DEC: Animal tracks at farm likely not from panther

The state Department of Environmental Conservation said Tuesday animal tracks found at an East Hampton Town farm Sunday morning after a farmer witnessed seeing a panther-like animal are likely not those of a large cat.

Witness Matthew Lester told responding DEC officers he pulled into the property on Spring Close Lane around 11 a.m. and saw a grayish, catlike creature "with a long, striped tail, eating some composted vegetables and meats," DEC spokesman Bill Fonda said.

The animal fled as Lester arrived.

Officers searched the property and surrounding woods, and took pictures of nearby tracks to forward to its wildlife staff for review.

The photos show claw marks, Fonda said. Cats have retractable claws, so they typically don't leave claw marks when they walk, he said.

DEC officials theorized the animal could be a fox, which can be the size of a large house cat and move like a cat.

"They did not find any other evidence of a large cat in the area, such as hair . . .," Fonda said. "There was not sufficient evidence of a cougar, panther, jaguar or similar exotic cat in the area."

DEC staffers searched a database of special licenses allowing people to harbor exotic cats, but none came up for the area.

The agency plans to put one camera near the composting area where the animal was seen, and a DEC official will go to the scene to determine what camera location will provide the best view.

With Ellen Yan