From Lynx to Pumas: more big cat sightings in West Fife
Matt Meade • Published 15 Oct 2009 09:17
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BIG cats continue to claw their way into West Fife - with new reported sightings in Low Valleyfield and Townhill.
In one terrifying night-time encounter a man came face-to-face with a Puma-like creature sat upon a hay bale.
And in another, a man out with his daughter said he was stared-out by a large black cat near Townhill Loch.
The two witnesses contacted Bob Wallace (47), Fife representative of Big Cats in Britain, after reading about recent Lynx-sightings on the Press website.
He said, "One man was out walking his dog with his eight-year-old son at the ash lagoons in Low Valleyfield and caught a pair of eyes reflected from his torch.
"He didn't think much of it but told his son to put their dog on a lead as he thought it might be another dog about to have a go at it.
"He headed back about 300 yards towards where he thought it was.
"When he put the light back on he was just ten feet from a large cat on top of a hay bale.
"He noticed its tail was swishing and this reminded him of when he was younger and his auntie's cat used to do the same when he annoyed it before it tried to claw him.
"He thought this cat was probably getting a bit p***ed off so he started to back off.
"He tripped and fell in a puddle and said he thought he was going to get eaten. He and his son got a fright."
The beast is described as about four feet long, including it's tail, and of a dark tan colour.
Mr Wallace believes the description suggests it is likely to be a Puma.
Another man who contacted Bob recently described an encounter on Thursday, 17th September at about 2pm.
He was pushing his daughter on her wheelchair on a cycle path between Whitefield Road and Townhill Loch when he saw what he thought was a Rottweiler or Doberman drinking from a puddle at an underpass.
"He kept on walking as he thought the owner would appear soon," said Mr Wallace.
"He got to about 150 yards from it when it lifted its head and looked straight at him. What got him about it was the yellow-green eyes and the cat-like face.
"He knew then it wasn't a dog he was looking at but a big cat.
"It appeared mesmerised. The man put it down to the fact his daughter was in the wheelchair and the cat was trying to figure out what it was."
Another reader contacted the Press after claiming to see a Lynx while sweeping leaves in the grounds of Torryburn Church earlier this week.
Mr Wallace said that, based on the description the man gave it was likely to be a Scottish Wildcat.
If you think you may have spotted a big cat contact Bob Wallace at wallace_robert@yahoo.co.uk or on 07936719909, or contact Matt Meade on 01383 745418.
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Joe
Unregistered User
Oct 20, 18:50
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NEILY-J
Unregistered User
Oct 21, 13:30
Report commenti saw a big cat the other day, he comes round our back garden quite alot, we call him jo jo, he really is quite a fat little fella. Drools alot too!
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