There are no black panthers, not in Alabama or anywhere else in North America. Frank Allen, area biologist for Martin-Skyline WMA in northeast Alabama says the only black big cats are melanistic leopards in Africa and Asia, and rarely a Central American jaguar.
What kind of big cats are in Alabama?
Alabama has two native cats. The first and largest is the mountain lion, also called a cougar, catamount, painter, puma or panther. Cougars are tawny brown to grayish in color, weighing from 75 to 120 pounds, and can reach a length of about 6½ feet, nose to tail.
How many black panthers are in Alabama?
There are also no laws governing the hunting of blank panthers because there is no such animal believed to be in Alabama. Officials with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources insist there is no evidence of black panthers existing in the state for at least 50 years.
Are there black mountain lions in Alabama?
They are generally gray, red, or brown in color. Even though popular lore suggests they are black, there has never been a documented case of a black mountain lion in all of North America.
Are there Florida panthers in Alabama?
The only known self-sustaining wild population closest geographically to Alabama is the Florida panther (P.c. coryi), which is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. DESCRIPTION: Among the largest (150-275 cm [60-110 in.]; weight 35-100 kg [75-220 lb.])
What states do black panthers live in?
There is no compelling evidence that a single wild “black panther” has ever existed in United States. The largest cat in the United States, and in fact the fourth largest cat in the world, is the mountain lion (Puma concolor) – also known as cougar, catamount, painter, and in Florida, panther.
What does a Alabama bobcat look like?
The bobcat (Felis rufus) is a medium size cat that is reddish brown to a smoky gray in color with spots or streaks of black along the back and sides. The belly is white with black spots. Unlike most cats, bobcats have a very short tail that is white on the underside with a black tip.
Do mountain lions exist in Alabama?
State officials say there is no self-sustaining wild population of mountain lions in Alabama. Cougars are most common in the western United States with the populations closest to Alabama in West Texas and Florida, where they are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Are there wild wolves in Alabama?
Four of these native species have become extirpated within the state, including the American bison (Bison bison), cougar (Puma concolor), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and the elk (Cervus canadensis). There are six known introduced mammal species in the state.
Do wolves exist in Alabama?
Present day red wolf populations exist in captivity with the exception of a reintroduction to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The red wolf was extirpated from Alabama in the early 1920s.
Are there any black cougars?
Cougar. There is no authenticated case of a truly melanistic cougar. No specimen has been photographed or killed in the wild, nor has it ever been bred in captivity.
Can mountain lions be black in color?
Many people have heard the term “black panther,” but these are actually melanistic jaguars or leopards: a genetic trait that makes an individual cat’s fur appear much darker than the usual coloration. To date there has never been a confirmed case of a melanistic (black) mountain lion.
Are there all black cougars?
No, we haven’t found a black mountain lion in North America. But, according to zoologist and science writer Dr. Karl Shuker, the Yana Puma (Black Puma) exists in neighboring South and Central America historical records. There you have it!
Do black panthers live in the South?
Believe it or not, it’s possible see wild black panthers, like this one here, naturally in the Southeastern U.S. Although most commonly applied to leopards and jaguars, the term “black panther” can refer to any wild cat with the melanistic (black-colored) mutation.
How many mountain lions live in Alabama?
| State | Mountain Lion Population |
|---|---|
| Alabama | |
| Alaska | 0, some confirmed sightings |
| Arizona | 2,000 – 2,700 |
| Arkansas | 20-30 |
Can you have tigers in Alabama?
State Laws for Keeping Exotic Cats as Pets. 4 states have no laws on keeping dangerous wild animals as pets: Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. 6 states do not ban or regulate keeping big cats as pets: Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Delaware, and Oklahoma.
Is a black panther the same as a cougar?
Although cougars are sometimes called panthers, “black panther” is not a name that can be attributed to this species. This is a blanket term for any large cat with a black coat due to a gene that produces a dark pigment. Mammals with this mutation are known as melanistic.
What’s the difference between a black panther and a jaguar?
Yes, jaguars and black panthers are the same thing. White panthers are also the same as jaguars. They fall under the same species name. The only real difference between them is the color of their fur.
Are black panthers and jaguars the same?
Black jaguars are also called black panthers, which is an umbrella term for any big cat with a black coat.
Is there Jaguars in Alabama?
Generally, it is believed that there are no breeding populations of these big cats east of the Mississippi River, which would include the state of Alabama. They do have large ranges, though, and are known to have a small breeding population in Florida.
What does an Alabama coyote look like?
Coyotes usually are a tan or grayish color with black and white highlights, particularly along the mane, rump, and tail. the throat and underside are white. variations in color have been noted, with black phases particularly evident where interbreeding with red wolves has occurred.