Comments on: Devilish Melanistic Panthers http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/ for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:10:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Alligator http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42164 Alligator Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:42:56 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42164 My problem with the big black cat stories is that these creatures take on almost a "supernatural" quality rather than just being a melanistic cougar, etc. I'm a skeptic on this one and here's why. I'm almost 55, and I've heard stories about big black cats from friends and relatives all over Missouri, northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma all my life. These things were frequently seen in areas where there weren't even any bobcats until 15 or 20 years ago. Now the bobcats are thick as fleas, we are documenting a few 'normal' cougars in these areas but we still have no National Geographic quality photo or a hair sample or a carcass even though the sightings have been abundant and continue to be so. So either these black cats are inter-dimensional (I don't want to go there) or they they sure have bucked the law of averages. Or does a melanistic cougar just get spotted more than a normal one? Sightings alone don't mean much to me to me anymore, even if the witness is beyond reproach. They may genuinely believe this is what they saw and be sincere, but I can't know that what they report is really what they saw. My problem with the big black cat stories is that these creatures take on almost a “supernatural” quality rather than just being a melanistic cougar, etc. I’m a skeptic on this one and here’s why.

I’m almost 55, and I’ve heard stories about big black cats from friends and relatives all over Missouri, northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma all my life. These things were frequently seen in areas where there weren’t even any bobcats until 15 or 20 years ago. Now the bobcats are thick as fleas, we are documenting a few ‘normal’ cougars in these areas but we still have no National Geographic quality photo or a hair sample or a carcass even though the sightings have been abundant and continue to be so.

So either these black cats are inter-dimensional (I don’t want to go there) or they they sure have bucked the law of averages. Or does a melanistic cougar just get spotted more than a normal one? Sightings alone don’t mean much to me to me anymore, even if the witness is beyond reproach. They may genuinely believe this is what they saw and be sincere, but I can’t know that what they report is really what they saw.

]]> By: HOOSIERHUNTER http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42163 HOOSIERHUNTER Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:49:23 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42163 The use of the word "mythic" to me would indicate an underlying disbelief in the creature. "Legendary" or "folkloric" indicates a mind open to the possibility of such a creature; scientifically unknown but occasonally reported. I agree with you Loren on the words, but wonder what Stienstra really thinks. The use of the word “mythic” to me would indicate an underlying disbelief in the creature. “Legendary” or “folkloric” indicates a mind open to the possibility of such a creature; scientifically unknown but occasonally reported. I agree with you Loren on the words, but wonder what Stienstra really thinks.

]]> By: red_pill_junkie http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42162 red_pill_junkie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:05:34 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/pt-reyes-panther/#comment-42162 But a cryptid COULD be the origin of a myth. But a cryptid COULD be the origin of a myth.

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