Sep 11, 2012 5:57 PM
New York State conservation officers were investigating reports that a “panther-like” animal was on the loose in East Hampton this week.
According to Bill Fonda, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Conservation, two officers responded to a call from the East Hampton Town Police Department for assistance in investigating a reported sighting of the animal at a farm on Spring Close Lane off Spring Close Highway.
Mr. Fonda said Matthew Lester reported that when he drove onto the property to do some work at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, he “observed a grayish, cat-looking creature about five feet long and two feet high at the shoulder with a long, striped tail, eating some composted vegetables and meat scraps.”
“The animal fled quickly into the brush upon Lester’s arrival in his truck,” Mr.... more
According to Bill Fonda, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Conservation, two officers responded to a call from the East Hampton Town Police Department for assistance in investigating a reported sighting of the animal at a farm on Spring Close Lane off Spring Close Highway.
Mr. Fonda said Matthew Lester reported that when he drove onto the property to do some work at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, he “observed a grayish, cat-looking creature about five feet long and two feet high at the shoulder with a long, striped tail, eating some composted vegetables and meat scraps.”
“The animal fled quickly into the brush upon Lester’s arrival in his truck,” Mr.... more
If there is a dangerous exotic animal on the loose why is this article locked ? Does a disservice to the public at large.
The striped tail and a grey or black color says to me maybe someone may have lost a lynx.
Another LI newspaper is reporting that the tracks (which they have pictured) are not from a large cat. Likely culprit? Fox.
Looks alot like a lynx at a trot to me, but I could be wrong...
This seems small for a five-foot long animal? TBD
Felines will eat greens, but they are carnivores and cannot live without meat,fat, fiber, and yes, organs. Years ago I thought about having a lynx, but when I found out they enjoy 4 to 5 pounds of meat a day, I found 9Lives and a tabby much more appealing.