This morning I was heading back from Gibsonton after picking up material when I spotted what appeared to be a panther. Yes I know panthers don't live that far north bla bla bla. But I have seen panthers in the Everglades and I know the difference between a panther and a bobcat. I was heading south on 75 just right before the little Manatee River bridge I saw a light brown animal heading towards the river. At first I thought it was a deer but after a second I noticed it had a long tail and was walking like a house cat stalking something. It was large like the big male panthers I've seen in the glades. Like 70-100 pounds large! So what you think???
sure there are panthers that far north. i know a friend of mine lives on sr64 and in the past year or year and a half they have seen a panther twice on his 5 acres tract, most likely the same cat both times. little manatee river is only 25 or 30 minutes away, so its very possible you saw what you think you saw.
They are all over the place
I'd say it's very believable. They've been spotted in Duette and one of my cousins who works at the phosphate mines south of Plant City has seen their tracks. He says some of the guys running the draglines have actually seen them. That's about due east of where you saw it, so it makes sense.
