THAT seems to be the regular disclaimer/lie they tell in Alabama, too. They claimed there were "no big cats" in north Alabama...til they were caught on game cameras here. They also claimed there were "no bears in north Alabama", until an adult black bear was photographed in my community and put in the local newspaper just a few years ago....then the story changed to "it was just passing through".
Horsepoop, says I.
They lie.