Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Twice this year I have been on stand Bow Hunting and I have observed a black animal that was moving at a good speed through the woods. It was too small to be a bear, and too fast to be a hog, and it definately wasn't a dog/coyote/wolf. Friends have told me rumors of panthers starting up in these parts. I did see the tracks that I think were left one time and it did resemble that of a large dog or cat. I hunt in the St Robert/Waynesville/Fort Leonard Wood area of Missouri. Anyone else have any experience of an encounter like this?

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Any Fisher cats down there? They look pretty dark and can move fast.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Have no idea what a Fisher Cat is.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Long legs? Furry tail? You dont give us much to work with.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

A large misconception that people have is that all bears are big. I wouldn't rule a bear out.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I don't have that information. I gave allthe info I have, and I do wish I had more because I really want to know what this is. I do know it is nothing I have ever seen in the woods before.

It wasn't shaped like a bear. It was skinny and didn't run like a bear. It was REALLY fast.

One detail I forgot in the original post is that the last time I saw this animal there were two of them running together. They crossed a dirt road about 250 yards downhill from my stand. I could see that far because I was set up on the edge of a powerline clearing. This location is about 2 miles from where I originally observed the first one.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

The Fisher is a medium size member of the mustelid family often compared to the American Marten, a slightly smaller mustelid, due to many shared habits and characteristics. The "fisher-cat" is neither much of a fish catcher nor is it a member of the cat family though it does resemble a house cat in general body size and shape, but the fisher has shorter legs and a longer, wedge- shaped snout. The fur on a fisher is dark brown to black, as an animal ages the hair tips may become ‘frosted’, especially around the head and shoulders. They molt in the fall. Males generally have coarser hair coats, this makes the females more desirable to trappers. Their bodies measure 20 - 30 inches with an additional 13 - 17 inches of tail and weigh from 3 - 12 pounds. Males are usually significantly larger than the females. Tracks reveal 5 toes in a plantigrade foot averaging 3 in. wide by 4.5 in. long with thick fur on the soles of their feet in winter. The nails are at least partially retractable though not sheathed and the mustelid, 2x2 bounding gate is most common with fisher track patterns. (see tracking section for illustrations)
Fishers are considered to be quite carnivorous, favoring snowshoe hares as well as squirrels, carrion, mice, shrews, voles, birds, fruits like berries, and ferns. They are also famous for their ability to successfully hunt and kill porcupines. One of the very few other animals to prey on porcupines is a close cousin of the fisher, the wolverine. The fishers’ long, wedge-shaped snout is well suited for making vicious attacks to the porcupines face until mortal wounds cause the porcupine to succumb. In some forests, fishers have been reintroduced to try to control porcupine populations. This biological control method has been successful at least for short-term population reductions; it is currently unknown how well it works for long-term porcupine population control. They generally hunt by systematically searching for patches of abundant prey and then systematically searching those patches for prey to kill. Fishers will sometimes cache food items and find/make temporary den sites near large food items like a deer carcass.
The breeding season for fishers is in late March and April. Like most other mustelids, fishers experience delayed implantation of 10 - 11 months. The egg is fertilized at the time of mating, then the embryo stops developing and remains in a dormant state until the female is in good physical condition during late winter, the embryo then implants and develops. The actual gestation lasts approximately 30 days with parturition (birth) occurring in March and April. They typically breed again within 10 days of parturition. Females breed at one year and have their first litter of about 3 kits at age 2 years. Males are probably not sexually mature until age 2. Fishers are pretty solitary animals except during the breeding season when plantar glands on their hind feet increase secretions and a black, tarry substance of unknown origin signal their intent to mate.
Fisher natal and maternal dens are usually located high (+/- 50 ft.) in tree cavities which partially explains their overall preference for mature to old growth, late successional, forest habitats. Researchers have noted significant use of young to mature forests during the winter. They also require significant tracts of contiguous forest with a high degree (70%) of canopy cover and prefer conifer or mixed conifer and northern hardwood forest types. They are also disproportionately associated with riparian communities for less than well known reasons. Fisher distribution and survivability is negatively impacted by forest fragmentation, stand isolation, and deep, fluffy snow. In comparison, martens have very similar habitat requirements but they are much less inhibited by deep snow. This may be an important way in which these two species are segregated. There is a considerable span of home range size estimates from 1.5 to 25 sq. miles, probably averaging around 10 sq. miles. Once again, males tend to have much larger territories than females, which often overlap territories of more than one female but rarely that of another male. Fishers will commonly travel 2-3 miles each day and while they are arboreal to some degree, most hunting and traveling is on the ground. They mark their territories and communicate with urine and anal, cheek, abdominal, neck, flank, and plantar (feet) glands. Martes pennanti was formerly widely distributed across northern forests of N. America up to around 60 degrees N. latitude, south in the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina, and throughout the Pacific Coast mountains. Current distribution is now well known but they have not returned to the southern Appalachians, and are considered spotty in the Pacific Coast mountains, especially in Washington and Oregon, and in the southern reaches of their former distribution in the Rockies. These medium size weasels are particularly susceptible to logging and trapping.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Thanks for the information. I have never seen one of these and would definately be shocked if I had ever seen one. Very strange looking. They were definately taller and skinnier than a Fisher Cat. They were also completely dark black from what I saw of the animal. If I had to guess I would say these animals weighed between 30 and 50 pounds. A little bigger than a coyote.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

At 200+ yds on a road you have no real referance for size.It happens to the best of us,I know some verry seasoned guys think they saw a bear in a freshly cut field.only to find out the animal was a housecat.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I had the width of the road and my truck as a reference. The other time the animal was about 50 yards away running uphill.

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.

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.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I am not ruling out anything except a bear/coyote/wolf/dog. The animal I saw resembled a cat more than anything, but it was bigger than any cat that i thought to live in this area. What you describe sounds about right minus the tail (I didn't notice it being that long) and the silver color. Call me crazy but with the rumors and what I saw I am almost positive it was a panther type cat. Maybe a call to MDC would be in order to find out if there have been any other sightings.

There are bobcats here in MO, but this was way too big to be a bobcat.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Wolverine is what it sounds like to me. Often leaves tracks but rarely seen.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Wolverine?

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Sorry didnt see you stated that, my computer freaked a bit.
But im thinking same.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

wolverine

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.

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.

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.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I believe it goes 1/2 of what you see and none of what you hear.I wouldnt rule out exotics.Ive caught burmese pythons in Calif.Ive had a friend shoot a tiger in los angeles and there have been 2 kangaroos taken here in wisconsin in the past 3 yrs.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I remeber the Kangaroo deal...that was sweet. Whatever the heck this critter is, it doesn't sound like anything that should be wandering around the midwest.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I would not rule out a Panther (Puma).
I have never seen a solid black one but have heard rumors of em all my life.
I have seenem a DARK Chocolate color though, easily confused with Black.
Try to locate scat and scratch posts.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Tracks left by Bobcat are the same size for front and rear.
A puma has smaller hind feetcompared to their front.
Bobcats middle two toes sit almost all the way out in front of their side toes on its forepaw.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

what about a badger

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

A badger has a lot of white in it too doesn't it?

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

chupacabra!

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Thats almost as big as the chup that i shot last year!!

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Black Lab problem solved!

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

A wolverine would leave tracks that look something like a cougar or wolf. They're in between the size of a hog and a bear and they are black. SHOOT IT AND LET'S SEE WHAT IT IS.:D

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

wolverines protected?

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

They have tried to put them up as an endangered species but I am unaware of their current status.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

There is no such thing as a black mountain lion. See attached:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/mlion/

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

Dont forget the posability of it being an exotic.

RE: Strange Black animal in the woods.....
 

I talked to a couple of guys that live just outside the base and they said that there are panthers in the local woods and that one lives in some rock over hangs in the woods behind his house.