my german shepherd dog through my elementary school on a Saturday, broad daylight. We rounded a corner and there was a gigantic black feline. I have owned cats all of my life and know a normal cat when I see one, and this was not. These days, I label it a cryptid.
It was crouched with its bottom in the air staring right into my eyes. It was enormously muscled, a short manx cat tail. It had gigantic hind quarters, standing taller than its front legs. Its short pitch black fur gleamed with health. Its eyes were the size of saucers, round, golden and calm. I, who know cats quite well, would call it an amused stare. Not a stare I had seen before or ever since. It did not show any aggression or menacing body language. Just crouched there and laughed at us(?) with its eyes.
It did not seem to be quite as long or tall as my dog Nikki (remember it was crouching), but I believe it weighed every bit as much as Nikki in sheer muscle.
After a few transfixed seconds, Nikki proved himself a sensible fellow and quite silently and methodically turned around and walked away, and I followed him without thinking. We walked steadily back up the hill, out of the school, and up my block.
When we were halfway up my block, (my street ended at the school so it was across a small street and 4 houses up), I turned around and saw that the giant cat had followed us to the end of the schoolyard and stood crouched in that same position (rear end up) on the rock wall, watching us with its great round golden eyes.
I never saw it move, but I know it must have been loping behind us the whole way home – and I know it could have easily caught us. Also, I know that Nikki must have heard and smelled it following, even if I did not, but he never gave a sign. I think maybe Nikki saved at least his life, if not mine, by remaining so calm and I just followed him. That cat could have taken both of us.
No, it was not an overgrown domestic, a mountain lion, a bobcat, a puma, a lynx or any of those. There are no pictures of that cat anywhere and never have been
Weird, but true.
Thank you,
- Miriam Pashby
TCH Comment: Wow, what an interesting account. There is all kinds of stuff going on in this report. El Paso is about as far west as you can go and still be in Texas. Far west Texas has a breeding population of mountain lions and sightings in the area are not uncommon. A jet black cat, though, is something else. One of the first things to catch my eye and give me pause was the description of the tail as “a short manx cat tail.” I had never heard this term and looked it up. Turns out that the Manx cat is a breed of domestic cat with a naturally occurring mutation that shortens the tail. Some Manx cats have a stub of a tail but most are completely tailless. After researching this, I naturally thought this lady saw a large bobcat. Though rare, bobcats can and do exhibit melanism on occasion as documented here. The size reported is a problem, however, as the witness described it as being an equal in muscle and weight to her German shepherd. There simply are no bobcats that large. The description of large golden eyes does not ring any alarm bells for me. Many witnesses claiming to have had encounters with large black cats claim the animal had yellowish eyes. The next thing that bothered me was the posture the cat took and the lack of reaction on the part of the witness’s German shepherd. The rear end up, front end down pose is the classic posture a dog exhibits when it wants to play. The fact the animal made no sound and exhibited no aggression, tends to make me think it was used to people. The fact that it followed the witness and her shepherd before assuming the same rear up pose, again, is classic canine behavior. I really think it is possible that this lady saw some sort of large breed of dog with which she was unfamiliar. Many large breeds have their tails bobbed and ears clipped, giving the ears a more triangular/pointed look and more upright position on the head. I do not think this witness is lying but do feel it is possible she is mistaken. I did a post several years back about large breeds of dogs, black in color that might be candidates for some black cat sightings. I know she insists what she witnesses was no overgrown domestic, a mountain lion, a bobcat, or lynx and that she has never been able to find a photo anywhere of the animal she saw that day. If she is right, and this was a cat of some kind, I cannot imagine what it might have been. The only possibility that comes to mind is a melanistic jaguar that lost its tail in some kind of accident. Even that explanation does not hold much water for me as I just do not see a German shepherd not reacting aggressively to a big predator. I simply do not know what to make of it so will leave this sighting off my updated black panther distribution map.
5/5/14
“I’ve seen a large black cat south of Sierra Blanca (next to Redlight Mill). It was too big to be a house cat and was larger than a bobcat. It had a long tail like that of a mountain lion.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Sierra Blanca sits in the Trans-Pecos region of the Lone Star State in Hudspeth County. This is an area of the state that is recognized by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department as having a breeding mountain lion population. That being the case, a mountain lion in the area is not out of place. In addition, an unusually dark colored cougar was shot there in 2011. You can read about that here. Certainly the charcoal-colored lion killed in 2011 is not the classic “shiny black” often described by witnesses but, depending on light conditions, a cougar that color could appear black. The long tail described eliminates a bobcat outright as a suspect in this case but there is another big cat that is a possibility in this case. The jaguar is native to Texas and individuals have been documented in southern Arizona and New Mexico. If jaguars are crossing into those states from Mexico, it is not too much of a stretch to think they could be crossing into Texas as well. If a few of those individuals are melanistic, then that could explain this, and many other, sightings near the southern border of Texas.
5/6/14
“I live in Austonio, Tx. Late last summer we were out for a drive down a dirt road about 2 miles from our house. While looking out the passenger window I saw a large BLACK cougar sized animal jumping through the tall grass coming straight toward us. The grass was light in color and it really stood out.(not brown, but black.) It was about 60 yards away and moving fast. Every time it jumped I could see head and front paws, then when it landed only the tail could be seen as the grass was tall. The tail was quite long and held straight up. My brother has also spotted one about five miles away twice in a pasture.
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Austonio is an unincorporated community, formerly known as Pearville, located in Houston County in east Texas not too far from Crockett. There is a long history of black panther stories from this part of the Lone Star State. These cats are often thought of as just another animal in the woods and nothing to get too excited about. It is only when the locals find out that “there is no such thing as a black panther” that they get worked up. The description of the cat bounding is interesting. I have seen videos of big cats moving in this manner. It is possible this cat was after a field mouse or rabbit. It is an interesting behavioral tidbit to be sure.
5/13/14
“I live in Burkeville, TX (Newton County) about 2 miles from the Sabine River. I grew up listening to my grandpa telling stories of big cat in the area. I grew up playing deep in these woods from sun up to sundown and never saw anything but deer and hogs until one day when I was about 14 riding a four wheeler down a old logging trail something told me to look back.....When I did there was a large tan colored cougar running 20 feet behind me, he veered off into the woods and I about killed myself trying to get back to the house.......they ARE here.....miles and miles of river bottom that people never set foot on around here.”
- J. Fredieu
TCH Comment: This report obviously details the sighting of a normal tawny-colored cougar. I include it here for several reasons. First, J. Fredieu makes a point I have stressed many times in the past; mainly, there are thousands and thousands of acres of woods, bottomland, swamps and marshes in Texas where people seldom, if ever, go. Second, wildlife biologists will tell you that no breeding population of mountain lions live in southeast Texas but natives will tell you differently. In this regard, this sighting is not unlike those of large black cats. In this case, cougars are not supposed to exist (in this location), therefore, the witness must be mistaken, lying or saw an escaped pet. It is the same tired routine over and over again. Lastly, I included this report because it comes from the area where I grew up and I think it is cool. Sue me.
5/19/14
“I am in Flynn, TX right outside of Normangee, laughably the home of the fighting panthers (black). But seriously, approx. 2010 my brother & husband spotted a black cat fishing one day off of CR 499 it was moving through tall grass & brush, had muscular shoulders, body and tail visible even through the thick brush. But we have moved about 8 miles down from there & are experiencing multiple nights of horrific " woman screams" almost sometimes like a person being stabbed or something very upsetting to me & we have had a calf mutilated & our front neighbor has too - I was just wondering if any large or small farm animals or cattle have been killed before in the sightings areas. I seriously thought I was dealing with a bigfoot until I researched the screams & now the calves are dying. It would have to be a big animal to take down some of these calves.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Flynn, TX is an unincorporated community in Leon County. This area sits right on the edge of where central Texas gives way to east Texas. The county is sparsely populated with just over 15,000 people living there as of the 2000 census. That works out to only 14 people per square mile. The area is very rural and has many heavily wooded areas in which a large cat could survive quite well. I have had several reports come out of this general vicinity including a report from a man who claims to have hit a large black cat with his car (click here for details). The description given is typical of a panther or cougar. The “woman screaming” sounds are classic cougar vocalizations. While it cannot be known if the animal making the screams is the same animal or type of cat seen previously, it would seem to indicate that the culprit is a mountain lion. Jaguars roar, cougars do not. It is one of the characteristics that prevents cougars from being thought of as a true big cat by science. I have followed up on several reports of livestock killings and feel at least some of them are attributable to a big cat of some kind. If these problems persist, I would ask this witness to contact me via email at Texascryptidhunter@yahoo.com so we can visit and maybe get some cameras set up.
6/9/14
“Not sure how I ended up here, but I guess that's the internet for you. Interesting site, and some compelling arguments all around. I wanted to add my two cents.
I grew up in Columbus, Texas in the 70's and 80's--I'm almost 40 now. Our neighborhood was situated less than 1500 feet from a bend in the Colorado River that ran along the east end of town. I remember hearing stories from various members of my family (all of whom lived in the area) to the effect that black panthers lived in the area--especially along the river bottoms. But one particular story stuck out to me, and I remember it to this day. A family who lived around the corner from us swore that one of them had seen a black panther more than once. Their house backed up to the river and was less than 1000 feet from the river (I just Google mapped it). They had a small shed on the south side of the house that stood only about 5 or six feet tall. One evening, they were rounding the (can't remember which member of the family it was, but I think it was two of them that saw it) corner to go to the backyard for something, and they saw this black panther laying down up on the angled roof of the shed.
I can't for the life of me remember anything else about that story, but my mom and dad remember it and stories like it to this day. At the time, I was just a small boy, and thought these stories were completely isolated to Columbus. Stumbling upon this phenomenon today, it's fascinating to me to find that others have had the same experience. Though these disparate experiences lack the concreteness of hard evidence, it is very hard to believe that so many unconnected eyewitnesses could all be misidentifying these animals. I tend to favor hard evidence, but in the world of animal biology, there have simply been too many cases where the seemingly outlandish claims of indigenous peoples have been later validated by physical evidence.
Anyway, thanks for the article. It brought back a lot of weird memories.”
- CromCrom
TCH Comment: I love this account and I will tell you why. It is absolutely typical of what you will hear from people who have lived all there lives, sometimes for generations, in the bottoms, woods or marshes of east and southeast Texas. This reader also brings up a great point about the importance of anecdotal evidence brought forth by those indigenous to a region when it comes to identifying new animal species. I recently posted this link to an article stressing the importance of anecdotal evidence and local knowledge on the Facebook page. Here is the link to that article again.
6/23/14
“I just wanted to put my sighting on the web. That way other people who see this animal can have proof they are not crazy! I know people probably get the same remarks as I do, and nobody believes me… But, I saw what I saw, and it happened. On December 25th – 26th, 2012 around midnight. I was driving home on Sam Rayburn Tollway towards Plano, and the roads were terrible "still had ice on them." Not very many cars on the road, but was driving probably 25-30 MPH. I just passed the Super Target off of Main Street/121, and saw the most beautiful/ athletic creature I've ever seen. This large dark cat like animal was about 3 to 3.5 ft tall, roughly 5 ft in length, muscular body, long tail, and either black or really dark grey. Crossed the entire Toll way in less than 3 or 4 seconds. I witnessed this animal leap from the field “near Arbor Hills Park” to the off ramp “cleared the service road”, then to the middle of the tollway, to the next off ramp, then leaped into another open field “clearing the service road”, and then sprinted North in an open field next to some apartments. Literally leaped and bounded over the tollway… It was so fast, and had so much momentum I never saw it take a step, until it was running in the field towards the Colony. It was very muscular, it’s movements were so natural, flawless, and athletic. I pulled over to the side of the road immediately, as well as several other cars just to see if what we saw really just happened. The car that was behind me pulled up next to me, and asked “what was that?” & “what did you see?”. We briefly traded stories to double check if we saw the same thing, and confirmed to ourselves we were not crazy... I've hunted my entire life "as a hobby", and I've never seen anything move or look like this animal did. When I got home I started to search the web for animals like I saw, and if anyone else saw it. I don’t know exactly what kind of cat it is, but I’m guessing was a black panther. I called the next day, and tried to report my story to animal control, but they didn't take me seriously. I know what I saw that night, and anyone else who has seen this animal know how amazing this creature really is.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: The area in question would seem to be an unlikely spot for an anomalous big cat sighting but it is anything but unusual. The area just north and east of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has been a hotbed for sightings of large, black cat for years. I have recently obtained photos of a cougar in Murphy, Texas, which is not too far to the southeast of this sighting, and the community of Lantana, which is not too far to the northwest of this location. As a matter of fact, the location of this sighting would be right at the halfway point of where these photos were taken. Lake Lewisville is just to the west of the sighting location and there are several large parks, preserves and green belts in the area. It is true that the Lantana and Murphy cats were clearly tawny-colored cougars and not black. Having said that, if one accepts the possibility that a large black cat of some kind may exist in Texas, it would likely have many of the same needs and requirements as a mountain lion. We have photographic evidence showing that cougars inhabit or pass through this area on a regular basis. If these large black cats exist, why could they not do the same?
6/30/14
“My neighbor on the next farm over has 4 large black cats pictures on his game camera from the spring of 2013 here on the edge of Timpson, TX. Every now then when out hog hunting, you can here them scream. Kinda makes your hair stand up not knowing or seeing where they’re at.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Timpson is located in deep east Texas in Shelby County. The eastern boundary of the county, and the state, is the Sabine River. Reports of black panthers from the Piney Woods Region of Texas are not uncommon. Interestingly, what has become a well-known game camera photo of an unusually dark-colored cougar stalking a buck at a feeder came from this very area. Maybe the coloring of the cougars in this area is a bit darker than normal? If the submitter of this report is reading this, I would love to get a look at your neighbor’s game camera photos. If they clearly show large black cats then they could be a game changer for wildlife biologists.
7/8/14
“My husband and I live in Lewisville TX, in an apartment complex close to the lake. There is a small field in front of our windows. When my husband was leaving for work this morning around 7:00 am he got into his car and saw a large cat jump up in front of him. It jumped a few times as if it were trying to get a rabbit or something. He saw it very up close and said it was medium-dark brown in color, looked to be about 3 feet long or longer with a long tail, large hind leg and paws. I came out onto our balcony to see if I could spot it and I eventually did (I did get it on camera, I would love to share it but I do not see where I can attach it.) It was in the tall grass that comes up pretty tall and you can clearly see it is up about that.”
- Jessica Scales
TCH Comment: Another report from the Lewisville area. See what I mean about the area being a hotbed? The estimated size of 3 feet in length would be awfully big for a feral cat and the long tail eliminates a bobcat as the culprit. The description of the color as “medium to dark brown” does not sound like a cougar, though shades can vary. A jaguarundi is a possibility, I suppose, but the description of large hind legs and paws makes me wonder about that. I wonder, too, if this couple spotted a juvenile cat. The behavior described, jumping and bounding, could mean the cat was on the hunt or it could be a playful behavior. This is the second report that included a description of this behavior to come in to me over the last few months. Mrs. Scales, I would really like to take a look at your photos. You can attach them to an email and send them to me at Texascryptidhunter@yahoo.com.
7/13/14
“I live in Allen, Texas and saw a large cat hunting the rabbits in our neighborhood tonight. It appeared to be about 25 lbs maybe 2.5 to 3 feet in length with a long tail. My mom has a main coon and it was significantly bigger. It looked yellow-reddish. I didn’t see any spots but unsure as it was dark and I didn’t want to get close. Any ideas?”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: The size of the cat in question here, along with the lack of spots, limits the list of suspects. My best guess would be a large domestic/feral cat or a jaguarundi. Some would suspect a young mountain lion but cougar cubs are quite strikingly marked. These markings would be difficult to miss so I doubt that is what was seen in this case. The jaguarundi goes through a color phase very similar to what this witness describes. The jaguarundi usually stands 10-14 inches high at the shoulder and measures anywhere from 30-60 inches from the nose to the tip of the tail. The 25 lb. cat described would be on the heavy side for a jaguarundi but not outlandishly so. Jaguarundi are not thought to live so far north but anecdotal evidence suggests that it is possible.
7/25/14
“I live in McLeod, TX. I've heard these things for years and seen two. One while trail riding Ole Dan knew exactly what it was. All I could do was hang on as we went to the barn. They’re here. They exist. Call them what you want it’s a panther around here.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Cass County sits in the extreme northeast corner of the Lone Star State. This area is heavily wooded, sparsely populated and has a history of black panther reports. This account is another very matter-of-fact declaration from a witness saying these enigmatic black cats exist and that he has seen them. I get the feeling he does not care much if anyone else believes him or not. This is an attitude common to many folks living in the woods, bottoms and/or marshes of east Texas when it comes to these cats.
7/26/14
“I received this picture from a (soon to be) neighbor in some new construction on the west edge of Lake Ray Hubbard in Rowlett on Monday. It was apparently shot on Sunday evening, at about 8pm. Crappy iPhone pic (are there any other kind of cryptid pics?) but I can tell you that the black wrought iron fence to the right is 5 feet high, and 15 feet from the orange fence. I'd be inclined to dismiss it as either a black dog or a large house cat, but the proportions appear to be wrong for either. It certainly looks-like a bobtail size or better felid. I was googling around attempting to confirm my memory that there weren't any documented native black cats in North America (or at least Texas), when I stumbled onto your "Texas Black Panther" post, and decided you might enjoy the report. I'll be living in the property on the right side of the fence in a few weeks, and will be keeping my eye out for more sightings...
- Chuck (last name withheld)
TCH Comment: Once again, we find ourselves just northeast of Dallas. This report is great because it includes a photograph to back up the claim. I am not quite sure what to make of the photo. The cat does not seem to be very tall at the shoulder but is in a crouched posture. The cat does seem to be longer than what would normally be seen in a domestic. I will be attempting to do some analysis to get some ballpark estimates on size soon and will post those results in a later post. In the meantime, I have zoomed in and slightly lightened up the original photo. It almost looks like this cat is carrying something in its mouth. Could it be a cub/kitten?
8/1/14
“Hi I was doing research and came across and article that mentioned you. I've seen two large black cats here on Fort Hood in the training areas and would like to know what I'm dealing with. Any ideas?”
- Tina
TCH Comment: I live in the Fort Hood area and know exactly where these sightings took place. It is not the first time that I have heard of unusual animals being seen in this area. Fort Hood is the largest military base in the free world encompassing 340 square miles of central Texas. The military needed the wide-open spaces to test and train with World War II era tanks and tank destroyers. The base still has miles upon miles of wilderness and unpopulated areas that are used to train troops and for firing ranges. It would be suitable habitat for a large cat as deer and hogs are everywhere. I talked to Tina and wanted to come out on site to have a look but the increased security on the base prevented me from doing so. She has promised to keep an eye out and a camera handy from this point on and to let me know if any other sightings occur.
8/5/14
“On 08/04/2014 at about 11:45PM, in Orange, Texas, me and a friend were sitting on my porch looking toward my pasture tree line. We sighted and watched a large cat with fist-sized spots, which were the same color as the fur but a bit lighter or darker. We held a flash light beam on the cat for the entire period. The tail was very long and the cat was sleek, not shaggy like a bobcat. I could not tell what color it was because there was a bit of haze in the air and the flashlight seemed to reflect back the grey haze that was in the air. When we looked up images the cat we saw looked like a melanistic jaguar. It was about 115 yards away, laying inside the line of trees just past a freshly cut pasture. The cat stood up and began to walk toward my neighbor’s yard where there are chickens in a coop. Just guessing it stood about 36 inches high and between 4-5 feet long not including the tail which seemed very long for a cat.”
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Red flags everywhere on this one. The witness claims it was 11:45 at night when they saw the cat at a distance of over 100 yards. He says he could discern “fist-sized spots” slightly lighter than the rest of the cat’s coat. Yet, in the next few sentences, the witness said, “I could not tell what color it was because there was a bit of haze in the air.” Also, the witness says he lit the cat up with a flashlight, which allowed he and his friend to see the spotted coat but follows later with “the flashlight seemed to reflect back the gray haze in the air.” The witness indicates they saw the cat and watched it stand up before walking toward his neighbor’s property. Earlier, he said the cat was “laying inside the line of trees just past a freshly cut pasture.” How did he see a melanistic cat well enough to discern spots from over 100 yards away at 11:45 on a hazy/foggy night? I would like to buy into this one but just cannot do so right now. Maybe there are reasonable explanations for these contradictions but until I hear them, I have to assume this report is invalid. This report will not be added to my black panther distribution map. I include it here simply to show that I do critically examine reports as they come in and do not believe everything I hear.
8/6/14
“We have a ranch located between Hwy 79 and OSR, just east of Franklin, TX. We have seen many bobcats, cougars and black jaguars. Have pics of footprints, but not of cats. One large cat attacked a cow and tore up her hind side, shredded her tail leaving huge slashes on both back hips, inside and outside back legs. Found her 600 pound calf carcass weeks later in a tree.
- Anonymous
TCH Comment: Franklin is found in the Brazos River Valley not too far from the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area. It is very rural and agriculture is the dominant industry here. There is plenty of cover and room for a big cat of some kind to roam. I would be very interested to see the photos of tracks and would especially like to see any pictures of the carcass you found in a tree. If accurate, that would get the attention of some wildlife biologists, I’m sure. It is interesting because cougars tend to cache their kills on the ground and cover them. Jaguars are thought by many to drag their prey up into a tree but that is actually rarely the case. Of the known big cats, only leopards, native to Africa and Asia, tend to cache their kills in trees. The reason they do so is to keep the kill away from lions, hyenas and other predators that are either stronger than they are or come in larger numbers. I cannot imagine a need to cache a kill in a tree here in Texas (Also, it is difficult for me to believe that a leopard could drag a 600 lb. calf up a tree. They are big cats but not that big). I suppose the behavior could be instinctual but it would mean a melanistic leopard was on the loose in the Brazos Valley, something I believe to be highly unlikely. As you can see, I’m having some problems with this report. I am withholding judgment in the hopes that the submitter will send me those photos. I will gladly apologize for my doubts if the photos prove me wrong. Please send them in to Texascryptidhunter@yahoo.com. As of now, though, I have too many reservations about this report to include this sighting on my updated black panther distribution map. I include it here simply to show that I do critically examine reports as they come in and do not believe everything I hear.
As I wrap up this post, once again I am faced with what to do with this “black panther” dilemma. Do I simply accept the opinion of mainstream science and conclude that there is no such animal. If so, I must assign witnesses who have claimed sightings of these ghost cats to one of three categories: liar, crazy or mistaken.
I just cannot do that.
This dilemma is not unlike that which investigators of the wood ape/sasquatch phenomenon face. Is everyone lying? Is everyone mistaken or nuts? I find that idea more difficult to believe than the possibility there is a biological entity out there that is responsible for many of these sightings. Are some sightings of large, black cats in Texas and the Deep South simply cases of mistaken identity? I have no doubt that is the case. Having said that, the sheer volume of sighting reports indicates to me that there is something more here than just myth and folklore.
I would like to express my gratitude to those that have submitted their sightings of large black cats. Remember, however, if you would like me to follow up with you please submit your account via an email and not as an anonymous comment to another post.
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Great blog post, informative list. Thanks so much. I’m enjoying devouring your site!!
ReplyDeleteiphone 6 case Haze Gray
We just saw a cat like animal cross the north bound lanes of Hwy 59 about 6 miles north of Carthage. It was black and about 2 1/2 feet tall and walked like a cat. It had a long tail. It was about 8:30 pm on July 25, 2015. We got online to check out what it might be and fiund this site. Have others reported sightings in this area?
ReplyDeleteA few months ago I had a large dark brown Cougar/Mountain Lion walk across the highway in front of me at 10:30 AM on a Saturday. The big cat was only 20 feet away when it went into the ditch and under the fence into dense underbrush. This sighting was about 2 miles south of FM 1093 on FM 723 south of Katy, Texas. The animal was heading in a westerly direction. I estimate it to weigh 75-100+ lbs.
ReplyDeleteRecently my husband and I were working as a volunteers on Sapelo Island, Georgia. I thought I saw a bobcat on 2 different occasions. When I reported this to the Ranger and the Dept. of Natl. Resources manager on the island - they both laughed at me. I was told there had not been any bobcats or sightings on the island in over a hundred years.
ReplyDeleteAbout two months later my husband and I were walking on a dirt street in the woods picking up trash. I saw a cat-like creature walking down the road. Since I had been laughed at for saying I had seen a bobcat, I assumed that it was a large domestic cat. My husband thought the same.
As the cat got closer we then realized it was a bobcat. My husband went to get a stick because the cat kept approaching us. I turned to see what my husband was doing and the bobcat jumped on my back.
I was bitten and scratched all over my body with 2 especially big bites on my leg.
I was rushed off the island on a special ferry run to the emergency where I was treated for 6 hours because I had so many bites and scratches all over my body.
After the attack, the DNR personnel went looking for the bobcat. They found it and shot it because once they spotted it it kept coming at them. The bobcat had rabies.
So, all in all, I guess if people haven't seen something like a bobcat or cougar themselves they don't think they exist.
Believe me I will now believe someone and myself when it comes to wild animals.
Recently my husband and I were working as a volunteers on Sapelo Island, Georgia. I thought I saw a bobcat on 2 different occasions. When I reported this to the Ranger and the Dept. of Natl. Resources manager on the island - they both laughed at me. I was told there had not been any bobcats or sightings on the island in over a hundred years.
ReplyDeleteAbout two months later my husband and I were walking on a dirt street in the woods picking up trash. I saw a cat-like creature walking down the road. Since I had been laughed at for saying I had seen a bobcat, I assumed that it was a large domestic cat. My husband thought the same.
As the cat got closer we then realized it was a bobcat. My husband went to get a stick because the cat kept approaching us. I turned to see what my husband was doing and the bobcat jumped on my back.
I was bitten and scratched all over my body with 2 especially big bites on my leg.
I was rushed off the island on a special ferry run to the emergency where I was treated for 6 hours because I had so many bites and scratches all over my body.
After the attack, the DNR personnel went looking for the bobcat. They found it and shot it because once they spotted it it kept coming at them. The bobcat had rabies.
So, all in all, I guess if people haven't seen something like a bobcat or cougar themselves they don't think they exist.
Believe me I will now believe someone and myself when it comes to wild animals.
I too have seen a Black Panther! It was December 1st at 7:30 pm 2015. What caught my attention were 2 huge wide set eyes glowing in my headlights. As I neared I saw an extremely large black cat crouched stalking prey. It was a Black Panther. Not more then 20 yards down the road a Deer jumped in front of my truck as it must have sensed the impending danger. We had just received 10 inches of rain in 3 days and that might be what brought him up. When I told my neighbor he said he had seen big cat tracks down by our creek. He said "It's no Bobcat" Much to large. This sighting was at F&M 1886 and Silver Creek Azle RD, Tarrant County, Texas 76020
ReplyDeleteSo I live in Shepherd Tx and come home from work every night between 3:30 & 4:30 am. I live literally right next to sam Houston national forest. On my way home tonight, I had just turned off of hwy 2025 onto fm 2666 and saw a large black cat in the grass between the road and the forest. It was clearly a black cat but I could not see its face. It did have a long tail. Could this have been what I would call a panther? Do they live in the national forest here?
ReplyDeleteSo I live in Shepherd Tx and come home from work every night between 3:30 & 4:30 am. I live literally right next to sam Houston national forest. On my way home tonight, I had just turned off of hwy 2025 onto fm 2666 and saw a large black cat in the grass between the road and the forest. It was clearly a black cat but I could not see its face. It did have a long tail. Could this have been what I would call a panther? Do they live in the national forest here?
ReplyDeleteWe Live on a Ranch in Marshall TX off 2208 on lake of the pines we say a black panther here the screemit makes will send chills down ur back people Texas has black panthers!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBack in 60s to 70s I used to deer hunt in Bend, TX by Lampasas, TX there was a place called Panther Rock where there was a $50.00 bounty because they were killing the livestock and the panthers were black and about the size of a cougar or mountain lion. Their screams sound like a woman being tortured and it would send chills up and down your back. I have seen the black panthers 10-15 times while hunting there. Once I killed a deer in the Cherokee Creek and by the time I got to where the deer was it was drug across the stream and I followed the drag marks to the other side to a cliff that was 6-7 feet straight up and there was my deer with a black panther and he was already chewing on that deer. Almost every time in would go in after the hunt one would follow me to the camp but stay off about 50 yards. You come to late to tell me that there aren't any black panthers.
ReplyDeleteBack in 60s to 70s I used to deer hunt in Bend, TX by Lampasas, TX there was a place called Panther Rock where there was a $50.00 bounty because they were killing the livestock and the panthers were black and about the size of a cougar or mountain lion. Their screams sound like a woman being tortured and it would send chills up and down your back. I have seen the black panthers 10-15 times while hunting there. Once I killed a deer in the Cherokee Creek and by the time I got to where the deer was it was drug across the stream and I followed the drag marks to the other side to a cliff that was 6-7 feet straight up and there was my deer with a black panther and he was already chewing on that deer. Almost every time in would go in after the hunt one would follow me to the camp but stay off about 50 yards. You come to late to tell me that there aren't any black panthers.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 31, 2016
ReplyDeleteWe are just East on FM 228 outside of Grapeland, Texas. This morning about 7 AM, my dog would not go out. He would not move. I looked up and out in the open pasture was a large dark cat crouched looking at something in the grass. I walked back in a got my small pistol. I fired towards the cat but it only moved about 3 or 4 feet, turned and looked at me. The next time I fired it only moved another 4 ft. and looked at me again. The third time it ran. This cat was slender, taller and longer than my 40# small pit-bull. Now I know why the dog keeps going to the door and smelling the air!
I'm in Centerville and 3 times have we spotted what we believe is a black panther. Mom saw it once dad saw it once they described it has a giant black cat with a long tail that walked real slow along the fence line picking up from legs really high. Today 2/17/17 I saw it for the first time running across the street. Bigger then a 60 pound dog and twice as long with a tail that drags the ground black as night. In only about 40 minutes from you probably
DeleteI saw a large black cat cross the road today on 1243 in between Bynum,Texas and Brandon, Texas. It was bigger than my pit bull and had a very long tail. It crossed the road very quickly. I was amazed. I wish I had a dash cam to prove it. I would love to see it again.
ReplyDeleteI too have seen one of these big black cats many years ago, it was about 1988 or 1989 in DeRidder, LA about 20 miles east of the Sabine river at around 1 in the morning, in town near the fire station on Hwy 190. A large black cat walked across the road in front of my car and crossed into a then wooded creek area. It was big, it was black, it was NOT a bobcat, had a solid build not one of the jaguarundi that some people claim is the big black cat. It was bigger and with a much more solid build. It showed no fear of me or my car, it just casually strolled across the highway illuminated by my headlights. I never came to a full stop, but started slowing when I saw it from a couple of hundred feet away (35 mph zone). Then we both went on our way, it is something I will not forget even though it has been over 25 years.
ReplyDeleteHello I never believed there were black panthers or Jaguars in Texas until last year 2015 I was living near the Sam Houston national Forrest on the outskirts of Richards, tx and one night around 12am a friend of mine was leaving to go home and he was showing off a flash light he had bought he shined it across the road about a 100 yds up in the tree tops when we noticed to big green eyes probably 40' in a pine tree I ran and got my binoculars that's when I realized it was a huge black cat with green eyes black sleek fur my buddy then realized what we were looking at and said "is that what I think it is" without saying a word I ran and got my gun my buddy went and got his when he got back I was already propped up against my porch post when he shined back on the cat I shot in fear of the cat attacking me or someone or the livestock nearby I'm pretty sure I missed because I was so excited about it then my buddy shot still looking thru my scope I saw the cat jump to the ground and we could hear limbs breaking like we may have hit the cat still in shock we gathered ourselves and debated if we should go look to see if we hit it once we gathered up enough courage we walked across the road then about 50 yds into the woods and once we got to the base of the bull Pine there was no cat but we noticed some broken dead limbs about 2-3 inches in diameter that looked freshly broke and on the trunk of the tree you could see bark missing on both sides all the way up it where it appeared to have climed the tree we were so spooked we high tailed it out of there the next day I told my neighbor and she said that her dogs were acting very strange that night and she didn't doubt it because she had heard other people in the neighbor hood say they have also seen a big black cat in the past. I don't know if we hit the cat because I never did find blood just the freshly broken limbs and bark missing from the tree and judging from the tree which you could barley wrap both of your arms around the missing bark on both sides and the broken limbs this was no domestic cat this cat was huge and from then on I wouldn't let my dog get to far at night and if i was in my shop outside at night I kept a gun close bye. Call me crazy I don't care I know what I saw I have hunted my entire life and I Have never seen anything like this. I recently moved from the property about 6 months ago and I was happy to go.
ReplyDeleteMarch 19 2016 I am a gate guard in Tilden Texas and yesterday nite I killed two rats and put them about Twenty yards out my bus door I had my door window open and heard some growling I looked out and didn't see anything so I stared for awhile and dam a large black cat came from under my bus and ran and grabbed one of the rats. It was at least 4 foot long with a huge tail. I'm going to try and get a picture next time to send to you. And by the way the other rat got eating by a coyote
ReplyDeleteI live in Montgomery Texas buy the forest and I swear I just saw one out in the field by our house. The stray cats were on alert for something so I started looking around and I saw a black, long muscular animal jump out of the tree area and it didn't land tell about 10 feet later. It made no noise at all. No dogs that size around here to compare it to and I know it wasn't a wild hog or normal cat. Happened right before sunset.
ReplyDeleteI live in San Antonio by the Medical Center. I have sighted a very large black cat that looked to be 4ft long nose to tail. It's tail was about 18" long. The first time was about 6 weeks ago at my apartment. I live on the outer edge by the fence line and a green belt area is on the other side. I was looking out my balcony at dusk and was watching what I thought was a domestic cat stalking by the small creek. As it came closer it was getting much bigger in size and I thought well that's a pretty strange looking dog because it was much too large to be a cat. When it crossed directly across from me I was amazed to see it was a cat of some kind. First thing I thought was a black panther. My balcony is about 30 yards from the fence line and creek. My second sighting was a few days ago on my way to work. It was 6:45am and I was driving down Hamilton Wolfe along side of the Hamilton Wolfe Trail. This road has 3 lanes on each side with a large grass median in the center. The cat was walking from the trail area across all 6 lanes. I saw it just as it was coming to the first lane on my left and it walked across all the lanes safely and disappeared into the wooded field on the right side of the road. I believe it was the same animal. It was beautiful. I haven't stopped thinking about this creature and imagining where it came from and what type of existence it is living here in a large populated urban environment. We do have quite a lot of wildlife in this area. We're surrounded by pockets of wooded fields. I was watch for deer that come down to that same fence line and drink from the creek.
ReplyDeleteI saw what I believe was a jaguarundi in San Antonio along the Salado Creek Greenway. It was noticeably bigger than a house cat, very dark, with a long body, and long thick tail, small head and small ears.
ReplyDeleteI live in Willis TX, North of Dallas. I witnessed a big black cat chasing a full grown deer very close to my neighborhood. I went back to the area a photographed paw prints. I called the game warden, he told me it was a Bobcat. This thing was as big as my German Shepherd and set on eating a full grown deer.
ReplyDeleteI live in Willis, TX, North of Houston, I saw a large black cat chasing a deer through the back of my neighborhood. Whent back today and got photos of the tracks.
ReplyDeleteWe have some land on the south side of Lake Livingston in Camilla. It goes down to the River and backs up to the national forest. It's reported by neighbors that a tan Mountain Lion has been seen below the dam at night after people clean their fish and dump it.
ReplyDeleteSighting 1. Coming into Coldspring on 150 you pass the San Jacinto River. During mid morning we saw a very large black cat running across a field into the wooded area where the river is. This was larger than a chocolate lab, long tail, black, and fast.
Sighting 2. My dad was hunting our land. It starts up high with wonderful views and dips down low to some creeks that flow down to the river. The land has been wilderness since the area was settled. We've only recently cut some trails down for hunting hogs and deer (which are plentiful) There are well over 3000 acres of wilderness without human interaction. There was a long tailed black cat, larger than a bobcat (which we've seen multiple times) walking along the trail from a small pond to the creek. Mid morning.
Sighting 3. While driving out of the area after walking around our property to check cameras in the afternoon we had a black cat cross the road ahead of us. Long tail. Black. Big.
I'd feel like I'm crazy if I didn't have witnesses or be able to compare the size. I've talked to the Game Warden and even a biologist because it's just nuts. I've donated to some big cat sanctuaries and visted multiple times, I'm familiar with cats. Seen tons of animals in the area we've seen the cats so we know the size, it's not a feral cat. It's big and I no longer hunt alone because of it. I don't know what else to say, I'm dumping money into game cameras but no luck so far.
I live in the last vestiges of rural Pflugerville TX. About 2 weeks ago, at about 2:30am I spotted a large black cat like figure seeming flowing through my backyard. It was not as large as a “panther”, but maybe bobcat size with a long tail. I have 5 acres surrounded by livestock fence and an abundance of rabbits. I have a smaller portion (my backyard) surrounded by a 8ft wooden fence. I shined my flashlight and watched this animal slowly (and I mean slowly) scale this fence and perch on the top. The head turn toward me and I saw this black silhouette with the yellow reflective eyes. I'm glad I saw this blog....I thought I was alone.
ReplyDeleteI am in Round Rock off 3406 and while working in the garage, a very large, tall as the bumper on my SUV black cat came up to the drive way.
DeleteI live in the last vestiges of rural Pflugerville TX. About 2 weeks ago, at about 2:30am I spotted a large black cat like figure seeming flowing through my backyard. It was not as large as a “panther”, but maybe bobcat size with a long tail. I have 5 acres surrounded by livestock fence and an abundance of rabbits. I have a smaller portion (my backyard) surrounded by a 8ft wooden fence. I shined my flashlight and watched this animal slowly (and I mean slowly) scale this fence and perch on the top. The head turn toward me and I saw this black silhouette with the yellow reflective eyes. I'm glad I saw this blog....I thought I was alone.
ReplyDeleteAbout 15 years ago my husband and I used to ride out bikes at McAllister Park in San Antonio. Believe it or not we saw a large black animal that looked like what everybody has described in your blog. It was way too big to be domesticated.. it was the size of a large dog but it was feline...very stealthy and ran quickly across the road at a distance from us...
ReplyDeleteI live just outside Lockhart on a 100 acre heavily wooded ranch. Driving up the driveway tonight I saw a large dark feline walking slowly up my driveway. From behind it reminded me of a tiger walking at the zoo-long thick tail and all. I flashed my bright lights at it and it turned and looked back at me with yellow eyes. It was definitely not a bobcat because we've seen those frequently on the property.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago the manager of a mini warehouse facility that backs up to thin woods in Cypress TX, told me that she and her husband saw a black cat about 2.5 ft tall near the woods. Sounds like she saw it at a distance of maybe 80-100 yds. It was around dusk, and they couldn't make out the tail or other details. It was walking along the wood line and didn't seem to see them. and when her husband made a noise, it reversed direction and hurried back to where it came from. In the 35 yrs I've lived in Houston< I've heard a few stories of these sightings, but they were all far out in the country.
ReplyDeleteManvel TX.
DeleteNobody believes me. I keep telling people it was black but everyone said I was crazy. Probably because I saw it when I was 9. I was at my friends house for a sleep over. We live on the same County Road just a few houses down. It was the 4th of July too, and we wanted fireworks. His neighbor separated by a bamboo woods type area (where this thing lives) had some and offered a few to us. Just like poppers and black cats. Little did we know there was a much bigger black cat. After getting the fireworks, we walked down the road to his house againow, only to be stopped by a huge black cat crossing the street. It stopped in the middle, looked at us for about 6 seconds, and then continued on. So we didn't know what to do, but we stayed calm and walked slowly the rest of the way to his house. Sorry for a long comment, but nobody has ever believed our story.
ReplyDeleteNobody believes me. I keep telling people it was black but everyone said I was crazy. Probably because I saw it when I was 9. I was at my friends house for a sleep over. We live on the same County Road just a few houses down. It was the 4th of July too, and we wanted fireworks. His neighbor separated by a bamboo woods type area (where this thing lives) had some and offered a few to us. Just like poppers and black cats. Little did we know there was a much bigger black cat. After getting the fireworks, we walked down the road to his house againow, only to be stopped by a huge black cat crossing the street. It stopped in the middle, looked at us for about 6 seconds, and then continued on. So we didn't know what to do, but we stayed calm and walked slowly the rest of the way to his house. Sorry for a long comment, but nobody has ever believed our story.
ReplyDeleteJuly 09, 2016 at about 1:00pm, mile 4.5 on the Goodwater Loop around Georgetown Lake, my wife was hiking alone and saw for about 10 minutes a large cat, as big or bigger than our 70 pound Lab retriever, definitely spotted. The animal was crossing the trail and stopped, as did my wife, for about 10 minutes of mutual observation, before it sauntered off toward the lake.
ReplyDeleteReview of online pictures with my wife leads her to revise her size estimate and to conclude she saw a bobcat at Georgetown Lake on July 09.
ReplyDeleteHeading to work around 7:30ish on Monday morning July 25th from Calvert, TX toward Hearne, Texas. I look over to what caught my attention on the side road was a deer someone had run over. I saw 5-6 black cats, looked like big huge black panthers tearing into the deer. I know what I saw was like what the heck is that. But yes, there was a pack of black panthers. Huge. I wanted to make a u-turn and take a picture but felt they would not like me bothering them while they were eating and for my safety. They were dragging what they could of the deer into the woods. I know exactly what spot is was. Should have taken the pic.
ReplyDeleteHearing from Calvert, TX towards Hearne to work around 7:30ish. I look over to the side of the road where I spotted 5-6 big black panthers. I know what I saw was like what the heck. But yes they were tearing into a deer that someone had hit on the hwy. It's hwy 6 going South. They were tearing and dragging that deer into the woods as they were having a feast. I wanted to make a u-turn and go back to take a picture. But thought about my safety. I know I'm not the only one that saw that. I'm sure the other people behind me that wear driving South around that time saw what I did. It caught my eyes, you couldn't help but to look. It was scary but then it was like what the heck did I just see. Big Black Panthers with the long tails having a early morning feast. There is lot's of corn, rice and milo fields in the woods and fields I spotted them. They are out there.
ReplyDeleteThis morning at around 5:15am in Round Rock, Tx, my husband was walking our dog and spotted a large sleek black cat weighing around 50 lbs. Later that day a neighbor reported that an owl was found injured outside of his apartment. We live in the La Frontera section of Round Rock.
ReplyDeleteThis morning at around 5:15am in Round Rock, Tx, my husband was walking our dog and spotted a large sleek black cat weighing around 50 lbs. Later that day a neighbor reported that an owl was found injured outside of his apartment. We live in the La Frontera section of Round Rock.
ReplyDeleteTis the season
DeleteJust saw a very large cat, black w/long tail outside our house in east Granbury Texas-Mallard Pointe subdivision. This the third time we've seen it. About the size of a medium size dog-red heeler...I have a picture but unable to upload on this post.
ReplyDeleteIt may be a bengal. I took home a kitten from the granbury walmart and it turned out to be part bengal.They are large and some are dark. They are part asian leopard cat part domestic car.
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ReplyDelete10 years ago, I was driving around with my friends on Trinity Boulevard in Fort Worth. We turned into a neighborhood turned right and I saw a large black panther in someone's driveway. I was in such shock I didn't know what to say so we just drove right past and I said, wow... Did you guys see that?
ReplyDeleteNov. 7, 2016. Uvalde County Texas near Garner State Park. Last week my husband came back from a walk on CR 350 from Parkview Riverside RV and told me he had seen a large black catlike animal run across the road in front of him(50 yds away) Yesterday evening I was on my bicycle in the same area and this black "Panther-mountain lion" ran across the road. I did not go any further. 9 years ago while leaving Uvalde going north on US 83 in the early evening (light enough to see) I also saw a large catlike animal. These 3 siteings all had long tails and looked solid black.
ReplyDeleteI saw a black panther slowly walking from the road and into the woods very close to the Caddo Lake State Park entrance last Friday night around 9:30 PM. It was about twice as big as a bobcat. The fur was solid black with a long tail. I saw it clearly with my brights on.
ReplyDeleteI saw a picture of a large black cougar from a game camera near granger lake
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I were driving on the East side of Fort Hood next to a large field. We are 99.99% certain that we saw a Jaguarundi. It was chasing small birds. We both saw it, stopped, watched and tried to figure out what it was. When we got home, we did an internet search. We are both certain that that is what it was. It was very dark in color. The strange thing is that the field that it was in was adjacent to a populated residential area.
I found this site by accident, I was trying to find out if a panther was found dead, between Dennison and Gainsville. I can't remember what year this happened, and I know what I saw. Traveling north on I-35 it was afternoon... on my side of the road, I saw a panther laying in the grass dead.. like it had been hit by a car. It was black but I could see it had spots like under the black coat. I can't even tell you exactly what year it was... probably at least 8 years ago. But it still haunts me.
ReplyDeleteI was driving back from Shipley donuts around 6 am through old settlers park. I noticed an larger animal drinking from the creek when you first psst the dell dismond. As my car got closer he raised his head to look at me. Huge saucer eyes. No visible ears like a bobcat. He turned and ran up a large oak. He had to of been. 6 feet long.also has a long snake like tail. This was no bobcat. When I told the park ranger. He kinda laughed me off like I was nuts. But I know what I saw.
ReplyDeleteThere is a very large cat living in old settlers park round rock. This is no bobcat. Long tail. About 5-6 feet long. Only seen him once at 6 am driving back from Shipley donuts
ReplyDeleteI live in live oak county. A mile or two from Whitsett TX. Last night I was standing in my driveway and saw a cat just a little bit smaller than my lab/collie mix dog. It had very broad shoulders and was as black as an ace of spades. I tried chasing it down to get a better look with no success. Does anyone in this area ever seen the same thing? My coworkers think I'm crazy. But my dog was in the garage so there is no mistaking what I saw. Thanks for any help.
ReplyDeleteThere actually is a very large bobcat that has stripes like that of a tiger living in the area and runs as far north a Texas Crushed Stone in G-town. This is a very large female and has scared many people thinking a Bengal tiger is on the loose
ReplyDeleteI live in the southern tip of Lampasas county, 2 miles from Burnet county line. I travel BCR 223 every morning and evening going to work and back. Back in November 2016 at 05:30 I was travelling down 223 near the Lampasas river and 3 half grown black jaguars stepped out of the brush and trotted down the road for about 75 feet and exited toward the river. If my son had not been with me to verify, I think most people would have thought I was full of BS......scary out there sometimes
ReplyDeleteMy brother just showed me a video of a large black cat approximately 2' x 5'at a distance of 80 yards shot with his phone. Broad daylight, sunning and bathing itself the cat was not intimidated by the bull dozer my brother was sitting on. It only moved when he dismounted the tractor and began walking towards it. Very muscular and without a doubt a cat, it was jet black. I would love to share this video to wildlife people that tell me they are not here. Location South of I20 mile marker 571 Winona, TX.
ReplyDeleteHello. My name is Nathan Jordan. I'm from a small community in Tyler County. When I was a kid walking home from walking in the woods I looked down an old hunting club road and saw a head that was different from a deer or anything. I fired a shot from my rifle in the direction of the animal. I wasn't trying to hit the animal but spook it instead. It did the job and in one leap it jumped across the road which was ten feet minimum. I saw a long tail and it was obviously a cat. Because it was dusk the color was hard to make out but was definitely dark. We had seen large animal prints around the house before that and my cousin had witnessed a cat in the area also. My uncle said the prints were a bear to which my father laughed and said if it's a bear than where are the claw prints. We took a picture and I wish I had it. We laid a dollar bill so we could determine scale. It was close to the siz e of the dollar. I don't know exactly what I saw that evening but it was the most beautiful animal I've ever seen. Also while hunting coyotes and using a rabbit blet every once in a while I'd hear that tell take sound of a cat. Thank you so much sir for your article and investigation. I hope that this story helps God Bless
ReplyDeleteNathan Jordan U.S.M.C
Very interesting accounts. I have heard of the black panthers mostly in east Texas for years. Years ago as a young boy probably around 1966 in the Klein area North East of Tomball Texas I was riding my horse through the deep woods N of Willow Creek South of Spring Creek on an old logging road. My horse started acting extremely nervous and agitated. I was getting angry with him when he turned partway around and I saw the back half of a black panther. It was very sleek and muscular with a long tail. It was bigger than a bobcat but not as big as a cougar. I have hunted those woods for years and never saw another one but can tell you for a fact I did see that one on that early summer day 1966.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
S
I am working on a survey crew along the Brazos River, just south of Simonton in Ft. Bend Co. One of my co-workers stumbled upon a sleeping large black cat (4-5 feet long and German Shepherd height) in heavy underbrush. The cat rose to its feet and apparently just stared at him as he tried to back away without panicking. The landowner adjacent to this property confirmed that this was the male of a couple that also had newborns recently. Many other locals have sighted the same animals and we have repeatedly seen the track and scat of a large feline while surveying over the past 2 weeks.
ReplyDeleteI live in Sealy Tx, a very rural area, and have been getting stalked by something's at night. It is not every night though. Last night I went out on my deck which overlooks my pond, and was having a smoke. I felt it. I don't know how else it should be described, I just felt it. I picked up my flashlight beam and light up a pair of yellow eyes. I moved to my right to walk down my stairs and investigate, and they PACED me. Unnerving as it was I lost sight of them. But I never once took my finger off of my .357!!! Whatever it is has killed two of my goats, drug one under a burn pile, which it later removed, and had to drag the carcass over 2 fences before consuming it. Please help. . . . I need to know what is stalking us out here
ReplyDeleteResting in the shade we were able to observe and make positive identification. Approx 70 pounds, distinctive yellow round eyes, three foot heavy tail 2 feet approx at shoulder, rounded ears. Head shape. They all fit. July 29, Grapeview Texas, disappeared into water run off drainage system.
ReplyDeleteAble to observe this "black panther" for sometime and make positive identification. Approx 70 pounds, distinctive round yellow eyes, rounded ears, 2feet approx at shoulder, long thicker tail, very dark showing some signs of chocolate consistent with some sun bleaching of a black is coat. Grapevine Texas Dallas metro. July 29 2017.
ReplyDeleteI work in the parks department in humble/ atascocita area. I was making my rounds in the park when what I thought was a dog slowly walked into the street. I slowed down to let it pass when I realized it was a large cat with a long tail maybe 20ft from me. It was like the color of a golden retriever but a little darker, smooth coat and a tiny cat head. I remember watching a documentary on jaguarandi so the size and height lead to believe that's what it was.
ReplyDeleteSaturday Sept 2, 2017, 6:54pm about 4 miles north west of Bertram, Tx, on Ranch Road 1174, a Jaguarundi ran across the road in front of me. It stopped for a couple of seconds before it squeezed under the fence. There was no mistaking that it was a jaguarondi. Too big to be a domestic cat, too small to be a mountain lion, and it was a dark chocolate brown or black, and that long thick tail. When it stopped, I got a good look at its face, and there is no question it was a jaguarundi. On Monday Aug 21, 2017 at 7:30 pm I had a mountain lion cross the road in front of me on Ranch Road 963 about 6 miles north east of Burnet, Texas. Maybe about 70-80 pounds, normal light tan color. In both of these cases, they were crossing the road at the top of a ridge that was wooded on both sides of the road, and I was just cresting the hill in my car, so I must have surprised them as I came over the hill. The mountain lion jumped the fence, and the jaguarundi squeezed under the fence. I reported to the TPWD Wildlife biologists in my area, but they were not interested in my sightings.
ReplyDeleteSpotted black cat east texas big I have photos
DeleteI got cats in my area too, near Plantersville, and one is black... spotted it with binoculars and watched it run through the grass...Also a mountain lion ,,, light blond color, about 180 lbs. another one smaller... When i trap or shoot one , i'll post the pictures on "Praditors on Ranches Group" site.
ReplyDeleteWife and her mother saw one (big black cat) stalking deer in a little creek while they were
ReplyDeletesitting on the back porch last Sunday. This was in a subdivision in western Georgetown, Texas.
In 1996 while deer hunting in Madisonville, two huge cats ran in front of my blind playing and fighting. They were spotted and about 50 lbs apiece. Then in about 2 minutes the mother came in behind and she was a solid black. About 130 lbs. She was huge. The cubs came back later but the mother kept hidden this time as I made a noise the first time she went by and scared her.
ReplyDeleteThere was a black panther here in Silsbee Texas the Saturday morning before Easter just after mid night. I went outside to have my last smoke when I looked across the street and saw it walking past my neighbor”s niece”s white suv.the light was on underneath her carport so you could not miss it. My cat had been very jumpy for a long time before this and I knew she was afraid of something she had seen plus the dogs in the neighborhood had been going crazy but I thought it was the coyotes. I had previously seen some really big cat prints in this new subdivision that's about to go up. I also found very large scratch marks just outside my carport a month ago. I talked to animal control about this and showed him the prints and he confirmed that they were indeed panther or cougar prints. And yes cougar!!I also saw just the tail of a cougar go up one of my neighbor”s driveway a couple years back when I noticed this old ferral tom cat I feed got up and started running across the street,that's what caught my attention animal control guy said he also found large cat tracks at their lift station very near our homes and said that he needed to get a hog trap because they are much too big and powerful for the traps that they have. He also said because of the rivers flooding in the area they are being pushed out of the woods.
ReplyDeleteSo about January of this past hunting season my family and I were driving to check feeders on our 2500 acre lease in Cleveland/shepherd area when we seen what we thought was a large black hog dog. As we got closer our boxer mix noticed it sitting in the road so she jumped out the buggy after it. As she got closer to it it stood up and ran to the left, it had a long lean body with a bushy long tail. The way it ran compared to our dog was more like a slink type movement. I've seen it 2 more times myself along with a couple more lease members. I'm not saying it's a panther but I've also never seen a dog move like that.
ReplyDeleteJust saw 2 black cubs. I heard a screech/scream and looked towards the area and saw the two cubs. They looked like regular kittens but much larger more like the size of puppies. They ran into the woods and then back out the woods toward a 40ft. container I have that's a bit of the ground. I've heard that sound before and don't know what it is. I looked up bobcat cubs but they are all spotted. I don't know if household/wild cats scream like that. I'm in the Willis, TX area near the Sam Houston National Forest.
ReplyDeleteNot a single credible account. If we had black jaguars here, there would be a clear pic, or a body, either shot by a hunter, or road kill. Only 6% of ALL jaguars in their entire range are melanistic. Of those 6%, most are found south of Mexico. So if only 6% of an entire species is melanistic, where are all the other regular jaguar sightings??? Black panther sightings are merely misidentification of known species, or people are lying. Period
ReplyDeleteFor a year prior to Hurricane Ike I lived on a 5 acre wooded tract adjacent to the Armand Bayou Wildlife Preserve; 2500 acres of wilderness, lake, and water ways. Besides deer, alligators, bobcats, and beaucoup snakes, larger cats have been seen by the people that ran the live bait well at what was Cecil's Red Lantern on Taylor Lake years previous. The cat was described as about 65lb.s, almost a tawny dark grey in color. The man divulged this to me after I told him that I had seen a similar feline of about 50lb.s when exploring the dense area. It came through the woods in my direction, saw me, and disappeared in a few seconds. Also, one morning as I had my coffee outside, a pair of Grey Wolves came out of the preserve, casually trotting beside a drainage to the lake. After about 50' they saw me 50yd.s away and just as nonchalantly disappeared right back into the thicket. I have been a hunter and outdoorsman most of my life and know what I'm looking at when it comes to wildlife. Those were not German Shepherds, I've had 3 of them. Upwards of 400 species of wildlife are in this area between Pasadena, Seabrook, and Clear Lake. I have kayaked the area extensively and have seen just about everything except Bigfoot (not that I wasn't looking). Hanging at Toledo Bend where the Big Cats can be heard. Sounded like a woman in severe distress and made my hair stand on end! YES, boys and girls, there's a lot more in the wilderness of Texas than what most people know of or will admit. Oh, and don't try to pet or feed the animals.
ReplyDeleteWow what a great blog, i really enjoyed reading this, good luck in your work. Bobcat sounds at night
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