Puma on prowl at Pitreavie?
Matt Meade • Published 19 May 2011 09:30
28 Comments
THE only Pumas found at a running track are usually worn on athletes' feet but one man claims to have seen the real thing.
Carnock man Ronnie Collins told the Press he witnessed a large black cat at the Pitreavie athletics track this month.
He was working at the election count in the adjoining sports centre on Friday 6th May when he nipped out for a cigarette and saw the beast less than 40 yards from him.
He said it was the SECOND time he had seen a big cat in West Fife, which he believes to be a puma.
"I thought 'what's that?' and I was trying to get the size of it to make sure it wasn't just a normal cat," said the heating engineer, of Queen's Haugh.
"I wanted someone else to witness it and ran in to get a police officer.
"You're talking no more than 15 seconds but by the time I got back it was nowhere to be seen."
Bob Wallace, Fife representative for Big Cats in Britain, visited the site after Mr Collins contacted him.
He said, "He managed to gauge the cat's height by a small grey building at the edge of the track and reckons it was three feet in height.
"He ran back inside to get someone to confirm what he was seeing, got hold of one of the police officers who were on duty, and they both came out to find the cat gone.
"They walked over to the trees to where they thought the cat had gone back in and found a trail of flattened undergrowth but saw no cat.
"I went down for a look and found where I think he was talking about. I followed the trail into the wood and found the remains of a rabbit - its back leg."
Mr Collins, a former miner, said he saw a similar cat at Bogside, north of Devilla Forest, while driving to work one evening in 2001.
He added, "Something went in front of me about 200 yards ahead. I went down the pit and told some of them about it, thinking they would take the mickey.
"One boy from Oakley said he believed me and told me he had seen one on the back road to Saline, sitting on a wall.
"There are a lot of people who have spoken of seeing something but do not report it. This confirms what I saw years ago."
Two days prior to the most recent sighting, a woman reported she had seen a big cat, described as being the size of a Labrador, from a bus passing a quarry at Culross.
Mr Wallace said he received a call from police advising him of the sighting.
Fife Constabulary confirmed they had attended the scene but found no evidence of an animal.
Norman Gardiner, president of Pitreavie Amateur Athletics Club, said, "I haven't heard anyone mentioning this down at the track and have certainly never seen a black cat myself.
"You would think there would be more incidents of cat litter being found or sheep being mauled so how are these animals surviving?"
Anyone with information on sightings in the area can contact Bob Wallace on 07936 719909 at wallace_robert@yahoo.co.uk. Alternatively, call the Press on 747518.
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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NEILY-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 10:39
Report commentRonnies havering min, that wid eh been ma bros cat tommy he seen, he went missing for 2 weeks eh, hes a monster size eh a cat min
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Yes 3
No 5
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system f
Unregistered User
May 19, 11:32
Report commentnext time i see a story in the dunfermline press about a big black cat and a statement from bob wallace about a big black cat there'd better be a photo or video of a big black cat otherwise stay off the funny fags and stop wasting everyones time
Recommend? Yes 8
No 6
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NEILY-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 12:23
Report commentaye totally man, smoking funny fags and counting ballot papers isnae a gid combo, nae wonder the SNP won
Recommend? Yes 7
No 4
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
May 19, 12:36
Report commentIt must be either playing golf or went home as Pitreavie running track is surrounded by housing and a golf course (mabe could have sneaked on the bus, dressed as a rabbit)! Its a long day at those polling stations...
Recommend? Yes 3
No 3
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
May 19, 12:51
Report commentMr Big Cats in Britain here,
If anyone can remember seeing a 3ft rabbit (with a black leg) travelling on the bus on voting day please report it to www.cannyfindcats.com.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 3
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Safari Joe
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:07
Report commentThat man was in charge of counting votes? Clearly off his naper. Grounds for a recount?...
Recommend? Yes 2
No 3
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Noelly-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:17
Report commentLost, 1 nr 3 foot black Kitty. Answers to name fluffy. Last seen at my house at Pitreavie Castle. Please don't approach as he is suffering from gigantism.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 2
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jan the man
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:20
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Woodsman
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:23
Report commentNext time you see a statement from Bob Wallace, 'there had better be a photo or video'.
or what, you gonna stop buying the paper.........idiot.
You want to keep your gob shut till you know what you are talking about...... because you haven't seen one, then they cannot possibly exist eh.....how many badgers have you seen lately, or foxes for that mater, so do they not exist either......no wonder folk don't report their sightings, when there are morons like you out there....you are obviously that clever that you failed to notice that voting day was on the Thursday....not the Friday......
Recommend? Yes 7
No 6
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Noelly-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:31
Report commentI agree with Jan. A pink elephant can regularly be seen waiting for the number 19 bus at the visa centre roundabout. I believe it is on days when Sammy the Tammy is unavailable to car share.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 3
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:43
Report commentHave you seen my Rabbit? Last seen taking my pet cat fluffy to vote!!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 8
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Noelly-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 13:53
Report commentNot sure about the rest of your rabbit but Bob Wallace can give you its foot back. That's lucky...
Recommend? Yes 0
No 7
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ginasfs
Unregistered User
May 19, 14:16
Report commentI'm not believing any of this big cat stuff until there's a photo to prove it. Funny how none of these 'witnesses' have managed to get their phones out to take a picture.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 6
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
May 19, 14:24
Report commentNew title for the article
"Pumas Shun Fame"
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No 2
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jan the man
Unregistered User
May 19, 14:44
Report comment -
Noelly-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 14:44
Report commentI suspect it may be difficult to take a picture whilst cacking your pants...
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No 2
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jan the man
Unregistered User
May 19, 14:55
Report commentjust goes to show --drugs are on the increase
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kitekat
Unregistered User
May 19, 15:00
Report comment"..more instances of cat litter being found..." So it's toilet trained then is it, hmmm clever.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 3
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Bailseye
Unregistered User
May 19, 15:01
Report commentNext time we know how to catch a "Puma" (lets not rule out Panther or Whippet)! All you have to do Is have a three legged rabbit on you at all times, they love them!!!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 3
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NEIL-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 15:10
Report commentPure big mad mental giant cat min, am gawn doon ther the morn for a bottle eh bucky so I'll hae a wee swatch aboot for this fable beast, apologies in advance if I snare any wans black lab, ken whit a mean min, EH
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No 4
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NEILY-J
Unregistered User
May 19, 15:13
Report commentPure spelt ma ain name wrang oan that last post min, am aff ma nut!! Ken
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No 4
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itsprobablyablacklab
Unregistered User
May 19, 23:11
Report commentTwo days prior to the most recent sighting, a woman reported she had seen a big cat, described as being the size of a Labrador, from a bus passing a quarry at Culross.
That's probably what it was, a big black lab! I own one and regularly walk him at Devilla. Looking at him running through the forest, I can understand why some people with an over active imagination would think he was a big cat!
Recommend? Yes 2
No 2
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Jeely Nay
Unregistered User
May 20, 00:33
Report commentThats far the big fish fae Dobbies went, thon big cat, poor thing must hae been pure starvin man
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No 3
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system f
Unregistered User
May 20, 08:16
Report comment@woodsman, i dont buy the paper. its full of big cat nonsense. I like the dabates and neily J's comments on here tho. ken wit ah mean min? i have not seen any badgers or foxes lately, however i have seen them so i know they exist. Just as pumas exist, just not in pitcorthie or crossgates or any other housing estate.
You are obviously that clever that you failed to realise that i never mentioned voting day, moron (i can use big insulting words also!).
As for the big pink elephant, last time i seen him he up the woods wi an empty plastic bottle and some tinfoil
Recommend? Yes 7
No 4
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paraletic
Unregistered User
May 21, 17:39
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Syd Parrott
Unregistered User
May 22, 15:20
Report commentTo all the "down with the kids" people trying to be funny with their must be smoking whacky backy comments.
LSD or Shrooms can make you hallucinate.
Hash will just make you sit on the couch, eating jumbo bags of crisps laughing at something that sure as hell won't be funny when the effect wears off.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 3
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I agree with Jan
Unregistered User
May 23, 13:11
Report commentSpotted - the only person in Dunfermline that doesn't have a camera on his mobile phone.
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No 0
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******
May 23, 14:29
Report commentThis comment has been removed by a moderator
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jan the man
Unregistered User
May 23, 14:54
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