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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
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To: Lorianne

Aslan is on the move.


21 posted on 12/10/2005 10:20:45 PM PST by this_ol_patriot (What's good for the goose and all that.)
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To: sageb1
Just conducted a search and according to my findings the picture was photoshopped.
22 posted on 12/10/2005 10:21:20 PM PST by This Just In ("Those are my principles, if you don't like them, I've got others" - Groucho Marx)
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To: FairOpinion; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; quantim; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; ...

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



23 posted on 12/10/2005 10:23:57 PM PST by Slings and Arrows ("If there were a Special Olympics of politics, Howard Dean would have a chest full of medals.")
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To: Lorianne
These stories are usually bunk.

Hogzilla was supposed to be 12 feet 1,00lbs. When they dug him up he was 7 feet 800lbs. He was a feral who was eating from a high test fish food bin for years.

If the forestry people actually have valid casts of the prints they would have a good guess as to actual size available pretty fast.

The picture of the pudgy man with the big cat is proof that no photograph can be trusted today. As to the photograph of the black panther, I can take one of those from my little kitty behind a bush and make here look huge. There is nothing to give perspective in that picture.

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.

24 posted on 12/10/2005 10:27:17 PM PST by mmercier (sharing the couch of a god)
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To: originalbuckeye

"Too many pet cats...have disappeared"

I have replacements.


25 posted on 12/10/2005 10:28:41 PM PST by billhilly (Demo cammo is yellow and white)
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To: Lorianne


26 posted on 12/10/2005 10:38:09 PM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: Lorianne

Looks like your standard cougar/puma/panther/mountain lion/Nittany lion/Felis concolor to me.


27 posted on 12/10/2005 10:45:42 PM PST by MarineBrat (Islam/Borg - The only difference is the stolen technology level.)
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To: This Just In

That happens with bad Photoshoping.


28 posted on 12/10/2005 10:46:39 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: everyone

According to the eco-freaks, people don't belong in residential neighborhoods. So what's the problem?


29 posted on 12/10/2005 10:49:21 PM PST by California Patriot
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To: CarrotAndStick

Yep, Samson the Liger is one BIG mutha....


30 posted on 12/10/2005 10:59:36 PM PST by Al Simmons
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To: FairOpinion

Mmmmm, how you cook that?


31 posted on 12/10/2005 11:10:46 PM PST by Atchafalaya (When you're there, that's the best!!)
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To: Atchafalaya

Shoo, scat, you cat hater, you don't belong! ;)


32 posted on 12/10/2005 11:12:55 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: Lorianne

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


33 posted on 12/10/2005 11:19:02 PM PST by djreece ("... Until He leads justice to victory." Matt. 12:20c)
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To: FormerACLUmember
"Not photoshopped."

Prove it.

34 posted on 12/10/2005 11:22:17 PM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: Atchafalaya
how you cook that?

First it must be tenderized.


35 posted on 12/10/2005 11:30:20 PM PST by ASA Vet (Condi "Iron Butterfly" Rice in 08)
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To: Lorianne

Maine Coon Cat??


36 posted on 12/11/2005 1:26:27 AM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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To: FormerACLUmember

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!!


37 posted on 12/11/2005 1:27:44 AM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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To: This Just In

There was a real photo of a woman holding a large Maine Coon Cat that looked fake


38 posted on 12/11/2005 1:28:45 AM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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To: CarrotAndStick

Awwwwwwwwwwwww.


39 posted on 12/11/2005 1:31:56 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: ASA Vet

Thats mean... lol... I like cats..


40 posted on 12/11/2005 1:32:03 AM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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