Big Cat Sightings in Scotland in 1980

Felicity the puma

Big Cat Sightings in 1980
Date	Location	Description	Activity	Report
16 th January	South Clunes, nr Inverness, Inverness-shire	Prints 7 in by 4 in	Found by retired gamekeeper
17 th January	Lochcarron, Ross and Cromarty	Large-cat like animal	Seen by motorist
21 st January	Strathcarron, Ross and Cromarty	Remains of sheep found	Dogs disturbed for three nights
26 th January	near Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty	Large yellow cat-like animal	Seen by two teenage schoolgirls.
30 th January	nr Bishop Kinkell, Ross and Cromarty	Large dog-sized, gold-coloured cat-like animal	Seen crossing railway line
Early February	Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire	Large golden-coloured animal, big tail, twice size of Labrador, well built, long tail.	Moved beautifully at speed. Ran across garden before jumping over two fences into fields.
Spring	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Large dark cat-like creature, about size of puma.	Seen sitting on roadway by two lady motorists.
Spring	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Sound like a woman screaming heard	Cries characteristic of a puma
7 th April	Tore, Ross and Cromarty.	Large paw marks in sand	Found by policeman
Late April-early May	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Carcasses of 12 lambs found slaughtered	Carcasses skinned at knawed at "in cat-fashion"
Late April-early May	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Dark tan 'long low animal with a long cat-like tail'. Head not seen	Stalking sheep. Ran off when farmer approached
June	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Size of a dog, yellow with dark brown markings 'like rings or stripes'. 'Like a tiger-cub' Possibly young puma?	Smaller than black cats previously seen by witness.
June	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Tan coloured cat, like a puma.	Crossing road. Screams also heard in the wood.
28 th June	Evanton, Ross and Cromarty	Yellowish-coloured, head of cat, body of dog, 3 1/2 ft long, 2 ft high	Seen by housewife in garden.
July	between Dores and Inverfarigaig, Inverness-shire	Large dark grey cat-like animal the size of an Afghan hound	Chasing a deer.
24 th July	Achnashellach Forest, Ross	Large cat-like animal, fawn, 3.5 ft long 2.5 ft tall	Spotted by hillwalker
End of July or early August	Glen Affric, Inverness-shire	Unearthly screams heard	Hillwalkers fled.
8 th July	Whitebog, Fortrose to Cromarty road, Ross and Cromarty	Puma-like animal	Seen by hotel manager.
28 th August	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Large black cat larger than an alsatian dog	Seen by Scientific Officer.
11 th September	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Large gold coloured cat with brown stripes	Stalking hens
12 th October	Between Inverness and Nairn, Highland	Grey or fawny-tan, short fur, cat's head, 4 ft long body, 2 ft tail. 'puma'.	Seen by off duty policeman. Running very quickly, smooth leaping action, crossed road in two bounds.
19 th October	Between Inverarnie and Daviot, Inverness-shire	Yellow-fawn, round head, short face, tail long, like Labrador slimmer.	Seen by motorist. Moved very gracefully
29 th October	Cannich, Highland	Female puma, arthritic and elderly, apparently a released pet	Donald Noble - better known as Ted - created a sensation when he captured the animal near Tomich, north of the Great Glen, in 1980. The Ross and Cromarty puma was found in a trap by the Cannich farmer following an eight-month hunt during which he had lost many sheep and foals. The beast was taken to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Kingussie, where she lived out her last years as a tourist attraction, dying in February 1985. She was preserved by a taxidermist and since then has been a prime exhibit at Inverness Museum.
30 th October	Glen Affric, Inverness-shire	4 in footprints seen in snow	Seen by hillwalkers
November	Cannich, Inverness-shire	Four sheep killed	Suggested that cat responsible
17 th November	Garve, Ross and Cromarty	Two sheep found dead	Killed and eaten by 'large carnivore such as a puma'
30 th November	Garve, Ross and Cromarty	Third sheep found dead	Similar to previous kills. Large hole in neck
4 th December	Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire	Lioness-like cat, fawn coat, 4 ft long, large paws, long cat-like tail	Seen by motorist. 4 in paw prints found.
7 th December	River Enrick at Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire	Tawy-coloured cat-like animal, size of Labrador	Seen by dog walker. 3 in paw prints found.
11 th December	Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire	Large cat-like animal	Forced open dustbin.
11 th December	Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire	Large brown cat-like animal	Seen by motorist in car headlights. Cleared road in one bound.
16 th December	South Clunes, Inverness-shire	Large tan-coloured cat-like animal, size of Labrador, long thick tail. "puma".	Seen by motorist, crossed road, jumped fence and disappeared into woodland.
19 th December	Kirkhill, Inverness-shire	Large cat-like creature	Seen by motorist, crossing road.

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