This is a case of a casual conversation between the restaurant owner and the woman whom owns the land on which the black panther was seen. The woman of Barker Ridge then contacted John Lutz, asking about black panther sightings in Maine. Lutz contacted me and I backtracked to the informant and eyewitnesses.

There was absolutely NO attempt on the part of the original eyewitnesses to get any publicity, and this “cha-ching” theory is complete nonsense, if not insulting to those folks. Anyway, no one in their right mind goes to that part of Aroostook County as a tourist, and the couple just happens to own a restaurant. It was mentioned as a description of the eyewitnesses, not as bait to get you to go there.

Someone they knew had a sighting a few days before? They own a restaurant in an already beautiful area that could only become more popular with swarming cryptotourists should a sighting of a cryptid felid occur? Do the math. Cha-ching.

I sincerely hope that I am wrong, and that this sighting is legitimate, and that these individuals can prosper in their endeavors, just not under false pretenses.

That being said, I think it is a great idea on Loren’s part to withhold the individual’s names and the name of their establishment. If people frequent the area and their restaurant by chance of being in the area, great, but if this alleged sighting was an attempt to LURE people there by fabricating a sighting, for shame……

I must say I found the restaurant owner’s description rather poetic—”blacker than the night.”—Cool. Would be a good title for a book on mystery “panthers.”

Everyone know there are no black panthers in Maine…perhaps the mystery beast ate em?

Any news from Bushnell…or did common sense finally prevail?

Good luck with your fund raising…

live and let live…

ole bub and the dawgs