Sunday we were at the Black Diamond Restaurant not far from the Suwannee River. I asked one of our two waitresses, Rachael Smith, if her husband, a deer hunter, had seen anything unusual out in the woods. "You mean Bigfoot? she asked, "No, but two weeks ago we were on our way to Horseshoe Beach and had pulled off the road for some reason and saw a tan panther. She appeared to be in good shape."
About a month ago, I called into a local talk radio show and identified myself as "Black Panther." The host, Chip Miller, asked, "Do you mean the kind with black fur?"
"Yes," I answered, "The kind that isn't recognized as existing because of the development (and timber) interests." Peter Nickerson MS, MSW at 352-359-0850.

#179 Florida Panther In North-West Georgia

I want to thank DeepCover for making me aware of the article at Georgia Outdoor News - gon.com- about a Florida panther shot and killed by a hunter last year in Troup County, Georgia. The National Cancer Institute has confirmed that he was a Florida panther, in excellent shape and without a lot of parasites. He had no collar or chips. Of course, all the unfortunate "professionals" are being lined up to say he must have hitchhiked his way up there from the Naples,Florida area because there couldn't be any wild, flourishing panther populations anywhere else east of the Mississippi. I say that these professionals are unfortunate because their jobs depend on making that lie, and they are also unfortunate in that their spines aren't sufficiently strong enough to say job or no job, they aren't going to lie. I urge the Georgia legislature to pass a law prohibiting the shooting of panthers except in self-defense or defense of others. Isn't there a Georgia panther lover who can make that his or her project?
About two weeks ago, while I was having my teeth examined and then cleaned, I asked the technician if she had ever seen a black panther. This is something else that doesn't exist according to the same unfortunate professionals. Maybe one of these days, one of these guys will get an inheritance or win the lottery and then speak the truth. My dental technician lived near the Suwannee River and said, "Yes, I've seen one. There's a cattle ranch next to our house, and I've seen one crossing the road there, going from one field to another." She hesitated and added, "Of course, they'll tell you they don't exist, but they do." Here again, dear readers, is another example of my adage that the only thing government produces is grief.
For the sake of precision, I have broken out my commentary on Bigfoot to another blog exclusively for the big guy. It is "UnmaskingBigfoot.blogspot.com. Peter Nickerson at 352-359-0850.