identifying the 'beast of bowland' paw print

northernneil

I was (cough) mountain biking yesterday, and came accross this paw print in the mud.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wjMT8vogrO6I0gXdtmCCDw?feat=directlink

it was on a part of the trail where you cant walk ( Hully Gully see the vid to see what I mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnZKTmgJxjs ) and a long way from any paths so i cant imagine it being a dog.

Any ideas what it could be ?

the 'beast of bowland' ???

keef66

medium sized labrador.

Aggieboy

I'd say that the weight of the animal has enlarged the print in the wet mud, and given it a distorted size.

Sherlock.

northernneil

hmm I like your thinking Columbo ..

disquieting_museeuws

I've worked with big cat pugmarks, they are huge compared to this, plus a cat wouldn't leave clawmarks unless it was running hard.

Nice find, though, I think it's the Gytrash.

Ollieda

?

gethmetal

I'm inclined to think a Labradog too, or a dog of similar size.

Mayniac

Nah, you're all wrong.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/361 ... d424_z.jpg

unixnerd

It does look like a big feline paw print. Certainly in the Highlands there are supposed to be two or three large panther / puma type creatures on the good with decent evidence to prove it. I've heard tales from further south too.

Largest I've seen up here are wildcats, maybe 10-15% bigger than a domestic cat. You could ask there folk http://www.highlandtiger.com/ we've reported a few sightings to them in the past.

Le Commentateur

How about several thumb imprints, with a bit of twig for the claws?

Monty Dog

Mayniac wrote:

Nah, you're all wrong.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/361 ... d424_z.jpg

Were they the ones with the compass in the heel? I was a Clark's Commando kid myself..

paulorg

Is it a badger?

We have a black cat up here in West Yorks that allegedly rips up small dogs, bunnies and the like. The local paper brilliantly calls it "Catbeast".

john-e-big-guns

Ya mean ya not seen the 'Beast of Gisburn Forest' yet..then ya a'nt been there when I have...

Done that route many times....ya got'a hit it 'Hard & Fast'...and thats on my trusty old SCOTT..... and without suspention...alot more fun

keef66

Not enough toes for a badger. In my experience of small felines they tend to keep their claws retracted unless they are trying to get hold of something (like your face for instance)

Walking our (very well behaved) border collie I see about a billion labrador paw prints a week, some of them up the front of my jacket if the culprit is a bit lively. I'm sure it's that size of dog.

bartimaeus

Oh Help! Oh No! It's a Gruffalo!