The Klickitat Ape Cat is a large, black, panther-like cryptid reportedly prowling the forests and canyons of Klickitat County in Washington State’s Columbia River Gorge. Also known as the Ebony Ape Cat, this creature has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most intriguing modern cryptid mysteries since systematic documentation began in 2022.
Quick Facts
Type: Feline cryptid
Primary Location: Klickitat County and western Skamania County, Washington
First Documented Reports: Early 1980s (reports dating back approximately 40 years)
Physical Description: Large black cat, 5+ feet tall at shoulder, 6+ foot tail
Distinctive Features: Jet-black fur, ape-like facial features, unusually long tail
Activity Pattern: Most sightings at dawn and dusk
Threat Level: Low to moderate (no hostile encounters reported)
Physical Description
Witnesses describe a remarkably consistent physical appearance across dozens of reports.
The creature’s body resembles an enormous panther with heavy musculature. Its jet-black fur measures between four and five inches long and, in some accounts, appears to stand straight out rather than lying flat. The most defining characteristic is its tail, which witnesses consistently report as being at least six feet in length.
Height estimates place the creature at approximately five feet tall at the shoulder, though skeptics note this exceeds the size of any known big cat species. For comparison, the largest recorded African lion stood roughly four feet tall at the shoulder, and North American cougars typically reach about three feet.
What sets this cryptid apart from typical big cat reports are the primate-like features. Multiple witnesses describe intelligent, ape-like eyes and other facial characteristics that don’t match any known feline. One witness characterized it as appearing like a cross between a huge monkey and a panther.
Several reports include the creature standing upright on its hind legs, further suggesting unusual anatomy for a cat.
Geographic Range
Unlike wide-ranging cryptids like Bigfoot, the Klickitat Ape Cat occupies a remarkably limited territory.
Sightings concentrate in Klickitat County, Washington, particularly along the Columbia River Gorge corridor on the Washington side. The range extends slightly into western Skamania County but remains confined to this specific region.
The Columbia River Gorge itself provides unique terrain for such a creature. Steep basalt cliffs carved by ancient lava flows create layers of dark stone, talus slopes, and narrow benches. The area sits in a dramatic rain-shadow transition zone where wet conifer forests quickly shift to drier grasslands moving east. Combined with frequent fog, rapidly changing weather conditions, and the numerous curves of Highway 14, the landscape creates ideal conditions for fleeting sightings of large, dark animals.
Specific encounter locations include areas near Buck Creek, Snowden, Klickitat Canyon, and properties around Trout Lake. Realtors in Snowden reportedly warn clients about potential encounters with an indescribable black creature when viewing remote properties.
Documented History
Rumors of unusual black cats in the Columbia Gorge have circulated for decades, with some reports dating back to the early 1980s. Stories in Trout Lake about a family of sable-colored, mutated cougars have persisted for close to three decades.
However, systematic documentation began in late February 2022 when Margie’s Outdoor Store in Bingen, Washington, launched a paranormal reporting program. James Szubski, Chief Operating Officer of the store and leader of the Klickitat Ape Cat Research Team, began collecting and cataloging witness accounts.
The first significant report came in early April 2022. Szubski noted the witness’s credibility was particularly compelling, as the individual had a personal family connection to Margie, the store’s late founder. The witness passed multiple subtle tests used to determine truthfulness.
The following day, one of Szubski’s employees realized they had also seen the creature themselves. This prompted the decision to publicly document the phenomenon and invite others to share their experiences.
Reports increased rapidly. By May 2022, accounts were arriving weekly. Within the first year, more than 60 reports were filed, some describing events from decades prior. As of 2024, Margie’s Outdoor Store has collected over 300 paranormal reports from the Gorge area, with the Ape Cat representing a significant portion.
Witness Encounters
A detailed account from the early reports describes a five-minute encounter at close range.
The witness observed a creature standing close to five feet tall at the shoulder, covered in jet-black fur measuring four to five inches long. The fur stood straight out rather than lying flat. Its most prominent feature was a tail easily six feet in length.
The creature possessed intelligent, ape-like eyes and other primate features. The witness described it as resembling a cross between a huge monkey and a panther. Remarkably, the animal showed no fear and regarded the human with apparent curiosity. They observed each other for at least five minutes before the creature turned and disappeared into the thick forest.
The witness reported no fear during the encounter, instead characterizing the experience as thrilling and even magical. He felt fortunate to have connected with such an unusual being.
Other witnesses have reported less peaceful encounters, though none hostile. Some express concern about being in close proximity to such a large predator. Drivers along Klickitat Canyon have spotted hulking black beasts with long tails near roadside homesteads at dawn. Campers recall sounds of claws scraping across tents.
At least one witness reported observing the creature with young cubs, suggesting a breeding population if the animal is biological.
No witness has reported being attacked or threatened by the creatures.
Associated Phenomena
Several reports include unusual electromagnetic disturbances occurring in conjunction with sightings.
Witnesses describe battery drain in electronic devices and anomalies with magnetic compasses during or shortly after encounters. These electromagnetic effects are sometimes associated with paranormal phenomena, leading some researchers to question whether the Ape Cat is a biological creature or something more unusual.
Encounters most frequently occur at sunrise and sunset. Some researchers interpret these liminal times as moments when barriers between worlds thin, though skeptics note that these are simply times when cougars and other predators are naturally most active.
The Columbia River Gorge area has long been considered a supernatural hotspot. Margie’s Outdoor Store has documented numerous other phenomena in the region, including Bigfoot sightings, UFO reports, encounters with folkloric Little People, portals, and various paranormal activity. Whether these phenomena connect to the Ape Cat sightings remains unclear.
Cultural Context
The cryptid takes its name from Klickitat County, which itself derives from the Klickitat people, a Native American tribe of the Pacific Northwest. The Klickitat historically inhabited lands north of the Columbia River at the headwaters of the Cowlitz, Lewis, White Salmon, and Klickitat Rivers.
While some sources suggest the Ape Cat legend originates from Klickitat tribal stories about a warning spirit or harbinger of misfortune that preyed on those venturing too far into forbidden places, documentation of traditional Klickitat folklore regarding such a creature remains limited. The tribe’s actual traditional stories focus more on other elements of their cosmology, such as the legend explaining the formation of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.
What is clear is that the Klickitat people were noted elk hunters and active traders who knew the region’s wildlife intimately. If an unusual predator existed in their traditional territory, they would likely have encountered it.
Behavioral Patterns
If the creature is biological, its behavior would likely mirror that of other large predators in the region.
Based on witness reports and the local ecosystem, the Ape Cat would function as an apex predator hunting primarily at dawn and dusk. Its diet would most likely consist of black-tailed and mule deer, which are abundant, nutritious, and follow predictable movement patterns. Elk would provide larger meals but require more risk. Smaller prey might include raccoons, rabbits, beavers, and ground-nesting birds.
Like cougars, an Ape Cat would likely avoid confrontation with black bears and would definitely steer clear of moose. A predator of this size would create cached kills, dragging prey under brush or covering it lightly for later consumption.
However, some witness descriptions include features that don’t align with typical big cat behavior. Reports of overdeveloped front legs resembling a gorilla’s deltoids and biceps, standing upright on hind legs, and the ape-like facial structure all suggest something different from known feline anatomy.
Skeptical Perspectives
Several rational explanations could account for Ape Cat sightings.
Misidentification of Known Animals: The most likely explanation involves misidentification of common animals under poor lighting conditions. Black bears, particularly when moving quickly, can appear feline to startled observers. The largest herding dogs also have long, dark fur that could create a similar impression. Cougars, though typically tan, might appear black in certain lighting conditions, especially fog, rain, glare, or dusk. Motion blur could create the impression of shaggy fur when the animal is actually short-haired.
Perspective and Distance Errors: Reports of extreme size might result from viewing angles. If a cougar stands on a berm or uphill position, and the witness observes from a car on a foggy night, perceptual distortion could make the animal appear much larger than it actually is.
Escaped Exotic Pet: Some theorize an escaped black panther (melanistic leopard or jaguar) could explain the sightings. While unlikely, this would account for the black coloration and large size. However, multiple sightings spanning decades would require either an impossibly long-lived individual or a breeding population.
Cougar-Panther Hybrid: Genetically, cougars could theoretically breed with leopards or jaguars. However, such hybrids would face severe fertility issues. Males would be completely infertile, and most females would also be infertile. A hybrid population would likely die out within one generation, making decades of sightings problematic for this theory.
Long Fur Reports: No known big cat species possesses fur longer than 1.5 inches. Claims of four to five-inch fur don’t match any recognized feline.
Extreme Size Claims: The reported five-foot shoulder height exceeds any known big cat. The tallest lion ever recorded measured approximately four feet. North American cougars reach about three feet. This size discrepancy remains one of the most challenging aspects of the reports.
Research and Investigation
James Szubski leads the Klickitat Ape Cat Research Team, which treats witness reports with respect and dignity while carefully documenting details. The team investigates recent sighting locations and consults other experts when needed.
Research methodology focuses on evidence collection rather than capture. The team uses trail cameras with infrared capabilities, concentrating on specific road segments and hiking paths rather than attempting to cover the entire county. Investigators seek physical evidence including:
- Trackways with multiple clear prints and measurements for stride length
- Hair samples collected via barbed wire at pinch points
- Scat for DNA analysis
- Cached kills or feeding sites
- Audio or video documentation
To date, no definitive physical evidence has been recovered. The creature, if it exists, remains elusive.
In 2024, Fireworks Media, Inc. spent $20,000 creating a “sizzle reel” based on Szubski and the Klickitat Ape Cat phenomenon, suggesting potential media development interest.
Public Interest and Cultural Impact
The Klickitat Ape Cat has generated significant local and regional interest.
In March 2023, the White Salmon Arts Council partnered with Margie’s Outdoor Store to host a $1,000 art contest celebrating the local legend. The contest aimed to showcase regional artistic talent while giving visual form to one of the area’s unique cultural elements.
Margie’s Outdoor Store has created Arcane Adventure Maps containing excerpts from witness reports and directions to encounter locations. The store offers a Gorge Paranormal Mystery Tour, a 5-hour, 130-mile expedition exploring actual Bigfoot, UFO, ghost, and Klickitat Ape Cat encounter sites throughout the Columbia River Gorge.
Szubski has appeared on numerous podcasts and media programs discussing the phenomenon, including Strangeology Podcast, The Cryptid Report, Darkness Radio, The Caffeinated Cryptid, and others. These appearances have helped spread awareness of the creature beyond the immediate region.
The creature has become part of the broader narrative about the Columbia River Gorge as a hotspot for unexplained phenomena, contributing to local tourism and cultural identity.
Current Status
The Klickitat Ape Cat remains an open, witness-driven case.
Reports continue to arrive at Margie’s Outdoor Store, with the database now containing hundreds of paranormal accounts from the Gorge region. The Research Team continues investigating new sightings while maintaining documentation standards.
Whether the Ape Cat represents a biological anomaly, a paranormal entity, consistent misidentification, or something else entirely remains undetermined. The consistency of witness descriptions across decades and the credibility of many observers suggest something unusual is occurring in the Columbia Gorge forests, even if its exact nature remains mysterious.
No photographs, videos, or physical evidence have conclusively proven the creature’s existence. Until such evidence emerges, the Klickitat Ape Cat remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most compelling cryptid mysteries.
See Also
- Bigfoot – Another cryptid frequently reported in the Columbia Gorge region
- Columbia River Gorge Paranormal Activity
- Black Panther Cryptids of North America
- Washington State Cryptids
Report Your Encounter
Seen something unexplained in the Columbia River Gorge? Email Reports@ParaRational.com