Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Big Cat Sighted Behind [Ohio]Home
WBNS, TV10 ^ | 11 December 2005 | Tanisha Mallett

Posted on 12/10/2005 10:00:17 PM PST by Lorianne

Lion sightings that began being reported in May 2004 have been few and far between for nearly a year. But now, one more big cat encounter is being added to the list. And for this one, there is physical proof.

Like the others who have had sightings before him, Rufus Hurst of Granville man says he knows what he saw. But unlike the others, he has the pictures to prove it.

"That is a very, very, big cat,” Hurst said, referring to the photographs.

"The tail, I mean this thing goes all the way back. I think it's just a big, big cat."

That cat was in Rufus Hurst's backyard Saturday around noon. His wife saw it first and urged him to get his camera.

"Finally, when I did see it, I started taking pictures of this rather large cat."

And 30 minutes after it left, Hurst shot pictures of the paw prints it left behind in the snow. While the pictures may not completely relate how large it is, Hurst says trust him. The cat is huge.

"I would say that animal is in the vicinity of 3 plus feet long and stands at least 30 inches to three feet at the shoulders."

Last year there were several sightings of what some people called a lion. Reports came in from Gahanna, east Columbus and Pataskala among other places.

Hurst says then, he never gave the reported sightings much thought.

"At that point, I just thought maybe those people may have seen something," said Hurst, explaining his past cynicism.

Maybe they saw what they said the saw. Hurst says he knows he did.

Several agencies, including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, went to Hurst’s home Saturday to investigate the report. Some actually saw the cat for themselves.

Authorities also took plaster molds of its paw prints. However, officials say it will be a while before they determine exactly what type of cat it is.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bigcats; wildlife
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last
To: Lorianne

Bigpaw!


41 posted on 12/11/2005 1:33:02 AM PST by Cementjungle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FormerACLUmember

From snopes.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garfield of Dreams

Claim: Photograph shows an enormous 89 lb., 69-inch mutant cat raised by a Canadian man.

Status: False.


42 posted on 12/11/2005 1:35:25 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave ("Liberals out of power are comical-Liberals in power are dangerous!"-Rush Limbaugh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GeronL


Actually, I've seen that photo. Did further research(Because I couldn't believe the size of the cat) and discovered that it was an actual photo(If this is the same tabby cat we're talking about).




43 posted on 12/11/2005 1:47:25 AM PST by This Just In ("Those are my principles, if you don't like them, I've got others" - Groucho Marx)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: This Just In

It was a Maine Coon Cat, not a tabby


44 posted on 12/11/2005 1:58:47 AM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: flutters

"However, officials say it will be a while before they determine exactly what type of cat it is."

Mountain lions have characteristics prints. If it is one, they know it already and trying to figure out a way to keeo the public from "panicking".

Also, there are some very dark colored Mountain Lions, but I don't believe a solid black one has ever been authenticated/

On the other hand, a large dark lion in the dark would appear black.


45 posted on 12/11/2005 2:35:33 AM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

The animal in the above picture sure as heck looks like a lion to me.


46 posted on 12/11/2005 2:37:35 AM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: mmercier

It might not be solid black, just dark brownish.

There ARE kions in Michigan. Read "Cat of Never, Beast of God".

Ohio ain't that far from Michigan.

There have been other authenticated sightings in the midwest.


47 posted on 12/11/2005 2:39:44 AM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: MarineBrat

Me too.


48 posted on 12/11/2005 2:40:39 AM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: ZULU

Well, it's probably not a liger.


49 posted on 12/11/2005 2:47:33 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("If there were a Special Olympics of politics, Howard Dean would have a chest full of medals.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

No, that's for sure.

While its nice cougars are still extant, they clearly don't belong in crowded communities. But, like black bears, once established in resdiential areas, they will be difficult to remove - not just from a logistical basis, but also due to radical animal rightists.

I believe bears and cougars are following the reforestation of America and the increased deer herds.

Despite what many people think, with the abandonment of farming lands, the size of forested areas in eastern North America is probably greater than it has been since the late 1700s.


50 posted on 12/11/2005 3:21:40 AM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: sageb1
I have wondered about whether there has been a slow reentry into the Appalachin chain of mountain lions, wolves etc.

forest rangers won't confirm or deny, but here in Maryland there have been "sightings" here and there.

Coyotes are in every county now in Maryland, so why not the others.

51 posted on 12/11/2005 5:51:40 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: FormerACLUmember
Meow! (not photoshopped)

This man with the big white cat was just on AFV (American Funniest Videos) TV Thurs. or Fri. night. My husband & I watched it. They had a cat segment on, and this cat was hightlighted in the show. He was walking outside on the guys deck, and he was deffinitely real and definitely that BIG !

Karen

52 posted on 12/11/2005 7:42:36 AM PST by KE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Comment #53 Removed by Moderator

To: TWohlford

We've had a sighting and photographs of a mother and a cub down here at the border of Monroe county (MI) and Lucas county (OH).

With so many deer running around, I wonder when the wolves will show up. There building quite a population in the northern lower pennisula and there isn't a lot of population down the center of the state to dissuade them from migrating.


54 posted on 12/11/2005 7:50:29 AM PST by Skip Ripley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne

Granville is about 25 miles from me as the crow flies...too close for comfort.


55 posted on 12/11/2005 7:51:23 AM PST by Rudder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ZULU
Mountain lions have characteristics prints. If it is one, they know it already and trying to figure out a way to keeo the public from "panicking".

Yup. I've come across thousands of tracks in the wild and I tell at a glance whether they are mountain lion prints or not.

56 posted on 12/11/2005 8:18:07 AM PST by Inyo-Mono (Life is like a cow pasture, it's hard to get through without stepping in some mess. NRA.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows

***[I]f called by a panther,
Don't anther.
--Ogden Nash***

I love Ogden Nash's stuff.


57 posted on 12/11/2005 9:57:58 AM PST by kitkat (Democrat/Socialist/Communist.= Hillary the RED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

LOL!! I and I have two, but just LOL...


58 posted on 12/11/2005 10:15:33 AM PST by kAcknor (Don't flatter yourself.... It is a gun in my pocket.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: kitkat

Me too!


59 posted on 12/11/2005 10:34:44 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("MOO...BANG...MOOO!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: JamesWilson

BIG GRIN!!! PSU '88!


60 posted on 12/12/2005 8:19:22 AM PST by NFOShekky (Freedom Is Never Free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson