Many people of late have asked questions in the comments section of a post. Many have done so and remained anonymous on their comment. Please note that I cannot answer you directly after you leave a comment unless it includes your name, email, and/or phone number. I understand why someone would not want to leave contact information in a comment that anyone can see so the email is a better choice.
Friday, March 23, 2018
How To Contact Me
Just a reminder on how to contact me if you have a question or report and would like me to respond. Please email me at Texascryptidhunter@yahoo.com for such queries.
Monday, March 12, 2018
New Study Area in Hunt County, Texas
After months of working on and finishing up my book, then
arranging various types of publicity to support the release (radio and podcast
interviews, speaking engagements, etc.), I was thrilled to actually get out in
the field yesterday.
A while back, a reader of the blog and Facebook page
contacted me with a black panther sighting report. The family owns
approximately 300 acres of hardwood bottomland along the Sabine River in Hunt
County northeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The area is rich in food
and water resources. Not only does the property sit along the river, it
features a large tributary creek that winds through the land before emptying
into the larger Sabine. Feral hogs, white-tail deer, foxes, coyotes and various
other possible prey species are present in abundance. The property provided an
absolutely perfect habitat where a large cat could remain virtually undetected.
The property was so large that it presented a problem for me. I have only two
game cameras available at this time and the entire area looked so promising it
was difficult to pick spots for them. I finally chose a spot where wildlife was
clearly crossing the creek and passing through a break in the brush into a more
open area on the other side. It was a natural funnel and I expect to get a lot
of photos from the camera posted at this spot. Hopefully, one will be of the
cat I seek. The second camera was placed on a tree that stood at the
intersection of three different game trails. The trails formed a “Y” and the
tree that I posted the camera on was in the middle of the v-shape at the top of
the “Y.” The trails obviously are heavily traveled – mostly by hogs, no doubt –
and this camera should provide a lot of photos.
The landowner and her family could not have been more
hospitable. They are good folks who love and know their wildlife. They told me
that they have seen two mountain lions on the property in the last 5-6 years
and that what was seen a few months ago was very different. It was very large, had
a very long tail, and was solid black. The family member who saw the cat
initially spotted it about 10-feet up in a tree. Upon being seen the cat leapt
down and ran toward the Sabine. The family member got a good look at it and is
sure it was no cougar. The family feels a real sense of relief that the cat
chose to run away and that no confrontation took place. They just want to know
what prowls their property and I hope to be able to provide some answers.
I will be refreshing the cameras – and hopefully adding more
– in 5-6 weeks. Keep your fingers crossed.