Panthers in Sabine/Rockafeller Refuges

[Pat Babaz]

So a guy I work with remembers seeing a picture on the news after Rita or maybe Ike of 2 panthers stranded in a tallow tree due to flooding. He said it was either at Rockafeller or Sabine refuge. I've looked all over the internet and can't find a picture like that. Does anybody else remember seeing or hearing about this??

[capt coonassty]

Ive heard that a squatch in a tree could be mistaken for two panthers. According to this site this is more likely then panthers.

[Uncle Barty]

I have a picture of this wild rarely seen creature...around here we call it a "Dustin Hansen"...let me see if I can find it

[Renegade]

Panthers Expanding in Florida

People laugh and joke about sightings of panthers in Louisiana, but I'm convinced I saw one about twenty years ago. No amount of ridicule made me change my mind about what I believe I saw.

[Mr T]

Every year 2-3 cougars are seen on trail cams in Louisiana. Most believe they are young males from the Florida or Texas breeding populations, searching for their own territory.
When you say "panther", I hope you are not referring to "Black Panthers". Cougars do not have black color phases, only Jaguars do and they are not found anywhere near LOuisiana.
But to answer your question, I do not remember that but it would not surprise me.

[fishfighter]

Originally Posted by Mr T

Every year 2-3 cougars are seen on trail cams in Louisiana. Most believe they are young males from the Florida or Texas breeding populations, searching for their own territory.
When you say "panther", I hope you are not referring to "Black Panthers". Cougars do not have black color phases, only Jaguars do and they are not found anywhere near LOuisiana.
But to answer your question, I do not remember that but it would not surprise me.

the cougar you are referring to is also know as a "FLORIDA PANTHER"

[saute86]

I have been seeing them for years off Hickory Creek south of Deridder. I have seen 7 over the years. First one was in the late 90's. It was black. I have seen one each year over the last 3 years. They were all within a 100 yards. I watched them cross a pipeline all from the same stand. I know what I saw. When you see their tail you will know what I am talking about.

[BGcoreg]

Originally Posted by saute86

I have been seeing them for years off Hickory Creek south of Deridder. I have seen 7 over the years. First one was in the late 90's. It was black. I have seen one each year over the last 3 years. They were all within a 100 yards. I watched them cross a pipeline all from the same stand. I know what I saw. When you see their tail you will know what I am talking about.

Give me more details on the area you speak of , I'm fairly close . Makes me curious

[saute86]

Originally Posted by BGcoreg

Give me more details on the area you speak of , I'm fairly close . Makes me curious

I have seen them on the back side of Granger's field where Hickory creek crosses the pipeline. That is about 1.5 miles southwest of the corner of Granger road and south Menonite rd.

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by saute86

I have seen them on the back side of Granger's field where Hickory creek crosses the pipeline. That is about 1.5 miles southwest of the corner of Granger road and south Menonite rd.

Are the ones you have seen tan or black?

[saute86]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

Are the ones you have seen tan or black?

I have seen both. First one looked black. It was quartering towards me at about a 100 yards about an hour before dark. I thought it was a yearling. It turned broadside and its tail was the give away of what it was. It looked like tail was longer than the cat. Its paw prints were larger than the palm of my hand. I was talking about it after the hunt. Everyone thought I was nuts till old man Hollingsworth said its about time someone else saw it too. He laughed and said he wasnt going to say anything till someone did first. 2 years ago was the last black one that I saw and it was mid day. I got a good look at it with binoculars at 150 to 200 yards crossing a pipeline.
The days I have seen them where mid week later in the season when the lease quietens down after the rut and everyone concentrates on duck hunting. I have spent 40 years deer hunting and I know what I saw. There is no mistake when you see that long tail that almost touches the ground and curls back up.

[Clampy]

Morons will argue til the death that cougars can be black.
Louisiana definitely has some cougars for sure. Not a lot but they around.

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by Clampy

Morons will argue til the death that cougars can be black.
Louisiana definitely has some cougars for sure. Not a lot but they around.

Black cougar....
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1436234106.910648.jpg

[saute86]

Originally Posted by Clampy

Morons will argue til the death that cougars can be black.
Louisiana definitely has some cougars for sure. Not a lot but they around.

Trust me I am no moron. Its guys like you who give this site a bad name insulting members character.

[Smalls]

Not going to say BLACK panthers aren't possible, but I've never met someone who I trust to positively identify one.

Now, Florida panthers I wouldn't doubt. I believe that historically they did occur in Louisiana.

That being said, I would imagine the "panthers" in the original post were cougars. Its possible that there could have been a few in Cameron around the time of the hurricanes, although I would think there would have been more observations of the cats prior to the storm. Two large cats, even in a very large marsh, would be hard to miss.

[Clampy]

I stand corrected

[Clampy]

I wouldn't mind having her on trail cam

[Andy C]

We, got big black cats here! Not sure what they are. But would think la. Would have them too.

[Clampy]

The only big cat species that can turn black is a jaguar.

[Renegade]

Originally Posted by Clampy

The only big cat species that can turn black is a jaguar.

Isn't it true that albinism and melanism are both recessive traits? Just as we have white tigers and white lions, shouldn't it also be possible to have black tigers, black lions and even ... black panthers?

Melanism is more rare than albinism, but I don't see why it would occur only in jaguars as you claim.

Melanistic animals