Not my area usually but I do follow the broader cryptid landscape and the Southeast panther reports have been interesting to track. The clustering around the Appalachian foothills specifically seems too consistent to dismiss as misidentification, though I know that's the go-to explanation from wildlife authorities.
What strikes me is the witness profile. A lot of these aren't your typical "I saw something in the dark" reports. Farmers, forestry workers, people with genuine outdoor experience describing large black felids in daylight at reasonable distances. That carries more weight with me than most.
The SHC literature has taught me to pay attention to patterns that authorities are slow to acknowledge, and this feels similar - a phenomenon that's hiding in plain sight partly because admitting it would raise awkward questions about what exactly is living in those hills. Whether its escaped exotic pets or something with a longer history on that landmass I genuinely dont know, but the uptick this year is worth documenting properly.
Anyone keeping a centralised log of the 2024 reports with grid references?