In the spring of 2021, a post on Facebook ignited a wave of excitement and speculation in the Travelers Rest area when a woman claimed she spotted a black panther in her yard in the Sunny Slopes community. This revelation quickly captured the attention of residents across Renfrew, Coleman Heights, Tigerville Road, Fernleaf Drive, Rabbit Road, Keeler Mill Road, Locust Hill Road, Old White Horse Road, and Tugaloo Road, many of whom chimed in with their own accounts of either sighting or hearing the elusive creature in their neighborhoods.
The reports of a mysterious panther continued through the autumn months, sparking a heated debate among locals. While some confidently asserted they had encountered the creature, others argued against its existence, insisting that panthers had been declared extinct in South Carolina. The conflicting narratives left many residents puzzled and intrigued, with some claiming the animal was not black at all but rather brownish or tan in color, leading to theories that it could be a mountain lion instead.
The discussion surrounding the Travelers Rest black panther wasn’t entirely new. In 2016, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officers were reported to have been searching areas along Tigerville Road, with one resident stating that they were actively looking for a mountain lion in the vicinity.
To add to the wildlife excitement of the year, sightings of black bears were also reported and photographed in downtown Travelers Rest and surrounding areas, further enriching the community's connection to its natural environment.
As the debate over the black panther’s existence continues, the community remains captivated by the mysteries of their local wildlife, sparking curiosity and wonder about what truly roams the shadows of Travelers Rest.
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