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March
Hedon, East Yorkshire.
A couple out for a drive along the back road from Paull. Having just come Boris Hill,
heading towards Thorngumbald, they saw a par of, “orange eyes” on the roadside
looking towards them. Deer, fox etc. ran through their minds, although the height
puzzled the couple a little. On reaching the ‘eyes’, they were shocked to see that they
belonged to a large cat. “Apprx 22” inches high - body three and a half feet long, with
a huge powerful tail, as long as its body.” The witnesses describe the animal further.
“A small leopard-like head, tawny brown in colour. A brindle-like patterning on its
underside. The sighting was reported to the police, who the couple say were not very
interested at all. Sightings of large cats have been made along this particular stretch of
road before, and locals say that reports go back to at least the late 70’s.
The couple did return to the spot a couple of days later and found tracks along the
path they believed the cat to have taken.
Mark Fraser.
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June
16th:
A fork-lift driver rang the police and reported that a big cat, “resembling a tiger,” had
sprung from dense undergrowth and attacked his fork-lift truck before running away.
The police along with the force’s helicopter scoured the area, no animal was found
although a set of, “suspect” paw prints were found.
The incident occurred down a country lane near Seven Yards Farm. Driver, Raymond
Cibor said: “It was mud spattered, and it suddenly leapt from undergrowth, reared up
on its hind legs, snarled and lashed out with its claws at the vehicle, I reversed and the
animal ran away.”
“I could see its mouth wide open and its claws looked like razors. It was definitely a
tiger, there is no doubt in my mind. It was about 6ft in length and 3ft high. It was
orange and yellow with black stripes.”
After studying photographs, ex-soldier, Ray, concluded it to be a Bengal Tiger.
Police do not believe the incident to be a hoax as they say the witness was genuinely
terrified.
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22nd: South Yorkshire. Auckley, nr.Doncaster.
Thirteen year old James Sutcliffe, cycling home in Auckley, came face to face with a
tiger. He was left in tears. This is just three miles from Severn Yard Farm where a tiger
is alleged to have attacked a man on a fork lift on June 16th 1999, seven days earlier.
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July
Several sightings of a “lion” near a pond at Birdwell, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire...
Frightened folk kept children and pets inside.

The identity of the ‘lion’ is now firmly believed to have been Rocky, a 12 year old
Rottweiler - Retriever cross, with eczema. His coat had been sheared, apart from
around his head and the end of his tail. His advancing years, apparently turned his gait
into a feline-like plod.
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‘The Wildcat of the Wolds’ is being blamed for two recent “savage sheep attacks.” A
large black cat has been seen in the area for years.
Ernie Teal has been called in to examine the dead sheep. He said: “Both lambs had
been killed in an identical way - their back legs were broken and they had been eaten
away at the backend right down to the bone. It was definitely not a fox. This was a
clean killing and I have no doubt that a large cat was responsible.”
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Recent sightings of the ‘Wildcat of the Wolds’ sparked a little debate in the Hull Daily
Mail. Readers responded with their comments. As follows.

Roy Amour of Orchard Park, Hull: “There is a possibility that it escaped from a
zoo or someone had one when it was young and let it go when it grew too big for
them to handle.”

Richard Hopkins of Beverley Road, Hull: “Its not likely is it? Somebody would
have reported it escaping from a zoo. Britain’s only a small island - something like
that couldn’t hide away for too long.”

Ian Furlong, Market Weighton: “I don’t actually believe there’s one around
here. I think its a big dog or something.”
Veronica Hooper of Beverley Road, Hull: “I think it exists, for the simple reason
that I don’t think anybody would report it if it wasn’t true.”

Malcom Woolgar of North Hull: “I think it’s just a type of cat and from a
distance it looks rather large. I wouldn’t have thought it was a black panther or
something.”

Audrey Hutchinson of Port Avenue, Hull: “It could exist. They’ve been talking
about the Loch Ness Monster for long enough, so why not? I believe in UFOs as
well.”

Beryl Richardson, Greylees Avenue, Hull: “I think it could be a wildcat - not a
panther, but maybe a feral cat. There’s plenty of them about.”

T. Coggin of Chamberlain Road Hull: However did the police become involved
in a search for the so-called ‘Wolds Big Cat’ by allowing the use of their hi-tech,
state-of-the-art, all-singing, all-dancing, police helicopter? Who in authority gave
permission for this extremely expensive piece of equipment to be used for such an
escapade? If an animal of the size frequently reported was living in the area, their
would be evidence of habitation by droppings, partial carcasses and tracks through
undergrowth and crops. I believe this big cat to be as real as the aliens who make
the crop circles every year.

C Watson of Chanterlands Avenue, Hull: I’ve chuckled recently when I’ve read
in the Hull Daily Mail the latest escapades of the Ł700 per hour police helicopter.
Firstly chasing “gay men” near Market Weighton, then last week attempting to
spot a “wildcat” reported running through fields near South Cave. Could it be the
cases are linked and the helicopter should be looking for a rather athletic “gay”
man wearing a cat suit.”

Stephen Wilson of James Reckitt Avenue, Hull: I am replying to the article on
‘Wildcat sightings’ in this area. Lets face it, one (or several) wildcats are out there
in our countryside. However, they present no danger to us. They are a natural
phenomenon and, in my opinion are more than welcome to roam the countryside.
And what is all this nonsense about helicopters searching the countryside for them?
That has to be a joke! Haven’t the police got anything better to do than search for
creatures that were here hundreds of thousands of years before us?

A. Baker of Market Weighton: I thought it was time I put a few things straight
as regards the big cats that some people refuse to believe exist. In the 1970’s new
laws came out that made owning such cats too expensive to keep. Until then
anyone could get hold of one. But what did these people do? The same as they do
with other unwanted pets - chucked them out into the countryside. I myself have
seen the print of a big cat twice. It’s as big as a man’s hand and round. But the
most important thing is that there are no claw marks. One must remember that cats
have retractable claws and only have them out when killing prey or sharpening
them. I live in badger countryside and walk in the country twice a day. I have yet
to see a live badger, but that does not mean that they don’t exist.
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August
Burstwick: East Yorkshire.
A large black cat was seen on the outskirts of the village.
Mark Fraser.
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September
25th:
38 year old John Horwich of Bolton was arrested in Horwich after brandishing a knife
and explaining to passers-by that he had been chasing a puma.
The man is known to drink in excess of eight bottles of whiskey a week, so needless to
say his story was taken with a rather large dose of salt.
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December.
A white Labrador - sized cat, with a beige tail seen near Watermeadows Park near
Penistore.
Several sightings of the ‘Orror of Ossett, one photograph taken.
Sightings at Eccup Reservoir of a large black cat.
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1999 Sightings.