Somewhere in the shadows of Milwaukee, a vicious beast haunts the city of 600,000 people. (It’s been quite the busy day in lion news.) Over the past week, residents have grown terrified after several people reported sightings of a large cat. The evidence amounts to eyewitness reports and a grainy cellphone video. Most who have seen this animal report feeling frozen and scared out of their minds:
One man saw the creature for only a few bone-chilling seconds, but he remembers that it was big, with heavy brown fur and a long tail, and not in any particular hurry as it walked through his neighborhood in Milwaukee and then disappeared into a thickly wooded ravine.
A police officer, tracking it the next day, described it as a “catlike animal” that had successfully evaded capture again. And Annie Nolen, a resident of the Brewers Hill neighborhood who spotted the animal slinking along a fence in her backyard, said she was momentarily paralyzed by the sight. “I couldn’t move,” Ms. Nolen told local reporters later. “I thought, what am I looking at?”
The good news? No lion-related injuries have surfaced in the city, but residents aren’t taking any chances. Authorities aren’t sure of this animal’s origins. The zoo claims no ownership or knowledge of the animal, so animal control is operating under the assumption that this lion is someone’s escaped exotic pet. The Milwaukee Lion’s fame has risen beyond its humble physical confines. Today, the animal captured newspaper headlines across the United States.
.@milwaukee_lion is front page, above the fold in Chi-town today.
NYT also couldn't resist. #mkelion pic.twitter.com/XS4lWhFdTo— Erin Richards (@emrichards) July 28, 2015
Residents are also tweeting towards a newly created Twitter account, which claims to be from the Milwaukee Lion himself:
@milwaukee_lion was this you!? pic.twitter.com/lPLdr2tsRP
— Vicki Haxmeier-Gould (@Digigirl5) July 22, 2015
This terrifying creature isn’t simply dangerous. It’s also sentient and aware of El Chapo:
building the tunnel was easy the hard part was learning to ride the motorcycle #greatescape #mkelion
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 27, 2015
The lion has provided live reactions to breaking news stories and given shoutouts to other wild animals across the internet. Recruiting, perhaps?
.@MilwaukeePolice & city officials say possible lion something that should be taken seriously. LATEST – at 9: http://t.co/Sxz2KejuAz
— FOX6 News (@fox6now) July 23, 2015
well doesn't everyone just want to be taken seriously https://t.co/pgBjEPZcof
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 23, 2015
the governor is arming the national guard and there are fighter jets flying around really people I am just here for the cream puffs
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/greatfallsbear/status/623999695350857728
You should visit. https://t.co/84yfQgnEVR
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 23, 2015
Perhaps the Milwaukee Lion is simply misunderstood and needs a hug.
@milwaukee_lion maybe you just needed a hug. pic.twitter.com/yOloCRgMPZ
— bosswoman88 (@amygeurden) July 26, 2015
i never even signed a photo release in the first place for goodness sake
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 24, 2015
Be careful out there, folks. The Milwaukee Lion is watching your travel plans on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/toddzuke/status/626096115511881728
in the village the peaceful village the lion sleeps tonight be nice to one another sleep tight
— Milwaukee Lion (@milwaukee_lion) July 23, 2015
(via New York Times & NPR)