Strange sighting today: a black panther.

As I slipped and slidded up a muddy mountain road, this big black cat (100#) crossed from left to right, very fast. It headed down the mountain to my property. Sighting this big cat explains a couple of things:

1. Nick-Nick (the Quick), my 1 year-old mutt went charging out into the woods behind the house a few nights ago. He was about a 100 yards behind the house when I heard a big, gutteral cat scream. Nick (The Quick) came flying out of the woods, tripped on the steps, and shaked and whimpered for an hour in the house.

2. A few nights earlier, late, I heard a "thump-thump ... yeaowwl! Yeaowwl! Thump-thump ... yeowwl! (etc). Lasted for about 15 minutes. Not loud enough to wake my wife or the dogs, but strange, nonetheless!

3. Lessons learned? Life in the wilds is with the wilds.

But scary.

I can't wait to talk to the park rangers at the North Carolina Gorges State Park (which is 4000 feet west of my property). I thought that the panther was gone from these woods. Not so, my eyes tell me! What a sighting. My neighbors all say "possible," but none have seen the big cat.

Sometimes they will do that to protect the animals.

We want pictures! I've always wanted to see a panther. Grrrowwl.

The day they founded the party

would bring them up :)

:-)

Around 1987. Doing geophysical field work (seismic and electric) near the base in Beaufort. I thought I saw a big black dog near the fence line. But it didn't walk like a dog. I walked closer, slowly. It was a panther. It scampered when I got around 30 yards away. The fence was between me and the panther.

Free Huey!

Scared the crap outta me and my dog. Later I saw its cubs in the same area and cleared out for good. No one has ever believed me.

scared the HELL out of me and the dog....

How totally cool!! I LOVE black panthers, they are the most beautiful creatures on earth!

I didn't even know they hung around in Texas.

I am on the eastern boundry of the Gorges State Park (wilderness area).

Jaguars live in Texas along the Rio Grande. Did it look like this?

Or this?

not Texas; Mr and Mrs Demo have moved.