big cats in the UK - anyone?

big cats in the UK - anyone? (Full Version)

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LadyEllen -> big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 6:57:05 AM)
Heaven knows I'm bored and fed up, so I'm thinking of starting a new hobby; tracking down big cats in the UK (Puma, Panther, Lynx - released or escaped and sighted all over). Aside from the extremely slight potential of a lethal confrontation, its a healthy pastime involving lots of outdoors exercise and minimal equipment. I wondered if anyone had any experience of this sort of thing or had actually sighted one of these ABCs (Alien Big Cats)? My only current experience goes back to the mid to late 90s when I found a sheep carcass in the Wyre Forest (Worcs/Shrops border) that almost certainly was the remains of a big cat kill; it matched with descriptions and photos of similar kills verified by big cat experts. It was on a path through the forest about 30 yards in from the edge of the woodland (and as far from roads as its possible to get, around 1.5 miles), where it abuts farmland used for livestock. It was quite amazing to see because apart from the fleece and the bones there was nothing left to say it had been a sheep, and it was quite fresh - no stench and no sign of insects or slugs as I'd expect if it had been there a while. The surprising thing was how clean it was - literally no meat or organs in sight, just bones with a fleece spread below like the whole thing had been very carefully dissected - and no head for some reason, which matches other confirmed kills. The farmland is fenced off with barbed wire - to keep sheep in and deer (plentiful in the forest) out. I have no pictures and dont know the date exactly (it would have been autumn-spring though - not pleasant in the forest in the summer), but just going from memory based off my children's years of birth it must have been mid to late 90s. I didnt report the find and there was nothing reported at the time in that area in the newspaper or TV news, though there have been big cat sightings in Worcestershire and the Midlands and west Mercia as a whole and Wales. At that time I walked every weekend in the Forest - someone else (Forestry Commission Ranger?) must have seen the carcass as it had been removed by the week following - and I never before or after saw anything like this. To be honest, I knew what it must be when I saw it, and it most definitely put me off walking alone as was my wont at the time - but hey, who wants to live forever, even if attack is extremely unlikely?) E

sirsholly -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:03:05 AM)
LadyEllen, we have wild Bobcats (little things, not what you are talking about i am sure). They are timid little beasts, either in a pack or alone. What i want to warn you about is the blood curdling scream they can belt out. Imagine a woman with a very healthy set of lungs being murdered. Yep...THAT kind of screech. I do know other cats (Panthers for sure) scream in the same way.

LadyEllen -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:10:37 AM)
Thanks SH - to be honest, I'd hope that if I were close enough any such cat might let me know - I think I know the sound youre talking about, as heard on quite a few US imported TV programmes and pretty scary? Panthers apparently make a "sawing" sound as well - the advice is to get out of there if you hear it! These are big cats living wild in the UK - non natives. Many are thought to have been released in the 1970s when the law on keeping them changed, and then a fresh wave more recently when the law changed again and the previous restrictions got more difficult. Theyve been spotted all over the UK, with a heavy concentration in the southwest of England. People hunting at night (lamping) have come up close with panthers in particular, who are attracted by the lures just as much as the foxes theyre hunting. Overall this is all a bit like hunting Bigfoot - except we have much better evidence and a smaller area to hunt in. The worst that can happen (apart from possibly getting eaten!) is that we have a great day out in the countryside, so I think it could be a good thing. E

Aneirin -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:14:14 AM)
Yep, seen one, on the way back from Dozmary Pool towards Bolventor, It vaulted the wall at the side of the road ran across the road making me brake hard,( nasty in a camper van, all the lockers opening and stuff falling out), then vaulted the wall on the opposite of the road and belted off across the field. big, black, sleek and fast, could only have been a cat. To note, the walls of Cornwall tend to be about five feet high by two or three feet thick, made of stone and have been there hundreds of years.

LaTigresse -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:16:47 AM)
We've had multiple sitings of cougar/puma around here (Iowa US), but they are native to the area. Just that they were pretty much eradicated for a long period of time. The DNR has said that the increase of prey, both domesticated and none, has given them food suppy to begin wandering back in. Several years ago, I saw a cougar several times within the span of a couple of weeks. Then there were several sitings further north that were reported in the newspapers and validated by DNR with tracks and so forth. I don't really worry about it when I am out hiking. I look at it this way. If I were a cougar, what would I go after? A loud human or a helpless juicy calf, pig, lamb or goat. Not to mention all of the dogs that are tied/penned up, just waiting for a lazy hunter. Yesterday was my granddaughter's one year birthday. I got her a HUGE stuffed tiger, (it's a theme I started with the first grand, lion, second grand golden retriever) and the oldest grand had brought it up with him, to sit next to me and it ended up across my lap. They were all joking about it and my son-in-law said he was going to find a black market tiger cub (real) for me, for Christmas. Granted, he was joking (he hasn't got the money or I might be concerned......) and having wild animals as pets or novelty is something I am very strongly against. However, I do know that it is something that happens quite a lot more than most people are aware of. About ten years ago there was a weekly "horse" auction held not far from where I live. It was not uncommon to go into the back and see all sorts of animals one would not expect. Ostriches, bear cubs, cougar and other wild cat cubs, all for sale. For a few hundred dollars, and a hefty supply of meat, I too could be the owner of a cougar. What happens when people that do make those purchases, tire of the animals?

LaTigresse -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:19:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly LadyEllen, we have wild Bobcats (little things, not what you are talking about i am sure). They are timid little beasts, either in a pack or alone. What i want to warn you about is the blood curdling scream they can belt out. Imagine a woman with a very healthy set of lungs being murdered. Yep...THAT kind of screech. I do know other cats (Panthers for sure) scream in the same way. OMG, I remember being at my grandparents farm the first time I heard a bobcat scream. Skinny little legs hauling ass, pigtails flying. My grandparents didn't have to worry about me going outside by myself, at night, for awhile.

Lorr47 -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:21:26 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly LadyEllen, we have wild Bobcats (little things, not what you are talking about i am sure). They are timid little beasts, either in a pack or alone. What i want to warn you about is the blood curdling scream they can belt out. Imagine a woman with a very healthy set of lungs being murdered. Yep...THAT kind of screech. I do know other cats (Panthers for sure) scream in the same way. I guess some are timid and some are not. A couple of bobcats roam around Kent County. Big dog sees cat. Big dog attacks cat. Big dog wonders why cat is not running. Big dog wonders why cat is smiling. Big dog runs away from cat in pain. Little cat is still smiling.

LadyEllen -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:24:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin Yep, seen one, on the way back from Dozmary Pool towards Bolventor, It vaulted the wall at the side of the road ran across the road making me brake hard,( nasty in a camper van, all the lockers opening and stuff falling out), then vaulted the wall on the opposite of the road and belted off across the field. big, black, sleek and fast, could only have been a cat. Wow. Its a hot spot down there alright! Did you report it? E

LadyEllen -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:29:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lorr47 I guess some are timid and some are not. A couple of bobcats roam around Kent County. Big dog sees cat. Big dog attacks cat. Big dog wonders why cat is not running. Big dog wonders why cat is smiling. Big dog runs away from cat in pain. Little cat is still smiling. There's a report out there about a rottweiler vs a panther (black leopard) that occurred in the Birmingham area of England. For anyone thats unfamiliar with the rottweiler, its a huge dog and the one favoured over the alsatian by the nazis for guard duties; I believe it was bred for hunting bears so you get the idea. The rottweiler spotted the panther and being of that mindset, went for it and cornered it. It barely survived. E

Aneirin -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 7:57:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin Yep, seen one, on the way back from Dozmary Pool towards Bolventor, It vaulted the wall at the side of the road ran across the road making me brake hard,( nasty in a camper van, all the lockers opening and stuff falling out), then vaulted the wall on the opposite of the road and belted off across the field. big, black, sleek and fast, could only have been a cat. Wow. Its a hot spot down there alright! Did you report it? E Nope, I don't, I won't, I mean it lives there, does'nt bother anyone apart from the occaisional sheep or mixy rabbit maybe, so let it be. I certainly don't want to be responsible for do gooders hunting down a creature that bothers no one for the simple fact that it is there. Britain used to be wild, at one time we had creatures to fear, maybe having something to fear out there, might make us more respectful of the wild, a wild we share this planet with.

sirsholly -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:01:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly LadyEllen, we have wild Bobcats (little things, not what you are talking about i am sure). They are timid little beasts, either in a pack or alone. What i want to warn you about is the blood curdling scream they can belt out. Imagine a woman with a very healthy set of lungs being murdered. Yep...THAT kind of screech. I do know other cats (Panthers for sure) scream in the same way. OMG, I remember being at my grandparents farm the first time I heard a bobcat scream. Skinny little legs hauling ass, pigtails flying. My grandparents didn't have to worry about me going outside by myself, at night, for awhile. You poor kid! I know it scared the hell out of me as an adult, even knowing what it was. I can't imagine what it would do to a little one.

BOUNTYHUNTER -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:18:56 AM)
We have a black painter in our area,thats what the old folks call them, my mom used to tell us about when she live deep in the country as a child and there was quiet a few around back in those days.. I have seen him cross the road many times during the late night hours I keep...I hunt hounds at night and treed one several times, as soon as you start to the tree and they see the light they bale out and the chase is on again...let me tell you their cries during the night will bring chills to your body and make the hair on your neck stand up...there was another sighting her recently that was featured on the TV show monster quest...

KneelforAnne -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:37:57 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse What happens when people that do make those purchases, tire of the animals? That's a good question. I have often wondered that myself. I know there is a shelter in my area for wild cats that have been pets or been used in the circus or at fairs. When on a tour of the shelter the guide told us that all of the animals there were saved from being put down and that they get calls all the time from (I'm not sure what the actual title is...SPCA, Fish and Wildlife?) the government agencies saying they have rescued a cat/ bear/ monkey and do they have room for it. If they don't have room and no other shelters can take it, then they put the animal down. There's actually a zoo closing down and some of their cats are going to this shelter. It's smaller and kind of sad to go there(but then again, I am a person that does not like zoos) but when you hear the guides talk about the animals you know that even though the pens are smaller than they deserve...at least they are alive and well cared for. The place was cleaner than a few homes I have been in, and the guides talk about them with obvious love. In a perfect world there would be no need for a place like this...but I think they are doing the best they can to save as many as possible. www.bigcathabitat.org As an aside, we were there in the evening...and when the lions started to roar... ohmygawd.... it was amazing....

LaTigresse -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:40:37 AM)
One of my dream vacations is a trip to Africa, stay in one of those tree houses and hear the rumble and roar of lions at night.

LadyEllen -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:43:25 AM)
Come visit here LaT! On a clear evening you can hear lions roaring at the safari park one mile away - about as close as anyone should want to get perhaps - whilst the bbq sizzles and the drink flows... E

KneelforAnne -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:49:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse One of my dream vacations is a trip to Africa, stay in one of those tree houses and hear the rumble and roar of lions at night. This place is right across the street from a subdivision and they said the only noise related calls they get are people calling to see if everything is ok when the cats DON'T roar. :)

Aneirin -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 8:55:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen Come visit here LaT! On a clear evening you can hear lions roaring at the safari park one mile away - about as close as anyone should want to get perhaps - whilst the bbq sizzles and the drink flows... E Everyone used to laugh when I used to say that, one could hear lions roaring at night where I used to live, that was until they heard it for themselves.I lived literally one mile away from the lion enclosure, the roars sounded like' moos'

LaTigresse -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 9:01:44 AM)
Moos I can hear all the time. Especially during weaning time. LadyE, that sounds wonderful!

LadyEllen -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 9:24:44 AM)
Moos? I'd have said groans but I guess they could be moos depending how many cigarettes a day the cow was on? E

DesFIP -> RE: big cats in the UK - anyone? (7/19/2009 3:38:38 PM)
We have mountain lions around here. I've seen them twice in 20 years and that's more than most people will. They are very shy and will avoid humans. So don't be worried about walking in the forest. It is rare for them to attack people especially with much better food like sheep around. Now they do eat outdoor cats.

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