A DOG walker has reported finding a 'large footprint' after previously seeing what they described as a big cat

The person who found the mysterious tracks believes they could have been made by a “black puma” they previously spotted at Ince and Frodsham Marshes.

It is not the first time, a big cat encounter has been reported in the area.

In January 2021, a member of staff at a nearby facility reported spotting a “large but slender” cat at the same location. A paw print was also found on this occasion.

Footprints found at Ince Marshes. Images: Puma Watch North Wales

Footprints found at Ince Marshes. Images: Puma Watch North Wales

The dog walker said they saw a creature at about 9.30am on Saturday December 18. They descrobed it as a 'black puma' while on a footpath from open fields to the reservoir.

There have been no authenticated cases of truly melanistic or black pumas in nature, although there have been unconfirmed sightings in parts of North America.

They added their dogs have “gone mad” every time they’ve returned to the location since.

Footprints found at Ince Marshes. Images: Puma Watch North Wales

Footprints found at Ince Marshes. Images: Puma Watch North Wales

And, on Monday, January 11, they found the paw print.

Asking to remain anonymous, the witness reported the finding to Puma Watch North Wales. they spotted the animal when they: “crossed from open field across footpath down towards the reservoir.

The sighting has been added to Puma Watch's interactive map

The map includes sightings in Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, and Chester.

Puma Watch founder, Tony Jones said: "Chester has become a big cat hotspot in its own right. This includes one occasion where an animal was caught on camera on Chester Meadows by a delivery driver.

"Big cats such as pumas are solitary with a hunting range of dozens of miles. They’re mostly spotted in Snowdonia and the Clwydian hills but reports of sightings in urban locations some distance from these areas are becoming more frequent.

"Just last week, we shared a report of a big cat in Leamington Spa. While we focus on North Wales and the surrounding areas, we often receive reports from further afield and have shared sightings from as far out as Scotland and Cornwall."