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Strange Days: Cryptozoology

Alien Big Cat Survey 2003-2006: England

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

 
Cambridgeshire, 2004: Train driver threw his pie at ABC on railway at Nene Valley
Scroll down to see what's been prowling in your area!  For sightings from Scotland, Wales and Ireland click here

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).

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