Published: Thursday, 8th October, 2009 7:55am

Three spot lynx on the loose in West Fife

by Matt Meade

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WEST FIFERS are being told to stay alert - after three claimed sightings of a Lynx in just five weeks.

A big cat is reported to have been spotted in areas near Cairneyhill, Culross and Mossmorran throughout August and September.

And in one instance a terrified walker and his dog were said to have been approached by a big cat on a quiet country path.

Now Dunfermline man Bob Wallace (47), Fife representative of Big Cats in Britain, is calling on Press readers to get in touch with him should they see the creature, which he is convinced is a Lynx.

He said, "It's too much of a coincidence to see a similar cat of that description in the area in such a short space of time.

"One chap was out walking his dog last month and saw what he thought was a Lynx.

"About 60 or 70 feet in front of him he saw this cat checking out the hedgerows on his right-hand side.

"He had a small dog with him and the dog stopped dead and started to quiver.

"He stooped down to have a better look and the cat became aware they were there.

"It stepped onto the path and started coming towards them.

"It got to about 45 feet or so then seemed to lose interest.

"It turned back around and walked down the path looking back at the guy before disappearing into the undergrowth.

"He's 100 per cent sure it was a lynx."

That incident happened at around 6pm last month near the A985 Cairneyhill roundabout as the man walked on an old overgrown path towards the village from Valleyfield.

An earlier sighting in August is said to have happened in the grounds of Culross Castle at around 8pm on Wednesday 5th.

He explained, "The chap's kitchen window overlooks the castle grounds and he saw a cat meandering down the banking.

"He watched it for about 10 minutes or so as it played about under the trees. He thought it was stalking rabbits.

"It went back and forth for a bit and then went back into the undergrowth."

Based on descriptions from the Culross and Cairneyhill sightings the beast has a sandy-coloured upper body, a white belly, feathered ear-tips and is without a tail.

Both were three to four feet long and about three feet tall.

Last year the Press reported on several sightings of big cats in Dunfermline and Crossgates.

The Big Cats in Britain group continue plans to site a webcam in Blairadam Forest in an attempt to capture the elusive 'Beast of Blairadam', believed to be a black leopard.

Fife wildlife crime officer Mark Maylin saw what he believed was possibly a lynx as he travelled to work on the evening of 12th September, heading up the A909 between Mossmorran roundabout and Bernard's Smithy junction.

"I saw the hind-quarters of an animal pushing itself beneath a fence," he said.

"I was driving at the time so only managed a glimpse of it.

"I got in touch with Bob Wallace who I believe later went out and saw paw prints.

"Lynx were once native to Scotland so they could quite happily survive here.

Most sightings in Fife have been of a black leopard in the Glenrothers-Ladybank-Cupar areas."

Many big cats were released into the wild when the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 came into effect and there have been regular sightings of different species across the UK.

It's not believed lynx are dangerous to humans, though Mr Wallace urged caution.

He finished, "Like anything else, if it is cornered it will fight its way out.

"I wouldn't recommend the public go looking for it."

If you think you may have spotted a big cat contact Bob Wallace at wallace_robert@yahoo.co.uk or on 07936 719909, or contact Matt Meade on 01383 745418.