Due to the volume of reports received this month and our ever-growing backlog, we’ve decided to post an update with a summary of every big cat sighting reported during June.
The majority of reports received this month were from outside the North Wales area. All these reports will be added to our map of big cat sightings in due course. We have at least 100 further sighting reports to share from earlier this year and will put out further summary posts to catch up with these.
Going forward, we will put out a monthly summary at the end of each calendar month to ensure that all genuine reports received are shared with the public. We apologise to anyone who has submitted a report which we haven’t yet posted as we work to get to grips with the huge volume of reports we now receive.
Warrington
- Location: Abandoned quarry Warrington area
- Date and time: May 30, 2023 2:15 PM*
- Reported by: Anonymity requested – name and contact details provided.
- Species: Unknown
- Colour: Unknown
- What happened? Paw prints found. About 2.5 inch by 2.5 inch
*Reported to us on 2nd June
Coventry
- Location: Meriden Rd, Fillongley, Coventry CV7 8DX
- Date and time: July 28, 1994 6:00 PM
- Reported by: Mark
- Species: Panther
- Colour: Black
- What happened? Was with my father out bird watching in the wood (had permission) A small herd of roe deer were running away from something then about a minute later a big massive black panther came running out of the bush stopped within 50 yards of me and my father, looked at us then looked at the deer then ran out of the wood. I have never seen it since but have heard of sightings in the area since then (No photo’s as was out without a camera)
*Reported to us on June 3rd.
Prestatyn
- Location: Prestatyn
- Date and time: May 27, 2023 8:45 PM*
- Reported by: Simon Alexander
- Species: Maybe (Panther)
- Colour: Black
- What happened? We were on our way back to the main highway after being at the beach travelling on a narrow country lane slight incline what looked to be a farm cattle sheds but not being used. The large cat came out of the adjacent field onto the lane and continued to make its way across the lane into the cattle shed area. I stopped the car in amazement before we had a chance to get phones out, the car was gone. When you see something like that, you are transfixed, so the phone didn’t enter the mind until after the event.
*Reported to us on June 4th.
Wirral
- Location: Barnston, Wirral
- Date and time: June 5, 2023 8:00 PM
- Reported by: Paul
- Species: Small panther or very very large domestic cat
- Colour: Black
- What happened? I saw a very large black cat walk across Barnston storm tanks
Llyn Peninsula
- Location: Near Tuddweliog
- Date and time: June 2, 2023 3:00 PM
- Reported by: Claire Williams
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Brown / Tawny
- What happened? We were driving back from Sarn Meyllteyrn to our caravan site in Tudweiliog. We drove past a field where the farmer has plastic sheets held down with tyres over what I can only assume is manure. There was an animal walking over the top in stalking mode. It was definitely cat-like, about the size of a small lioness. It absolutely wasn’t a dog, and it was far too big to be an actual cat.
Wirral
- Location: Oxton, Birkenhead
- Date and time: June 9, 2023 11:45 PM
- Reported by: Paul*
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Black
- What happened? My partner woke me around 12am last night to tell me she had just seen a panther-like cat in the garden. She explained how the cat was prowling around, possibly in search for food. She said the cat was all black, around knee to waist height, slender in appearance with a long tail. She went to get her phone to either record or take a picture. Unfortunately, she thinks it may have been startled as the security light came on when it came a bit close to the property. Our garden is around 60ft in length with the width being around the same at its widest part. We do keep a water bowl out there just to encourage birds and other small wildlife.
*Not the same Paul as the other Wirral report above
Frodsham
- Location: Near Frodsham
- Date and time: June 13, 2023 8:00 AM
- Reported by: Peter*
- Species: Maybe
- Colour: Unknown
- What happened? I was carrying out surveys in a remote area near Frodsham and found (very) fresh tracks in the wet mud. The nearest track/public area is about 500m away, and the area is enclosed by ditches and fences with no tracks or signs of entry down the singular entrance track. I have found similar tracks in the same location over the last 2 years.
*Surname provided but not published by request
Stockton-On-Tees
- Location: Stockton on tees
- Date and time: June 13, 2023 9:30 PM
- Reported by: Michelle
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Black
- What happened? I came downstairs and saw it in the distance from my kitchen window. We live close to the countryside, and my house is facing open land with trees/bushes in the distance.
Birmingham
- Location: Northfield, Birmingham
- Date and time: June 15, 2023 7:00 PM
- Reported by: Eileen*
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Silver grey
- What happened? The cat was crossing a shaded lane. I was driving and turned right and double looked. The cat turned and looked at me, it definitely wasn’t a domestic cat. It was about the size of a large fox with a sleek coat.
*Surname provided but not published by request
Sheffield
- Location: Ecclesfield, Sheffield
- Date and time: June 16, 2023 11:30 PM
- Reported by: Richard
- Species: Panther
- Colour: Black
- What happened? My colleague and I were walking to work along the Blackburn Valley trail in Ecclesfield, Sheffield. A large cat crossed our path before scurrying into the bushes. It was the size of a Labrador.
Pembrokeshire
- Location: Between St David’s and Porthgain
- Date and time: June 14, 2023 6:45 PM
- Reported by: Sharon Ostrowsky
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Black
- What happened? As we were driving along the road, we both spotted a huge black cat-like animal with a very long, powerful-looking tail running at incredible speed through a field. The car in front of us stopped immediately, and the occupants were looking in the same direction. We slowly overtook the car and pulled into the side of the road. As I got out of the car to cross to the field, the other car pulled up behind. The driver got out and asked, ‘Did you see what I just saw?’ and it transpired we had all seen exactly the same thing.
He told us he lives in the area and had heard that over time there had been sightings in the area of a black panther, but that he had never seen one. I have a photo of the location but am unable to upload it from my phone. I can email it on request. The other driver was actor [REDACTED], who lives in the area and may be able to offer more detail.
Hampshire
- Location: Whiteley, Fareham
- Date and time: November 22, 2022 10:00 PM*
- Reported by: Leila*
- Species: Unknown
- Colour: Black
- What happened? We were driving towards Titchfield Park coming from Whiteley near Skylark Estate, and I saw a large feline creature about 50 meters ahead of us. It had pointy ears and was walking towards a housing estate. It turned and looked at us as it heard our car approach, and it just slowly carried on walking. It was definitely feline, and I would say larger than a Labrador. It has actually been sighted many times around here but may not have been reported.
*Surname provided by not published by request. Reported to us on 19th June.
Ruthin
- Location: Ruthin Castle
- Date and time: June 25, 2023 9:30 AM
- Reported by: Hannah
- Species: Wildcat
- Colour: Brown / Tawny
- What happened? A huge cat was prowling around the grass and gate. We were up on the castle walls, so we could safely watch and film.
*Surname provided but not published by request
Dorset
- Location: BH218LW – Near Verwood, Dorset UK
- Date and time: June 23, 2023 9:15 PM
- Reported by: Sarah
- Species: Puma
- Colour: Brown / Tawny
- What happened?
My Jack Russell set after what I initially thought was a fox, in the evening in a 20 acre field that backs onto a woodland golf course. The field had been recently mown, grass only a couple of inches long, clear, summer evening, good visibility. After a moment or so, I realised that the animal she was pursuing was much bigger than the average fox. My dog was running full pelt, she is pretty quick, but the animal was easily outpacing her & was not moving like a fox. The animal appeared to be 2.5 – 3 x larger than my 6kg Jack Russel. It reached the field boundary – this is not a solid boundary, an adult human can easily walk into the golf course beyond.
I saw the animal reach the boundary & assumed that my dog had seen it off, then heard frenzied barking. I could see the animal stood at bay, weight on it’s front end, & my dog harrying it, running off in an arc then coming back at it barking & growling. I became uneasy – I was worried for my dog, the animal was much bigger than her & I have never seen a fox stand off a terrier before.
I ran across the field & called off my dog. I could see the animal sat very still near the boundary. I picked up my dog & noted that she had no blood on her. I was confused as to why the animal was sat still, staring at me & not running off, so assumed that it must be injured. Still carrying my dog, I started to walk towards it. It was sat upright & staring straight at me the whole time.
As I came to within around 30 yards of it, my skin prickled & I felt very uneasy, as it did not resemble a fox at all, and was not behaving like any fox I have ever encountered. It was a medium brown in colour, not fox red. From that distance, I was aware of lighter patches on it’s face as it stared at me, across it’s brows & chin, making a kind of circle around it’s face. It had rounded ear tips. I kept advancing, it still did not move. I was still carrying my dog, she was barking & growling, now scared to turn my back on it to retreat, I also stared to make aggressive noises at the animal trying to scare it off.
It then stood & turned, walked a few paces & sat & stared at me again. I made louder growling noises at it, it backed away further, turned side on to me & climbed over a heap of old hay at the boundary, then slipped away onto the golf course. As it turned side on, I became absolutely convinced that this was no fox & much more resembled a large feline. It’s colouration was darker over it’s back, paler toward the underside. It has a glossy, close coat. It has a very long, close coated tail that was U shaped & thicker at the end , the tip of the tail was darker brown or black. The shape of the animal was much deeper across the loins than a fox. It displayed great reluctance to leave to the last, and was not in any way cornered – it could have run straight onto the golf course at any time.
The closest matching big cat images that I can find are pumas for colouration and build, although I’m not sure if the animal I saw was large enough to be a puma. I only saw my dog close up to it from a distance, but comparing with her, I would estimate that the animal may have been approx 55 – 60cm ish at the shoulder. The tail was as long as the body.
I investigated the pile of old hay that it climbed over the next day & found clear scrapes in the surface of the pile from the animal’s paws, these marks were approx 10cm in diameter but due to the nature of the dried grass surface, there were no prints.
*Surname provided but not published by request
Discarded Reports
Hamilton Hill
- Location: Hamilton Hilll
- Date and time: June 2, 2023 11:00 PM
- Reported by: Adam P****** (redacted by us)
- Species: Leopard
- Colour: Brown / Tawny
- What happened?: I saw a big cat!!!!
- Reason for discarding: Likely a joke. This image of a lawnmower was attached. There are many places called ‘Hamilton Hill’ in the UK and which one wasn’t specified. No contact details provided.
Nannup
- Location: Nannup
- Date and time: June 2, 2023 11:30 PM
- Reported by: Jim J**** (redacted by us)
- Species: Other (Tiger)
- Colour: Other (Orange and black)
- What happened?: Everything;)
- Reason for discarding: Likely a joke. This screenshot was attached. Nannup is in Australia. No contact details provided.
