Comments on: Black Panthers in Illinois

By: gregysbeingbad

gregysbeingbad — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:44:42 +0000

I was raised in Southern Illinois, about 5 miles from Carbondale on South 51. I was about 12 years old at the time staying with my Grandparents while both my parents worked. I went Unity Point School. I spent hours upon hours of my free time in the woods behind Unity Point School. I loved wading in the creek listening for animals while I was in the woods. I wasn’t very big I remember being in those woods one day and seeing a BLACK PANTHER! I saw it as sure as i’m alive now. What I saw that day made an impression on me for the rest of my life! I saw a BLACK PANTHER, there was no spots it, it was as black as the night. I watched it walking so slow. Like it was trying not to make a sound. It must have heard me because it turned and looked straight into my eyes! It was a little over 2 feet tall and a tail that curled over it’s body. The tail was maybe another 2 foot in the air. The tail waving back and forth over it’s body. I’ll never forget. It must have weighed 150 pounds! It was big, no way could it have been mistaken for a domestic cat! I wanted to run but I couldn’t. I stood still and just watched it. I saw it again a couple other times. I remember my Grandfather having a tatoo of a Black Panther on his arm, what I saw looked the same. I told my Grandfather and he just smiled at me. I don’t guess any of them believed what I saw? But I remember seeing that big cat as if it was yesterday. I don’t understand why it didn’t come after me? It never made a move toward me though. I’m 52 years old today, but I know for a fact there are BLACK PANTHERS in Southern Illinois! I know because I have seen one that I will never forget till I die! I still think about it! I saw it and I know they are real and here in Southern Illinois.

By: kittenz

kittenz — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 17:28:21 +0000

Researchers recently used catnip to entice wild jaguars to a camera and it worked where animal bait failed. Maybe catnip could be used to attract these mystery cats as well. Or valerian… cats go nuts for valerian.

By: Rillo777

Rillo777 — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:41:46 +0000

Good, solid reports of the black cats go back at least 150 years according to my records and probably before that. But in all that time no one has caught or killed one and I only know of one instance where a cub from a possible black cat was found in Indiana. Although it was examined by three different veterinarians its species (or even if it was a feline at all) couldn’t be ascertained. I’m always hopeful but these things are seemingly far more elusive than normal animals should be.

By: bf looker

bf looker — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 17:40:37 +0000

Good luck in trapping one of these cats. The South Central area of Illinois is well known for it’s great deer hunting. This goes right along with big cats reported in the area. The cats are were the food is.

The Park’s & Wildlife folks in my part of the world (central texas) have a hard time admitting that there are big cats here. Your research and capture may (hopefully) bring more attention to these beautiful animals. Good Luck!!

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:37:10 +0000

Mystery Black Panthers found in Illinois, of course, are cryptids, truly unknowns.

There are no verified records of melanistic cougars/pumas any where in the United States, Mexico, or Canada, despite decades of reports of “Black Panthers” all over eastern North America.

The only large cat that has a black phrase and comes into the US, across the Mexican border into the SW, is the jaguar.

By: mbw

mbw — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:26:03 +0000

“Black panthers in Illinois are not merely melanistic jaguars far from home”

So, are they escapee pet leopards or odd sized jagarundi? And what does “cougar-variety” cats mean when discussing melanistic animals of the panthera genus.

mike

By: sadisticgreen

sadisticgreen — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:13:32 +0000

I’m with Fuzzy. Great news to hear that Mr Smith is so eager and obviously well prepared. Even better news is the LIVE trap. If only the wildlife services could take a leaf out of Virgils book! Good luck dude and I look forward to hearing you name more in the future!

Smudge

p.s. Don’t worry yourself Loren, I’m sure white pants were cool once upon a time!!

By: fuzzy

fuzzy — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:34:20 +0000

“Smith reassured folks that he is an independent investigator who uses motion sensing cameras, night vision, and has a live trap.”

Virgil Smith, this is your big chance to make a name for yourself in Cryptozoology – you’ve got the gear and the youthful energy and enthusiasm, and you’ve analyzed your target’s routine.

Now, focus EVERYTHING on that “Route 13, Jim Hayes, Muddy, Route 34, double bridges, Galatia Mine, Harrisburg Lake area – mount the cameras, bait the trap, and wait.

And wait…

Patience and persistence rule.

Good Luck in the New Year, Virgil!