Sent from 'Joe' - Thu Feb 17, 2000 To add to your list of Big cat sightings:
near Amherst, Massachusetts USA mountain lion seen;
reference: the magazine article about the Quabbin Reservoir in FATE February 2000 $4.95.
pages 35-6 of the article entitled: New England's Magical Mystery Tour, by Corrine DeWinter of: ________, Mass. pages 34-37 & p. 63
"Even the peaceful natural reserve of the Quabbin Reservoir near Amherst, Massachusetts, has had its share of beastly visitors, including Bigfoot.
With nearly 80,000 acres of wilderness, it's no wonder that extinct animals, such as the cougar, or catamount, have been spotted with frequency there. Believed extinct in the Bay State since 1858, when the last one was killed in Amherst, the cougar has made something of a comeback of late. / Leslie Costello was driving in the area of the Quabbin early one morning at about 2:00 A.M. when she was forced to make an abrupt stop. She saw what she believes was a mountain lion ambling across the road, seemingly unaware of the car's headlights. 'I watched for about 30 seconds as it moved toward the woods." Having seen live mountain lions before in California, she was sure this was the same animal.
The area near the Quabbin is also reported to be a santuary for an unlikely and elusive crocodile population. Incredibly, one of the creatures was captured in Dismal Swamp near the town of Ware."
There has also been sightings of the mystery black cat in the area.