Kurt Zuelsdorf owns "Kayak Nature Adventures" in Gulfport. It’s a fitting name for the business, as the 52-year-old is quite an adventurer himself. 

“Pretty much wherever I go, I find something to track because I’m so fascinated by how wildlife lives in our own backyard,” said Zuelsdorf.

  • Bay area nature enthusiast catches attenion of Animal Planet
  • Kurt Zuelsdorf owns Kayak Adventures in Gulfport
  • On Friday he'll appear on the channels "Urban Predator" series

When a big mystery cat was spotted in his home state of Wisconsin, Zuelsdorf was intrigued. After he heard the rumors that it may have been an African lion roaming the streets of Milwaukee, Zuelsdorf decided to head up there to assess the situation for himself.

“These things, when they get up on their hind legs, they’re 12-feet high,” he said. “That’s gigantic. So the idea of one lurking in your neighborhood really is terrifying.”

Zuelsdorf caught the attention of the popular network Animal Planet and is now set appear on the show “Urban Predator: Lion on the Loose.”

Zuelsdorf even has a theory as to how an African Lion could end up walking the streets of a city.

He believes someone probably had it as an exotic pet and let it go.

Unfortunately, it’s something we see here in the state of Florida. Just last week, we reported on studies released by USF that said three Nile crocodiles were captured in South Florida over the past few years. That area is also no stranger to pythons, snakes native to southeast Asia, that are now at the top of the food chain in the Everglades.

“Non-native species released in the wild here in Florida potentially pose a threat to our native wildlife,” said FWC public information officer James Boogaerts. “They may displace our native wildlife, taking over their habitats.”

Zuelsdorf and his team tried their hardest to track down the Milwaukee mystery cat.

“Once we put our boots on the ground and started tracking, it was magnificent,” Zuelsdorf said. “It was the chance of a lifetime for me.”

As for whether or not he was able to find it, Zuelsdorf said to tune in to find out. The show airs on Animal Planet Friday, May 27 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.