"Possible Florida panther in Mississippi. Although panthers are federally protected, if Mississippi doesn't recognize them as a native species, the protection laws may be fuzzy… just like we saw with the panther shot by a hunter in Georgia in 2008"….Mountain Lion Foundation
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Hunt continues for Bay panther
BAY ST. LOUIS — Fliers are going up in Cedar Point and surrounding neighborhoods to warn residents of a possible Florida panther sighted in the area.
Animal Control officer Dorty Necaise said his office received a few more calls Wednesday from residents who claim to have seen the big cat.
Necaise planned to track the animal Wednesday night with a representative from the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and local trapper Clark Breland.
The animal is being blamed for the death of a Bay St. Louis couple’s family pet last week.
Deputy Police Chief Mike DeNardo is warning residents to keep watch over their small children as well as their pets until this animal is identified and caught.
Florida panthers are an endangered species. They are tan with a long, black-tipped tail and weigh between 70 and 120. They measure 7 feet from nose to tail and stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulders.
DeNardo asked residents not to try to trap or kill the animal. Any sightings should be reported to 911, he said.
For the cats,
Julie Hanan
Volunteer Senior Keeper – Advocate
Big Cat Rescue
12802 Easy Street
Tampa, FL 33625
bigcatrescue.org
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