Human blood, and no animal blood, has been found on the knife of a Sadsbury Township man who says he stabbed a cougar in self defense near his home on Oct. 9, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Laboratory tests performed at East Stroudsburg University found only human blood on the knife, the agency said.
"If this knife was allegedly used to stab a mountain lion or any other being that bleeds, some other form of blood would have been found on it," said Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser.
Added Dennis Warfel, investigating wildlife conservation officer from southern Lancaster County: "There is no evidence whatsoever of an attack occurring."
Samuel Fisher, 42, of 92 Windy Top Road, has said he saw three mountain lions on the afternoon of Oct. 9, following repeated sightings in the area.
He said he shot one and was following its blood trail when another jumped him from a tree, causing cuts on his chest, arms and face. He said he wrestled with the mountain lion and stabbed it three times with a pocketknife before it ran off.
Blood samples of what Fisher identified as the blood trail were taken at four locations and sent to a laboratory. They were found to be a substance other than blood, the Game Commission reported.
Game Commission officials have called the incident a hoax and have said they are considering bringing charges against Fisher for making false statements.
Warfel could give no timetable as to when the agency would decide whether to charge Fisher.
"We're going to continue our investigation," Warfel said.
He said he was still awaiting test results from state police on what substance made up the alleged blood trail.
Fisher, meanwhile, continues to insist he is telling the truth.
Contacted by phone Wednesday, Fisher said he was not surprised human blood was found on his knife.
"I'm sure it was mine," he said. "I was dripping blood from my scratches. My hands were soaked with blood that night."
He added that the lack of cougar blood on the knife left him perplexed.
"I surely figured there would be some cat blood on it, too," Fisher said.
"I wish the Game Commission would completely drop this whole thing," he said. "I'm sick and tired of it, and I'm not changing my story one bit."
Mountain lion sightings in the area continue to be reported.
Warfel said on Tuesday a man near Christiana reported his wife saw a dark-colored cougar in a field on the edge of woods. Warfel said it was about 10 miles from where Fisher alleged he was attacked.
Staff writer Ad Crable can be reached at acrable@LNPnews.com or 481-6029.
(28)
