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Methils Mystery Prowler

Fife Today: 1st August 2008

Fife Today
   
IS this a picture of a big cat prowling along Kirkland sidings? What do you reckon?
The photograph was taken three weeks ago by Ruth Miller from Methil and she's absolutely convinced.
"I wouldn't have sent this photo in because I'm frightened people will go out to hunt it, but after the Mail's story last week I had to send the pic in," she said.
We revealed in last week's edition that the organisation Big Cats in Britain was keen to set up webcams around Fife in a bid to prove the existence of big cats once and for all – but for Ms Miller there's no question.
"They definitely exist," she says, "I think there's more than one around here to be honest.
"I saw something in the corner of my eye and felt something at the back of me as I was walking along from the direction of Leven – you just get that feeling in your belly!
"I stopped at the iron bridge at the bottom of the Steelworks Brae, turned around and saw it sitting there, just shifting in the one spot.
Ms Miller – who claims she has seen a creature twice – watched it for a full 45 minutes joined by other walkers.
A print found the next day at the scene.
A print found the next day at the scene.
"One man turned up and said he had seen it loads of times," she said.
"At one point there were three of us standing there having a blether about it."
Ms Miller also sent in a print of the 'paw print' with a £1 coin laid along side it to show the size.
But, once again, there isn't a unanimous verdict on the sighting.
The Mail couldn't find a consensus on the image with opinions varying from a badger to a person to... absolutely nothing alive at all.
Mark Fraser, of Big Cats in Britain, said on Friday: "Unfortnately the shape cannot be made out as to what animal, if indeed an animal it is.
"The prints are definitely not cat, in fact it's hard to say what made them. "
Mr Fraser explained photographs of the trail and measurements of stride, as well as a series of pictures, were all crucial to a positive identification.
If you've an idea what's been sneaking around the sidings then let the Mail know.

Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could give us.

Have your say on the forum.