I just signed up my 12yr old for his hunters safety course. I was speaking to the instructor about several environmental issues. Once again take this as you will. The instructor brought this up to me, I never said a word to start. He has seen a Black Panther around his home. He has spoke to the DEC, they of course denied any Black Panthers. He spoke to a Encon Ofcr. He said he's never seen one himself, but has had reports of sightings. He had no knowledge of the DEC releasing any. The instructor is hoping to get video or camera pics, or he even told the Encon Ofcr. he would shoot it if gotten the chance. I spoke to him of some conversations written here, on how could the DEC ever do such a thing, the liabilities blah,blah. Well he pointed out what liabilities. If the DEC has no record, information, and denies any release of Panthers, Mountian Lions. Just who in the heck would be able to sue the DEC! For all anyone knows they may or may not have released them. Maybe someone else did, maybe they traveled from other states. WHO KNOWS. But they have been seen. The instructor even recalls as a kid his elders hunting Black Panthers near their home in Cuyler, NY. A hill that used to be nicknamed Black Panther hill in the 1950's.