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Big Cats on the Prowl
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Big Cats on the Prowl
Peebleshire News: 30th June 2009
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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.”
Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person
involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could
give us.
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