I was walking the dog with OH yesterday afternoon in the woods at Black Bank (off East Bank Road, S2). Our dog found something and when we looked over it was some sort or animal that we just didn't have a clue what it was!
My first assumption was that it was a really big black cat, but it really was much bigger than a cat; it was almost as big as our dog! It ran away as soon as our dog found it, then climbed a tree really quickly. The thing is, when it climbed the tree it didn't move like a cat; more like a bear!! (if you can picture what I mean?) It stayed up in the tree about 10ft up for ages, but because it was jet black and in amongst leaves, we really couldn't get a good look at it. It had a long thick tail though.

Myself & OH have named it a "Puma-Bear"!!

Has anyone else seen this?!

Nooooo..................

Let us know if you see it again!!!1

Were there any waterways nearby - if so it may have been an escaped mink?

woodcut here! (http://www.hotcakencyclopedia.com/Animals/image.Mink.aud.jpeg)

(how low tech can you get!?)

Could have been a badger, there pretty big, dunno if they can climb trees mind?

if it was in that vicinity it may have been going home from the localpost office after collecting its benefit!

Were there any waterways nearby - if so it may have been an escaped mink?

woodcut here! (http://www.hotcakencyclopedia.com/Animals/image.Mink.aud.jpeg)

(how low tech can you get!?)

Ooh thats definitely the closest of any animal I can think of that it looked like!
There's not much water around there that I know of though.

Would it actually be possible to have a mink free in Sheffield? If so, that's what it might have been!

It is undoubtedly a soot-blackened koala escapee from the Rolf Harris thread.

one of these? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3953599.stm) Pine martens are making a comeback in Yorkshire apparently (and are around 70cm Long, probably as big as a medium dog?). The only other animal which springs to mind is a lynx as they're huge and are now relatively common in this country, but they aren't black. Perhaps a lynx-domestic cat hybrid?

It could have been a Sheffield United supporter, you get quite a lot of them in those parts. If one bites you get immediate medical treatment or you will start chanting 'You nigh ted.'

Ooh thats definitely the closest of any animal I can think of that it looked like!
There's not much water around there that I know of though.

Would it actually be possible to have a mink free in Sheffield? If so, that's what it might have been!

There have been mink farms around Sheffield and trouble with mink killing pretty much anything they can lay their paws on as they are smart animals and escape quite readilly (with or without the help of the ALF!) so I would think it's altogether possible that there are mink around. As to waterways I'm also in S2 and theres a river running at the end of the road I live on so that could possibly be a residence?

one of these? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3953599.stm) Pine martens are making a comeback in Yorkshire apparently (and are around 70cm Long, probably as big as a medium dog?). The only other animal which springs to mind is a lynx as they're huge and are now relatively common in this country, but they aren't black. Perhaps a lynx-domestic cat hybrid?
Ooh I just don't know now!
I only saw it running away, so didn't get a look at its head - just its ar5e!
How big are pine martens, & how big can minks get? Cos I reckon this thing was a couple of stone.

It wasnt a padfoot was it- supernatural creature and if you see it, it fortells bad luck in the future for you apparently!!

Otherwise - it could have been a mink :hihi:

one of these? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3953599.stm) Pine martens are making a comeback in Yorkshire apparently (and are around 70cm Long, probably as big as a medium dog?). The only other animal which springs to mind is a lynx as they're huge and are now relatively common in this country, but they aren't black. Perhaps a lynx-domestic cat hybrid?

Lynx are common in this country? Is that true?

Hi, have you been in touch with the Gleadless Valley Wildlife Project? I think they might be interested to hear about this. Worth a phone call at least, they may be able to shed some light. I lived in the Black Forest, Germany for a while and people kept having car trouble because the little critters (pine-martens) kept chewing parts under the bonnets!

Hi, have you been in touch with the Gleadless Valley Wildlife Project? I think they might be interested to hear about this. Worth a phone call at least, they may be able to shed some light. I lived in the Black Forest, Germany for a while and people kept having car trouble because the little critters (pine-martens) kept chewing parts under the bonnets!
Thats a good idea. I'll try them...

Ooh I just don't know now!
I only saw it running away, so didn't get a look at its head - just its ar5e!
How big are pine martens, & how big can minks get? Cos I reckon this thing was a couple of stone.

A farm bred mink can be 2-3 feet long and weigh in at about 7-8 lbs. Pine Martens are rather smaller and have a lighter build as they are arboreal.

Lynx are common in this country? Is that true?

I wouldn't say common, but relatively common compared to a few years ago. There have been many sightings and they think there is one near where I live.

Well the number for Gleadless Valley Wildlife Trust keeps going to answerphone. I considered leaving a message... "I've seen a puma-bear!" but will just try them again later!

I will get to the bottom of this!...

mink info (http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/mink.php)I'd bet on a mink - as they are out and about killing all the chicks around at this time of year.
They are pretty common round these parts

one of these? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3953599.stm) Pine martens are making a comeback in Yorkshire apparently (and are around 70cm Long, probably as big as a medium dog?). The only other animal which springs to mind is a lynx as they're huge and are now relatively common in this country, but they aren't black. Perhaps a lynx-domestic cat hybrid?

I have seen pine martens living around the old hospital thats been converted to flats up Rivelyn valley rd. Only tiny things really, very fast.

i've seen a mink in the river don near kelham island - I saw another one yesterday, they're not as big as a bear though. more like a ferrit size

I have seen pine martens living around the old hospital thats been converted to flats up Rivelyn valley rd. Only tiny things really, very fast.

Probably a stoat then. They look a just like pine martens but are much smaller. Pine Martens are probably the same length/slightly longer than a cat from nose to end of tail. Pine Martens are also very rare so whilst you might see one once, you're unlikely to see them repeatedly.

I have spoken to Katie this afternoon and the creature appears to be stuck up the tree.

However - she has got a better look, and bless her, it's a big black cat. End of!

Thanks for all contributions though :lol:

Probably a stoat then. They look a just like pine martens but are much smaller. Pine Martens are probably the same length/slightly longer than a cat from nose to end of tail. Pine Martens are also very rare so whilst you might see one once, you're unlikely to see them repeatedly.

Yes these were very small, and very fast. I dont know enough about either Stoats or Pine Martens but the ones I saw at Rivelyn were up amongst the lower branches of a tree. I dont know if Stoats are ever off the ground and as high up.

I have spoken to Katie this afternoon and the creature appears to be stuck up the tree.

However - she has got a better look, and bless her, it's a big black cat. End of!

Thanks for all contributions though :lol:


doh!!!!!!!!!!!

lol! She'll kill me for telling you all!

It could have been a Sheffield United supporter, you get quite a lot of them in those parts. If one bites you get immediate medical treatment or you will start chanting 'You nigh ted.'

Well it would not have been a Wednesday Supporter as most them live in controlled environments such as pig stys!

Could have been a baby sasquatch,quite common in that area...:thumbsup:

have you not heard about black cats roaming the UK countryside?

think theyre supposed to be Puma's which have interbred over here? Which officials say have probably been released from private ownership into the wild.


You might of been one of the lucky ones to see one of these! Apprently they're quite common place but we just dont know it!

There are some very large domestic cats out there.......Worthwhile reporting it though!

I have spoken to Katie this afternoon and the creature appears to be stuck up the tree.

However - she has got a better look, and bless her, it's a big black cat. End of!

Thanks for all contributions though :lol:

Haha thanks Lotti!
I am SOO embarrassed! We really were positive it was something much bigger, which moved differently to a cat. OH wouldn't even believe me that it was a cat, but I reckon the chances of a cat just happening to be up the same tree that a 'puma-bear' was up on the previous day are quite slim!!
I didn't get a chance to post last night cos I was waiting for the RSPCA to ring me back so couldn't go online :rolleyes:
To make matters worse (extra embarrassment for me!) the RSPCA phoned back this morning, so I went to go meet them & point out the right tree, and the cat had gone! I was convinced it was stuck cos it had been there over a day, but it obviously got hungry enough to make a jump for it!

I'm very sorry to have wasted everybody's time... :blush:

Well it would not have been a Wednesday Supporter as most them live in controlled environments such as pig stys!

A bit to close to Cherry Street for our liking, you can even see it from there. But I suppose a view of that type will help to keep property prices down. :hihi:

I love the idea of 'puma-bear' though. Can we have one as forum mascot?

I love the idea of 'puma-bear' though. Can we have one as forum mascot?
[VIKE NOTE]:
IF THAT IS AN OFFICIAL QUESTION, COULD YOU USE THE CONTACT US FACILITY THANKYOU. :hihi:

or a manbearpig.

Maybe it was a Sheffield United supporter who got his dates confused, thought it was next year, and tried to get back INTO the woodwork...

or a manbearpig.

Half man, half bear, half pig.
Manbearpig is coming!!

I'm serial!!

Half man, half bear, half pig.
Manbearpig is coming!!

is that not Jade Goody, sorry folks shes already here!

Perhaps we should fill this thread with molten lead.

(I hope at least one person on here knows what i'm on about!)

is that not Jade Goody, sorry folks shes already here!
If I'd seen her in the woods, I'd have 5hat myself & ran away!
I can picture the mating call now "oi! ammi miiinnnnnggggiiiiiinnnnnn....."!

Ooh thats definitely the closest of any animal I can think of that it looked like!
There's not much water around there that I know of though.

Would it actually be possible to have a mink free in Sheffield? If so, that's what it might have been!you said it was as big as your dog,a mink isnt that big ,more like a small cat

Sounds like a lesser spotted bear dog, thought to be extinct round these parts.

They eat immigrants so I am sure many formers will be happy they have returned.

:loopy: :loopy: