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 Hursts 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.
Aslan is on the move.
[I]f called by a panther,
Don't anther.
--Ogden Nash
Black panther cats have been reported in all 50 US states for generations, as far as I am aware not one has ever been shot or captured.
"Too many pet cats...have disappeared"
I have replacements.
Looks like your standard cougar/puma/panther/mountain lion/Nittany lion/Felis concolor to me.
That happens with bad Photoshoping.
According to the eco-freaks, people don't belong in residential neighborhoods. So what's the problem?
Yep, Samson the Liger is one BIG mutha....
Mmmmm, how you cook that?
Shoo, scat, you cat hater, you don't belong! ;)
An ocicat could be another possibility. We have one that roams our neighborhood, and some people are freaked out by his size.
There are other large breeds (savannahs, bengals) where domestic cats have been crossbred with wild ones: http://www.savannahcatbreed.com/faq.shtml
Prove it.
First it must be tenderized.
Maine Coon Cat??
What do you mean not photoshopped?? That is impossible. Isn't it?? Someone?? Chemical X has been released, everything is gonna become giant, the animals are gonna eat us, we're all gonna die!!
There was a real photo of a woman holding a large Maine Coon Cat that looked fake
Awwwwwwwwwwwww.
Thats mean... lol... I like cats..
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