Reported 'black panther' was a regular cat

upi ^ | Dec. 2, 2011

[JoeProBono]

COVINGTON, La.- A Louisiana wildlife official said a "black panther" reported near an office building outside of Covington was actually a domesticated cat.

Maria Davidson, who manages the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries large carnivore program, said the feline, which was photographed Wednesday and reported to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office as a panther, was nothing more than an ordinary house cat, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Friday.

"A case of mistaken identity is not uncommon," Davidson said. "Size [of cats)] can be somewhat difficult to determine ... at a distance or with a picture."

Experts said the only animals known as black panthers are the black jaguars found of South America and black leopards of Asia and Africa.

However, Vicky Gehbauer, the facility manager at the office building where the animal was spotted, said she is not convinced.

"I don't care what the experts say. I can't be convinced otherwise. I know what I saw ... That was not a cat. It didn't belong there," she said.

[TheOldLady]

Will you two stop threatening and poking sticks at each other?!?   ;-p  

LOL! Great pictures!

[Daffynition]

I got Mr. Bono a stick and a pine for Christmas, and the card said, *Do not open until Christmas*....don't tell me he opened it already!

[Daffynition]

That should be *a stick and a pine cone* Geez! 8-I

[JoeProBono]

[muawiyah]

Still, experts who've been bitten say it's a sub-species with low morals.

You know better than to declare that you have absolute knowledge of some critter's DNA until you've gone, in person, and tried to take a urine sample.

[Slings and Arrows]

"I ARE FIERCE PANTHzzZZZZZzzZzz..."

[Slings and Arrows]

"Ummmm...rawr?"

[JoeProBono]

[Lakeshark]

A little humor to start your day......

[TheOldLady]

'Tis the Season! You really don't expect anybody to pay attention to those "do not open..." notes, do you?

Still, I can't believe he poked you with your own stick. Shame on you, Joe!

[TheOldLady]

LOL!

PREFECT!©

[JoeProBono]

[SelmaLee]

Good to hear - and I thought mine were the only lovable lard-butts that acted like this.

Every single day, my husband has to put MORE food out, on top of the food that's already there, and they act like its the first bite they've had in weeks.

[Slings and Arrows]

[JoeProBono]

This is my poking stick. Bought it at a flea market. Nobody messes with an old man with his poking stick ;-{)

[TheOldLady]

Oh, Daffy! What a lovely gift. I'm sure it will be a part of Joe's Christmas decorations always.

Nice photography skills too, Joe.

[TheOldLady]

How many do you have? We have three basements and a Purgatory (black and white).

[TheOldLady]

LOL!

[Slings and Arrows]

True story: I was getting some lunch at the Charlotte, NC airport (in the secured area) prior to a flight when I happened to see an old man and his cane. The gentleman was using what appeared to be a brass-bound table leg for a cane, with a doorknob for a handle. Phrased another way, this gentleman had brought FREAKIN’ MACE past security! Bravo, sir!

Sleep well, America - TSA is on guard.

[TheOldLady]

Very nice poking stick, Joe. At least you didn't poke Daffy with the one you got for Christmas.   ;-)