Berlin Tiger
Posted by: Loren Coleman on March 29th, 2006
Adult tiger seen loose in Berlin community of Cullman County
3/29/2006, 3:28 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
BERLIN, Ala. (AP) — An adult tiger has been reported roaming in the Berlin community of Cullman County, prompting warnings on what to do if the big cat appears.
The animal, first sighted last Thursday night in the northeast Cullman County area, was still at large Wednesday.
“We’re asking residents of the area to keep an eye out for the big cat, which has been described to us as a full-grown adult male weighing 300 pounds or more,” said Lt. Phillip Patterson of the sheriff’s office.
The animal has been described as wearing a collar, indicating it may have been a pet. But residents were told to consider it dangerous and urged to call animal control or the sheriff’s office if it is sighted.
“You shouldn’t approach the animal, but you don’t want to run from it either,” said animal control officer Tim McKoy. “Fleeing identifies you as prey and could trigger the tiger’s predator instincts.
“Instead, we suggest that you back away slowly. If the animal approaches, holler, wave your hands, pick up a tree branch and wave it anything to make yourself appear larger, much like you would do if you encountered a bear.”
McKoy said the people who saw the animal described it as a Bengal tiger.
Patterson said no signs of a tiger have been found and no sightings have been made since the first night. But he said four adults who live on a cul-de-sac reported seeing the animal go into a wooded area behind the homes and another saw it during daylight hours in a field near some cows.
Was wondering of anyone would pick up on this. TV stations in Huntsville and Birmingham have ran stories on it. I live in Cullman county at the moment. Different town though.
I heard it has been check and no one has ‘registered’a pet tiger in the county. So if someone has an illeagal pet,-remember the collar- this should prove interesting.
BtTW it is pronounce Berl-in.
They should probably say “seen in a field near some soon-to-be ex-cows.” As a complete side note, I was at the Cape May Zoo in South Jersey the other day, and the tiger there was clearly stalking a small child wearing a bright yellow shirt. He hunkered down, watched, then sprinted forward as the kid passed by, then slowed when he recognized the boy was now surrounded by other people. His parents, and just about everyone else there were completely oblivious to this behaviour, just idly walking past, which I found even more amusing.
No reports so far of cattle kills or such. I am strongely suspecting this is an illegal pet that got loose for a short time before the owner re-caught it. If so somebody is desperately wishing this would all just go away.
Obviously its not wes nile disease killin the crows its illegal pet tigers that makes me feel better