Comments on: Caracal in Nashville?

By: epuma

epuma — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 01:53:41 +0000

Is it possible that the large number of median size tan or lite brown cats with longer than bobcat length tails & pointed ears are African Caracals & not mountain lions or pumas in the east. Here are a few questions:

1) Did this caracal have a passport to get into the U.S?

2) How did a Eurasian lynx get videotaped in northern Penna. 6 years ago?

3) Does a Ky Cattery have anything to do with these strange U.S. alien cats?

John A. Lutz, Eastern Puma Research Network

By: hrybeast

hrybeast — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:23:19 +0000

Caracal in Carolina?
The servals/caracals here would explain the new cat I’ve been trying to photograph before mentioning. Critter lives on the outskirts of White Lake, and has had several standoffs with deer on bait piles (all witness thus far have reported the fights ended as draws). None of my hunting friends have popped him, because of (a) range, (b) speed, and (c) the “what the heck is that?” factor.

Note: less than a year ago two miles away, an exotic pet store went out of business (thankfully-law enforcement now working on his zoo).

The bum left behind pythons which froze to death, released mice, hamsters and gerbils into the nearby woods, and (ta-DA!) had several exotic cats as well as three coatimundi. He used to chain the liger up out front where it could harrass deerdogs.

Makes me wonder if he turned out his funky cats, too, and they’ve taken to deer hunting. I’ve seen young Bobcats have to learn the hard way that even a small deer is tougher than he looks.

Svnt.,
Jeff

By: kittenz

kittenz — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:45:59 +0000

The offspring of serval x caracal are called either caravals or servacals.

The females of either cross can be mated back to males of either parent species, or to domestic toms.

By: Diapause

Diapause — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:35:09 +0000

I’m glad that “local officials” are now experts on old world cats. Come on, any conclusion other than a bobcat is completely ridiculous. The only thing that would lead one in the other direction is what looks like unusually short fur. However, there is no justification for ruling out intraspecific variation in favor of the bizarre introduction of an exotic species.

By: sschaper

sschaper — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:37:53 +0000

um, where do you think domestic animals came from in the first place? One of the unique things about humans is that we can domesticate animals.

By: cwilly

cwilly — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:17:59 +0000

Despite the fact that they say these won’t attack people, this still kinda freaks me out. I drive through this park everyday going to work (in fact, I work across the street from that golf course). There is an excellent walking park at the south end of this park that my wife and I go to every week. As much as I think it would be cool to see one of these, I really don’t want to see it while I’m out walking!

By: MrInspector

MrInspector — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:09:28 +0000

Why can’t people learn that wild predators aren’t pets?

By: DWA

DWA — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:40:35 +0000

Definitely not caracal.

Bobcat. Or Eurasion lynx, although I’m guessing former.

By: shadowwalker12

shadowwalker12 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:23:25 +0000

Hello folks, I live in Clarksville, TN about a 40 minute drive from Nashville. 3 or 4 years ago a lady from town here left her cages unsecured and one of these cats got loose around the Smith Branch area. it was never caught. I have no idea of this type of feline’s travel habits, but maybe it is the same one.

By: Equine Fan

Equine Fan — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:12:18 +0000

Being from NY we were overrun with Bobcats. I have to say that just from looking at the photo shown it seems to be just a large bobcat in a short hair coat. I did Wildlife rehabilitation for a few years and had a couple Bobcats. They are truly very lean built animals and only appear to be buff because they are usually seen with their winter pelts. That is when you can hunt and trap them and their fur is worth the most. I just hope they do not do anything rash like try to kill the feline since it poses little to no threat to the surrounding population.