For decades, people across the United States have reported something that science insists shouldn’t exist:
A jet-black mountain lion.
From rural Texas to the Appalachian Mountains, eyewitnesses have described large black cats slipping through the woods, crossing roads at night, or appearing briefly on trail cameras before vanishing again. Some call them “black panthers” but most are describing a mountain lion-totally black in color.
A wild story has been spreading across social media — claiming that Texas Game Wardens arrested a man for trying to hunt squirrels with his bare hands and teeth near Lake Tawakoni. According to the viral post, the man called himself a “primal predator” and argued his “God-given claws and fangs” meant he didn’t need a hunting license.
What if America’s wilderness hides a predator science won’t acknowledge? In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, author Michael Mayes—known for his work Shadow Cats—joins us to dig into the controversial and chilling reports of black panthers roaming across the U.S.
For decades, eyewitnesses from Texas to the Appalachians have sworn they’ve seen something impossible: massive black panthers prowling the woods, stalking farmlands, and vanishing into the shadows. Yet, mainstream science insists such creatures don’t exist in North America.
In this thought-provoking episode of Dark Outdoors, we sit down with author and researcher Michael Mayes to explore the mystery at the heart of his book Shadow Cats. Together, we examine chilling accounts, folklore, and the deep cultural roots of black panther sightings. Are these elusive predators a product of myth, mass misidentification, or could there be something truly hidden in America’s wild places?
Expect a conversation that pushes beyond campfire tales—diving into history, biology, and the unsettling implications of predators that may walk unseen. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this is one episode that will make you think twice the next time you walk into the woods after dark.
Are they black mountain lions – black cougars?
Are they black jaguars?
Are they jaguarundi?
Are they escaped exotics?
What about the mysterious black longtail?
Take a deep dive on black panthers with us.
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Some are saying it’s a jaguarundi—a small wild cat once native to South Texas and long rumored to still exist in isolated pockets. And honestly, I can see why people would think that. The descriptions match up: long-bodied, dark-colored, with a tail nearly as long as the body itself. It’s the kind of profile that some say matches a jaguarundi.
Jaguarundis are one of the least known cats on the planet. Although short, they grow fairly long and someone seeing one of these cats could easily label it “black panther”. (USFWS Photo)
But before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a breath.
I’ve been studying these kinds of sightings for decades, and while I don’t doubt the sincerity of the witnesses, I always encourage a cautious approach. Jaguarundis haven’t been officially documented in Texas for quite some time. That said, I do believe there are some in Texas but there is another cat with a similar appearance.
In my own work, I’ve coined the term “black longtail” to describe what some people mistakenly call “black panthers” in Texas and elsewhere. The cats I am talking about obviously aren’t melanistic leopards or jaguars but they also don’t neatly fit the normal domestic house cat category. They’re something else. I’ve collected dozens of firsthand accounts of black, long-bodied cats that defy easy classification.
So could the Seguin cat be a jaguarundi? It’s possible. Could it be a black longtail? Just as likely. I’ve even considered the idea of large black domestic cat hybrids or escaped exotics playing into these stories.
The reality is, we don’t have conclusive photographic or biological evidence yet. What we have is an intriguing sighting that fits a pattern I’ve seen before.
If you’re interested in digging deeper, I’ve covered the jaguarundi mystery in detail on my YouTube channel in the video in this video.
If you’re in the Seguin area and have seen something similar—or have clear photos or videos—I’d love to hear from you. These mystery cats continue to fascinate me, and every report helps build a broader understanding of what might be out there.
Whether it’s a surviving pocket population of jaguarundis or another chapter in the black longtail mystery, one thing is certain: Texas still holds wild secrets. And I’ll be here, doing my best to uncover them.
Gulf Great White Shark Documentary Premiee-You’re Invited!
A documentary from award-winning wildlife journalist & conservationist Chester Moore.
A mysterious great white shark sighting out of Sabine Pass, TX leads to a 20-year investigation from the Texas Gulf Coast to Cape Cod. This proves the true apex predator of the Gulf of Mexico is returning to southern waters in a big win for ocean conservation.
In the final installment of our series on black panthers, I rank the seven candidates for what people are seeing in the wild.
It will be controversial, but it is what I truly believe is going on out there.
Please share this video and let people know the interesting work we’re doing on YouTube and here at highercalling.net
Crazy Deer Poaching Case
On my Higher Calling Wildlife® podcast we talk about the most insane poaching story we’ve ever heard. It includes a man posing as a female wildlife photographer on Facebook to get info on urban whitetail buck locations.
I’m running a special promotion for both podcasts. If you subscribe to both Higher Calling Wildlife and Dark Outdoors and email me at chester@chestermoore.com with your mailing address, I will send you decals for both podcasts.
Your subscribing with my podcasts is a huge help as it is a massive undertaking to create all of this in-depth content. Please subscribe via Spotify, Apple Music, IHeartradio, Amazon, etc.
Or you can subscribe by clicking here on the Podbean link for each show.
And it’s not just rumors or legend. They are scientifically verified.
In our fifth episode of the Black Panthers In America series on my Chester Moore Wildlife Journalist & InvestigatorYouTube channel, I talk about black bobcats.
Check out that episode here.
And if you haven’t seen our other videos in the series go back on the channel and check the out. We dive super deep into the black panther phenomenon.
We also have a new episode of Dark Outdoors the podcast interviewing the survivor of a terrifying hog attack.
*Hear the unusual situation that caused the attack.
*Learn how to avoid hog attacks.
Help Us Give Wildlife Encounters To Kids In Florida
We have a very special expedition coming up in Florida.
Our Wild Wishes® program is teaming up with our Higher Calling Wildlife® outreach to do special wildlife encounters at Bear Creek Feline Center in Panama City, FL.
We will be putting together special gift packages for 12 kids and also have expenses to cover with travel, etc.
Six years ago, I coined the term “black longtail” to describe a type of cat I believe is responsible for many black panther”sightings in America.
In part 5 of our Black Panthers In America YouTube series we discuss this felid and show some interesting photos.
In case you missed our last two videos in the series you can watch them here. these talk about different aspects of black panther sightings.
Help Us Help Hurting Children
We are doing a special expedition to Florida to help give 12 kids amazing educational and inspirational encounters at a friend’s facility that has mountain lions, Florida panthers and other small cats.
These encounters can change lives and inspire kids to get involved with wildlife. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation you can donate at the link below. We have a short time to get the funds together and need your help.
Regulations for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) are changing along the Gulf Coast. There is much concern about this popular fishery and in the latest episode of Higher Calling Wildlife® we dig deep into the topic.
And incase you missed our last post, don’t forget Dark Outdoors season 3 just kicked off.
Over the years, hunters, hikers, campers and other outdoors lovers have reported hearing terrifying sounds in the woods.
Click to listen.
What are they hearing?
There’s certainly not just one answer.
On the first episode of season 2 of Dark Outdoors the podcast we dive deep into the topic, play some of the sounds including a primate verified to dwell in the Texas outdoors.
And we also talk about the mysterious Sierra Sounds with Ron Morehead who recorded them back in the 1970s.
Strange sounds in the wood are something that I have always been intrigued by and when you listen to this episode you will see why.
In the latest installment of our 8 part series on Black Panthers In America, we discuss jaguars.
Are there hidden jaguar populations in America? Learn about never before publicly shared sightings and an intriguing fact about jaguars and their propensity to be black.
Jaguars are my favorite animal and have written several articles on them here.
On the first episode of season 2 of Dark Outdoors the podcast we dive deep into the topic, play some of the sounds including a primate verified to dwell in the Texas outdoors.
And we also talk about the mysterious Sierra Sounds with Ron Morehead who recorded them back in the 1970s.
Strange sounds in the wood are something that I have always been intrigued by and when you listen to this episode you will see why.
Chester Moore
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