There has NEVER been a DOCUMENTED case of a "black panther" in the United States.
There has NEVER been a DOCUMENTED case of a black (melanistic)
mountain lion.
As to what they are seeing, who knows? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Could it be a
Jaguarundi?
Very doubtful, as they do not range anywhere near where all of the "reports" are, and they have never been documented anywhere other than extreme South Texas, and the alledged "feral" Florida population.
Could it be the
Florida Panther?
Very doubtful. They are simply a subspecies of mountain lion (less than 70 left in the world) and they are not black either.
Could it be a
Black Jaquar?
Again, not likely, as they have not been documented anywhere in the US other than the extreme Southwest.
If there were as many "black panthers" out there as what people claim to have seen, one would turn up in either a trap, shot by a hunter, or end up as road kill. But, they never have.