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Mountain Lion Blamed For Killing Livestock Save Email Print
Reporter: By Adam Fox
Email Address: adam.fox@kwtx.com
59 comments
A | A | A

(July 21, 2008)--An Axtell man claims that a mountain lion killed one of his emus.

Gerald Linton says he knew something was wrong when he spotted an emu out of its pen and wandering on the road.

He grabbed a rifle and a flashlight and sent to search his emu pens, where he found the carcass of one of the birds with its neck pulled through the wire fence and its head missing.

The rest of the body was still inside the pen.

Linton says the mountain lion came back later that night and ate the rest of the bird.

Linton's neighbors told him they saw the mountain lion walk up from the tree line along their property.

Linton said the neighbors followed behind the mountain lion from about 50 feet away until it headed into thick brush.

Game wardens told Linton they agree that it was a mountain lion that attacked the emu and not a smaller cat or feral pigs, which are known to be a problem in the Axtell area.

Baylor Environmental Biology Professor Heidi Markcum says mountain lions do live in McLennan County, but that only a handful have been officially identified and documented by the Texas Parks and Wildlife department.

Markcum said mountain lions typically don't prey on livestock but said it does happen, especially when the quantity of available prey drops or when water is scarce.

Residents who do see mountain lions are encouraged to contact Texas Parks and Wildlife and are warned not to attempt to capture or follow the animal.


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Posted by: cornered and bbq-ing Location: Rogers Park, Belton Texas on Sep 6, 2008 at 12:19 AM
I saw a mountain lion today. It showed up shortly after I began my bbq around 10pm at rogers park. I watched it creep around the brush surrounding the area I was bbq-ing in. After slowly putting out the pit and reloading the car; I turned around to have it across the street watching me. My friend stomped and yelled at it hoping itd run as it wasnt clearly in view. It came closer to get a better look. about a 3ft. distance from us. we backed up to the car doors and got in. I stared it down for about 2 minutes before I decided I was pressing my luck. I left and reported it to the Temple police station, but I'm sure they thought I was a quack as they didn't file a report or make note of the incident. No one seems to believes they're around here... I guess until something or someone goes missing. It was not afraid of me or my vehicle in the least bit which was the scarier realization.
Posted by: Iswearitstrue Location: Ft Hood. on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Well I will be dipped in....stuff. Patriot, you are 100 % correct. But man, what a buzzkill. lol
Posted by: Carlos Santana Location: Ratibor, TX on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Patriot, I have heard what Jim is saying about the black panthers being created by the government. I think there might be some truth in it. Carlos
Posted by: The Patriot Location: Texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Fact: Jack Beam has had to much whiskey again. Fact: Cougars and Mountain Lions are the SAME animal and a black one has never been seen or found. Fact: Black jaguars are a natural mutation and happens often. End of story.
Posted by: Cat Hunter Location: NM on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:07 PM
There is NO such animal as a black panther (at least not in the fourlegged world)!!! Research it!!!
Posted by: BIGFOOT Location: MESSIN WITH SASQUATCH on Jul 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Well just to put this out there I just got back from eating lunch with a black panther, a mountain lion, and a unicorn. We sat around laughing at all this hype about us and how we do not exsist here in Texas...We all had a good laugh thanks ya'll it has been a long time since I have laugh with good friends...We came to the conclusion that we are just going to have to start making more appearances now that all this talk has started......Please don't forget to send in photos of me I really do need to update my MYSPACE...Thanks again for all the laughs..
Posted by: Iswearitstrue Location: Texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:59 PM
You guys are all so smug. The bottom line is all things are true until proven not to be. a few years ago, I was out hiking with my buddy Jack. We were on a steep hill in East Texas and had just paused to take a break. We heard a noise and looked towards the sun, which was going down behind the mountain when I saw Bigfoot, He was riding on a black panther. Just in front of him was a small scaled critter that was running upright. It looked like a scaled monkey badger but I cant be sure. Anyway, Bigfoot was raising his rifle (yeah, they use rifles to hunt, who knew...) when he turned his head and saw us. He immediately turned the Puma and headed back into the woods. Anyway, after my heartbeat settled down, I got my buddy, picked him up, took a swig and headed back to my truck. This place is just weird man.....
Posted by: Jessica Location: China Spring on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Dude, I don't know why Texas Parks and Wildlife doesn't know about them - our game warden does. He's seen them.
Posted by: Jim Beam Whiskey on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Why do other joke posts get approved and mine don't?
Posted by: Trenton Location: Waco on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:36 PM
El Diablo you are correct those are the only black panthers that exist.
Posted by: Tina Location: gtown on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Hey what's up guys? So what are we taling about?
Posted by: wally woodlife Location: mclennan county on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:27 PM
For lease: Cryptozoology hunting lease in eastern Mclennan county. Lots of black panthers, chupacabra, loch ness monsters, thunderbirds, yetti, and bigfeet (or is it bigfoots?). Also as a bonus, take all the timber wolves (30 pound coyotes) you want. However, please don't harm the cottonmouth snakes (harmless water snakes), and bald eagles (caracara). Yes, I know there actually are bald eagles and probably a few cottonmouths in mclennan county, but not every snake in the water is a cottonmouth and not every big bird with a white head and wing tips is a bald eagle.
Posted by: My Sightings Location: Temple on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Since we are off the main subject and onto the "black panther" subject, Go to http://blackpantheranimal.com/black-panther-pictures/black-panther-photos.php and see pictures of black panthers. In some of the pictures you can see distinct spots in the black fur. Everything seems to point to the fact that these beutiful animals are the result of a mutation rather than being bred from parent black cats and are born as part of a litter of light colored cats, although there is one picture on this same site that shows a black mamma cat with at least 2 black cubs.
Posted by: Kathy Location: Donie on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM
In 1999 we saw a big black cat in Donie, Texas
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM
LOL @ bigfoot!
Posted by: Suz Location: Waco on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I grew up between China Spring and Whitney (10 miles down Wortham Bend Road) and have seen Mountian Lions personally. My sister saw one just last month when she was playing with my nephew outside. I have heard many stories of others in my family seeing Black Panthers on the land, which is over 200 acres on the Brazos, but have never seen one personally. I do, however, believe that they are there. I have heard the screams both at night and in late afternoon, could have just been a mountain lion but I'm not a big cat expert. With the proximity to water and dense forest with thick brush it would make sense that it would not be an everyday experience to see one. Doesn't mean they're not there.
Posted by: Big Cat Lover Location: Waco on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Most likely what we in this area are seeing is a Mexican Jaguar, which can be yellow or black, according to the Mexico City Zoo which has several in captivity. For many years, Texas and the Southwest have been their native territory. We call them "black panther"--the word black for their color, the word panther because they are similar in appearance. These elusive big cats look just like a panther but they are black. Thus: BLACK PANTHER!!!
Posted by: Jim Beam Whiskey on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Fact: Black mountain lions do not exist. Fact: Black cougars do exist Fact: Black leopards and black jaguars do not exist. Myth: Black cougars are a natural mutation Fact: Black cougars are the result of government experiments to breed a stealth predator to use in wartime against our enemies. End of story.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:51 AM
There have been Black Panthers in Texas, although you really haven't heard much from them since the late 60's or early 70's.
Posted by: ME Location: BELTON on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:36 AM
FO YOUR INFO I SPOTTED A LARGE BLACK CAT CROSSING THE HIGHWAY RIGHT BEFORE HEIDENHIEMER FEW YEARS AGO. IT WAS THE SIZE OF A MOUNTAIN LION.
Posted by: Larry Location: Riesel on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I have seen a black panther in my yard twice this year hope to get a shot at it this time
Posted by: dude Location: texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM
please send all carcuses and photos of these black panthers to the texas parks and wildlife office. they would love to see one since none have been recorded in texas. and dont worry about the hunting regulations, texas parks and wildlife dont regulate hunting seasons on animals that dont exist until it is proven they exist. there is no limit on shooting them.
Posted by: El Diablo Location: Hell on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:49 AM
The heck there ain't black panthers in Texas. Khalid Abdul Muhammad was down in Huntsville just a few months ago to protest an execution.
Posted by: Jessica Location: China Spring on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Dude, I don't know where you get your facts, but there are a couple of Black Panthers in China Spring/Speegleville area. In fact, about 4 years ago, one was hit by a truck on Hwy 6 close to the corner of FM 185. I saw it. Not to mention, I have seen one twice in the last month in my front yard. Next time, I will grab my camera and snap a picture - just for you, if we don't shoot it first. There was also a tan one, and a grey one - I haven't seen those in a couple of years. Ask anyone that lives in China Spring, and they will tell you that they have seen them too.
Posted by: BIGFOOT Location: MESSIN WITH SASQUATCH on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Yeah I'm pretty famous around these parts although I rarely stop to pose for pictures. If you have any good photos of me please send them in I need to update my MYSPACE profile.
Posted by: Trevor Location: Texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:33 AM
The term ‘Black Panther’ is quite often used in connection with large black cats - however there is no one distinct species of wild cat called a Black Panther. Over the years it has become used as a common name which can be applied to any large black coated cat. When you see a picture of a Black Panther it is most likely that you are looking at either a Leopard or possibly a Jaguar with Melanistic Coloration
Posted by: The Patriot Location: Texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Fact: I saw a large black cat running through a field back in the 80's. It was the size of a jaquar. Mountain lions are all over Texas but no black one has ever been seen or recorded. But, black jags and pumas have been. Since experts believe they are more illusive than the cougar, the big black cat numbers are not exactly known. But they are here and have been seen in Texas for long time. Their hunting range can cover 100 miles, so yes, easy to migrate north over the years.
Posted by: dude Location: texas on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:10 AM
fact, there have been no photos of wild black panthers in north america. bigfoot has been photographed many times in texas. you are much more likely to see bigfoot than a black panther. no black panther has ever been killed in texas. no dead black panther has ever been found in texas.there is a small brown cat called a jagurundi found near the mexican border, it isnt black, it isnt a panther. those are the facts.
Posted by: Beno Location: Gatesville, TX on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:50 AM
I'm a Predator Hunter and would like the chance to help someone with a problem like Coyotes, Bobcats, Feral Hogs, and Mountain Lions. Fifteen Years experience. References upon request.
Posted by: francyjo Location: freestone county, kirvin tx on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:44 PM
I live in kirvin tx... and late one night my grandson's cat wanted outside, when i opened the door to let him out, right in front of my house below our security light stood a huge black cat. not sure if it was a panther or not but it was big enough to be. needless to say our little kitty ran and hid lol. they say there has been quite a few sightings around this area of this cat and i even heard a scream from the woods behind our house that sounded like a panther or mountain lion. my dog came up missing the same week as i saw this cat and so did the neighbors dog.... strange. I know we have bobcats in this area, I have even shot one in our back yard that was killing my chickens, but this was much bigger then the bobcat. whatever it was i sure wish they would catch it before anymore pets come up missing.
Posted by: Texas Location: Texas on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:22 PM
At any given time any form of big cat can probably be found anywhere. Unfortunately these animals can be bought and attempted to be raised as pets. People realize they are in over their heads and release them on county roads etc. It doesnt suprise me if ANY form of big cat is found locally.
Posted by: Know Your Location: Facts on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Oh and one more thing---- the black jaquar and puma are large and have been seen in East Texas too. Wally Woodlife, you should do some research before making yourself look like an idiot. These 2 big black cats have been around Texas for over a century.
Posted by: Know Your Location: Facts on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:19 PM
The Central American Jaguar and the Puma can both be "black". It's called black mutations in their fur. They have drifted as far north as the Arizona border, and sometimes crossed the Rio Grande River into Texas. There's been many sightings since the turn of the 20th century and these two have been found as road kill. No actual (black panther) has ever been found.
Posted by: b Location: waco on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:46 PM
I can't beleive they aren't blaming neighbors pit bulls
Posted by: Carlos Santana Location: Ratibor, TX on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Oh there most definitely are large black cats in Central Texas. Next time I see one I'll take a picture of it and post it on this website.
Posted by: wally woodlife Location: mclennan county on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Hey dude, read the second blog (from Leon county)---black panthers
Posted by: Sally Location: China Spring on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:46 PM
A few years ago, I heard my vet telling about treating a horse attacked by a mountain lion in the China Spring area. The drought was on bigtime then and it was supposed the mountain lion--cougar, pather, painter(really pioneer lingo there!--whatever you want to call it--was hungry enough to eat a horse! LOL!!! Seriously, it is a true story...the horse was attacked on his rump and his back..vicious huge claw marks...horse survived I think. Don't know if they caught the mountain lion or not, but it was seen by several people in broad daylight....their range is about ten miles or more, I think... so could go to a lot of places around Waco.
Posted by: steve Location: fairfield on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:25 PM
There is a mountain lion / panther that travels around Teague Lake. A buddy of mine works for the city of Teague and he and some workers even heard it screaming while working there a couple of years or so ago. I know someone near there had a few dogs killed by it.
Posted by: Annette Location: Waco on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Three years ago at about ten at night, my hubby and I were driving on Lakeshore Drive, heading east toward Interstate 35. That is a well-lighted roadway. Just past the Waco Water Park (on our right), a huge black cat with a long, long tail ran across the road right in front of us and jumped the barbed wire fence of the cornfield with a single bound! It was headed for the Cameron Park cliffs above the Bosque River, near the Mouth of the Bosque, where the Bosque River and the Brazos River meet. We both saw it clearly and agreed it was BLACK and was a Gigantic CAT and could have been nothing but a mountain lion, and a BLACK mountain lion at that! Several times at the same area I have also seen deer, even in the daytime, and once, a big doe that was ran over near the intersection of Lakeshore and Martin Luther King Blvd. So, I know there are "black panthers" or whatever you want to call them, right here in Waco, here and now! We felt priviledged to have seen such an uncommon sight.
Posted by: wally woodlife Location: mclennan county on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Sorry, i didn't mean to fire you folk up. I won't confuse you with facts anymore. Oh yeah, while in the woods watch out for the chupacabras, I heard they hang with BLACK PANTHERS.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Cedar Springs/Rosebud on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Yes! We do have mountain lions. My father was feeding cows at one time not to long ago and there was one on our farm. It was also seen by other people that live around there.
Posted by: dude Location: texas on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:42 PM
wally, you are the first one here to say anything about a black panther, who is the idiot? answer... you is the idiot. we all know that there are no black panthers here, just mountain lions.
Posted by: Wacoan Location: Waco on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I lived right across the street from Cameron Park from 1946-1964. My daddy & his family lived across the street from Cameron Park from 1921-1991. Cameron Park was our playground. In 1956, my friend & I were followed home by a BLACK mountain lion..could see it clearly as it was just getting dark. My daddy heard it scream & he ran into the Park & saw it running off. He also saw that it was BLACK. He said he & his brothers had seen many tan "cougars" thru the years & a BLACK cougar twice. Two differnt times as I rode my horse on the wooded trail (now a bike trail) from the Brazos River to Lover's Leap a tan cougar followed me! They do scream like a woman. My horse was terrified and was running full speed up the rocky trail. For sure, there were cougars in Cameron Park. Would not surprise me if still some there, as parts of Cameron Park are really wild and there are plenty of deer there, too. So for all you doubters, there used to be "black panthers" in Cameron Park, and probably still
Posted by: wally don't know it all Location: here on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Whatever! People think they know it all. There are panthers here and people are correct in saying so.Hush wally!
Posted by: carol Location: tippie ranch on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:16 PM
well i live on the tippie ranch in prairie hill tx and can say we have mountain lions where we live.
Posted by: My sightings Location: Temple on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:08 PM
About 2 years ago, on the southern edge of Hewitt, a giant gold cat ran across the road in front of me and in a second it was gone. I know it was large, as tall as the hood of my car, and its tail was so long and thick, it looked like a 5th leg. I contacted Tex. Parks and Wildlife to see what it could be, and they said definitely a mountain lion, and that they had received several reports of mountain lions in the Hewitt vacinity. Also, when I lived near Chilton I had a bobcat in my garage, and I got the thrill of hearing it scream, though at the time it scared the bejeebers out of me.
Posted by: Sharon Gray Location: Waco, TX on Jul 22, 2008 at 12:21 PM
To wally woodlife, you googled that didn't you? So you could sound intelligent? Just admit it, it's ok, we won't laugh any harder at you than we are for the name you chose to post.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I wouldn't be so quick to doubt people "Wally." You can get just about anything into this country these days, especially if it comes from Mexico like you say. I'm with you woah nelly, lol!!!
Posted by: Texan Born and Raised on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:57 AM
OK wally woodlife, explain to us idiots what the heck a very LARGE black cat is that would roam the woods of East Texas? Ever heard of the idiots that think they can handle large cats and then figure out they are not for pets then turn them lose? Just because you have never spotted one, does not mean they do not exist right here in Texas. I mean come one, large black cat and more than one person, as you add an "s" to idiots, which makes it plural, means more than one person has spotted one. I can't believe there are still idiots that think they know it all.
Posted by: woah nelly Location: robinson on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Dang Wally Woodlife, what crawled up your tree and died? No need to be so mean about it.
Posted by: Rural resident Location: Dirt road on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:05 AM
To Wally: Your name should have been Thomas. But even Thomas was wrong by doubting.
Posted by: ttown Location: temple on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I went to falls county jail to visit an inmate and there was a mountion lion in the parking lot.
Posted by: wally woodlife Location: mclennan county on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Hard to believe that there are still idiots that see "black panthers" in central texas. a black panther is a rare melanistic phase of leopards and jaguars---NEVER, EVER MOUNTAIN LIONS!!!!! It is a long swim from Africa and a long walk from central Mexico.
Posted by: Aly Location: Waco Area on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Like Carlos S. said, if you hear a woman screaming (sorta like a fat, 40ish, stabbing victim) you have heard a mountain lion. If it happens several times, and seems to be moving, she is in season, looking for a mate. I lived many years on a isolated large farm/ranch in south Texas (Carrizo Springs, Crystal City, Eagle Pass area) and both bobcats and mountain lions were fairly common. I've heard them scream, it will make the hair on your neck stand up, and cold chills on your spine. Even our hunting dogs would run and hide, more quickly than you can imagine!
Posted by: BIGFOOT Location: MESSING WITH SASQUATCH on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I was walking around doing some pre season scouting on Ft Hood and I spotted one near a little pond. They are all over Texas.
Posted by: Carlos Santana on Jul 22, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I saw a mountain lion late late one night in 1978 near Zabcikville, Texas. I was out hunting with a buddy of mine when we heard what I thought was a woman's scream. I told my buddy we better go see what the problem was. He was too scared so I crept over toward the noise and what did I see through the brush gnawing on a rabbit? A mountain lion!
Posted by: Adam Location: Rosebud on Jul 21, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I have personally seen a mountain lion cross Hwy 77 on two different occasions within the last year. One was just north of Golinda and the other in Rosenthal. What's scary is that both were within 50 yards of a house. How'd you like to take the trash out one morning/evening and stumble upon one of them!?
Posted by: Leon County resident Location: Texas on Jul 21, 2008 at 11:47 PM
They are all over Texas. Here in Leon County where I have lived all of my life, I have seen several and even black panthers. The screams are something you never forget. When I lived in the "country" it was no big deal to see one, but since I have lived in town I have spotted one walking right down the middle of the street infront of my house at around 1:00am in the morning. Only saw that once, but once was enough for me to be more on the look out after dark even in town.
Posted by: Tony Location: Waco on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:54 PM
I'm not surprised about this. I'm really more surprised that there are not more reports of mountain lions taking livestock, pets, ETC.
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