Weird Los Angeles: Mystery Big Black Cats
In parts of the USA and Canada the native 'big cat' is the cougar (mountain lion, puma) which is also known as the 'panther.' However, the puma isn't actually a big cat, despite its size, it is simply the largest of the Lesser Cats as it cannot roar like the leopard, lion and tiger. In other regions of the world the 'panther' is a term to describe another, and official 'big cat,' being the darker form, or melanistic leopard (black panther as it has become known).
In the US, sightings of the puma in areas they shouldn't be, or once dwelt, are scarce, but they still occur despite skepticism. There has never been any evidence to suggest that black pumas exist and this is where the mystery of America's black 'panther' becomes a real conundrum.
Sightings of large black felids have taken place in many states of America. Not only is it considered fantasy that the native cougars roam, but for black cats makes it an even more intriguing puzzle. If there has never been any evidence to suggest a black cougar/mountain lion/puma exists then what are the big, black mystery cats roaming the States?
Reports even exist from Los Angeles. In the region large cats, bigger than feral cats have been spotted as recently as 2008. Hunters have reported seeing muscular cats with very long tails, in one incident two 'panthers' were seen fighting in the middle of a road. At Bienville knowledge of such phantom cats seems common, a woman speaking on a forum mentioned growing up and hearing tales spun by her grandfather, and he saw one of these cats whilst checking traps in the 1980s. In 2005 a lady and her husband were deer hunting in Bienville Parish when a cat crossed in front of them whilst rumours once circulated that during a great drought in the Rayville area many, many years ago, a family were killed by several large, black felids which prowled into their homes.
Other legends claim that the Los Angeles foothills are inhabited by black 'panthers' and such animals have been heard screaming over the years. However, if such animals are indeed black leopards, then they would not scream as such cats omit a sawing-cough and double-barrel growl, and although the puma does scream, aren't black ones meant to be myths?
Are the black cats of Los Angeles merely zoo/circus escapees or does an even more complex riddle lie behind their debated existence ?
Photo by Wukiegrl on flickr