Authorities Search For Large Cats At Andrews AFB

[Dutch6]

CAMP SPRINGS, Md. - Prince George's County Animal Management officers were called to the area of Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs Thursday to search for two large cats. At about 10:30 a.m., an enlisted man's wife reported spotting a large brown cat on the base. At about 11 a.m., officials received a report of a large black cat on base. Initially, the cats were seen near the base commissary and housing area.

Air Force representatives said a member of the military search team spotted the brown cat at about noon. It was jumping over the perimeter fence onto Allentown Road.

"He spotted the large brown cat," said Lt. Col. Bruce Alexander. "It jumped the fence near the Allentown Road area. Once it got off base, they ceased to search for it."

The black cat is believed to be on the base.

"We're just trying to do a patrol now to see if we can find any sighting of this animal or prints -- footprints, paw prints," said animal management Chief Rodney Taylor.

Prince George's County police are assisting animal management in the search.

People in the area were told to stay indoors as a precaution, and three elementary schools -- Francis T. Evans, Princeton and Skyline -- have dismissed. Children who walk to those schools are being held inside until their parents can pick them up.

I wonder just how BIG these cats are?

 

[desertrat]

I heard something about this on the news, but all I could catch is they were rumored to be mountain lions or panthers.

 

[nomoney]

It was jumping over the perimeter fence onto Allentown Road.

"He spotted the large brown cat," said Lt. Col. Bruce Alexander. "It jumped the fence near the Allentown Road area. Once it got off base, they ceased to search for it."


I wonder just how BIG these cats are?

I'd say decent size

 

[desertrat]

I'd say decent size

Man, if it actually JUMPED over the fence I'd say so too. Those fences must be at least 8' high.

 

[huntr1]

Please, PLEASE let this be real. I would LOVE for cougars/mtn lions/panthers to be back in MD!

 

[Dutch6]

Please, PLEASE let this be real. I would LOVE for cougars/mtn lions/panthers to be back in MD!

They will just be killed off like before.

 

[RoseRed]

I thought I read somewhere yesterday that they escaped from a circus. Not sure if it is accurate, but Cole Brothers is supposed to be here Monday, so they may be up the road in that area now.

 

[desertrat]

They will just be killed off like before.

Did they ever actually live in this area?

 

[CMC122]

Did they ever actually live in this area?

My old neighbor had one on his carport about 25 years ago in Bowie

 

[Bonehead]

Hntr while sitting in tree during deer season two years ago I saw a large cat from a ways off. I never could find a print but I estimate the animal was in the 50 to 60 pound range. Brown in color short haired with a long tail. Really suprised me. I believe that they are on a come back in Maryland.

 

[huntr1]

Hntr while sitting in tree during deer season two years ago I saw a large cat from a ways off. I never could find a print but I estimate the animal was in the 50 to 60 pound range. Brown in color short haired with a long tail. Really suprised me. I believe that they are on a come back in Maryland.

Black bears were almost gone not too long ago, but are now back in a population large enough to support hunting.
Coyote were gone, but are now found in every county in the state.
Turkey were almost wiped out, but are now plentiful across the entire state.
Heard bobcat's when we lived in Frederick.
Come on Cougars!!!!!

 

[desertrat]

Black bears were almost gone not too long ago, but are now back in a population large enough to support hunting.
Coyote were gone, but are now found in every county in the state.
Turkey were almost wiped out, but are now plentiful across the entire state.
Heard bobcat's when we lived in Frederick.
Come on Cougars!!!!!

I think that would be cool too. I suspect however that in the cougars case they are getting pushed out of their normal range and forced to or through this area. Maybe they are attracted to all the deer that live in the 'burbs and can't be hunted. Keep your doggies in the house. We had a lot of coyotes in the canyons in San Diego and they would come up and snack on kitties and gang up on dogs.

 

[Midnightrider]

Black bears were almost gone not too long ago, but are now back in a population large enough to support hunting.
Coyote were gone, but are now found in every county in the state.
Turkey were almost wiped out, but are now plentiful across the entire state.
Heard bobcat's when we lived in Frederick.Come on Cougars!!!!!

saw one on a buddy of mines farm off of German Chappel road when i was a teen. I wouldn't have believed it, but we were only about 25 yards from it as it came out of their barn.

 

[Bruzilla]

I saw my first Florida panther a little before last Christmas. It was laying right in the middle of RT 21 on the way to Starke, FL. At first I thought someone had hit a steer and left it laying in the road. Then when I got about 100 feet from it, it got up and I saw it was a cat. I had no idea they were that friggin huge! On TV you don't really get a sense of scale, but this thing was nothing I would want creeping around my neighborhood.