Big Cats in South Walton

[reporter2]

talk to H.C. His dogs treed a big cat (told by WalCo Sheriff's Deputies that it was a jaguarundi) in his yard, a couple of years ago.

I'm sorry, but who is H.C.? I would be interested in talking to him.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I cannot tell you more than that. "H.C." is how I know him. You can catch him fishing on the beach in Grayton about every day.

Are you writing a story on this? If so, what publication?

 

[reporter2]

I am a freelance writer. However, this is just a research project I am working on in my free time -- no specific publication. If I do choose to write a story about big cats in NW Florida, I have no guarantee that it will get published and am not sure that I will seek publication. I have always been interested in the Florida panther, though, and am fascinated by the idea that they could exist in Northwest Florida.

 

[reporter2]

Big cats/Cougars were present in this area a few decades ago; but officially (I did talk to a FL FWS guy about this) they are no longer living in this area. He stated it is very likely that one may wander thru from time to time, however.

That's interesting. I have talked to several FWS representatives and have not been able to get much more out of them than the Service's official stance. Although, I was told that they receive several reports a week of cougars in the area. Also, I was told that someone in the Jackson Guard office had witnessed what they identified as a panther. The Eglin natural resources division receives less reports, several a year. One of the FWS biologists for this district told me that it was more likely that what people are seeing is jaguarundi.

However, I am interested in what you said about having friends in the environmental/survey business who have seen tracks. This is the kind of hard evidence that the FWS has consistently been unable to secure. The sandy nature of our soil complicates matters. It is hard to get a good impression and, hence, a solid cast.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Have you checked with the peeps at Nokuse?

 

[ASH]

To be clear, when I mentioned that I have heard big cats, that was back in MN.
I have only been in FL for two years and I can say that I have seen tracks in the woods that could be some type of cat track. Guess I will need to start packing my digital when I go. I used to do that back in MN too. I have pics of wolf tracks larger than my whole hand, bears, and moose. If/when I find anything, I will post them.

 

[reporter2]

Gracias, ASH.

 

[soappedaler]

Years ago I was wandering on a trail in Topsail, this was before the state bought it, the trail is east of Campbell Lake and west of where the Campers now go to the Beach. North of the Trail is a very dense wet area. Suddenly I heard a loud cat cry and a crashing through the brush. I took off and ran like I'd never run before. I think we scared each other into running in the other direction. The state officials said it was probably a feral cat. No way was the noise I heard a feral cat.
I have a friend who swears she saw a panther in the forest north of Blue Mountain. She had me out trying to track them. All we ever saw was alligators.

 

[reporter2]

Have you checked with the peeps at Nokuse?

I had not thought to, but I definitely will. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jodiFL]

The state officials said it was probably a feral cat. No way was the noise I heard a feral cat.

OH yea... you can DEFINITELY tell the difference. And that is close to the Four Mile area where I have been told one was spotted.