The Cat's Meow

Some of the most interesting stories are made incredible after the fact. I especially enjoy those that seem credible enough while they're unfolding, then abruptly lose their plausibility for reasons that don't necessarily put the story to rest.

According to week-old media reports, folks spotted an African lion roaming the plains of east-central Colorado, prompting them to notify the county sheriff's office. Someone had taken photos of the beast, and besides, there's at least one exotic-animal sanctuary in the area, so the idea of a lion on the loose was easily within the realm of possibility.

Wildlife officials agreed—judging by one article at least—that the photographs did, in fact, seem to indicate the presence of an African lion. Then there were the tracks, which, again, seemed to belong to . . . well, an African lion. The local police department sent a helicopter, the local zoo sent large-cat experts, and the Department of Agriculture sent professional large-exotic-animal tracking dogs—presumably with equally professional handlers—to aid in the search. And needless to say, more than a couple law-enforcement officers were deployed that day, beginning somewhere around 7:30 in the morning when the first reports began to come in.

This story might have taken an ugly turn—lions do like their meat a bit on the rare side—but it didn't. It did, however, take a turn toward the incredible when the search was called off shortly after 3:00 in the afternoon of the same day. According to one news release, it wasn't a lion at all.

Authorities now believe it could be a Great Pyrenees dog.

Of course. When you think about it, those do look a lot like African lions.