Long-tail cats do exist in Alabama

Many of you will remember the story we ran in the fall outdoor issue of the Tribune.

I was researching a magazine assignment on long-tail cats in Alabama. I asked if anyone in our general area had ever encountered such an animal. Well, folks let me tell you, the response I received locally was pretty overwhelming. If I remember correctly, I got more than 35 reported sightings in Barbour, Henry, Bullock and Russell counties. Thanks to all who took the time to share their experiences with me.

In the February issue of Great Days Outdoors I ran the story, based upon the reports generated by the newspaper article. In this article, I included my e-mail address and asked people all over Alabama to share any experience they might have had with the big cats. Here again, I was overwhelmed with reports from across our state. A few of the encounters seemed a bit far fetched, but the vast majority came from good, honest, sober people who just wanted to share their experiences with someone. I documented every report and gleaned out, what I considered, the 45 or so best reports. I spread these across a map of Alabama, just to get a feel for any pattern we might have developed. I wish we had the space to share some of the reported sightings with you.

Without question, long-tail cats do exist in Alabama. Now, just for the record, the Department of Natural Resources continues to deny their presence in our state. Talk to anyone connected with the Game and Fish Department and you will get the same story. Oh yes, when pressured, they will admit that a few do roam the state’s countryside. But these, according to our law makers, are escaped pets that have averted to the wild. Yeah, right!

In our game and fish law directory, pumas, mountain lions and panthers are listed under “protected species.” So, basically we are protecting animals that don’t exist. Well, just for the record, I called the chief of game enforcement, Alan Andress at the DNR.

My question to Alan was, “What if someone shot a panther or cougar, and brought it in as proof? What would be the penalty?” According to Alan, they would treat this about the same as shooting a deer out of season. The fine would be anywhere from $250 to $1,000, and up to six months in jail.

Alan stated that the proof they are looking for is in a road kill or something of that nature. He stated that they get bears hit occasionally on our highways, and that gives them the proof that they exist. My theory here is, cats are a whole lot quicker and much more cautious than a lumbering old bear. You seldom see a bobcat hit on the highway, and everyone knows we have thousands of these animals roaming our woods.

In my state-wide survey, there is certainly a pattern to the cat sightings. Clarke County heads the list of reported sightings. Black, brown and tan varieties have all been sighted there by a number of different people. One of the reports I received stated, “I have your proof. It is buried out in the woods. The cat was shot during deer season, but fear of facing the penalty for killing one, left the proof out in the woods.”

And since it is a known fact that cats of this nature have a wide range, it is possible that a cat spotted in one county today, could be the same cat that is sighted in a neighboring county next month. Another report stated that a woman and her husband had a very good friend who was a biologist for the state. He told them that several years ago, the state actually released a few pairs of long-tail cats into several areas of Alabama. She would not divulge his name, as he is still an employee of the DNR. When I asked Alan Andress about this, he flatly stated that the woman was lying.

So, once again we are sort of caught between a rock and a hard place. Hundreds of sightings say yes, but the proof still lies somewhere out in the Alabama countryside. My guess is it will surface soon.

My follow up story will appear in the April issue of Great Days Outdoors. It contains a number of statements from witness across the state. So, if you’re turkey hunting this spring and run across a panther or cougar, please let us know. Whatever you do, don’t shoot one just to prove a point. You could be making license plates for the next six months, especially if the judge is named Garfield Feline III.