More sightings of 'big black cats' in Rhyl and Prestatyn

One of the witnesses said they believe the creature they saw could be a puma.

It follows are sighting of a mystery creature described as a “jet black panther” in a field near Brickfield Pond in Rhyl.

These latest reports, made to Puma Watch North Wales, range from August 10 to September 21.

Puma Watch founder Tony Jones said: "They’re far from the first sightings we’ve had reported in the area. And in the middle of the sightings below, a “jet black panther” was spotted at Rhyl’s Brickfields Pond in a report we previously shared."

Sighting 1

At around 9.45pm on Wednesday, August 10, Michael Parker spotted a black big cat at Lyons Lido Beach Caravan Park in Prestatyn.

He said: “I was leaving my caravan to go sea fishing on the beach.

“60 feet away I saw the big cat walking out from between two caravans.

“It stopped walking mid-stride when it saw me and I also stopped and stood still.

“It stared at me and its tail was arched upwards.

“Lights were behind it so I could see its silhouette.

“I tried to walk back to my caravan to tell my wife and at this point the big cat walked off in the direction of Frith.” (where a “black panther” was recently spotted hunting birds and rabbits)

Sighting 2

At around 4.15pm on Monday, September 19, a witness who gave her name as Jackie was walking at The Cob in Rhyl, across the train line from Rhyl Marine Lake, when she encountered a "black big cat" she believes could have been a puma.

She said: “Spotted a large all Black cat-like animal with orange eyes eating something in the field close to the entrance of the Cob pathway.

“The animal loudly hissed when it noticed us.

“We immediately turned and left as we were walking our dogs.”

Sighting 3

Two days after Jackie’s sighting, a witness called Ash from Prestatyn contacted Puma Watch to report a big cat with: “big bright eyes in my garden, by Prestatyn beach.”

This encounter took place at around 9.30pm on Wednesday, September 21.

Map of big cat sightings created by Puma Watch North Wales using openstreetmap.org. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Inset: Most witnesses describe seeing panthers and pumas.

Brickfield sighting

Earlier this month, dog walkers reported spotting a “jet black panther” in a field near Brickfield Pond in Rhyl.

The encounter took place at around 7pm on Monday, August 29, and while the animal ran away, itput the witness off returning to the location.

They said: “We were walking our dog through an overgrown country footpath between Ysgol Tir Morfa and Brickfield Pond in Rhyl...when I noticed a large animal in the distance coming towards us.

“I stopped to put my dog back on her lead as I assumed it was another person walking their dog, but I saw no owner and the figure went completely still when it noticed us.

“When it turned to its side that’s when I knew it wasn’t a dog, it was jet black with pointed ears and moved very feline-like with a long cat-like tail.

“It bolted off into the field at the end of the path and we didn’t see it again, nor did we see anyone in the field.

“Seeing that with my own eyes… I won’t be walking down there again.”

MORE SIGHTINGS:

• Dog walker saw 'large black cat' near scene of sheep attack in North Wales
• Second 'big cat' encounter in North Wales as man sees 'puma' in his garden
• 'Black puma' spotted on roof above market toilets

Tony said there have been a number of sightings in the Rhyl and Prestatyn area.

He said: "It wasn’t the first time an animal matching the same description had been spotted in Rhyl. Last year, a couple walking on the beach spotted “a very large black panther” on the adjacent golf course.

"And just a few months ago back in April, a “black panther” was spotted hunting for rabbits and birds on Prestatyn beach. Sightings or related incidents have also occurred near Pontins, Dyserth and Meliden.

"On the other side of Rhyl, sightings have recently been reported in Colwyn Bay, Abergele and Llanddulas."