Never seen a black panther in the county, however it would seem possible.
Big Cat BS in Bellville (Black Panther)
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Last: 9 yr ago by EastTexAg09
People that call Bobcats mountain lions.
We've killed one mountain lion and seen two more on our ranch in Ranger. It's been about 15 years probably. She was 6' 7" from nose to tail and 112 pounds. We all thought my little brother was crazy when he said it was a mountain lion (assumed it was a bobcat, as did the taxidermist when we asked to use his freezer) but it sure as heck was. Star telegram put his picture in the outdoor section. Apparently it was a big deal!
I may be nuts but I swear I saw a black cat driving through Lockhart. 2ft tall with a tail as long as it's body sticking almost straight up in the air as it moved across a pasture in broad daylight.
Of the native cats of Texas it most resembled a Jaguarundi but they're not supposed to be that far North.
FWIW my parents told me about a black cat they saw multiple times in Hico before something killed a miniature pony they bought my niece. Maybe the crazy runs in the family.
Of the native cats of Texas it most resembled a Jaguarundi but they're not supposed to be that far North.
FWIW my parents told me about a black cat they saw multiple times in Hico before something killed a miniature pony they bought my niece. Maybe the crazy runs in the family.
quote:
Never seen a black panther in the county, however it would seem possible.
Oh yea? How you figure?
quote:quote:
Unless of course it's black. Those are everywhere but don't like to be photographed.
As a photographer for 40+ years, I can explain that. It's because of the death of black and white film. Everyone uses color film now, and black panthers only show up on black and white.
Finally. An explanation that makes perfect sense
Shot a very large bobcat in Oakwood [NE Leon county] Last Deer Season
Your chances of spotting a black panther increase exponentially with each shot of tequila taken after your first four. Unfortunately your ability to use a camera to put said black panther on film decreases by the same amount
Or meth.
quote:Where in the hell are these panthers getting drivers' licenses?
I may be nuts but I swear I saw a black cat driving through Lockhart.
Dale Earnhardts Stache
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AG
Barnes has killed a handful of black panthers. And also has hundreds of game cam pics of them from his 20,000 acre ranch in the hill country.
quote:considering Prairie View University has a black panther mascot, I'm assuming maybe one person at one time could have possibly seen one in the area??? It COULD have been how they chose their mascot??quote:
Never seen a black panther in the county, however it would seem possible.
Oh yea? How you figure?
I'm just throwing out a possible explanation.
Like I said it COULD be possible. I'm not saying it is true or that I believe it
And Missouri has tigers.
I guess if someone has a private collection of jaguars or leopards you might find one.
I guess if someone has a private collection of jaguars or leopards you might find one.
quote:Trent Gorillas
considering Prairie View University has a black panther mascot, I'm assuming maybe one person at one time could have possibly seen one in the area??? It COULD have been how they chose their mascot??
I'm just throwing out a possible explanation.
Like I said it COULD be possible. I'm not saying it is true or that I believe it
Spring Woods Tigers
Kress Kangaroos
Frost Polar Bears
New Braunfels Unicorns
Hutto Hippos
Dadgum, didn't know there were all these exotic animals in Texas.
quote:I would guess PV was more likely named after the other Black Panthers...quote:considering Prairie View University has a black panther mascot, I'm assuming maybe one person at one time could have possibly seen one in the area??? It COULD have been how they chose their mascot??quote:
Never seen a black panther in the county, however it would seem possible.
Oh yea? How you figure?
I'm just throwing out a possible explanation.
Like I said it COULD be possible. I'm not saying it is true or that I believe it
I just ran across this thread and found it of interest. It hit close to home so I had share this story:
Our family place is in Colorado county near Cat Spring. The Little San Bernard River cuts though our acreage so we have a lot of trees, terrain elevation change etc. Basically, good habitat for wildlife and I have seen everything you can imagine. About 8 years ago, one of our workers called me to tell me he saw what he called a "puma". He is originally from Mexico and had worked for our family for over 10 years at that point. Venturo spoke english about as good as I speak spanish but sometimes there was a language barrier. Thinking he meant a bobcat I showed him a picture of one and he said no, that was not what he saw. He then went on to described what he saw as a black "big cat" like a mountain lion.
It took me a few days to come out and when he showed me the old oak tree he saw the puma in, we could not find any tracks or evidence to speak of. It should be noted that It did rain between the time he saw it and I went out to investigate. I kind of thought he was kidding me but the he was serious the entire time we searched for footprints.
Venturo, who has since passed, was always a great employee and a great man so I have no reason to believe he was lying to me; I just thought at the end of the day that he had simply miss-identified what he saw. Since his sighting, we have always laughed and joked (in a good natured way) about his "black puma" sighting. In fact, we always tell everyone to watch out for "Venturo's puma" whenever they are out on the back acreage. especially the wooded areas near the river.
I'd like to think he was correct and pumas do exist at our place after all...that would be a great ending to this story and a way to honor him!
Anyway, thanks for bringing back good memories!
Now, let's go find us some black puma!
TL;DR verion- I've never seen one but one of my ranch workers who is now deceased swears he saw a black puma at our place near Cat Spring, Texas about 8 years ago. We scare young children with puma stories. Especially at night.
Our family place is in Colorado county near Cat Spring. The Little San Bernard River cuts though our acreage so we have a lot of trees, terrain elevation change etc. Basically, good habitat for wildlife and I have seen everything you can imagine. About 8 years ago, one of our workers called me to tell me he saw what he called a "puma". He is originally from Mexico and had worked for our family for over 10 years at that point. Venturo spoke english about as good as I speak spanish but sometimes there was a language barrier. Thinking he meant a bobcat I showed him a picture of one and he said no, that was not what he saw. He then went on to described what he saw as a black "big cat" like a mountain lion.
It took me a few days to come out and when he showed me the old oak tree he saw the puma in, we could not find any tracks or evidence to speak of. It should be noted that It did rain between the time he saw it and I went out to investigate. I kind of thought he was kidding me but the he was serious the entire time we searched for footprints.
Venturo, who has since passed, was always a great employee and a great man so I have no reason to believe he was lying to me; I just thought at the end of the day that he had simply miss-identified what he saw. Since his sighting, we have always laughed and joked (in a good natured way) about his "black puma" sighting. In fact, we always tell everyone to watch out for "Venturo's puma" whenever they are out on the back acreage. especially the wooded areas near the river.
I'd like to think he was correct and pumas do exist at our place after all...that would be a great ending to this story and a way to honor him!
Anyway, thanks for bringing back good memories!
Now, let's go find us some black puma!
TL;DR verion- I've never seen one but one of my ranch workers who is now deceased swears he saw a black puma at our place near Cat Spring, Texas about 8 years ago. We scare young children with puma stories. Especially at night.
The problem isn't with pumas being in strange places; it is BLACK pumas being in strange places.
I don't think there has EVER been a recorded case of a black/melanstic phase american mountain loin, photographed or killed.
I don't think there has EVER been a recorded case of a black/melanstic phase american mountain loin, photographed or killed.
He described it as a black puma. Sorry if that was not clear above.
It's very clear, what I'm say is that there is nothing to make me believe there was black puma on your property.
Regular ole puma, sure I buy that; but not a truly black one.
Regular ole puma, sure I buy that; but not a truly black one.
Only Black Panther you'll likely see around Bellville.....
quote:That very well could be the case. All I know is that I've never seen one, be it black, white, yellow or green!
It's very clear, what I'm say is that there is nothing to make me believe there was black puma on your property.
Regular ole puma, sure I buy that; but not a truly black one.
Unrelated to black panthers but I caught this bobcat while playing golf last spring out at Bluebonnet near Decker Lake in Austin. He was busy stalking the plethora of jackrabbits and cotton tails in the area. His/Her spots were unlike the other bobcats I have seen in Central Texas. Thoughts?
quote:Very pretty bobcat.
Unrelated to black panthers but I caught this bobcat while playing golf last spring out at Bluebonnet near Decker Lake in Austin. He was busy stalking the plethora of jackrabbits and cotton tails in the area. His/Her spots were unlike the other bobcats I have seen in Central Texas. Thoughts?
Reginald Cousins
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Nice spotting. They vary a lot in appearance.
Didn't read the whole thread but is it the Christmas tree farm off of 159 on the west side of town? Folks got some land just a few miles from there....
I have land just out of Bellville that borders along Mill Creek. Been there for 20+ years and have seen a large black cat, we thought it was a puma, with thick long tail at least three times while riding horses thru trails. Thought I was crazy at first but after others in the area confirmed their sightings I've become a believer.
quote:
I have land just out of Bellville that borders along Mill Creek. Been there for 20+ years and have seen a large black cat, we thought it was a puma, with thick long tail at least three times while riding horses thru trails. Thought I was crazy at first but after others in the area confirmed their sightings I've become a believer.
Well....if somehow you can shoot it or at the very least get a photo of it, you're sitting on a mint since you'll be the first! So good luck!!!
quote:. I've got some pretty funny video from a hunt down on El Sauz... We saw bobcats pretty regularly (they are off limits there) and the guys that ran the place have had some encounters with mountain lions and an ocelot ( I swear up and down I saw an ocelot but it's tough convincing anybody-- just after first light one came across road in front of high rack I was on-maybe 10 yards--and was gone--too thick to see anything else) back to story.. I was videoing with one of my older cameras in truck-- biggest bobcat I've ever seen was walking away from us in dead center of road-- we got closer and closer and then he turned and guy in back seat started screaming mountain lion and the cat took off... It was a big bobcat but nothing like a mountain lion.. Another cool bobcat sighting was four fully grown cats eating on and around a dead javelina.. They barely moved when we rolled by..
People that call Bobcats mountain lions.
Whereabouts along mill creek?
We are located at the end of Sycamore Crossing..........
Obvious Panther... last confirmed sighting posted here first, and east of San Mexico at that
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