Alien Big Cat Survey 2003-2006: England

Put together from the mountain of clippings sent in by Fortean Times readers, these listings present a unique overview of the alien big cat phenomenon over the past 3 years.

Text: Jen Ogilvie / Images: Owen Richardson
May 2007



KEY

S=sighting
M=mutilation
P=pawprint
FPS= fruitless police search

BEDFORSHIRE


2003: Leighton (sandy, resembled cougar).

2005: Biggleswade (2 sightings).


BERKSHIRE


2003: Wokingham area (7 sightings).

2004: Wokingham; Boxford (grey, several sightings over 6 months, M, P).


BUCKINGHAMSHIRE


2003: Milton Keynes; Princes Risborough; Saunderton (resembled lynx; over 40 poultry killed); Cookham (2 witnesses).

2004: nr Beaconsfield (resembled lion); nr Henley (4 sightings).

2006: Chequers estate.


CAMBRIDGESHIRE


2003: Histon; Balsham (5 sightings); Cottenham; Soham; Longstanton; Oakington (S, M, roaring sound); Fulbourne (2 sightings).

2004: St Ives (M); Godmanchester (attacked a cow in the road); Milton (M); Harston; Guyhirn; Doddington; Manea (S, P); nr Waterbeach (blotchy fawn colour, similar to ocelot); Rampton (S, P, light sandy colour with dark rings on tail, resembles African wildcat).

2005: Swavesey; Castor Hanglands.

2006: Manea (P)


CHESHIRE


2005: Bollington (P, M)

2006: Pulford (S, M).


CORNWALL


2003: Illogan (footage, more than 12 witnesses); nr Roseworthy; between Connor Downs and Gwithian; Goonhilly Downs (ginger, spots); nr Torpoint (video footage); nr Bodmin Moor (initially resembled “a very short person, entirely black, and wearing flares which swished rhythmically when it walked”).

2004: Farm between Helston and Gweek (M, lynxsized print, and smaller print, poss. from a young cat out hunting with its mother); Bodmin (P, S); nr RAF St Mawgan (S, P; 3 sightings by servicemen; several other sightings by members of public in same area – see main text).

2006: nr Pelynt (hit by car; no body).


CUMBRIA


2003: nr South Lakes Wild Animal Park (resembled a lion); between Fell End and Beetham caravan parks; Winster Valley; Ings (3 witnesses); Burton (2 sightings); Kendal (several sightings); nr Holme (3 sightings, one of a pair of cats).

2004: M6, nr Tebay Services; Furness (9 sightings, P, photo); Bolton.

2005: Hodgeston Quarry, Baycliff (photo); Shap; Bardsea Leisure Park (2 sightings); Scales, nr Ulverston.

2006: Duddon Valley; Newland, nr Ulverston.


DERBYSHIRE


2003: Ripley (2 sightings, ducks missing); nr Ilkeston (S, eats boy’s packed lunch).

2005: Biggin, nr Ashbourne (4 sightings over 18 months); Derby; northern bypass road nr Ashbourne; Dovedale, nr Ashbourne (seen killing a hare); Denby (M, P); Codnor (three sightings in one day); Thorpe Cloud; Manor Rd estate, nr Ashbourne.

2006: Codnor (attacks pensioner’s cat, then attacks her; ginger).


DEVON


2003: Petrockstow, nr Hatherleigh (black, white bib); South Brent (M: horse); Rough Tor (photo); Torridge area (spooks horse, evidence of large animal sleeping in barn, tracks); Landcross, nr Bideford (chestnut); Weare Giffard; nr Braunton; Ash Mill (M); Halwill; Hatherleigh; Westleigh (10 witnesses); St Giles.

2004: Ipplepen (several sightings); Denbury; Ashwater (2 sightings); Manaton (3 witnesses, 14 hens decapitated; 7 chickens and 3 ducks eaten later in year); nr Drewsteignton (photo); Clyst St Mary (golden, seen by 6 adults and 6 children, P).

2005: Plympton (several sightings nearby over preceding weeks, M; East Ogwell (later revealed to be a fat domestic cat); Dunchideock (2 sightings); Dartmoor (M: more than 20 ewes injured in 18 months, mostly having their faces ripped off); Okehampton; Northam Burrows (M; revealed as work of alsatian dog).

2006: nr South Brent (beige; spooks horses, who throw their riders)


DORSET


2003: Maiden Newton (video footage of ABC attacking fox); Blandford.

2004: Studland; A3066 between Melplash and Beaminster (2 sightings).

2005: Max Gate, nr Dorchester (home of Thomas Hardy); Minton Place; Bournemouth (2 sightings); Poole.

2006: Dorchester.


DURHAM


2003: Bishop Middleham (2 witnesses); nr Stillington (S, spooked horse); between Rookhope and Ireshopeburn (polecatcoloured, ferretlike).

2004: Elwick (cat and cub seen by adult and 2 children).

2005: The Ghyll, nr Hartlepool; Burn Valley Gardens, Hartlepool (“gorillashaped”); nr Leadgate (3 sightings) (M, P); Trimdon.

2006: Wynyard; Billingham; Newfield.


ESSEX


2003: Black Notley (2 witnesses); Ongar; Quendon Wood (S, roar); between Moreton and Matching Green; Stapleford Abbotts; Bobbingworth; Rivenhall (2 sightings).

2005: Tiptree (tree with claw marks, revealed to have been made by an alsatian); Ongar (S,M); Sheering; Clacton; Broxted.

2006: Weald Country Park, Brentwood (several sightings, unconfirmed M; FPS); Elsenham.


GLOUCESTERSHIRE


2003: Forest of Dean (2 sightings, photo, P); nr Monmouth (M); Cheltenham (P); nr Monmouth (M); Chepstow (several sightings, inc. eating a guinea pig); nr Aston Down; between Newnham and Blakeney (hit by car, hairs left on bumper); nr Forthhampton, nr Tewkesbury; nr Moreton; Hardwicke, nr Newland; Cranham (M).

2004: Tewkesbury; Abbeydale; A44, nr A424 junction; Fairview (P).

2005: Forest of Dean; Gloucester; Woodmancote, Badgeworth and Leckhampton (several sightings; believed by a couple of pensioners to have decapitated their pet cat); Five Valleys (several sightings); Cirencester (CCTV footage) (S, P); Watermoor; Stratton.

2006: nr Pauntley (P).


GREATER LONDON


2003: Southmere Park (resembled a jaguar); Crayford (P); Enfield.

2005: Bexley area (over a dozen sightings) (S, P); Barnet (several sightings by member of BBCS, who claims it killed a deer and beleves it to be a lynx); Sydenham (attacked a former soldier, who claims it pounced at him and stood on his chest, giving him minor injuries; attack witnessed by man’s daughter; 3ft tall, 6ft long; several other sightings in area); Eltham (dead foxes); Thamesmead; Enfield (ringed tail; several previous sightings in area).

2006: Between St Albans and Harpenden (sandy); Bexley (photo).


HAMPSHIRE


2003: St James Primary School, West End; Gosport (hoax); between Beaulieu and Lymington; Southampton; Stubbington.

2004: Leigh Park (tabby, regular visitor to garden,resembled serval, P).

2005: Liss (4 sightings); Gosport; Andover area (3 sightings; poultry killed; 1.5m).


HEREFORDSHIRE


2003: nr Dovestone (claimed shot and wounded); Cradley (S, P – fox).

2005: Fiddler’s Elbow, nr Leintwardine (2 witnesses; 7ft).


HERTFORDSHIRE


2003: Much Hadham (2 sightings).

2005: Bishop’s Stortford (seen by train driver); Borehamwood (swan carcass hanging from tree; later confirmed likely it was shot and thrown into tree); Welham Green; Rushfield (video footage); Codicote (spotted by Kim Wilde); undisclosed location (caught on CCTV); A1000 nr Herts Country Club; Essendon; Welwyn (scratch marks on trees; same witness saw lighter coloured ABC year previously in Sacombe); Harpenden (3 sightings); Batchwood (photo); Ashridge Woods (seen mauling a terrier).

2006: Welwyn Garden City (S, 5 pet turkeys killed); Hoddesdon; A1005 nr Enfield; Hertford; Smallford.


ISLE OF WIGHT


2003: nr Chale.

2004: Bembridge (S, P).


KENT


2003: Headcorn area (at least 5 sightings); Whitstable; Canterbury.

2004: Appledore (2 witnesses; adult cat with cub); Western Heights, Dover (2 sightings, one of black and white ABC, other ‘hyenatype’, M); Headcorn, nr Maidstone (several sightings); St Margaret’satCliffe (2 cows scratched); Peene (2 ‘young panthers’ sighted; later revealed as pair of Siamese cats); Ashford; nr Manston airport; nr Canterbury (M).

2005: Maidstone (6ft); Cranbook (noises heard on two nights in one week, police called) (P); nr Bluewater Shopping Centre (3 sightings of a greyish ‘puma’ with white underside; Kent Big Cat Research claim to have received ‘many’ reports of sightings around Bluewater, and also that at least five black leopards roam the Ashford area).

2006: Capel; Dover (5 sightings); Creteway Downs; Appledore; Densole; Cheriton; nr Whitfield; Hawkinge.


LANCASHIRE


2003: Wirral golf course (several sightings, video showed what experts said was in fact a large feral cat); Dovestone reservoir, Saddleworth Moor (FPS: said to have been shot and wounded, but not found by police who went to check); Cockerham (several sightings); Lathom (attacked hens); Skelmersdale (attacked hens); Birkrig; nr Mawdesley; Scarisbrick Moss; nr Ainsdale; Tarleton (2 sightings); Burscough; Pilling (S, turkey killed); Out Rawcliffe (S, poultry disappear); Ormskirk (2 sightings, one a prank); nr Newburgh (civet); Up Holland (2 sightings, one of the witnesses claims to have seen ABC five times).

2004: Edgeworth, Belmont and Darwen areas (around 15 sightings).

2006: Uppermill (witnesses identified as a bobcat); Lathom (2 sightings); Skelmersdale; Birchencliffe (3 sightings); Ashurst Beacon; Bolton; Aughton.


LEICESTERSHIRE


2003: 50 sightings in Melton area; Lindley (dark spots); nr Cossington (several sightings); Twyford (panther with cub); Owston (M); Stathern (tabby); Bottesford (attack on horse); Rothley, nr Great Dalby; Hoby; Launde Abbey, nr Loddington (M).

2004: reports of sightings along various railway lines, including nr Leicester North Station, Great Dalby, Nene Valley railway and Stamford to Peterborough line; Birchencliffe (2 sightings); Bolster Moor (2 witnesses).

2005: A607 between Denton and Croxton Kerrial.

2006: Harborough (P, experts agree not feline).


LINCOLNSHIRE


2003: Roxby Trods (5 sightings, P later identified as canine); nr junction of M18 on M180; Barrow; Grimsby (4 sightings); Boultham; nr Horncastle (witness had 4 sightings of ABC in his back garden, video footage, hairs; 2 other sightings in area); Boston (P); Lincoln outskirts (several sightings); Kirby Underwood; BarrowonHumber; Louth (S, lair, P, M); Sturton by Stow (grey); Heighington and Washingborough (9 attacks on pet rabbits and guinea pigs in 3 months); Ludford; between Wainfleet and Spilsby; between Martin Bridge and Woodhall Spa; Swaby; Grimoldy; Manby; SuttononSea; Skegness (dark grey); Marston; Easton; Ancaster, Casthorpe; Fulbeck; Wilksby.

2004: Grimsby (3 sightings); Stamford; nr Ryhall; nr Oakham; Wymondham; Great Casterton; British Big Cat Research Society state Lincolnshire has the most big cat sightings in the country and conduct 5day stakeout in the county.

2005: AshbycumFenby (S, CCTV footage which witness claims also shows UFO).

2006: Waddington; SuttononSea (2 sightings); North Scarle (at least 12 sightings; attacked pet cat); Williamson Cliff quarry, nr Stamford (9ft long); Lincoln (2 sightings).


NORFOLK


2003: A11 between Thickthorn and Wymondham; Cringleford.

2005: Diss (several sightings in area, though prints later revealed to be canine); Diss (April Fool’s Day story).


NORTHAMPTONSHIRE


2003: between Ravensthorpe and Guilsborough; off A6116 nr Kettering; Whilton, Corby; Southfields (2 sightings); Lowick; Daventry; New Duston; Moulton Park.

2004: Milton; Daventry (P), Lings Wood (attacked a Jack Russell); Whilton (3 sightings); Northampton; Greens Norton; Wellingborough; West Haddon; Doddington; Brigstock; Kettering (3 sightings); Cranford; Stanion; Corby (3 sightings); Moreton Pinkney (claw marks on tree, killing of pet sheep); Little Houghton; Sudborough; Brigstock; nr Wicksteed Park; Gretton; Rushton; Higham Ferrers (2 sightings); Barton Seagrave; Earls Barton; Rushden bypass; Great Oakley.

2005: East Hunsbury, nr Northampton; between Collingtree and Milton Malsor.

2006: nr Chacombe.


NORTHUMBERLAND


2004: Allendale; nr Humbleton.

2005: Hexham (two sightings).


NOTTINGHAMSHIRE


2003: Collingham (villagers believe up to 30 chickens killed by a lynx, S).


OXFORDSHIRE


2003: Upton (several sightings).

2004: Chipping Norton (2 sightings, M).

2005: Burford (several sightings; several farmers reported sheep killed; photo; cat also reported to have killed a gazelle in Walter Park, Cotswolds – £5,000 reward offered, not claimed) (M, P, S); between Church Hanborough and Long Hanborough (S, P).


SHROPSHIRE


2003: Much Wenlock; Telford (2 sightings); Bayston Hill (S; police close a main highway and deploy a search helicopter).

2004: nr Telford (several sightings); Ketley (several sightings); Newport; Gobowen (2 sightings).

2005: Telford; Carding Mill Valley, nr Church Stretton (two witnesses; dismissed as “peculiar optical illusion” by NT property manager); Lea Cross; nr Church Preen; Pontesbury (witness claims 12 sightings in last 3 or 4 years); Bomere Heath.

2006: MelverleyMasebrook road (2 sightings); Telford; Ellesmere (S, M).


SOMERSET


2003: Old Coleford (P); Shearwater (P); Frome (2 sightings); LeighonMendip; Puriton, nr Bridgwater; Clatworthy Reservoir; Batheaston (several sightings); Northend; Litton (M); Bleadney (2 sightings; dark tan, white ears).

2004: Stoke St Michael (M); nr Leigh; nr Coleford (seen eating deer); Norton St Philip, Coleford; Frome (2 sightings, M); Wallbridge, nr Litton (M: 20 sheep); Wookey; between Priddy and Chewton Mendip.

2005: Hewish, nr WestonsuperMare (several sightings) (S, M, P); Holcombe; Norton Radstock College; Paulton.

2006: Radstock; Vobster, nr Frome; West Woodlands; Frome (2 sightings; 6ft long).


STAFFORDSHIRE


2003: nr Stourbridge (4 sightings); Stretton (over 12 sightings, M); Halesowen (S, P); Tividale.

2004: Cannock Chase (several sightings); nr Baycliff (photo).

2005: Moorlands (numerous sightings, inc. Thorncliffe, Froghall, Alton and Leek); marksmen and farmers watching over sheep at night; sightings of a possible cub) (S, M); Cheadle; Warton (M).

2006: Austrey (M).


SUFFOLK


2003: Bedfield, nr Framlingham (P); nr Fressingfield (2 witnesses); Haverhill; Great Sampford; Eye Airfield Business Park (S, hissing); Thorpe Abbotts; Hoxne (footage); Brome (scratch marks, large holes in bushes); between Eye and Occold; Eyke; Great Livermere.

2004: Halesworth (3 sightings, P); Orford; nr Thurlow (reddish brown); nr North Walsham; Bressingham; Oakley; Wortham (owners suspect ABC attacked their pet cat); Worlingworth; Holton; Walpole.

2006: A1214, Rushmere Heath; Ipswich (P).


SURREY


2003: Holmbury (6–7ft long “mountain lion”); Kingston (2 witnesses).

2004: Abinger Common; Leatherhead (several sightings; photo; BBCS set up webcam).

2005: Merrow; Whitmoor Common, nr Guildford (chased up tree by dogs, firefighters failed to capture it; at least 24 reported sightings in the area, mostly sandycoloured, though some reported bobtail and spots, and others long tail and no spots), also Winkworth Arboretum, nr Godalming (video footage); Devil’s Punchbowl.


SUSSEX


2003: Steyning; Seaford (brown, black dappled markings); Burgess Hill area (over 10 sightings, droppings sent for analysis); Portslade and Hove area (6 sightings; 7ft; FPS); golf club at Wiggenholt, nr Pulborough (2 witnesses saw chasing deer; paw prints in bunker raked over); Telscombe (2 sightings; FPS); Plumpton; Keymer; Hassocks (2 sightings).

2004: Seaford (several sightings, light brown with a grey face and ringed tail, looks like a lynx or serval cat, dragged down a town councillor’s washing line); Guestling Woods; Piddinghoe; High and Over, nr Seaford; railway at Nene Valley (train driver threw his pie at ABC); nr Sheffield Park station (S, P, birds ripped to pieces); Burgess Hill (fawn or greyish, face like a lynx or jaguar); High Salvington (lynxlike); Kingscote station.

2005: Seaford (killed chickens, chased a child round a garden); Hailsham (at least 6 sightings); Heyshott; nr Chichester (S, M, P); Worthing (several sightings, one tortoiseshell); Cuckmere Valley (P), Seaford; Glynde; Franklands Village, Haywards Heath (P); Isfield; Ringmer; between Rye and Hastings (sightings over last 15 years; ABC apparently killed badger and took it up a tree) (S, M); Uckfield; Rushlake Green (witness, a gamekeeper, reports 4 sightings; estate shepherd’s dog won’t work the sheep when the ABC is around); Upper Hartfield (“beach” colour, size of a cow); Mount Caburn (photo); Sayers Common; Danehill (believed by witness to be a bobcat).

2006: Between Bodle Street Green and Ponts Green.


TYNE AND WEAR


2006: Northumbria University, Newcastle campus (sandy).


WARKICKSHIRE


2003: Ilmington (saw pounce on a young deer or large hare).

2004: Kenilworth (P); Weston (4 witnesses); Barford (S, P, 6 feral cats and a dog go missing).

2005: Rowington; Warton and Polesworth area (2 sightings); Lowsonford; Marston (red/brown with a white chest and curved tail).

2006: Snitterfield; Bearley; PrestononStour (P); Great Barr Golf Club, nr Birmingham.


WILTSHIRE


2003: Compton Bassett; nr Devizes; Lacock.

2004: nr Lockeridge.

2005: Salisbury Plain (“cat/kangaroo creature”).

2006: Salisbury.


WORCESTERSHIRE


2003: Pedmore (3 witnesses); Cradley; Ankerdine Hill (“half fox cub and half wild boar”); Hadley, nr Droitwich (long snout and bald apart from a big red mane).

2004: Wychbold, Droitwich, Elmbridge; between Feckenham and Hanbury.

2006: Evesham; Broadway Tower (seen attacking sheep).


YORKSHIRE


2003: West View, Crigglestone; nr Wintersett; Denby Dale (2 sightings); nr Hade Edge; Whitby; Cropton (3 sightings); Cusworth (resembled a jaguar); Barnsley (S, P, claw marks); Staxton (S, P, rabbit torn to pieces); Thurstonland (M); Todmorden (2 sightings, M); between Sledmere and GartonontheWolds (pair); Castle Howard; Hovingham.

2004: Stocksbridge golf course; York; nr East Witton; Camblesforth, nr Selby; Fylingdales (2 sightings; ABC hit by bus); Birchencliffe (3 sightings); Bolster Moor; Whitby (4 sightings); A169 between Pickering and Whitby (police deny reports that ABC killed on road and they removed body); Hawsker; Thorpe Underwood (M); Skip Bridge, nr Kirk Hammerton (M), Norton; Camblesforth, nr Selby; BartonleWillows.

2005: Allerthorpe Common, nr Pocklington (sightings Aug 2004, Feb 2005; dismembered deer Apr 2005); Meltham (3 sightings in a week; suggested might have been a pair of Great Danes) (M); New Mill (2 sightings); nr Knaresborough (2 sightings); nr HolmeonSpalding Moor; Calderdale (8 sightings; dog attacked in Thornton) (M); Blacker Hill; Oughtibridge (M); nr Wakefield; Malton; Pocklington; Milnsbridge; nr Elland Rd stadium (3 or 4 sightings); Osgodby (13 pigeons killed, culprit turns out to be a raccoon).

2006: A19, nr Osgodby; nr Tadcaster (“tigerlike” – orange, black stripes, 6ft long; 3 sightings; FPS); Golden Loch, nr Newburgh (S; eating fish); Junction 5 of M18 nr Hatfield; Bawtry; Sandsend (“the bottom of it seemed to have no legs and just resembled an oversized bean bag sat there”); Richmond (farmer so scared he jumps into pond to escape).