identifying the 'beast of bowland' paw print

northernneil
northernneil Posts: 1,549
edited January 2011 in The bottom bracket
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' ???

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    medium sized labrador.
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    I'd say that the weight of the animal has enlarged the print in the wet mud, and given it a distorted size.

    Sherlock.
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • northernneil
    northernneil Posts: 1,549
    hmm I like your thinking Columbo ..
  • 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
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    616EXBV2FZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg ?
  • gethmetal
    gethmetal Posts: 208
    I'm inclined to think a Labradog too, or a dog of similar size.
  • Mayniac
    Mayniac Posts: 174
    This is not 'Nam, Smokey. This is bowling. There are rules.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    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.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
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  • How about several thumb imprints, with a bit of twig for the claws? :lol:
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Mayniac wrote:

    Were they the ones with the compass in the heel? I was a Clark's Commando kid myself..
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • paulorg
    paulorg Posts: 168
    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".
    If you buy it, they will come...








    ...up to you and say, you didn't want to buy one of them!!!
  • 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
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    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
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    Oh Help! Oh No! It's a Gruffalo!
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