Snow Leopard in Kentucky?
Posted by: Loren Coleman on May 2nd, 2008
This alligator was captured and killed in Texas, although the photo is part of an e-mail circulating a rumor that an alligator is living in Rough River Lake, Kentucky. Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Reports of exotic animals in Kentucky are sometimes rumors and sometimes the truth.
While the giant alligator report in the Kentucky lake was false, three years ago in Bullitt County, Kentucky, a Himalayan snow leopard, one of the most endangered species on Earth, was captured near KY 44.
Other animals captured (not just sighted) in Kentucky, include:
Mountain lion, Mercer County, single occurrence.
Caimans and alligators: on several occasions throughout state.
Pacu (relatives of piranha), numerous ponds, streams and lakes, numerous occurrences.
Piranha, Ohio River, single occurrence
Armadillo, road kill, western Kentucky, single occurrence.
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I remember the snow leopard incident very well. It had escaped from its cage and was missing for about 2 weeks, then it was recaptured when it was found hanging around a rabbitry.
At the time that the snow leopard incident occurred, Kentucky laws concerning exotic pets (including big cats but excluding native wildlife) were very lax. Since then Kentucky has passed laws that are among the toughest in the nation, but existing exotic pets were grandfathered, provided the owners were willing to comply with the new husbandry and licensing requirements.
There are probably still hundreds or even thousands of exotics in Kentucky. You used to be able to buy nearly any kind of exotic animal here; big cat cubs were even sold in pet stores. That’s illegal now.
The armadillo shouldn’t be listed. Those buggers travel like mad. The rest does interest me (excluding the mountain lion just because they’re everywhere [wink]). Nobody is claiming that beautiful animal?
SHUMWAY10973:
That’s ironic what you say abouy the armadillo, since the critters are some of the LAZIEST animals in existence—right up there with sloths.
They may travel once in while, but generally they are sedentary creatures.
Good report there, Loren!!!
I LOVE snow leopards.
Hey kittenz I remember a guy owning some big cats in Floyd Co. Seems like he had a very large tiger and maybe some more. Wonder if they’re still around?
Not sure about the tigers. There was a family over in Floyd County last uear, who had a lion. They have since turned it over to a sanctuary. There was a guy near Dorton in Pike County who also had a lion, but I have not heard anything about that one for years so I don’t know if it is still living there.
Aside from a guy near Belfry who keeps a pair of bobcats, those are the only ones that I’m aware of in my immediate area.