Creature Chronicles - No 10 - 1986

Magazine Overview

Title: Creature Chronicles
Issue: Number 10
Date: August 5, 1986
Publisher: Independent Information and News Service
Editor: Ron Schaffner

This issue of Creature Chronicles marks the return of the publication after a year-long absence by the editor, Ron Schaffner, who apologizes for the delay and outlines plans to resume publishing with a rate of three issues per year, offering free exchanges for stamps, newsclips, or other publications. The editor notes a lack of information flow from February to July and requests reader assistance in updating case files, particularly regarding animal escapes.

Major Articles and Reports

Cat Fever: The 'Cat and Mouse' Hunt Continues

The ongoing hunt for a Michigan panther, now in its second year, is detailed. Associated Press and CNN reports suggest wildlife officials believe the elusive cat is a pet. Various capture methods have been unsuccessful. The panther has been accused of killing a horse in Milford Township, Michigan, where a $3,000 palomino quarter horse was found dead on July 10. Police in Pennsylvania are investigating a report of a big cat on the loose near Nicholson.

Tiger Hunt Continues in Pennsylvania

Knight News Service reports on a widespread search for what might be two tigers, one tiger, or no tigers in northeastern Pennsylvania. A family in Newton Township claimed to have seen a large, orange cat resembling a tiger. Earlier, a report from Nicholson mentioned a tiger wandering near a road, though descriptions varied. State police and armed citizens participated in the search, with a helicopter also deployed. The possibility that the animal was a pet Bengal tiger that escaped from a local resident was later considered, but the search was called off.

'Big Cat' Searches Continue

This section compiles several reports of large felines on the loose:

• Milford Township, Mich.: Wildlife officials are setting traps for a black panther that killed a horse.
• Gibson, Pa.: Police lost the trail of an elusive tiger.
• Nicholson, Pa.: State police and a zookeeper searched for a tiger, with speculation it may have escaped from a traveling circus. Later reports suggested it might be a pet Bengal tiger.

Other Animal Encounters and Incidents

• Leopard Attacks Keeper (Great Bend, Kan.): A 16-year-old leopard attacked a zoo employee after leaping to the roof of its cage. The keeper was injured, and the leopard was killed.
• Escaped Wounded Lion (Middletown, Ind.): A 200-pound lion escaped from its owner's farm and was recaptured after wandering for nearly four hours.
• Zoo Escapes (Rome): Two tigers and a lion escaped from a zoo, terrorizing a neighborhood until police subdued them.
• Zoo Escapes (Louisville, Ky.): Two male wallabies escaped from the Louisville Zoo, with one being recaptured.
• 'Big Cat' Search Was a Dog (Waukegan, Ill.): A reported lion sighting turned out to be a junkyard dog named Henny, shaved to resemble a lion.
• Jaws Drop as Gigantic White Shark is Reeled In (Montauk, N.Y.): Fishermen caught a 3,450-pound great white shark, with assistance from a shark hunter whose exploits inspired the movie 'Jaws'.
• Spiders Force Office to Close (Orlando, Fla.): An infestation of brown recluse spiders forced workers to abandon a local government office building.
• Smart Alligator Eats Up Traps (Aledo, Texas): A wily 6-foot alligator has repeatedly evaded game wardens' traps, swallowing bait and breaking lines, becoming a local celebrity.

Killer Bees Carry Killer Bee Mites

Researchers from Cornell University are concerned about the spread of a bee-killing parasite, the Asian bee mite, which is carried by Africanized bees (killer bees). While the bees themselves may not reach the US in force until 1988-1990, the mites pose a significant threat to domestic bees. The mites have already caused extensive colony deaths in numerous countries.

Scientist to Tackle Snowman Mystery

Dr. James Halfpenny, an expert in mammal tracking, is joining an expedition to Tibet to investigate the Abominable Snowman mystery. He hopes to find tracks and gather evidence. Halfpenny also has expertise in hair analysis and has previously proven the existence of lynx in Colorado. He is also interested in tackling the Bigfoot mystery.

Bad-Nosed Bear: Chutist's Cocaine Provides Fatal High

Investigators searching for cocaine dropped by an airborne smuggler found the remains of a black bear that had apparently died from a cocaine overdose. The bear, weighing over 150 pounds, tore open a duffel bag and consumed a significant amount of the drug, valued at millions of dollars.

Feline 'Pigeon Patrol' Scales New Heights

Hardin County magistrate G.C. Ray implemented a successful program using cats on the roof of the county courthouse to deter pigeons. The cats have eliminated the pigeon problem, and county jail prisoners are assigned to care for them. The idea has gained attention, with T-shirts and caps being sold based on a cartoon of the concept.

'Pig Invasion' Threatens Farms in California

Wild pigs are invading Marin County, California, threatening watersheds and farmland. Officials are concerned about the pigs' rapid population growth and their destructive rooting behavior.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the reporting of unusual animal behavior, escapes, and encounters, ranging from large felines and exotic animals to insects and mythical creatures. The publication seems to adopt a stance of documenting these phenomena, often citing news reports and investigations. There is an underlying curiosity about the unexplained and a call for further research, particularly in areas like cryptozoology and animal behavior. The editor's note emphasizes the need for reader contributions to fill gaps in their case files, indicating a community-driven approach to collecting information on these unusual subjects.