Sorry, I thought my first post was deleated for some reason.  Both posts are from the same "cat attack"

I haven't lived in your area, but with the size bite you are describing sounds like its a cougar, which I'm pretty sure is the same animal as a 'black panther', with perhaps a different color phase.  At least that's what the locals tell me....I've never seen a black phase cougar.  But like you, I've heard stories about them for years in East Texas while living there. 

My experiences with them are in west and northwest Texas (Kimble, Terrell, and Knox counties particularly).  In those areas they can have a hunting range in the dozens of square miles, depending on the availability of food, so don't expect much difference down there where you are.  One may be working the river, and it may be quite some time before you see or hear about him again.  That is unless he's found what he thinks are some happy hunting grounds.  They can destroy a turkey population like no one's business, as well as a sheep herd.

I would get a professional trapper to come take a look. The state will hlep with that. We lost several mature bucks  to a cat a couple years ago and have been trying to trap him ever since. One of the cowboys saw him/her last week. Like Davis said, just hope he hasn't found his happy hunting ground. More human pressure for a little while may chase him to a neighbor, which sounds rude but is one of the ploys to rid your self of a cat.... or poachers or anything else that is bothersome....

It could be a large bobcat But I would put money on a mountain lion. There have been several killed in East Texas in the past year. We can come take a look for you if you want. Just contact us on your web site. www.tx-hc.com I have a staff of pro hunters that can professionaly take care of your predator.

I live in Brazos County and there have been sighting of Cougars in this county.

I live in williamson county about 10 miles south east of georgetown. My dad owns 10 acres with his house on the first 2 acres(and the last 8 is simi covered with wood but next to us its thick). There has been plenty of stories that ive heard about a "black panther" attacking goats and cows. People have said theyve seen it but ive nerver seen it and hunters have gone out trying to track it down but never have. But he finds paw prints every once in a while of a big cat down at our tank. Ad his next door neighbors have also found prints.

David H,

where abouts in Kimble County have you seen these animals?

That's a lion after your horses in my opinion, no bobcat could do that damage over such a great area on a horse. The Mountain Lion has made a big comeback in the last 10 or so years. Some speculation is that the extended drought in West Texas drove so many sheep farmers our of business the cats had to move out to find food. I once walked up on a lion on a lease we had near Del Rio. I was young and missed the shot but it was quite an experience. I have seen tracks just Northwest of Austin outside of Jonestown and Lago Vista Texas. Not to scare you but Mountain Lions have been known to attack humans in rare cases. It shouldn't be hard to find tracks or maybe even the place where the attack took place if the ground was marked up from the scuffle. Look for prints just like any house cat butt much bigger. You may see some coyote tracks but the dog tracks will have nail/claw marks in front of the pads and a cat will appear more round and without the claw marks.

Brandon,

We've not seen one, but we distinctly heard one and saw sign/fresh tracks south of Junction.  There's a lot of disagreement about this on the web, but the cougar that was killed there earlier this year I was told was taken 6 miles south of Junction, probably near the Walter Buck Management Area.  Link here.  Some folks say it was 6 miles NORTH of Junction.

I'd like to have a talk with you bede310, I live in Colorado County, Rock Island to be exact. My horse was attacked and put through the cross bracing in the fence, she took out 5 strands of barb wire, broke a t-post off at the ground and tried to go through another fence. My registered paint mare that went back to Man-O-War bled to death. We found her at 11:30 saturday morning (July 12th), my finance had been out to our pasture thats east of town at 1am and all 3 horses were calm and fine.

Around 1:30am the ranch about 1/2 mile away the horses went nuts... woke up the lady of the house and she stepped outside and the horses were crazy. These horses have been there 6 years and never like that. She couldnt figure out what was wrong cause she didnt hear anything. (like a pack of dogs)

I called my neighbor to the pasture who lives on her property, her dogs went crazy friday night at 11pm, she went to check on the them and spotted a "big cat" in her yard.

There have been two other sightings of big cats in this area in 7 days!!!! I cant get the game warden to come out..... FOR A PACK OF DOGS!!!

I HAVE PICTURES OF EVERY WOUND ON MY HORSE!!! INCLUDING A BLODDY PAW PRINT.  :(