Black cougars?

[Gateholio]

Been a few reports from a few people in this area recently that they have spotted BLACK colored cougars.

I was very skeptical, but now quite a few people claim to have seen one. Anyone else seen this sort of color phase in a cougar?

[Tikka270wsm]

Funny...Was having a few beers with a guy last night who had spent a couple days at Telegraph Cove (North Vancouver Island). He said that some of the locals there had been seeing a black cougar. Never seen one myself but I guess it's definately possible. A Black Panther would just be a black cougar wouldn't it?

[Steeleco]

^^ Agreed ^^ I suppose Black cougars would be much like black Jaguar's (Panthers) It's just a rare condition that occurs in the big cats in the south, why not up here?

[The Hermit]

Its a were panther, escaped from the True Blood filming location. Don't worry they have all the Vampires, Shapeshifters, Ferries, and I hear even sasquach are out hunting it!

[835]

Driving home to Ucluelet once my wife yelled "Hey there is a black panther" and i said "No way there isnt such thing here, it was a bear" She didnt believe me and made referance to a long tail.

Up until a year or so ago on this site when i read another of these black cougar threads did i start to think maybe she saw one. And in that thread someone posted they too saw one on the Upper Kennady river on Highway 4.

[BUCKJR]

A few years ago, while sturgeon fishing with client in early November, we watched a large black cat work its way along a treed rocky area near the river. We were about 30 yards away anchored in the boat, and were given a good 30 second view of the jet black cat. At first were were both puzzled as to what it was, as it was much bigger than any bobcat or lynx i'd ever seen. It was in an area that you wouldn't find any domestic animals and due to its size we came to the conclusion that it must have been a black cougar. Sure wish i had thought of the camera.

[doubled]

In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice - "It is not a Puma"

[MB_Boy]

Gate.....the demerol is still hitting you....you're imagining all of these reports. :wink:

"Yer in the spirit world".... http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ3UeuusQ7I/TaP714ErviI/AAAAAAAAAdU/7e6MUlEuo94/s200/Young-Guns-chicken.png


Could one of the other mods lock this one down.....Gate is high as a kite. :mrgreen:

[SHAKER]

Rare but it does happen. I've got a picture in one of my books of a black kitten with it's spotted sibbling in the same tree. I'll post the pics when I find them. These pic's were supposed to be from VI back in the early days...

[dana]

There have been reports of black cougar sightings for years throughout North America. Not much different that Bigfoot sightings. Not one credible photo, not one ever caught or killed. You would think that out of all the houndsmen in North America that turn out on a track that once, just once, one would get a black one up a tree. I'm not saying they don't exist, just pretty damn unlikely is all. I actually might be more prone to believe in a mythical sea creature in Okanagan lake than black cougars. ;)

[Gateholio]

Wonder if there are just some real dark brown color phase cats ?

[MB_Boy]

Wonder if there are just some real dark brown color phase cats ?

Kind of what I was thinking......viewed in the right light it could almost make them look black.


Was there not talk in the past couple of years about a "black" one in the Whistler area???

[LYKTOHUNT]

Many years ago in New Brunswick, my father saw a black or very dark coloured one, it raised some eye brows, but if he said it, that was good enough for me, there is no bullshit in that man.

[Gateholio]

Been Several "seen" in the last few days and over the years in Whistler and Pemberton.

[new hunter]

wonder if a black cougar would be protected like a kermode or a glacier bear ?

[K-1]

I think it's a conspiracy between the FN & David Suzuki to create a sacred ' Spirit Cat ' !!!

[835]

Better get 'er shot first!

[skibum]

First thing I thought after the first post was

"Great Spirit Cougar Rain Forest" and....

"Shoot it" :mrgreen:

[dedapair]

When Rutland Sports was still around, they had a dark brown, almost black cougar mount that they had been asked to sell. I don't know what happened to it but apparently it was shot on the island back in the 40's. The CO's took hair and tissue samples for their reference/research.

[Gilmore]

So I googled "Black Cougars" the results were not exactly what we're talking about here....

[killman]

So I googled "Black Cougars" the results were not exactly what we're talking about here....


LOL f@ckin awesome...... I was think pic the whole way through this post.

[pappy]

I have heard of a black cougar twice but that is hear-say, it would be cool to take one to the taxidermist.

[.303]

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/cougar.htm

The fourth paragraph talks about these..

[BlacktailStalker]

Yes I have heard of one from an old timer as well as the exact proximity and I wouldn't question his word for a moment.

[Iron Sighted]

So I googled "Black Cougars" the results were not exactly what we're talking about here....

*****!! That is funny.

^^^Ha, my acronym was censored.

[SHAKER]

I'm still look'n for the book thats got the picture...... the books about early settling days and predator control on VI and a little on the main land. Can't remember the name of it but lots of great cat stories. I WILL get these pics for you guys.

[houndogger]

Some are a very dark orange that would probably look black under low light conditions.

You would be amazed how many cougar sights turn out to be a house cat. Lots after the news reports a killer cougar on the loose.

[Legi0n]

from Wikipedia:

Large cats



Panthera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera), the feline genus which contains lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars
Panther (in Africa and Asia), the leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard) (Panthera pardus)
Panther (in North America), the cougar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar) or mountain lion (Puma concolor)

Florida panther (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther), a subspecies of cougar (Puma concolor coryi or Puma concolor couguar) found in southern Florida


Panther (in South and Central America), the jaguar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar) (Panthera onca)
Black panther (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_panther), a black variant of leopard, cougar or jaguar
White panther (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_panther), a white or very pale variant of leopard, cougar or jaguar
Panther (legendary creature) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_%28legendary_creature%29), a mythical creature resembling a large multicolored cat

[ROEBUCK]

its the oposite of albinos its callen melanism (melanistic couger) all animals can be melanistic as they can albinos.

[cumminsforever]

Google has a lot of info.

[huntcoop]

Now these black cougars are worth hunting but prolly LEH only....Halle Barry and Beverly Johnson

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgqKakQznyZjfC6Y_dbLx7C7iXZURnw lYU7Z_1EXbYLlJrqyT0
http://www1.pictures.stylebistro.com/mp/L9KPZ1WuZXll.jpg

[Gilmore]

Release the houndsssss.........!!

[huntcoop]

Release the houndsssss.........!!

...classic!

[835]

Woof,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[M.Dean]

A few years ago there was a few people up here that claimed they'd seen a black Cougar, I put it down to LSD flash Back's, and Moon Shine! Then last fall my oldest Son was driving up here with the Kid's, and what ran in front of the truck, he said it was a Black Cougar! I kind of believed him, but your always thinking it must have been the lighting, or covered in mud or God knows what! Then, about a month ago a friend of ours who lives a ways back in the brush had some friends over, and 3 or 4 guy's seen the Black Cougar! I'd love to see it this fall, I don't think there on the Endangered List yet, are they???

[BlacktailStalker]

On a serious note many of the mature toms on the Island take on an almost silver, dull grey colour.


Some are a very dark orange that would probably look black under low light conditions.



No Dave these are blacktails with their summer coats bouncing away from you :lol:

[lawlu]

Had a co-worker mention that to me just the other day. He lives in Sooke, close to the 17 mile pub. I told him there was no such thing and indicated that it was probably a bear, but he said that it definitely had a long tail and sure did look like a cougar.

[Alces Man]

Around 1974, as I driving to Duncan, a large black cougar crossed the road in front of me on the Malahat. About 200 yds further was a dog just trotting down the highway....supper maybe?

[Rock Doctor]

Several claimed sightings, both North and East of Ft Nelson a few yrs ago.


RD

[Ltbullken]

Likely a black bear!! :-P

[Sqrle]

My neighbour just came over to my place and inquirer if I'd ever heard of or seen a black cougar. He seems to think that there is one in the area. We live in Whistler and he takes long runs around the west side and has said that he was unsure if they exist but came back today sure hat he had seen a black cougar. Black cat long tail.

[Busterpayton54]

We spotted one near shraeder lake 30years ago

[digger dogger]

It's likely dark brown..

[SPEYMAN]

Seeing a "black cougar" is no big deal, just try and find a "natural blonde beaver".

[scoutlt1]

Seeing a "black cougar" is no big deal, just try and find a "natural blonde beaver".

You just had to go there didn't ya..... :)

[ACB]

It's likely dark brown..
Black Leopards,Black Jaguars, why not black Cougars/Puma's. I'v never seen one but I'm not ever going to say their not there. A guy I know swears up and down that he's seen one and I'm not going to call him a liar because he's one guy that doesn't B.S.

[okas]

lots at the boat show in Seattle :wink:

[Weatherby Fan]

lots at the boat show in Seattle :wink:

LMAO..........to funny

[quadrakid]

So many people see them yet in over 400 years of occupation no one has killed one? Plenty of people see sasquatchs as well . The eyes and mind can play tricks on us.

[digger dogger]

^^^ this here, ive treed a whack of cougars, and know tons of cat hunters.
Not one has treed or killed a black cat.
There was a kid in kamloops that said he had a friend that saw one.
Off they went with hounds, and treed a unusually dark brown cougar.
Not saying there isnt any, just no phyical evidence, EVER:-)

[caddisguy]

Still none on trailcam yet

[HARDICAT]

Walked back into our camp up North and told my Partners we just had a black cougar walk past us in the bush. Might as well have told them we saw a Sasquatch! There was two of us and we know exactly what we saw it was only 50 yards away

[Drache]

There have been numerous reports of a "black cougar" in the Quesnel Lake area for many years by old timers.