Yikes...Big Cat (Panther) in The Villages
 

Whaaat?

http://alturl.com/o22ak

What village?

Did you take the picture personally?

Click where it says "Whaaat?"

See post #4

Story and picture about the "cat" is in the News site that shall not be named on here..

My golf group saw a panther, two years ago, as we were approaching the second hole on Pelican. the big cat came from between to houses onto the black tees and ran into the high grass. when we told other people they doubted what we saw.

We were out walking in the neighborhood one morning about 6:00 AM and saw a cat almost this size. It was not light enough to distinguish color, but it was definitely a smaller panther. Came from between two houses, stopped in the street and looked at us, then continued across the street between two other homes and down to the shore of lake Miona. He or she was only about 30 feet in front of us. Beautiful animal. Happened to fast to get a picture but was a smaller version of this one with the same long tail. Probably in the 100 to 120 pound range.

If anyone knows Robert Hubbard of Villa Berea, I would wonder if he could place an object of known size or a yard stick at the spot where the cat is seen in the photo, and then show us the photo of that known object taken by the same camera. There is a major size difference in a bobcat vs a panther. There is at least one bobcat that lives in the area of Heron/Pelican as we have seen it both on Pelican #9 and Heron #8, definitely a bobcat.

A bobcat has almost no tail, it looks like it was bobbed. Hence bobcat. This photograph shows a long full tail.

Bobcats do not have long tails like this fellow.

http://www.phossil.com/thom/Florida%20Panther.jpg

People always say Panthers are very rare this far north in Florida. Here's a photo taken east of Gainesville by a motion activated camera at 2am chasing a wild boar not long for this earth. If you search TOTV, you will find these reports in TV usually about the same time other posters report wild pigs digging up their yards near Heron Executive. If a poster saw one a couple of years ago at Pelican, that makes sense because it is right next to Heron. That seems like the area they always hang out when they come this way, the area just south of Lake Miona around Heron, Pelican and Hibiscus nine at Cane Garden.

Identify a Bobcat - National Bobcat Rescue and Research Foundation

That does look like a panther.

I was told to watch out for the cougars while I was here.

:a040:

One could catch me as I cannot run that fast.

:Remember, you don't have to outrun the cougar...only whomever you are with!! :laugh:

I saw a similar cat a couple of years ago in my backyard. It did not have a short tail. I, too, have relayed it to people and have been questioned. It did not have a short tail. I live very close to Heron golf course.

fraurauch As stated in a post earlier my golf group saw the cougar on Pelican (2nd hole tee box.) you can tell it is not a bobcat (several of which I have seen here in 10 years) but b its long tail and distinctive hindquarter

I don't k ow why people are surprised given the rapid growth in florida is invading their domain

Yes. But with some "cougars" I might like to be caught.

I sent a link of the photo to the Florida Wildlife Commission and received the following reply:

Yes, we did receive that picture through several outlets. In our opinion, it is a picture of a house cat based on the overall proportions of the animal. House cats have petite feet at the end of skinny legs and the cat is not much taller than the red-flowered shrub it is standing beside. A panther would stand over 2 feet tall whereas this cat appears to be no more than a foot tall.

Darrell Land
Florida Panther Team Leader
FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
298 Sabal Palm Road
Naples, FL 34114

Office: 239.417.6352

As I stated in my earlier post, a photo of something at the same spot, of known size, would help. And I do know the tail difference between a bobcat and a panther. I simply stated I have seen a bobcat at Heron/Pelican.

There have been several photos posted of alligators or pythons or catfish showing critters of enormous size - but it is the camera angle or proportional representation.

Such as a alligator killed and hung up with the person standing several feet in back makes the alligator look monstrous in proportion to the man.

Thank you for providing the Florida Wildlife Commission's response. That was my suspicion from the beginning. An actual Florida panther would have an implausible journey from its only existing range on southern Florida. Plus there are so few of them.

Here is a link to learn more about them:

Florida Panther - National Wildlife Federation

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When I saw the picture my first thought was, someone owns a Savannah Cat. I think they’re legal in FL.

I can't speak to the photo you sent to Florida Wildlife but our foursome all stood in awe of a cougar/panther on Pelican watching it pause on the black tees and then swiftly move into the high brush. I assure you it was no kitty kat

Thanks for both the photo and information.

Never dispute someone who knows what he's talking about, but that's the biggest house cat I ever saw. He nearly fills that sidewalk.

There are two kinds of panthers here in Florida, the real Florida panther and a cross breed. Often you hear there are no Florida panthers here or there meaning the authentic one. Males come north but only recently has one 'real' panther female r been north and it caused excitement that they might thrive as they are few.
One panther, not sure which of the two, passed a friend of mine who was out for a walk south of TV but I assume it was the cross breed. It didn't seem concerned with her only continuing quickly on its way. That's not how my friend felt at the time.
Bobcats lived in the bush near our home near Punta Gorda. They never bothered us but are suffering due to so many forests disappearing due to new housing developments.
I often think of how few problems the earth would have if there weren't so many people. We certainly have filled the earth and have problems to solve.

eat my dog and I eat the cat. I have a big walking tall stick and I will brain something like that in my villa.