2009 is the Year of the Panther
It all began in late February with a sighting in Tallman along the gas line. Shelly Cohen was perplexed by the animal that she later described as the size of a large dog, pitch black with a long tail with a “cat’s head.” It wasn’t until she heard about the two sightings on Ludlow Lane by Jane Bernick and Grace Knowlton in early March that she told her friends.
As with Jay Larkin and his boys who saw the animal on the Palisades Interstate Parkway between exits 3 and 4, on March 17, Dorian Tunell and his son saw two in Tallman near the gas line and a week later Milbry Polk saw one in her driveway off Rte. 9W. Police, Animal Control and Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) were called but by the time they arrived the animal(s) were gone. All descriptions were the same: sleek pitch black body, larger than a large dog, long tail that curved up at the tip, the animal sauntered, it did not run, and had glowing yellow eyes at night. Using the Palisades Community Center’s e-mail list, Panther Central was set up to record the sightings and to e-mail updates to alert the community.
Since those first sightings, there has been enough drama and suspense for a book. As the animal appeared and disappeared, people contacted zoos, safari parks, panther sanctuaries in Texas, Florida and Africa, U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the wild cat experts at Panthera, to gather information on how to capture the animal(s), what we should be aware of and how to get help. Community members wrote letters of concern to officials. We had meetings with the PIPC, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Orangetown Police, Animal Control, Supervisor Kleiner and Town Board. We have asked for a humane capture plan, with cages and tranquilizers, sniffing dogs, cameras, bait, signs in Tallman, coordination between the Police and the PIPC to enter each others’ jurisdictions, communication with schools in the area and with neighboring police departments.
But in a nutshell, no steps have been or will be taken by the DEC until there is a photo or a “credible” witness (translation: an official agent). Tongue-in-cheek articles appeared in the New Yorker and the New York Times. Reports on Channel 12 and 5 and in the Journal News. History Channel’s MonsterQuest found our story via surfing the internet and filmed witnesses and our tracker for their episode on big cats in the suburbs. Within our community, our Palisades panthers have invoked fear, amusement and sentimentality all at the same time.
At the end of March, we were introduced to Shane Hobel, a primary tracker with Tracker Search and Forensic Investigation (SFI). Founded by Tom Brown Jr., Tracker SFI’s mission is to assist and train government agencies and police departments in the skills of tracking. Shane and his assistants have come to our area to track whenever we call, for free.
Even with no sightings in May and June, a few of us kept in contact with the officials to encourage a plan, in the event that the panther was sighted again.
On July 10, a guest of the Goldmans', who had no prior knowledge of the Palisades panther, witnessed the animal on the Goldman property. A few days later another sighting occurred on Woods Road and two eviscerated deer were discovered nearby, all between July 10 and 19. At this time, in a letter endorsed by three dozen neighbors, we asked that if nothing else was to be done, then at the very least, we demanded immediate installation of cameras in the wooded areas between Woods Road, east to the river and north into Tallman in a concerted attempt to snap a photo.
A heated community meeting on July 23rd with agency reps in attendance did achieve a bit of action. Community members made donations to Tracker SFI to fund their efforts. The Town agreed to purchase six cameras and Tracker SFI was contracted for two weeks at $1,750 to determine if there had been a large cat here and to determine a pattern of activity.
Led by SFI Director Bill Marple, a team of up to five trackers, who traveled from the Pine Barrens, NJ; Vermont; South Carolina and Beacon, NY, scoured our woods and some properties to look for current activity. Bill and Shane assisted in the investigation of a gruesome crime scene where five sheep were killed in Closter. It turned out to be a pack of coyotes, not our panther.
Obstacles faced Tracker SFI. The cameras didn’t arrive and get installed until 4 days before their contract expired. Although the trackers identified Tallman as a key location for tracking given the prior evidence, they had been warned by PIPC officials to stay out of the park. After repeated efforts to obtain permission to enter Tallman, the PIPC denied SFI access to track in Tallman. Finally, after SFI’s contract with the town expired, PIPC issued a limited permit allowing SFI to set up cameras only along the area of the gas line and only if escorted by a park official but no tracking off the trails was allowed. The opportunity to gather valuable information was lost.
Even with these obstacles, in their detailed report to the town, SFI did find definitive evidence of a large predatory feline living in Palisades, most likely along the gas line and on the cliffs of Tallman. Due to limited time and access, SFI was not able to pinpoint where the panther continued to return. Going back to the DEC, we urged them again to take the report as credible evidence of the panther’s existence and to take action.
The DEC is the state agency charged with dealing with nuisance animals. The DEC has taken the position that it cannot take any action (such as trapping) until there is a photo or definitive information about the animal. Residents have made the argument that, given the location of the recent sightings and general information about feline predators, the DEC has enough evidence to set traps. But the DEC continues to be unwilling to set traps at this point, although it has said that it will continue to assist and advise the town in the town’s efforts to address the panther situation.
There have been no sightings since July (except 2 unconfirmed in Piermont). Presently, we have six cameras monitored by volunteers in various wooded areas on private property with permission of the owners.
The Panther Team of Carol Baxter, Susan Nemesdy, Milbry Polk and Dana Stangel-Plowe will continue to keep pressure on the various agencies. We have a sanctuary lined up in the event of capture. It is no news that panthers and leopards are the most elusive creatures on earth. If you have any sightings or information, please contact pantherhotline@gmail.com. For a timeline, visit the 10964 website at: www.Palisadesny.com
Eyewitnesses Only To report your own sighting, call all three numbers below so your sighting is registered: South Orangetown Police Department: 359-3700 PIPC: 786-2781 Shane Hobel: 629-4866 Register your sighting at: pantherhotline@gmail.com
What to do if you see a panther ... Stay calm. More than likely, it will walk away. Face the panther and slowly back away, keep eye contact and speak in a firm voice. If the panther does not walk away, show no fear and don't run. Raise your arms, open your jacket, step on a rock, anything to make yourself appear larger. Do not crouch. Pick up small children without turning away from the panther. Panthers attack prey by trying to bite the head or neck, so remain standing and face the animal. If attacked, make noise, wave your arms, don't turn your back and fight back with rocks, sticks, jackets, etc.
Source: National Parks and Conservation Association; and California Department of Fish and Game.
Seattle Cougar Caught! An interesting tidbit is that Seattle recently captured a cougar in the residential area of Magnolia Park after two residents called officials. Agencies sprung into action, with dogs, tranquilizers and cages and after two weeks, the animal was captured, radio collared and released into the wild.
Panther hats
for sale!
$10
each. PCC@
palisadesny.com