[fishon]

My wife and I had a big cat cross the road in front of our car in Wildwood.
It happened on 301 south of CR44 at the first drainage culvert.
The cat was as big as a German Shepard and light brown.

I've heard them in the mountains back in NY but never saw one before.

[gomoho]

I saw that same cat, but further down 301 - headed towards I75

[zcaveman]

Maybe a Florida Panther?

z

[kittygilchrist]

I've seen a bobcat over there.
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/pr...s/land/bobcat/

[fishon]

It was definitely not a bobcat. I've seen a few of those.
I'm going to go with Florida Panther, even though it is well north of its usual habitat.

[justjim]

Some say a couple years ago there was a black bear in The Villages. There are a couple of Threads with photos----some think it was a hoax.

The size of cat you saw is a big cat! I would not want to meet up with it on one of our night walks.

[kittygilchrist]

If you saw a panther this far north, it would be of extreme interest to state fish and wildlife. There are thought to be under 160 of them left and they are all thought to be further south.
"most endangered species in eastern U.S."
Home - Florida Panther - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[kittygilchrist]

WEC 145/UW144: Did I see a panther?

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

If you saw a panther this far north, it would be of extreme interest to state fish and wildlife. There are thought to be under 160 of them left and they are all thought to be further south.
"most endangered species in eastern U.S."
Home - Florida Panther - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In Illinois there hadn't been any cougars in the state for150 years. In the last five years two have made their way there, one as far as Chicago. The wildlife authorities never got a chance to do their thing. Both were shot dead by the police. Hopefully, Florida has a different plan in place for big cats.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

WEC 145/UW144: Did I see a panther?

Here, Kitty Kitty!

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

WEC 145/UW144: Did I see a panther?

Thanks for the information.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by fishon

My wife and I had a big cat cross the road in front of our car in Wildwood.
It happened on 301 south of CR44 at the first drainage culvert.
The cat was as big as a German Shepard and light brown.

I've heard them in the mountains back in NY but never saw one before.

I'm a pawed! I prey no one gets eaten by it. That would be a catastrophe.