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I took the dogs over the fields this morning and saw some huge footprints in the snow. I compared them to the Rottie and GSD who were with me but the prints were much bigger than them . They also had enormous claw imprints in the snow.. I had already identified the foxes, the badgers and deer, and It was none of them. Even the old dog badger whose prints are large and long , were dwarfed.
There were 2 sets of them from opp corners of field, they clashed in the centre, there must have been a skirmish as there was lots of roughed up snow. No smell and no poo/urine - I checked this out. Might photograph them later.
It's a lonely spot, way off the beaten track with no other properties, just fields and woods.
Could it have been a big cat I wonder. One was spotted in the area about 8 years ago by some golfers on a distant hill, but nothing since. It was in the newspapers at the time.
The prints were nearly as big as mine but with the addition of these huge claws. Reminded me of a bear! .
Any ideas on what kind of wildlife it might have been.
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It isnt the weather to have a bear behind, is it ?
surely if there had been a fight, you would have seen some blood or hair/fur around though ?.
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No hair, blood or anything Pete, but my dogs made such a fuss over the area mentioned, that it would have been hard to find anyway.
I think it must have been a Yeti ! ... lol
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I had some big footprints like that outside my back door during last weeks snow. Seems my brother loves his new tiger slippers lol
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It's quite possible it's a Big Cat, there's a few of them around...
I remember playing golf once and seeing something similar lurking in the distance, that's why I sliced my tee shot... well that's my excuse anyway...
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Good afternoon Victoriana. Did you take a photo of them? I'm sure there are sites where you can up-load photos of tracks so that they can be identified.
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An escapee from whipsinade perhaps?
And the MSE contingent haven't even visited there yet.
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Hi Celt, I am going to photograph them later and poss send them on to a local 'big cat' site.
Will post results too.
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lol at Minnie... too far from Whipsnade... and the footprints too big for MSE 'chums'
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I expect that the solution will be something akin to how crop circles are made.
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Dont ask me the science behind it but i think its commonly thought that footprints in the snow can enlarge over time due i think to the warmth from the sun melting away at the edges.
Saw it years ago on a programme about the alleged Yeti, the guy interviewed pointed out that animal tracks from quite smallish animals can suddenly take on huge proportions after being in the snow for some time.
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cat prints don't have claw marks - cats tend to walk with their claws sheathed.
No idea what the prints you saw could be though.
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I'll go with the Bear option, seeing as no one has provided any concrete proof of BIG cats like Puma living in the UK.
In fact a BBC Breakfast news report 02/02/12 stated that scientists had taken DNA samples from two Deer carcasses found in/around the Forest of Dean, and when tested against 40 likely suspects/species, the samples came back negative.
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A puma was trapped close to me some years ago. It was in good physical condition so vets thought it had not been on the hill long, it went to Kincraig wildlife park . Died of old age and was stuffed and put in museum. (named Felicity I think)
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I couldnt take any photos as more snow had come along.
The prints I saw this morning were fresh ones as they were very sharp. The 'claws' showed up far more than the old dog badger ones. They def hadnt got bigger thru melting snow, they were too fresh, it was only 6.45AM when I saw them.
I will have another look tomorrow in this fresh snow. There were also some in the open sand school.
to be continued...
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its the Yetis...they are out dancing in the snow lol
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make sure that the doors are locked, vic
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Sod the Yetis its the numpties more like..;-)
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Reading this thread and after a snow shower we've just had I have just walked barefoot around my neighbours garden with footprints leading to the bathroom ...
Get thatone fiorst thing in the morning :) WEG
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LOL, glad you don't live next to me TC, I'd be terrified if I saw footprints in my back garden.
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elrond...I do hope our Stoo see's your post...
There are several pumas around here...
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Could be a gruffalo E, my grandson reckons theres one in the woods on the way back
from nursery school, strange thing is he only sees it on the way home with his dad, never
sees it on the way there with my daughter (his mum) ! !
Chris.
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Turned out toes?? and a poisenous wart on the end of its' nose??
Ah ha...oh ho...it's a Gruffalo...
E,x
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