For generations residents from coast to coast have reported encounters with large, black, long-tailed cats. These black panthers have left a trail of dead livestock and confused witnesses in their wake. These are animals that are not supposed to exist; animals that are not recognized by science. Despite the reluctance of wildlife officials to accept the reality of these cryptid cats, anomalous tracks continue to appear, pets and farm animals continue to disappear, and sightings continue to be reported.

In this full-color book with dozens of illustrations, author Michael Mayes examines historical sightings, interviews contemporary witnesses and big cat experts, sorts through a host of intriguing photographs, and takes a close look at the potential suspects in one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. What are the shadow cats that haunt the woods, bottomlands, and waterways of our country? What are the black panthers of North America?