Strange Black animal in the woods.....
01-05-2007, 03:06 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,558
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
MO Archer,
Don't be so quick as to rule out a big cat. My father and I have one on video tape in IL. where we used to live. It was less than 200 yards from their house crossing a 40 acre cut bean field. This thing would walk about 20 yards and then sat down. The whole time he was being followed by at least 20 crows in the air. Evey time he would set down a couple of crows would take their turn dive bombing him. I can't say that it was a panther because it was not as big as a leopard. Besides, I don't think a leopard could survive winter conditions in South Eastern IL. This thing had a huge tail probably 4-5 foot long and was probably only a little taller than knee high. I would say it weighed between 60 to 80 pounds. Was dark colored but also had a lot of silver in it. May have been old. I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also. But, I know what we saw and I know what is on that video tape. We have at least 10 min. of footage and it is definantely a big cat. We are not the only ones in that area to have seen this animal over the years there either. Just a little food for thought.
Don't be so quick as to rule out a big cat. My father and I have one on video tape in IL. where we used to live. It was less than 200 yards from their house crossing a 40 acre cut bean field. This thing would walk about 20 yards and then sat down. The whole time he was being followed by at least 20 crows in the air. Evey time he would set down a couple of crows would take their turn dive bombing him. I can't say that it was a panther because it was not as big as a leopard. Besides, I don't think a leopard could survive winter conditions in South Eastern IL. This thing had a huge tail probably 4-5 foot long and was probably only a little taller than knee high. I would say it weighed between 60 to 80 pounds. Was dark colored but also had a lot of silver in it. May have been old. I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also. But, I know what we saw and I know what is on that video tape. We have at least 10 min. of footage and it is definantely a big cat. We are not the only ones in that area to have seen this animal over the years there either. Just a little food for thought.
01-05-2007, 05:17 AM
#12
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 10,277
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
2-lunger,
Where are you at in Illinois? I'm from Richland County. I've heard some fellows on here who live over around the Little Wabash bottoms who have seen a lot of bobcats. But I don't think that bobcats anywhere get anywhere near 60 pounds.
Where are you at in Illinois? I'm from Richland County. I've heard some fellows on here who live over around the Little Wabash bottoms who have seen a lot of bobcats. But I don't think that bobcats anywhere get anywhere near 60 pounds.
01-05-2007, 10:27 AM
#13
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Saint Robert, MO
Posts: 496
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
ORIGINAL: 2 Lunger
MO Archer,
Don't be so quick as to rule out a big cat. My father and I have one on video tape in IL. where we used to live. It was less than 200 yards from their house crossing a 40 acre cut bean field. This thing would walk about 20 yards and then sat down. The whole time he was being followed by at least 20 crows in the air. Evey time he would set down a couple of crows would take their turn dive bombing him. I can't say that it was a panther because it was not as big as a leopard. Besides, I don't think a leopard could survive winter conditions in South Eastern IL. This thing had a huge tail probably 4-5 foot long and was probably only a little taller than knee high. I would say it weighed between 60 to 80 pounds. Was dark colored but also had a lot of silver in it. May have been old. I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also. But, I know what we saw and I know what is on that video tape. We have at least 10 min. of footage and it is definantely a big cat. We are not the only ones in that area to have seen this animal over the years there either. Just a little food for thought.
MO Archer,
Don't be so quick as to rule out a big cat. My father and I have one on video tape in IL. where we used to live. It was less than 200 yards from their house crossing a 40 acre cut bean field. This thing would walk about 20 yards and then sat down. The whole time he was being followed by at least 20 crows in the air. Evey time he would set down a couple of crows would take their turn dive bombing him. I can't say that it was a panther because it was not as big as a leopard. Besides, I don't think a leopard could survive winter conditions in South Eastern IL. This thing had a huge tail probably 4-5 foot long and was probably only a little taller than knee high. I would say it weighed between 60 to 80 pounds. Was dark colored but also had a lot of silver in it. May have been old. I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also. But, I know what we saw and I know what is on that video tape. We have at least 10 min. of footage and it is definantely a big cat. We are not the only ones in that area to have seen this animal over the years there either. Just a little food for thought.
There are bobcats here in MO, but this was way too big to be a bobcat.
01-05-2007, 05:20 PM
#18
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 10,277
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
Wolverines in the lower midwest, now that would be something. That would make for an unpleasant surprise for some coonhounds in a brush pile on a dark night.
01-05-2007, 06:14 PM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,828
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
[quote]ORIGINAL: 2 Lunger
I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also.
I believe the reports of big cats around Illinois, one was killed by a train a few years ago I think in South Western Illinois and I believe that was confirmed by DNR. I don't buy the rumor DNR turned them loose. I don't think they would be that irresponsible......then again I've been known to be wrong. I think it would take a OK by the legislators (sp?) to turn big cats loose in Illinois.
I had heard the rumors of panthers turned lose by the DNR to control deer heards also.
I believe the reports of big cats around Illinois, one was killed by a train a few years ago I think in South Western Illinois and I believe that was confirmed by DNR. I don't buy the rumor DNR turned them loose. I don't think they would be that irresponsible......then again I've been known to be wrong. I think it would take a OK by the legislators (sp?) to turn big cats loose in Illinois.
01-05-2007, 08:51 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,558
RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
I'm from Crawford Co. around the Robinson area. I too have seen several bobcats but the black cat that we saw was definantely not a bobcat.
I've heard sightings and have seen footage of a cougar in the Annapolis (Crawford Co.) area taken by a farmer. I can see how cougars would migrate to IL.But what I'm pretty sure of is that there are no black cats native to North America. Theygot here somehow whether they were pets from an exotic farm or what have you and someone turned them loose. I've also heard of people treeing these type of cats with dogs while coon hunting. Whoknows. I was always told believe half of what you hear.
I've heard sightings and have seen footage of a cougar in the Annapolis (Crawford Co.) area taken by a farmer. I can see how cougars would migrate to IL.But what I'm pretty sure of is that there are no black cats native to North America. Theygot here somehow whether they were pets from an exotic farm or what have you and someone turned them loose. I've also heard of people treeing these type of cats with dogs while coon hunting. Whoknows. I was always told believe half of what you hear.