Monsters Among Us S20 Ep13: Pitch-Black Predators: Alien Big Cats Vol. 2

Podcast Overview In this chilling installment, host Derek Hayes returns to the mysterious, hotly debated phenomenon of “Alien Big Cats” (ABCs)—anomalous sightings of large, predatory feline creatures (usually black or ‘melanistic’ cats) that science insists shouldn’t exist in North America. Calling on firsthand stories submitted by listeners, the episode pounces from South Carolina to Texas, Montana to Ontario, Ohio to Alabama and Tennessee, compiling direct witness accounts, family legends, and even a tantalizing video. Hayes weighs theories ranging from misidentified local wildlife to creatures of paranormal or interdimensional origin, peppering the show with personal insights and historical context. The tone remains open, spooky, and grounded in the show’s signature mix of skepticism and wonder.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Exploration of “Alien Big Cats”: Eyewitness accounts of large black cats seen in areas where official agencies deny their existence
• Regional Hot Spots: Focus on clusters of sightings in the Southeastern U.S. (Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama), but also including Montana, Ohio, Texas, and Canada
• Debate: Natural vs. Paranormal: Are these real, undiscovered animals, color morphs like melanistic jaguars, cryptid felines, or something supernatural?
• Importance of Firsthand Stories: Listeners’ own voices sharing multi-generational and corroborated encounters, suggesting a persistent phenomenon
• Skepticism vs. Belief: Discussion of state wildlife agencies’ refusal to acknowledge sightings and the tension between what people experience and what science allows

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Big Cat Footprints in South Carolina

[03:15–06:22]

• Witness: Donald from Myrtle Beach, SC
• Details: Large feline prints found in a neighbor’s garden, with a second set of smaller prints:
  • Community Facebook post revealed multiple similar sightings; others skeptical
  • Discovery of multiple animal kills (coyotes, dogs, deer) supports presence
  • State denied the existence, but physical and anecdotal evidence persisted
  • Quote: “People are seeing it and there's definitely tracks there. So they refused to even entertain the idea.” —Donald, [05:05]

2. The Beast of Bladenboro and Taste for the Paranormal

[06:22–08:18]

• Host Recap: The infamous “beast” killed dogs in North Carolina in the 1950s and 2000s; witness accounts described brutal attacks.
• Derek’s Take: “That’s why I always scoff when people say these creatures aren’t or can’t be paranormal because frankly, none of that sounded normal to me at all.” —Derek, [07:43]

3. The Naturalist’s Counterpoint from Texas

[08:18–10:01]

• Anonymous Caller: Insists seeing big cats in East Texas is normal and not paranormal—mountain lions, bobcats, and panthers all exist
  • Suggests increased encounters due to shrinking wilderness
  • “The more people there are on the planet, the less places these animals and stuff have to go. So, I mean, we're going to run into each other on occasion, you know.” —Anonymous, [09:10]

4. Rare Sighting in Montana

[11:51–14:40]

• Caller: Reports both parents saw a solid black mountain lion at a Montana campground (an animal science says doesn’t exist)
  • Law enforcement spouse confirms previous reports without photographs
  • “He realized this was clearly a mountain lion, except the problem with it is it was black, and black mountain lions don't exist.” —Caller, [12:08]
  • Host contextualizes: Melanism not documented in mountain lions

5. Canadian Wilderness Encounters and Cryptid “Roars”

[16:27–19:55]

• Kevin: Two stories from deep northern Ontario
  • Father saw a black “panther” cross a remote dirt road
  • Kevin and friend heard an unearthly roar while camping, later matched to supposed Bigfoot audio
  • “Whatever it was that was roaring filled the entire valley with this roar. Unbelievable roar. We were terrified.” —Kevin, [18:06]

6. Tennessee: The New Hotbed for Alien Big Cats?

Emma’s Confirmation from Scotland & West Tennessee
[22:06–23:14]

• Emma: Raised in Tennessee, now in Edinburgh—corroborates recent ABC sightings in west Tennessee (“it’s kind of crazy, like nobody really talks about it much, but like everyone knows that they’re there”).
  • Derek found 9 confirmed sightings mapped by state wildlife agency

Angie’s Family Encounters
[25:28–29:24]

• Family legend of a black cat at a window in the 1960s–70s, and a modern sighting by her husband
  • Wildlife and pets behave strangely before sightings
  • “I wasn't aware that we weren't supposed to have alien big cats ... I thought that cougars, mountain lions, and even pigmented big cats were just accepted as a reality in our part of the country.” —Angie, [27:12]

Ann’s Brother and the Migrating Panthers
[31:08–34:19]

• Family in middle Tennessee recalls seeing “lion-sized” cats; neighbor later confirms adult sighting
  • Wildlife official said Florida panthers may be migrating north
  • “Maybe sometimes these big black cats that people are seeing are maybe mountain lions or like Florida panthers ... maybe they're evolving and we don't know.” —Ann, [33:36]

7. Flying Leap in Alabama

[37:23–40:29]

• Pete: Working at dawn, watched a black cat as big as his 135lb dog leap across a road in a single bound
  • “I'm an owner of a large conne corso ... whatever this cat was ... was at minimum the size of my dog, a little larger, if I had to say ... it had to be close from, you know, tail to front feet, roughly 8ft.” —Pete, [39:12]

8. Urban Panther in 1980s Columbus, Ohio

[41:42–44:37]

• Nicole: Friend saw an enormous black panther walk through a neighborhood in 1986; locals had exotic pets, but no news of escaped large cats
  • “It was definitely a panther. It was not a kitty cat ... it was big.” —Nicole, [43:50]
• Derek notes identical description to his own childhood sighting nearby: “If you can get one of these melanistic jaguars or leopards into the sunlight, you'll see their spots.”

9. Deer-Sized Shadow in Rural Ohio

[45:48–48:49]

• Gray: Driving in secluded east-central Ohio, witnesses a pitch-black, deer-sized cat lightning-fast across a dirt road; both witnesses independently agree on feline features and size
  • “We look at each other and we're like, was that a cat? But the size of a deer? I'm telling you, it was massive.” —Gray, [47:15]

10. Video Evidence and the South Carolina Lake Cat

[51:00–52:45]

• Lane: Multiple area witnesses near Lake Murray; coworker’s father filmed a large black cat near lakeshore—Derek reviews the video and suspects a very large domestic cat, though leaves judgment open
  • “Before seeing these big cats, I didn't even know that people had seen them in South Carolina. And then when I saw them, all of a sudden people were like, yeah, no, they exist here.” —Lane, [51:32]

11. A Family of Black Panthers in East Texas

[54:54–62:44]

• Anonymous: Grew up hunting on remote Texas land—encountered a family group of black panthers over several years, even petted a cub; routine encounters, grumbling vocalizations, and a photograph exist
  • “We're just staring this thing down, like. And it's staring up, down. ... Three cubs, like the biggest kittens I've ever seen in my life, just come trotting out.” —Anonymous, [55:51; 59:27]
• Derek: Most likely a melanistic jaguar; distribution rarely includes Texas, but documented historically

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "People are seeing it and there's definitely tracks there. So they refused to even entertain the idea." —Donald (SC), [05:05]
• "That’s why I always scoff when people say these creatures aren’t or can’t be paranormal, because frankly, none of that sounded normal to me at all." —Derek, [07:43]
• "The more people there are on the planet, the less places these animals and stuff have to go. So, I mean, we're going to run into each other on occasion, you know." —Anonymous (TX), [09:10]
• "He realized this was clearly a mountain lion, except the problem with it is it was black, and black mountain lions don't exist." —Montana Caller, [12:08]
• "Like nobody really talks about it much, but like everyone knows that they're there." —Emma (now in Scotland, from TN), [22:26]
• "I wasn't aware that we weren't supposed to have alien big cats as you call them, in our area. I thought that cougars, mountain lions, and even pigmented big cats were just accepted as a reality in our part of the country." —Angie, [27:12]
• "It's a lion. It's like a lion size that doesn't have a mane." —Ann’s brother (via Ann, Middle TN), [32:23]
• "I know for certain I saw what I saw." —Pete, (AL), [39:13]
• "It was definitely a panther. It was not a kitty cat ... it was big." —Nicole, [43:50]
• "We look at each other and we're like, was that a cat? But the size of a deer? I'm telling you, it was massive." —Gray, [47:15]
• "Before seeing these big cats, I didn't even know that people had seen them in South Carolina. And then when I saw them, all of a sudden people were like, yeah, no, they exist here." —Lane, [51:32]
• "When my dad cocked his rifle, it turned to him and just clear as day, you could see the whiskers. ... The last thing you want to do with a big cat like that is bend down in front of it or feed it or approach its den or touch its cubs. Basically, everything you did that day was wrong. But I guess you did something right because you're still here to tell the tale." —Anonymous (TX) & Derek’s reaction, [55:51; 62:44]

Timeline of Critical Segments

• 01:38–02:30 — Derek’s intro; explains focus on “Big Black Cats,” dismisses superstition to introduce ‘alien’ big cats as a cryptid
• 03:15–06:22 — Donald’s SC prints and neighborhood reactions
• 06:22–08:18 — “Beast of Bladenboro”; dog killings and the case for high strangeness
• 08:18–10:01 — Anonymous East Texas: normalizing big cats, not paranormal
• 11:51–14:40 — Montana sighting by caller's parents
• 16:27–19:55 — Kevin’s Ontario “panther” and Bigfoot roar
• 22:06–23:14 — Emma (Scotland, formerly TN): corroborates West Tennessee as a hot spot
• 25:28–29:24 — Angie: generational and recent ABC encounters, animal behavior changes
• 31:08–34:19 — Ann: brother’s childhood sighting in middle TN, neighbor confirmation, discussion of panther migration
• 37:23–40:29 — Pete: Abbeville, AL sighting, size comparison to own large dog
• 41:42–44:37 — Nicole: 1980s Columbus, OH “panther,” exotic pet theory
• 45:48–48:49 — Gray: Rural Ohio deer-sized black cat, vanishes in undergrowth
• 51:00–52:45 — Lane: Video of lakeshore black cat, community corroboration
• 54:54–62:44 — Anonymous: Decade of East Texas black panther encounters with photographic claim

Other Insights & Observations

• Ecological Explanations: Some callers and the host suggest explanations ranging from displaced wildlife, habitat encroachment, and rare color morphs (melanism) to escaped exotic pets.
• Paranormal Possibilities: Many remain open to a paranormal origin—especially in cases where animal behavior, sudden disappearances, and fear responses seem beyond “normal” wildlife.
• State Denial & Community Consensus: Wildlife officials typically deny big cat presence; rural communities sometimes treat sightings as open secrets.
• Rare Video Evidence: A submitted video is scrutinized but inconclusive—could be a very large domestic cat.
• Historical Context: Derek notes the continued presence (and historical elimination) of big cats in many states, and also highlights the rare but real existence of melanistic jaguars.

Conclusion

In classic Monsters Among Us fashion, S20 Ep13 blends direct testimony, folklore, wildlife biology, and gentle skepticism to probe one of North America’s most tantalizing cryptid mysteries. The episode leaves the question open: Are Alien Big Cats simply rare, unverified animals, a case of collective misidentification, or something weirder stalking the edge of our reality? Wherever the truth lies, Hayes offers one clear message: “You keep it spooky,” and keep your eyes open—especially if you live near woods, fields, or the edge of town.

For More: Photos, maps, and the referenced video are in the episode’s show notes on [monstersamonguspodcast.com]. If you have your own unexplained encounter, call the hotline or email Derek with your story!