Sure... because they finally caught pictures of one on a camera they placed... up until that point their mantra was "DENY DENY DENY"... it was hard for them to keep up the "DENY DENY DENY" mantra after they caught pictures on one of their own cameras...I ask a a DNR officer about mountain lion/couger sightings in Indiana. He told me that the DNR have officially recognized the fact that there are some present in Indiana.
Do you think it possible that they deny it because the released them to keep deer herd population down. Perhaps they dont want to be accountable if someone was injured by one of them.Sure... because they finally caught pictures of one on a camera they placed... up until that point their mantra was "DENY DENY DENY"... it was hard for them to keep up the "DENY DENY DENY" mantra after they caught pictures on one of their own cameras...
They still won't admit or accept it as a "sighting" if it isn't on one of their cameras that they placed... for some reason they are very hesitant to admit that they are more common than thought.
I don't believe for a minute IDNR released cougars into the wild for deer population. I've heard that, there's no evidence of it, something of that magnitude would be impossible to keep a secret PLUS it's illegal.
As for cougars in Indiana - yes there are some. Not many, but there are some. Where did they come from? Likely escapees and perhaps a few migratory, but they are definitely here.
Now, I've been searching the net and can't find anything on it. Supposedly - according to my niece that lives near Booneville (Evansville), there was a cougar hit on a road in Folsomeville near Booneville. Does anyone have a news link or anything?
Also, a "black panther" is just term everyone uses. They are actually black jaguars or leopards. We for sure do not have these creatures in the americas lol
I have seen a large black cat in Morgan county 3 times, the last time I got within 40 yards in my truck, it walked away in some woods but stopped and looked back for several minutes. Size of a Bobcat but long tail and all black. Slightly shorter than a coyote. All 3 sightings have been within 1/8 mile of each other.
From what I understand, Panthers are black, Mountain Lions are a tawny color, and Cougars have stretch marks...