Author Topic: Black Cougars (Read 8879 times)

turkey slayer · « **on:** April 22, 2009, 08:53:30 PM »

Is there such a thing as a black cougar? I was talking to a guy yesterday that says he seen one above Waterville/East Wenatchee a mouth or so ago.

Slider · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2009, 08:55:05 PM »

Yea they are all over!!!

agchawk · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2009, 08:57:37 PM »

Well, I suppose it COULD happen. After all, melanism can occur in most species so it's possible. I have never seen or heard of one myself though.

Would be really cool to see a pic of one!

littlebuf · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:01:14 PM »

is Haley Berry old enough to count?

PolarBear · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:02:20 PM »

That's funny cuz it's true!
What about Esther Rolle?

turkey slayer · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:03:45 PM »

Thanks guys

videoman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:09:25 PM »

Don't leave Whoopie out of the pic.

whacker1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:12:26 PM »

I believe they were made by Mercury

luvtohnt · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:27:45 PM »

Many species of large cats have dark (melanistic) color phases that crop up occasionally in wild populations - notably leopards and jaguars - but no example of a melanistic cougar has ever been produced in North America. Some South American populations of cougar have been reported to produce melanistic individuals but concrete evidence of this seems to be lacking and these animals may be a different but similar species of cat that is mistaken for a cougar.

Large black cats have been reported in North America since earliest colonial times (long before the importation of alien species) but none have ever been shot or captured. At the time of first contact jaguars ranged as far north as Georgia and Arkansas and these animals do produce melanistic individuals but of course it's highly unlikely that they ever occurred in New England where many of the early reports of black cats originated. So unless there's another species of large cat roaming North America that somehow managed to avoid discovery for the last four hundred years reports of these animals must be based on optical illusions or tricks of light.

More recent (20th century) reports of large black cats are most likely black panthers (melanistic leopards) that have either escaped captivity or been released by owners unable or unwilling to care for them. It's significant that reports of black cats increased markedly (at least in Illinois) after the laws concerning ownership of wild cats changed in the 80's. Most recent sightings of these animals seem to describe feral leopards rather than cougars.

http://www.naturealmanac.com/cougars/faqs.html#black

Brandon

7mag. · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:30:04 PM »

I think they are Bigfoots pets.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:38:35 PM »

i watched a documentry about lions, it talked about black ones somewhere in europe i beleive but im not sure bout that. anyways they even had one in capitivty, said it was just the genes in that area sometimes had that trait so they do exist

SHANE(WA) · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2009, 10:37:28 PM »

There was one running around south of Spokane in the browns mt area a couple of years ago, some people got pics of it, was on the news here.

firecrotch · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2009, 12:07:28 AM »

i guess one ran through walla walla community college campus a couple years back.

jager · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2009, 10:04:13 AM »

I am sure there are. I think that most of the time they are misidentified because of shadows and the way light will hit something.
I was told by a couple different landowners a number of years ago that that they had seen a black or melanistic cougar. They lived several miles away from each other and the stories were told to me a few years apart.
It's entirely possible but extremely rare.

Heres a couple pics:
The mount has a black chin.
The other pic I pulled off the .www

JoshT · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2009, 10:37:40 AM »

Maybe... but "sorry I had a fight in the middle of your black cougar party" just doesn't sound as cool.

NRA4LIFE · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2009, 10:51:14 AM »

I seen one in Eastern Montana in 1989. Still one of the stragest things I've ever seen while hunting. Told this to one of the ranchers nearby a couple years ago and he had seen it from his plane about the same time.

Alchase · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2009, 12:27:07 PM »

Uhm no! straight from Wiki

Melanistic cougars
There are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars. None have ever been photographed or shot in the wild and none have been bred. There is wide consensus among breeders and biologists that the animal does not exist and is a cryptid.

Cryptid, is a pseudoscience focused on the search for animals which are considered to be legendary or otherwise nonexistent by mainstream biology. This includes looking for living examples of animals which are considered to be extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks empirical support but which appear in myths, legends, or undocumented sightings, such as Bigfoot and el Chupacabra;[1] and wild animals dramatically outside of their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats.

Gobble Gobble · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2009, 12:46:50 PM »

The cat in the trail cam could make a great mount.

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2009, 03:16:47 PM »

the cat in the trail cam looks more like a dog to me ears are way to pointed and it carries its tail like a dog

videoman · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:30:17 PM »

It is a dog in the trail cam pic. What are the odd of getting a black cougar with the bow with out the use of dogs.

agchawk · « **Reply #20 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:34:56 PM »

Quote from: andrew_12gauge on April 23, 2009, 03:16:47 PM

the cat in the trail cam looks more like a dog to me ears are way to pointed and it carries its tail like a dog

Sure looks like a dog to me too.

magnanimous_j · « **Reply #21 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:36:22 PM »

Quote from: Alchase on April 23, 2009, 12:27:07 PM

Uhm no! straight from Wiki
Melanistic cougars
There are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars. None have ever been photographed or shot in the wild and none have been bred. There is wide consensus among breeders and biologists that the animal does not exist and is a cryptid.

Well, this party's over.

agchawk · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:52:05 PM »

Quote from: magnanimous_j on April 23, 2009, 05:36:22 PM

Quote from: Alchase on April 23, 2009, 12:27:07 PM
Uhm no! straight from Wiki
Melanistic cougars
There are no authenticated cases of truly melanistic cougars. None have ever been photographed or shot in the wild and none have been bred. There is wide consensus among breeders and biologists that the animal does not exist and is a cryptid.

Well, this party's over.

LOL...sometimes isn't it just fun to dream!?! Damnit though...

Bofire · « **Reply #23 on:** April 23, 2009, 06:23:12 PM »

:)I just hope Halle Berry is stalking me!!!!

Carl

jager · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2009, 09:16:46 AM »

He, he....I'm a *censored*....Guess I should have looked at the trail cam pic a little closer. I just googled it and saw the pic and posted...hey, at least it wasn't a leopard...

JoshT · « **Reply #25 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:34:57 AM »

Quote from: RUGER No.1 on April 24, 2009, 09:40:42 AM

Quote from: SWHUNTER on April 22, 2009, 08:55:51 PM
Don't you watch Monsterquest?
+1. the show is 90% B.S. but still entertaining.

The Big Foot/Sasquach/Yetti/Great American Ape guys crack me up... give it up already man... just give it up.

videoman · « **Reply #26 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:28:31 PM »

It about time people we started have a little fun. Best posts I have seen on this site so far.

News:

Advertisement

Author Topic: Black Cougars (Read 8879 times)

Advertisement

Quick Links

Recent Topics