Milbry Polk, who called the meeting and chaired it, reminded the audience that two eviscerated deer have been found in Snedens Landing in the last week, possibly killed by the panther. She expressed everyone’s fear that a child might be the next victim of this powerful predator. She then introduced Shane Hobel, founder of the Mountain Scout Tracking School in Beacon New York and one of the five members of Tom Brown’s SFI (Search, Forensic, Investigation) Tracking Team. SFI volunteers its tracking services to help in different kinds of investigations, especially tracking lost children and adults (see the article about the Panther Party on this website).

Shane first came on the scene after Milbry’s sighting of the panther in April and has volunteered his services to help clear up the mystery of what these animals actually are. He has come here after each of the recent sightings, examining the areas around the sightings and collecting any information he could find about the animal. Although he has identified claw marks in a tree, and feline paw prints of an animal he believes weighs about 120 pounds and is two to three years old, a picture is vital for identifying this predator. Shane suggests that the community find the funds to buy eight cameras — six regular and two web accessible — and two traps. Shane will place the cameras and monitor them for a month, establishing the paths used by the creature. Then the traps could be placed in the mostly likely places to be effective. The cameras and traps could be obtained for $2500: a month of monitoring, five to seven hours a day, would cost $3500. So we in Palisades would have to somehow come up with $6000.

Members of the audience had specific concerns in response to this proposal. Albon Man and Dennis Hayes were bothered by the lack of corroborative evidence for the existence of the panther. Shane explained that only one sample of scat had been tested, and the results were inconclusive. Although he was sure that some prints were those of a large feline, a picture was needed and the cameras were the best way to obtain one.

Many people, among them Susan Nemesday, expressed their frustration that no effective steps had been taken to find and deal with the animal. Representatives from Palisades have been meeting with members of the town administration, the DEC, and the PIP since March and no progress has been made.

Ed McGowan of the Palisades Interstate Park explained that a camera had been placed in Tallman Park by a PIP volunteer, Tom Cunningham, but that after weeks of observation documenting dogs, coyotes and other animals, the camera — which belonged to Tom Cunningham — had been stolen. A warning was also placed at the entrance to Tallman Park. Ed McGowan added that pictures of the dead deer on Corbett Lane had been sent to a coyote researcher, who felt that the damage to the deer carcass could have been made by a coyote.

Sgt. James Sullivan, who was at the meeting with Orangetown Police Chief Nulty, was asked about the report that someone on Clausland Mountain was keeping panthers in their basement, but he said that the report was impossible to verify. Sgt. Sullivan explained that the police could not act without clear evidence such as a photograph or definitively identified paw print. Shane said that he would send Sgt. Sullivan a paw print. Bill Marple, Director of Tracker SFI, added that there is no question that the prints are made by a large cat, not by a dog, a feral cat, or a bobcat.

Linsey Lonberg felt that the cameras and exploration of her property could be an invasion of privacy. Shane responded that each homeowner would be alerted before the SFI tracker came onto their property (by phone or email) The homeowner will be able to view all images taken from the camera on their property and all images not involving the cat will be wiped. Only Shane Hobel will place and know where the cameras are.

Suzanne Barclay, representing Thom Kleiner, stated that the Town would be willing to work with the PIP to solve this problem. Eileen Larkin and David Gottlieb suggested that the Town of Orangetown pay the $6000 Shane had suggested was needed. Nancy Low Hogan and Marie Manning, both members of the Town Board and present at the meeting, responded that they would be willing to vote for support from the town but that more votes were needed. Thom Kleiner, who arrived later, supported the idea and said he was willing to expedite an application for funding.

Although the meeting was long and at times contentious, everyone felt that something had been achieved, including better communication between Shane Hobel of SFI, the Palisades Interstate Park, and members of the Orangetown Town Board and Police Department. An agreement was reached to work together on the problem. SFI will begin immediately mapping game trails in Palisades to ascertain the best places to put up cameras and eventually traps. Trapping will be under the supervision of Ed McGowan of the Palisades Interstate Park, working with Shane Hobel. (SFI does not trap — they only track.) Shane and SFI are to be given permits immediately to work in Tallman. The cameras will be bought and placed by Shane, whether they are funded by the town or by individual donations from Palisadians.

Tracking services offered by Tracker SFI are provided free of charge. They are there in times of emergency to assist families, local law enforcement and search and rescue units to work toward the best possible outcome in any situation. Their organization is supported totally from fees charged for training services and through donations. If you would like to make a donation, please send it to:

Tracker SFI
PO Box 37
Waretown, NJ 08758

Make checks payable to: Tracker SFI.