S elusive big cat spotted again in Florida

For the second time in a little over a year, an elusive big cat has been spotted in Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received reports of a mountain lion in the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, northeast of Gainesville. The sighting was reported on Monday morning by two separate people, both of whom said they saw the animal from a distance.

This is the second confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in Florida since January 2017. Officials say that it's likely that there is more than one lion roaming the state, as mountain lions are not typically known to travel in packs.

Mountain lions are typically found in western states such as California, Oregon, and Washington. It's unusual for them to be seen so far east, but it's possible that individuals are starting to migrate south due to changes in their environment.

The FWC advises people who see a mountain lion to keep their distance and not approach it. If you live in an area where mountain lions have been sighted, make sure you keep your pets inside at night and avoid leaving food outside that could attract the animals.

Mystery creature caught on camera in South Carolina

A photo of an unknown creature was recently taken in South Carolina and has the internet buzzing with theories about what it could be. The photo, which was first posted to Facebook by user James McAndrew, shows a blurry black and white image of a creature with a long tail and spikes down its back.

At first glance, the creature does not look like anything that is typically found in South Carolina, but there are some theories that suggest it could be a relative of the North American opossum. McAndrew claims that he and his friends were out driving around when they came across the creature near a creek. He said that it was as big as a house cat and had a long tail.

Since being shared online, the photo has received over 200 comments from people who have their own theories about what the creature could be. Some people believe that it is an alien, while others think that it is a cryptid. A cryptid is a creature or animal that is believed to exist but has not been proven to exist.

The most likely explanation for the creature is that it is simply an opossum, but until someone can get a better look at it or capture it on camera, we will never know for sure.

Another panther sighting in North Carolina

For the second time in as many weeks, a panther has been spotted near North Carolina's capital city.

This big cat was seen near the intersection of Kildaire Farm and Weston roads in Cary on Monday morning by a driver who immediately contacted the police. Officers responded to the scene but were unable to locate the animal.

The sighting comes just two weeks after another panther was seen prowling through a yard in Wake Forest, which is also located in northeastern North Carolina.

Both sightings are believed to be of the same animal, and although it has yet to be confirmed, it's likely that this is a male panther who has wandered down from the mountains of western North Carolina.

Panthers are a federally protected species and it's illegal to kill them, so if you see one don't panic – just stay away and call the authorities.

The Panthers are coming! The Panthers are coming!

Okay, so maybe that's not quite what's happening, but with two panther sightings in North Carolina in as many weeks, it definitely feels like they're on the move. And while there's no need to panic (these big cats are federally protected), it's nonetheless pretty exciting to have them moving into our backyards.

So just what is a panther? Well, technically speaking, "panther" is just another word for cougar or mountain lion. It's derived from the Latin name for these animals, Panthera pardus, which means "leopard." So while there may be some variation in coat color (they can be anywhere from tawny brown to black), all panthers are members of the cat family and share many of the same characteristics: they're big (adults weigh between 50 and 125 pounds), they're fast (they can reach speeds of up to 40 mph), and they're lethal predators (they'll take down deer and other prey larger than themselves).

So why are they moving into North Carolina now? It's hard to say for sure, but one possible explanation is that their population has been growing and they're searching for new territory. Panthers used to be found throughout much of the eastern United States, but their range has shrunk significantly over the years due to habitat loss and hunting. In fact, by 1980 there were only about 30 left in South Carolina – which is why that state put together a recovery program and started protecting them.

Nowadays there are estimated to be around 1,500 panthers living in Florida and about 250 in Texas, but there may well be others living undetected in other states. And while it's still rare to see one (especially if you live outside of their core territory), hopefully we'll continue to see more sightings as they gradually spread out further westward.

Panther photographed in Virginia for the first time ever

The North American Puma, more commonly known as the mountain lion, cougar, or panther, has been photographed in Virginia for the first time ever. This is an amazing discovery and a testament to the resiliency of this species.

The North American Puma is the biggest cat in the Americas and is found from Canada to South America. They were once incredibly common throughout their range but have been extirpated from much of their historical territory. The puma is currently listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN as they are still widespread and relatively numerous, with an estimated population of 30-50,000 animals.

Despite this designation, pumas are considered endangered in some states due to ongoing conflict with humans. In Virginia, there have only been a handful of unconfirmed sightings over the years, so the recent photograph of a panther is a significant find.

The exact location where the panther was photographed has not been released, as efforts are underway to confirm that it is indeed a wild puma and not a captive animal that has escaped or been released. If it is confirmed that this is a wild puma, it would be an incredible discovery and provide hope for the future viability of this species in Virginia.

Big cat on the loose in Georgia

For the past few days, residents of a small town in Georgia have been on the lookout for a big cat that is on the loose. Some people have even reported seeing the panther-like creature lurking in their backyards.

While officials from the Department of Natural Resources are confident that the cat is not a panther, they are still unsure of what it is. They have asked residents to keep an eye out for the animal and to report any sightings.

So far, there have been no confirmed sightings of the big cat, but many residents are still on edge. Some are even keeping their children and pets inside at night.

It's unclear where the big cat came from, but officials say that it could be someone's pet that was released into the wild. They are encouraging anyone who may know who owns the animal to come forward.

Until this big cat is caught, everyone in the area will just have to keep their eyes peeled.