‘Use extreme caution.’ Large cat reported on the loose in the Midlands, sheriff says
“Use extreme caution.”
That was the Calhoun County sheriff’s message to area residents after a “large cat” was spotted Tuesday.
Information on what type of “cat” was seen was not available, but Chief Deputy Matt Trentham told The State people have reported seeing a tiger. Those reports have not been confirmed, and there’s no official description of the animal, Trentham said.
But multiple people have called the sheriff’s office to report seeing the large cat, according to Trentham.
There have been no reports of missing animals, should the cat turn out to be an exotic pet, and there are no animal habitats in the area, Trentham said.
The cat in question was sighted near the Sandy Run area in the 400 block of Valley Ridge Road, according to the sheriff’s office. That’s in Swansea, near an Interstate 26 overpass, and about three miles from Exit 125. It’s also close to the line with Lexington County.
Trentham said it was a wooded area, and called the size “substantial.”
In addition to Calhoun County deputies, members of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are in the area searching for the cat. The search includes DNR’s plane and drones from Lexington County, Trentham said.
“We are working with DNR and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office to determine the accuracy of the sightings and a possible location of the cats,” Lexington County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Sarah Alexander told The State. “At this time we cannot verify that any big cats are loose. ... (We) are following up on all reports but nothing has been verified. ... It is an ongoing investigation.”
While the cat has not yet been seen by officials, a paw print that could be from a large cat has been found, according to Trentham.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone who has seen the cat to call 911.
“We’re doing this out of an abundance of caution,” Trentham said.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 12:38 PM.
