Comments on: School Fears Black Panther Attacks

By: Bigfoot_Books_Steven_Streufert

Bigfoot_Books_Steven_Streufert — Tue, 25 May 2010 06:04:31 +0000

My local source here in the Willow Creek area had this to say about the BLACK MOUNTAIN LION situation:

“JJ’s is in the panther road area. the first settlements as one drives into Willow Creek after topping the hill. On the left. I can’t remember who I spoke to at the time, but she stated that she’d seen a small one. big cub sized I took it, on a number of occasions and that it had been reported to the Fish and Game. (those would be the folks to talk to, not the FS). Also a good and trusted friend of mine. Native/Injun told me he was climbing a bluff one day near Tish Tang and came face to face with a full grown black panther and almost fell down the bluff.

In addition ANOTHER friend of mine… big hunter back in the day said he’d seen one out in the woods, up near Board Camp I think it was… this is going back quite a ways and my memory doesn’t serve me well on it. But that’s three independant sightings. All 3 were convinced of what they saw, and one saw the cub on a number of occasions and reported it as a hazard.

I assume it’s a cougar, just a black one, and there may be more than one. Panther and Cougar get used together.

I also remember my kids seeing cougar on the bottom of Enchanted Springs road, where we used to live, and near Panther Road.

There is a possibility that the “Cub” is actually a fisher, which look a lot like a big cat/otter and are blackish. Those are also prevalent, I saw one last year and thought it was a black panther at first as it ran away from me. I’ve skinned one, so I’m well acquainted with their looks. even so, it ran and moved like a cougar. except the tail was held lower and legs shorter.”

Adults and kids have seen these creatures at the school. These are people who live in the mountains and woods, who would not be likely to mis-identify animals.

Best,
Steve, Bigfoot Books, Willow Creek
http://bigfootbooksblog.blogspot.com

By: rpgstarwizard

rpgstarwizard — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:40:20 +0000

While I was living on Coastal Oregon, there were all sorts of tales about various big cats.They were believed to be dropped of by people in California when the cats became too big, or other reasons. Around Langlois , Cape Blanco and environs there was black cat, many smallspotted cats, and even a lion.

By: m

Sun, 23 May 2010 03:36:52 +0000

So many people have seen them – - – and not 1 photo???

By: JungleHusky

JungleHusky — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:08:56 +0000

Politics aside, this appears to be the result of a dislocation of wildlife likely caused by logging or semi-natural events. It could also be the result of animals trying to move away from a potential earthquake hotbed, although if that was true, black panthers would not be the only creatures seen moving throughout California. These strange sightings could also be the result of food populations for panthers, such as raccoon populations, decreasing which could mean more foraging for food. Anything is possible. Quick search found this list concerning what Panthers eat.

By: shumway10973

shumway10973 — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:48:17 +0000

I know for a fact that cougars live up that direction in large numbers. Right now, in CA, we are only allowed to hunt and/or kill a cougar if it is a threat (mainly to farm animals). Then you must have proof. Their numbers are sky-rocketing. Then take into account that they have a territory (lone animals) of multiple acres per cat. Then factor in that the ones in and around people especially are birthing 2 kittens (that are more likely to survive). If anyone could find the official numbers for cougars when they went on the protected list and then doubled it each year…you will get an idea of just how many there are in this state alone. There are so many that some have moved into the larger cities like Los Angeles, and not just the newer, mountainous areas. I’m talking down town. The Dept. of Fish and Game has no money to pay the man-power necessary to capture and relocate every single cougar people “see.”

By: kgehrman

kgehrman — Sat, 22 May 2010 13:16:06 +0000

A melanistic cougar would be a great find. I am sure they exist.
Just hard for me to imagine not one but several children seeing a creature that is a master at concealment.
I wager its a black house cat mixed with the imagination of the short people.
But of course I could be absolutely wrong. I hope so.

This is unconfirmed, but I have heard a cougar was dyed black and used in the movie Cat People. Not all the scenes, but just one for some logistical reason. I’ll have to watch it again to look for it.

There are cougars here in San Diego, but very few people have ever seen one outside of a cage or zoo.
We know that they are around because they have eaten a few of us. The irritating part is that once a mountain lion eats or attacks a human its hunted down and killed within days by rangers. I think the world needs more top of the chain predators.

I have often wondered how many Mexican immigrants have fallen victim to them. No this is not a joke about Mexican food. I am sure they taste the same as Gringos.