Riverside’s Melanistic Panther
Posted by: Loren Coleman on August 9th, 2009
Cryptomundo correspondent Thunnus of southern California shares the following, which can be viewed, as this Sunday’s “letter to the editor”:
I live in Riverside, California, a relatively densely populated area. However, I am situated on a street with only three homes and have approximately 2 acres behind me.
I first sighted this large black cat, the approximate size of a German Shepard, last September [2008] strolling across the undeveloped acreage of the property. It did not do anything, but strolled across the land and disappeared into the wash, at the end of the property.
I next saw it on 6/29/09 [June 29, 2009] when it had hopped the fence and attacked and mauled my pet pot belly pig (approximately a 250 to 300 lb. pig), leaving several bite marks on her face, neck, and gouged out her eye.
I came out into my yard and fired [my gun], scaring it off my pet, who then came onto the patio. As I was trying to get my pet settled, I saw the black cat running across the yard; I fired once again, but missed. I have since had a secure enclosure created in my yard for my pig.
I had contacted the local police department, who did in fact, respond and advised me they had contacted animal control.
This was about 10 PM and I was assured I would hear from them. I did not, however, and when I contacted them, I was advised that they deal only with domestic dogs and cats, and told me I would have to contact California’s Department of Fish and Game, which I did. I received a courteous and helpful response from the clerks in Sacramento, and was referred to their local biologist in my area.
I subsequently contacted the biologist, a Mr. Kevin Brennan, who somewhat irritatingly advised me that there were no large black cats indigenous to Southern California, and dismissed me with typical bureaucratic avoidance for fear he might actually have to do some work. He told me I would have to contact another bureaucratic mecca, the US Department of Agriculture. My hat is off to Mr. Brennan; he has assumed his bureaucratic mantle well and is committed to collecting his salary and fringes without doing anything to rectify a potentially dangerous situation.
Early yesterday [August 8, 2009] morning, this creature was back, and I tried, once again, to shoot it, with a shotgun. The beast, however, was too far away for the shotgun to be effective.
My primary concern is, however, for the families with little children who regularly use the bike and hiking trails adjacent to my neighborhood. This is a big cat and could easily overpower a human, especially a small woman and children. Hopefully, this will not be the catalyst for Mr. Brennan to stop sipping his coffee in his office and actually do his job.
If any [readers] have had any similar sightings in Riverside, or the nearby area, perhaps, we collectively, can make the mighty California bureaucracy actually earn their money.
Reactions?
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Didn’t Jaguars exist in southernmost California before being hunted out? Maybe one has returned?
I have a feeling that this yahoo would also shoot at any children trespassing on his lawn. But I’m a bit surprised that that the biologist the writer contacted wrote off the black panther sighting so easily in that there are a number of wildlife refuges and exotic animal owners in San Bernardino that lose an animal every once in while.
coelacanth1938, I don’t know what there is in this person’s letter that gives you the idea he would shoot at any children trespassing on his property. If you would read it again you would realize he is worried about children and people that hike and bike on the trails that are adjacent to his neighborhood.
If you haven’t noticed California is having a problem with pets and people being attacked and killed by large felines I wonder if that doesn’t have something to do with the fact at these cats are extremely intelligent and have learned almost anything on four or two legs is going to be any easy meal.
If I were that person it would not have been a shotgun sitting handy but my 30’06. I would be willing to bet that the illustrious Mr Brennan would have some explaining to do when I walked into his office and dropped this big cat on his desk.
Btw, this animal probably wouln’t have made it out of the yard when it first appeared, at least if it had been in the state I live in. While I would not normally shoot to defend property, pets, especially expensive ones, are considered members of my family, and I will shoot to defend them; most assuredly if they are being attacked by a large feline.
I would like to second what Archer1945 said. The gentleman is worried about children and his family—plus the feline mauled his pot bellied pig. This is not a thoughtless “hunter” we are talking about here—this is a fellow who has had a Panther invade his property and attacked one of his animals.
It would gladden my heart if this Panther was detected, videotaped and maybe even captured alive—however, if it is shot (and I sincerely hope it is not), I will not be overly sad, to be honest. Disappointed, but I’m not going to blame the fellow for doing what he thought was right. That does not make one “anti-animal” for feeling that way.
Could be an escaped pet, though. I agree with that.
Although I’m willing to bet the majority of these phantom “Panther” sightings are NOT escaped pets, as I’ve stated before.