U-MD. CAMPUS
Authorities Take Photos Of Elusive Large Cat
By Martin Weil and Clarence Williams
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, August 3, 2008; Page C06
Authorities have apparently tracked down the animal that prompted reports of cougar sightings at the University of Maryland. Or at least, they came close.
They managed to snap pictures Friday of an unidentified feline that, while not quite a cougar, seemed far larger than a standard house cat.
The Department of Public Safety at the College Park campus said it got surveillance camera pictures of a "large feline" at the edge of a wooded area where what was believed to be a cougar had been reported. In addition, the department said, a university police officer got to see the big cat close up.
The verdict, after consulting with the state Department of Natural Resources, was no cougar.
In its size and markings, the safety department said, the mystery cat appeared to be consistent with the Savannah cat, which it described as a hybrid of a domestic short hair and a larger African feline, known as a Serval.
According to a statement from the safety department, Savannahs can weigh as much as 35 pounds, and can be much bigger than house cats. Savannahs, the department said, have been called the Great Danes of the cat world.
As of last night, the Savannah, if that is truly what it is, remained at large.
It was not immediately known how it came to be in the area where reports of cougar sightings Thursday created a summertime stir on campus.
Authorities Take Photos Of Elusive Large Cat
By Martin Weil and Clarence Williams
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, August 3, 2008; Page C06
Authorities have apparently tracked down the animal that prompted reports of cougar sightings at the University of Maryland. Or at least, they came close.
They managed to snap pictures Friday of an unidentified feline that, while not quite a cougar, seemed far larger than a standard house cat.
The Department of Public Safety at the College Park campus said it got surveillance camera pictures of a "large feline" at the edge of a wooded area where what was believed to be a cougar had been reported. In addition, the department said, a university police officer got to see the big cat close up.
The verdict, after consulting with the state Department of Natural Resources, was no cougar.
In its size and markings, the safety department said, the mystery cat appeared to be consistent with the Savannah cat, which it described as a hybrid of a domestic short hair and a larger African feline, known as a Serval.
According to a statement from the safety department, Savannahs can weigh as much as 35 pounds, and can be much bigger than house cats. Savannahs, the department said, have been called the Great Danes of the cat world.
As of last night, the Savannah, if that is truly what it is, remained at large.
It was not immediately known how it came to be in the area where reports of cougar sightings Thursday created a summertime stir on campus.
I am a huge fan of Felis concolor (AKA cougar, puma, mountain lion or catamount). I knew there really wasn't any cougars here in MD, but it was a funny story. I added that picture to Peter's post...b/c I have the absolute power to do so (muhahaha). Apparently it's either a Savannah cat or a large domestic feline. Heck, it could be Melissa's pet cat Muffy. She weighs about 67lbs.
ReplyDeleteKLIM NOTE - F. concolor has been extinct in New England since the '1930s but I think they are back (in West. MA and NH according to my sources)
Has anyone on this list ever seen a coyote in Rock Creek Park?
Muffy is bigboned and beautiful, but she has better things to do than hang out in Greenbelt.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing, I lived in College Park for four years and never saw any type of cougar. I guess it's because most older women were not terribly interested in college aged guys, who, in turn, are interested in high school aged girls. A lot of silver foxes though, they loved the college girls...
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I am known as the RED FOX.
ReplyDeleteUpon re-reading that, what I said isn't worth anything.