Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — It’s the talk of the town on social media.
Many local businesses, schools and organizations have used AI to poke fun at claims that a mountain lion has been spotted in the city.
BACKGROUND: Man describes face-to-face encounter with mysterious large cat in Rochester | Rochester police investigating video that purportedly shows mountain lion in city
“I did hear a ‘rawr,’ but I’m not 100% sure if I captured the whole,” said Kelly Scott, owner of Get Caked Bakery.
Scott joked that the mountain lion stopped by to pick up some desserts.
“We had just refilled the shelves,” Scott said. “We had just stocked everything in the cases and in walks the mountain lion, and he looked right at me and bought a hummingbird cupcake, enjoyed the hummingbird cupcake, and carried on out. It was great.”
Tongue-in-cheek posts about mountain lion sightings popped up Thursday and Friday after video surfaced Wednesday showing what appeared to be a large, wild cat roaming a city neighborhood.
“I’ve seen them, I’ve liked them, I’ve hearted them, I love them, I think they’re funny,” said Taylor Drouhard, owner of Banner, Wing, & Keel. “I think it’s kind of cool … it’s another Rochester pride thing.”
The LeRoy Police Department posted on social media, “RPD come get your cat.”
Windjammers Bar & Grill posted, We’re back from vacation and we ain’t “lion!”
Day Trips Around Rochester, NY posted, “Welcome to Rochester, Thundercat!”
Monroe Community College posted, This new student looks a little suspicious…”
Seneca Park Zoo posted, “Yes Rochester, all our big cats are accounted for.”
“I think it’s nice that everybody can kind of be a part of it, no matter where you’re coming from,” Scott said.
Police said they haven’t been able to substantiate reports of the cat being spotted.
In the meantime, people on social media continue to use the reports as a source of humor.
” I think it’s great, especially with the atmosphere of everything going on in the world right now,” Scott said. “I think it’s nice that we can all have a little bit of a laugh together and about something that’s completely feasible. You know, the happening like a wild animal coming into the city.”