Panther on the prowl? Not so fast...
By
CAROLINE GABLE
Story Created:
Aug 27, 2010 at 7:02 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Aug 28, 2010 at 10:38 PM EDT
MARCY, NY (WKTV) - A Marcy woman couldn't believe it when she spotted what she thought was a black panther in her side yard along Glass Factory Road.
Sharon Ruda quickly snapped pictures of the animal and asked her husband what he thought. The couple both thought they were looking at a black panther in their yard.
NEWSChannel 2 asked the experts to weigh in on the pictures of the alleged black panther sighting.
Beth Irons, Director of Development at the Utica Zoo says she's skeptical that this is a black panther, although it's tough to tell from the images. Irons says a panther would have more muscle tone, a bigger head and a tail about 30% longer. She thinks the size of this cat is slightly smaller than that of a lynx at the zoo and much smaller than the zoo's 300 pound tiger.
"Chances are it's a feral cat," Irons said. "One that is used to being outdoors, one that has a little bit more of a muscle build up from the necessity of having to hunt and catch its prey to feed itself, that kind of thing. These photos do suggest this is a domestic cat rather than a large carnivore."
An official with the D.E.C. says occasionally a transient cat will come through the area, but there is no doubt in his mind this is not a black panther.
Either way, all the experts agree, if you do come into contact with a Feral cat or a black panther you're advised not to approach it.
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