LIVINGSTON, TX—In a shocking turn of events at the annual Texas Craft Fair held in Polk County, local resident Bob Jenkins was left dumbfounded after realizing the reported black panther sightings in the area were actually just a person in a mascot costume.
Jenkins, who had been on high alert for weeks following numerous claims of a mysterious black panther roaming the woods near his home, was excited to attend the craft fair in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive creature. However, his excitement quickly turned to confusion when he spotted the black panther casually strolling through the vendor booths, stopping to pose for photos with children.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Jenkins exclaimed. “I was ready to call Animal Control and grab my camera to capture this once-in-a-lifetime sighting, but then I noticed the panther was wearing tennis shoes and had a zipper up its back. It was just a person in a costume!”
Local authorities confirmed that the black panther sightings were indeed a result of the mascot costume worn by a vendor promoting their custom mascot design business at the craft fair. Despite the mix-up, residents have now found a new source of amusement and have been flocking to take selfies with the “black panther.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing, but hey, at least we got to have some fun with it,” Jenkins admitted with a chuckle. “I guess the real mystery now is how many people will be sharing those ‘sightings’ on social media!”
The craft fair is set to continue throughout the weekend, with organizers promising more surprises and entertainment for attendees, including a reenactment of the “black panther” sighting for those who missed out on the initial confusion.
