By Tim Binnall
A peculiar piece of footage showing a sizeable big cat making its way down a mountain in Arizona has left wildlife officials scratching their heads as they cannot determine what exactly the mysterious feline might be. According to a local media report, the puzzling video was posted on YouTube last week by a Phoenix resident who spotted the curious creature outside their home. The enigmatic animal is initially hard to discern as it first appears as merely a large black form on the mountain. However, as it moves along, one can see that it sports a long tail which would seem to preclude it being a dog or a bear and, instead places the creature squarely in the feline category.
That said, identifying the specific species of cat has proven to be something of a challenge for wildlife experts. When presented with the footage by a local TV station, Jim DeVos of the Arizona Game and Fish Department observed that, while the state has a variety of big cats living there, "it's nothing that I recognize as a native species to Arizona." His response was echoed by department spokesperson Tom Cadden, who indicated to an area newspaper that the animal is not a "mountain lion, bobcat, ocelot or jaguar," while also appearing to be "pretty big for a house cat" that is simply out on the prowl.
With all of those options having been seemingly dismissed, both experts suggested that the sizeable feline could have a more colorful origin story. "My guess is that it's probably something that was bought at a wildlife auction" and then subsequently found a way to escape, DeVos mused, theorizing that the big cat "could be from Africa or South America." Although the animal may not be native to the Phoenix area, he explained that wildlife officials are unlikely to pursue the mystery feline unless it displays "some type of unacceptable behavior" towards humans. What do you think was filmed on the side of the mountain in Arizona? Share your best guess with us at the Coast to Coast AM Facebook page.