| In the summer of 1998, I was living in my parents travel trailer at Utt's Campground in Fancy Gap, Virginia (working there between my freshman and sophomore years of college). One evening, at dusk, I walked out on the deck to fold up a deck chair. Through the near-darkness, approximately 25 feet in front of me, I saw a large black cat moving through the campground. It was approximately 3.5-4 feet long, 24-30 inches high, with a tail about 3 feet long, and jet black. Altogether, it was slightly smaller than an Irish Wolfhound. Even in the darkness, I could see the animal was completely black. When I first saw it, I thought it was a large dog, but I noticed the distinct shoulder blade scissor movement characteristic of a cat. Then, I realized how large the animal was, long tail, and completely black. It turned it's head briefly to look at me, but continued pace-unbroken as it slinked through the campground. The next day, I relayed the sighting to my coworkers who informed me it was a "Carolina Panther," and they were well-known in that area. Only recently did I discover the animal aparently does not exist. Regardless of what contemporary zoologists say, I know I saw a very large, black cat. It's an experience I will never forget. |
|
