Big cats on the prowl

Published 30 Jun 2009 14:30 2 Comments

A STUNNED driver claims to have seen a big cat on the prowl near Walkerburn.

Ian Cross, 35, had taken his 18-month old daughter Belle on a late night drive in an attempt to get her to sleep when he came across the puma-like creature.

The cat stalked across the road in front of them before leaping up onto a dyke.

Driving instructor Ian is now a firm believer that big cat stories and sightings are indeed true.

Ian, from Innerleithen, said: 'At first I thought it was a large dog like a labdrador, but I could tell by its tail and the way it leapt up on the dyke that it was a big cat.

'I reversed back to get another look and it just stood there staring back at me for a few seconds.

'It was tawny in colour with a large body and small head. It was only later when I researched it that I found it to be a female puma.

'I went back the next day and I met a local man who said that he has seen it also on numerous occasions.'

Local councillor Gavin Logan is another who claims to have seen a big cat on the loose recently.

Mr Logan spotted the jet-black creature while walking his dog by Caddonfoot Hall.

He said: 'It was within 15 metres of me across the river walking at the edge of Yair Forest. I"ve absolutely no doubt in my mind that is was a big cat; I was looking at it for all of 30 seconds.

'It was as big as a large dog but longer and looked pretty healthy from what I could tell.'

In the past decade Peeblesshire has become one of several hot spots for big cats in Scotland, with sightings being made from above Clovenfords all the way up to Tweedsmuir.

The Scottish Big Cats Society has received 60 reports of sightings in and around the Tweed Valley alone in the past four years.

Scottish Big Cats investigator Mark Fraser says the area is an ideal habitat for big cats because there is plenty of food.

A number of sheep flock attacks around Peebles and Innerleithen have been reported in recent months - with the finger of blame being pointed at dogs.

He said: 'With the history of sightings in the area, it seems evident that there is a large feline loose or maybe more, and they have to eat.'

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 26 Jun 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Colin
  Unregistered User
  Jun 30, 19:33
  Report comment

  So where are the pictures...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  david macdonald
  Unregistered User
  Jul 28, 19:50
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  i was driving along the b8084 near armadale in august 07. A dear nearly ran out in front of me it stopped and changed direction going behind me running accross the road, a few seconds later a big black cat ran in the same direction chasing it. it was as big as a labrador but was the shape of a cat and ran like a cat. nobody believed me but my girlfriend saw it aswell.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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