Report from Chris Smith
First sighting of a non-native cat in Clackmannanshire?
18 th December 2002
Date and_Time: 18 th December 2002 15:25
Location: In a field next to the River Devon in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire (postcode - FK13)
Description: Long thin black tail.
Wasn't tall in height but was was very slim and long.
Black in colour.
Movement: Very fast (that's how I know it wasn't a black labrador).
Belly looked as if it was scraping on the ground as it was running.
It's front legs were stretched out when it was running and it was running like a cheetah would run when you see it it on the T.V.
Noise: No
Duration: 1st sighting lasted 45 seconds (approx).
2nd sighting seen 3mins after 1st sighting and that lasted around 10 seconds.
Distance: 200 yards
It was seen at the same level as me
Weather: Sunny but the ground was covered in frost so I was able to track it down.
Evidence: No
Other witnesses: No
Reference: Google Search Engine
Additional: I was out shooting at the time with my dog. As I was walking across the field I noticed a roe deer run infront of me and into a wood. As the deer ran into the wood it came back out again with the described animal giving chase behind it. The deer was running in zig zags obviously trying to dodge the animal as it was using it's left front paw to try and take it down from behind. The deer and the described animal went over the top of the hill so I ran towards where they went. I found the tracks that they left behind on the frost and began to follow. My dog got the scent on the ground and began to follow. I lost the tracks as it went across a burn. As I was walking back to the field I heard ice breaking on my left handside and I looked and saw the described animal run at full speed towards a fence (2nd sighting). It cleared the fence and ran out of sight. Again I tried to follow the tracks but I lost them.
Report from Phil Crosby
DATE - 18th December 2002
Time - Around 1520
Location - River Devon at Tillicoultry (FK13), Clackmannanshire.
I was out shooting at the time when a Roe Deer got up in front of me. It ran into the nearest wood but about 20 seconds later I noticed that it came back out of the wood running at full speed.
When I first spotted it it was running in zig zags as if it was trying
to dodge something. When I saw it from side on I noticed a long thing black animal running behind it with it's left paw trying to take down the deer.
It was running low to the ground and the sheer speed of it I know it wasn't a black labrador as I own two myself. The deer and the animal ran over the brow of the hill and into old coal bings. I ran up to where I spotted the attack and followed the tracks on the frost until they dissapeared into a burn. The deer and the animal were know where to be seen.
I couldn't make out the tracks on the frost as all I could see was scrape marks where I think it hind legs or stomach were touching the ground.
This sighting lasted for around 20 seconds.
The second sighting was when I went into the coal bings to see if I
could still see the animal. My dogs hackles rose and that was when I
thought that it must be watching me. I kept walking along and then the black animal burst out in front of me and ran into another wood. This sighting only
lasted no more than ten seconds.
That was my sighting and I now know to take a camera with me next time.
18 th December 2002
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